Branches HB Podcast

In the first message of the series, Andrew Schey compares definitions of the word "church" and how the means to the mission of Jesus often become the ends. But, as we’ll discover over the next four weeks, the way forward is by going back to the original.

In the final teaching of the series, Brian Albright unpacks 3 John and the call to love through hospitality. By including, serving, and generously giving to others, we can truly work out our faith in Jesus and offer the love of God to those around us. What would it look like to open the doors of our hearts to other people instead of scrambling to be first?

Teaching through the book of 2 John, Andrew Schey asks us to consider whether we are keeping pace with Jesus or running on ahead. Instead of slowing down to wait with him, we can lose our way and find ourselves lost in our own striving. What does Jesus' pace look like for your life?

Just like we can't help but overhear a conversation about something we're interested in, God inclines his ear toward certain prayers that align with his own heart. In this way, John urges us to pray for one another in our struggles, so that we can share our weaknesses rather than tear each other down. As Andrew Schey points out in this teaching, though we cannot escape the collateral damage of this world, we have spiritual protection in Jesus Christ as we seek true life in him.

Who is Jesus to you? As Brian Sumner points out in this message, if Jesus is God then you should live every second like he is. Only through knowing Jesus can we separate truth from lies and truly know the God of the universe.

If you truly grasp what Jesus did for you, you should be inspired and compelled to love like he does. In this teaching, Andrew Barris unpacks the topic of love without fear and how we should respond to God's outpouring of compassion toward us.

Teaching through 1 John 4:7-12, Andrew Schey reminds us that the cross is the full expression of God's perpetual heart toward us. As followers of Jesus, we must love people extravagantly, wholeheartedly, and openly. In this way, we can illustrate God's heart in a tangible way and share his presence with those around us.

How do we discern the truth? In this teaching, Andrew Schey breaks down how to recognize false teaching, noting that unbelief characterizes our faith just as much as belief does.

Diving into a passage about our assurance in Christ, Andrew Schey discusses how our confidence comes from God's actions - not our own. As we get our minds to a place of peace before God, our lives will be marked by truth and love in action. Just like God's Word continually reminds us, practicing love isn't optional when you're in His family.

At the halfway point in our series, Live THE Truth, Andrew Schey exposes how we hide the murderous capacities of our hearts behind politeness and subtle exclusion. Though we may be externally careful and polite as Christians, our hearts are often not that different from the rest of the world. What would the church look like today if we did away with distinctions and simply loved ALL people?