The Branch Church

There are times when the world can feel dark and chaotic. Many feel we are living in such a time. How do we not just eek out a living in moments like these -- how do we find resiliency and strength to thrive in the midst of the turbulence?

This week we lean into an idea in Otis Moss III's book by the same title: we must learn to Consecrate our Chaos.

This series draws from Otis Moss III's book by the same title. Our first week reminds us that justice and love must be linked. One cannot exist without the other. Where do we practice only one -- or neither? How do we change? We spend the last few minutes with a "Dance Break". If you didn't get the chance to participate in it, send us an email and we'll connect.

The final week in Jonah is a rollercoaster. Redemption and repentance. Resistance and retribution.

What do the final two chapters have to say about how we go about our lives in this world?

We often avoid the darkness and quiet - perhaps afraid of what may arise in the silence. But in Jonah's story, it's there in the belly of the beast that he finds clarity and needed perspective.

We'll be spending the next three weeks looking at the story of Jonah. Today takes a look at the first chapter - a story of an impossible mission and an understandable response.

Teresa and Chris consider the sacredness of questions -- and invite us into a story full of them (John 21).

We look at the question of why many American Christians unilaterally support the state of Israel. The question has little to do with politics and a lot about how we read the Bible.

*the last couple of minutes of the sermon were not recorded, but we trust you'll still get the idea :)

Over the summer, we invited folks to share some of the things they've always wondered about. We're taking a look at some of them at summer winds down. Today, Chris looks at these two wonderings:

"Did God intentionally make the Bible such that we can interpret it in different ways? How can we know what is true and shalom?"

"Why do so many American Christians unilaterally support the nation of Israel even to the point of funding the military?"

Over the summer, we invited folks to share some of the things they've always wondered about. We're taking a look at some of them at summer winds down.

Today, Teresa looks at these two wonderings:

"Did God intentionally make the Bible such that we can interpret it in different ways? How can we know what is true and shalom?"

"Many of us have moved from a literal or traditional understanding of God, theology, faith, etc. to a more open and progressive view. How do we avoid falling into the sin of certainty we find so distasteful in the communities we've left behind?"

We continue considering the interplay between disorientation and reorientation.

Psalm 34

Speaker: Chris DeBlaay