Branches Church

As this series comes to a close we are looking at one more encounter that Jesus had with a man at the beginning of his ministry. It highlights an all too familiar reaction we have toward others that seems innocent, but is actually quite harmful. We will see you this Sunday!

Looking at encounters people have with Jesus, we see lives changed as a response of faith as people choose to follow Him! But what happens when they choose to follow themselves instead? Join us Sunday as we take a look at what it means to lay down our lives and follow Jesus!

All of us have told someone the truth and had that not been received well. Jesus had a knack for speaking the truth but having it leave them never the same. The difference is he is a pro at speaking the truth in love. This week we are looking at how he did it, and how we can too

Is the Gospel still good news even if you already have it all? That question should haunt us as Americans. This week we are uncovering this uncomfortable truth.

The word “Gospel” is thrown around a lot, it simply means “Good News.” Everyone loves good news, but the Gospel is unique and powerful. We have a unique role to play in the Gospel as well. This week we are exploring what the Gospel looks like, and how we interact with it in our daily lives.

Easter is a big deal, we call it the Super Bowl of Sundays in the Church world because for some reason everyone and their mom comes to church on Easter. This Easter we are taking a look at how the first Easter answered the biggest question known to man “Why am I here?”

In the gospels we see Jesus performing miracle after miracle and changing the lives of those He came in contact with. These “Encounters" were recorded for our benefit, and His glory! As we take a look at the story of a man named Jairus and his encounter with Jesus, we find that not every miracle happens the way we expect, or even WHEN we expect.

Throughout history people have had different responses to Jesus. Some hate him, some are intrigued, others are forever changed. This series we are taking a look at interactions people had with Jesus that left them Never the Same. As we jump into the Easter season come and see lives that were forever changed through encounters with Jesus.

The Doxology is one of the oldest and most well-known hymns of the past 300 years. Churches around the world have closed services and gatherings with it for centuries. While the four lines that comprise this simple song are rich in theology and grounded in scripture, the backstory and context that it was written makes it even more astounding that it survived to become the icon it is today. 

When Jesus showed up 2000 years ago, people didn’t know what to do with him. He was doing miracles no one could explain and teaching new and great things, but still many wrestled with what to do with Jesus. Today, people continue to struggle with what exactly to do with Jesus. Is he a good teacher, a nice guy, or the king of the universe? This week we are diving into a song that walks us through the process of what we should do with Jesus.

The lyrics to this song are pretty provocative, “crucify my flesh” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. But what’s going on here is a necessary part of the life of a Christian. Find out what it is all about this week.

Today we’re going to uncover why we sing, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood,” and examine what His blood actually does — because the blood of Jesus is our primary weapon in the spiritual war we’ve been recruited into between the Lamb and the serpent.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were joined by another in the fire who protected them completely. When you are walking through fiery trials or feel like you're drowning in stormy seas, do you remember that God is there with you?

A big part of what we do at a Branches service involves singing. The tunes are catchy and the band is amazing, so it is easy to sing along. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself “what are we singing?” This series we are diving into the lyrics of the songs we sing at Branches and breaking them down to find out exactly What we Sing.

Have you ever said something like “I never thought I would end up here”? The unfortunate reality is that we often end up in places in life that we never intended. It is not like we set out to make our lives difficult and cause us and others pain. How do we avoid this, the answer may be simpler than you think. Find out how this week. 

When I (Timmy) was young, one of my sisters put a sign on our fort saying “no boys allowed.” I got over it at some point, but the question remains “why do we from a young age use the differences between boys and girls to tear each other down?” This week we will find the answer and solution as we look back at what went wrong with boys and girls In The beginning.

Identity is an issue on the minds of most Americans. This week we are going to look at what the creation narrative says about our Identity. Warning: it will surprise and challenge you.

If we can get to a place of understanding that because we have been given the best gift ever (Jesus), that we should be good gift givers too. This doesn’t mean that we have to earn a ton of money to be the best gift givers ever. The types of gifts that Christians should be giving may be unique, but are certainly memorable. So memorable in fact, they might just change the world, once again.

There is no doubt there are needs all around us. But the reality is that we simply don’t have the bandwidth or the margin to give the way we should or even want to give. This week we are looking at the importance of intentionally building margin into our lives so we can meet the needs of those in our sphere of influence.

Advent is the season where we intentionally prepare our hearts and anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth – the moment that changed everything. Advent Conspiracy is a counter-cultural movement that helps us reorient our hearts back to Christ. It’s about letting go of traditions that actually take our focus away from God during Christmas and embracing the wondrous moment when Jesus entered our world to make things right.

This week we are wrapping up our series and finally answering the all important question, “what is a Christian?” But we are not just leaving you with the answer, but also with the next steps on how we can be effective in this new reality.

When people start talking about spiritual matters, American’s eyes tend to glaze over.  We love the idea of a physical Jesus doing and teaching incredible things, while spiritual things are less tangible. Yet Scripture and Jesus especially were explicit that spiritual things are not only a reality but of the utmost importance. Find out this week what the role of the Holy Spirit is in the life a Christian.

Since we lost paradise in the garden, humanity has been looking for a solution.  Political systems and cultures have continued to fall short. There is only one solution, find out this week how we fix what went wrong.

God created everything and it was good, then he made humans and it was VERY good. A quick look around will tell you, things are no longer “very good”, or even “good” anymore. So what went wrong? Find out this week!

