Branches Oc

When the topic of sharing our faith is brought up, more than 90% of people who have a faith in Jesus are struck with fear or guilt. Something so beautiful as sharing a life changing understanding of Jesus an His love should not be so awkward and uncomfortable. Therefore, we must be wrong in our understanding of what is expected of us and what it can look like to be a part of Changed Lives.

There is a lie. “Since I'm following Jesus why am I not getting any better with my issues? I must be doing something wrong." You are not doing something wrong. Come listen in.

Who is Good and Who is Bad? Fortunately for us, we don’t have to be in the business of deciding that. We are not experts and we shouldn’t really want that job. We leave that to The Expert. Our call, our job, our lane is Love Anyway. In Luke 10 we see and “expert” approach Jesus to test Him on who is worthy of us loving. How do we determine the neighbor who is Good or Bad so we can discern who to love. Jesus, however, turns the question and asks instead, “Are you a neighbor?”

Jesus chose disciples that He knew would not get along. We are expected to learn how to be with and work with difficult people - because we are also difficult people.

We continue in our series "Love God. Love People." We need to be forewarned that when we love like Jesus, we will be persecuted like He was. But, we are also set free from the burden to fail as 'experts' in what is right and wrong.

"What do we do to prepare for those who will join us during the re-plant? You shall love. We will be looking at this closely over the next few weeks so that it will stick in our hearts, and minds, and efforts."

Michael Bischof shares with us on this Sunday Morning.

Derek Ketcham joins us and elaborates on our purpose as Christians.

July 4th, 2021 Sunday Service

Ryan shares with us about the importance of good news.

What if the good news of Jesus transcends our circumstances?

What if the good news of Jesus transcends our circumstances?

When we look at John 3:16, it's so familiar that it has lost its wonder. To know the love God has for you, His reckless love, must be caught not taught.

Jesus said to his 12 while He was in great distress, "“Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He didn't just say it once but twice. If even Jesus needed others in the family of faith, how much more us? In this message, Pastor Boog teaches on the truth that when we belong to God we belong to each other and what that can look like in the real world.

5/23 Michael Bischof, the Pastor to Pastors, challenges us to think about the 'loads' Jesus warned about us putting on other people that they are not able to bear. "They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." (Matthew 23:1-4.) We are equipped to lighten people's loads by giving grace, love, kindness, etc.

“You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas (Rock)”- Jesus. "You Are - You Shall Become." You are known, loved, and have a purpose. Like Peter, we need to be reminded of this truth.

With some of his last words, while on the cross, Jesus chooses to address the role of motherhood. Motherhood is sacred. There is a need for the gift of motherhood to be used and for all of us to realize our need for mother figures in our lives.

This is a message for the members of Branches as we move into a new season of exciting and scary change. We turn back to the words of Jesus, "I am the Vine, You are the Branches" to guide us.

When you're quiet, is it still loud inside of you? Do you find yourself, because of your behavior, feeling like someone needs to put you in timeout? Do you feel like someone else needs a detention? Both? Let's listen into our Lord, the master of both nature and our souls - Jesus.

What would God command us to do? Have you had the realization of being in God's presence and then having your unholiness come to the surface. Peter did. What does Jesus command him to do?