In all of creation, there is nothing God values more than people. This also means that we were created for a purpose. Find out this week what that purpose is, and how we fit into God’s design for his universe.

What is a Christian? The answer is more complicated than you might think. In fact people are all over the place in how they describe what it means to be a Christian. In this new series we are going in-depth to discover what it truly means to be a Christian.

Community is an essential part of a healthy Church, this truth is all throughout Scripture. However, we often treat it as optional or even a burden. This week we are exploring why Christians need to prioritize community.

When someone wrongs you, what is your immediate response?  It likely involves a quick-tempered comeback, or if you aren’t confrontational, you might storm off to show your obvious frustration. However, Scripture teaches us specifically how to deal with this everyday scenario. This week, we are looking at how Christians should conduct ourselves in our speech. Don’t miss it!

Why is it that the difficult things are always the most necessary.  This week we are talking about forgiveness, something that is so central to Christianity, yet often feels impossible. Join us this week as we learn what it looks like to let go.

The chances are you know someone who is living in the past, where everything they do and say is shaped by past experiences. Christians need to be careful about falling into this trap, in fact, the Apostle Paul says that we are to “forget the past and look forward” (Philippians 3). Find out this week how we avoid bringing the baggage from our past into a new life with Jesus.

Christians are to be identified by their love. Paul believed this so much that he said we should literally be “clothed” in it. Why would he say that and how do we do it? Find out in this episode as we launch our first fall series Listen Up!

Good soldiers of Christ, imagine early missionaries sailing to lands like Hawai‘i—facing stormy seas and unknown trials. Yet, they pressed on, devoted to their King. Ephesians 6:17 calls us to wield “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” This rhema—God’s living, spoken truth—must live in our hearts. Like soldiers on long marches, we prepare for battles, unsure of the outcome, but trusting our King. With His Word in us, we endure, carrying His light into the world.

The way we live matters. Whatever we are rooted in will be what we reflect. Join us as we dive into Ephesians 5 and learn about what it means to live a life rooted in Christ.

On April 22, 1889, thousands surged forward in the Oklahoma Land Rush—each person racing to claim land for themselves that was up for grabs to the first one to stake their claim & raise their flag. Sometimes it was every man for himself, but there were also beautiful times of teamwork and building in community. In Ephesians 4 (NKJV), Paul calls us to a different kind of pursuit: not selfish striving, but Spirit-led unity. Instead of grasping for ground, we’re urged to walk in humility, bear with one another in love, and build up the body of Christ like the holy pioneers before us who sought to exalt Christ and work free of deceit. The world may still rush for gain—but we are called to grow together in grace.

This week we dive into how God's plan is at last revealed to all and for all. 

Our identity comes from one of two places: our performance and attempts to achieve it by means of pride, competition, and comparison that breeds hostility.  Or it comes from putting our hope and trust in the finished work of Christ at the cross, receiving the free gift of salvation, and seeing others as fellow image bearers of God. 

We all make hundreds of choices a day, but what’s the most important one we can make? Join us this week as we look at how we can grow closer to Jesus in choosing Him!

A solid foundation is important when building anything, and it should be especially true when it comes to building our lives. This week we are wrapping up our series by taking a look at what it looks like when we live “Upside-Down.”

Death is almost always seen as a bad thing in our world. Yet, in the life a Christian, it is essential. This week find out how Jesus flipped death Upside-Down.

If you were gone tomorrow, would there be something missing from the world you left? We know, it's a dark thought, but Christians are tasked with bringing something unique to the world. This week we will explore what that looks like this week.

Power, we all love to have it! According to God's Kingdom, power looks frustratingly different than how the world views it. Find out what real power looks like this week and how we get it.

All this Kingdom talk but the question remains: “how do we enter the Kingdom?” This week we are looking at the frustratingly simple answer.

Most people find it easy to love those who love them. However, Jesus said we need to love our enemies too! Is that even realistic? Find out how we do it on this week's episode.

There is no question that we spend a lot of time and brainpower on how we look. The question is: should we? Does God value good appearances? Join us this week to find out!

Upside down Kingdom... turning the other cheek is not about being walked on, it's about walking like Jesus.What is a kingdom response when we are hurt, angry or wronged?

There is a lot of talk around Christianity about a Kingdom. This gives some serious Lord of the Rings vibes which can make it feel outdated and irrelevant. This series, we are going to look at the Kingdom of God, what it is, what it looks like and most importantly, how we get to be a part of it. Spoiler alert: it is going to challenge your way of thinking! Join us for this brand new series “Upside-Down.”

When God becomes our go to source for comfort when we are in the midst of trouble and pain, we find the grace to live an abundant life in Christ no matter the external circumstances.

We’re all looking for belonging, hope, and purpose. In John 1, Jesus invited a handful of people to “Come and See”—and through that simple invitation, the world was never the same. This episode, we’re exploring the power of invitation, the beauty of belonging, and the miracles that still happen when people meet Jesus. Bring a friend. You never know what one invitation could do.

This week we are taking a look at what the followers of Jesus did immediately following the resurrection. It may surprise you, but it is important that we do not miss it.

It is easy to think that because Jesus did something great for us, that we need to pay him back. Unfortunately, many of us try to pay him back by doing good things and being nice. This week, we are looking at Jesus’ work, and ultimately how we need to respond.