What does saving faith actually require - and has the church made it too easy? In this episode of The Branch, Pastor Matthew Johnson, Pastor Anthony Lombardi, and Pastor Chris Reed have an honest and searching conversation about faith: what it means at the moment of salvation, how it grows through obedience, and what it costs when we choose not to follow.

The pastors explore the lordship salvation debate, the difference between intellectual belief and genuine trust, and what repentance reveals about the condition of a person's heart. They draw on the examples of Caleb and Joshua, the prophet Hosea, and key passages from James, Philippians, and 1 John to ground the discussion in scripture.

This episode closes with practical steps for growing in faith and a clear look at what is missed when a person chooses comfort and control over obedience to God.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SHK_L7COPBQ

What does the Bible actually say about the spiritual realm - and how does it affect the everyday life of a Christian? In this episode of The Branch, Pastor Anthony Lombardi, Pastor Matthew Johnson, and Pastor Chris Reed take on one of the most misunderstood topics in the Christian faith.

The pastors trace angels, demons, and satanic influence through both the Old and New Testaments, address what a Christian worldview says about ghosts and fortune telling, and explain why engaging those things outside of God's channels is genuinely dangerous. The conversation then moves into spiritual warfare - the three enemies every Christian faces and what it practically looks like to fight them through obedience, prayer, Scripture, and community.

Grounded, honest, and deeply practical - this is a conversation every Christian needs to hear.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zLNRRuwPV48

Episode 100 of The Branch Podcast brings Pastors Matthew Johnson, Anthony Lombardi, and Chris Reed together for one of their most candid conversations to date. The episode opens with a look back at some of the funniest moments from ministry life before turning to the story of how The Branch began - organic theological conversations in the church office that staff kept stopping to listen to.

From there, the pastors dig into why theology matters, how a biblical worldview shapes the way The Tree Church makes decisions, and what it looks like to hold disagreements with humility. Each pastor shares his personal journey into scripture, how his theological thinking has shifted over the years, and the questions he still wrestles with today.

Honest, grounded, and genuinely enjoyable - this is a conversation worth celebrating.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RY12Hk_MElY

Immigration is one of the most complex and emotionally charged topics of our cultural moment. In this episode of the Branch Podcast, Pastors Matthew Johnson, Anthony Lombardi, and Chris Reed approach the conversation not from a political platform but from a biblical one.

Drawing on Scripture from Genesis through Revelation, they explore why Christians are called to hold both justice and compassion at the same time - and why neither political tribe gets everything right. The discussion covers the God-given purpose of government, the treatment of image bearers, the already but not yet tension of living in a broken world, and what it actually looks like to love your neighbor in the middle of a divisive national conversation.

This is not a policy statement. It is a pastoral conversation meant to give believers a biblical framework for thinking through hard things with humility, clarity, and grace.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dhOqDdKLcao

What does it really mean to share your faith — and do you have to be a theologian to do it?

In this episode of the Branch Podcast, Pastors Anthony, Matthew, and Chris have an open, encouraging conversation about evangelism. They define what evangelism is, why the ultimate goal is relationship with God, and why personal testimony is far more powerful than winning a theological argument.

Drawing on biblical examples from Philip, Peter, and Paul, the pastors show that evangelism is contextual, relational, and available to every believer at every stage of faith. They also walk through Paul's planting and watering metaphor from 1 Corinthians 3 and offer practical, everyday ways to till the soil and build the kinds of relationships where faith conversations happen naturally.

Watch the full episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_2imQPjkjE

In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastors Chris, Matthew, and Anthony discuss the sovereignty of God and how it anchors believers in peace.

What does it mean that God is in control? How do we reconcile human choice with divine authority? And how should Christians respond to cultural fear, political tension, and personal suffering?

Drawing from Romans 8:28, Daniel 4, the story of Joseph, Revelation, and more, the pastors explore how God consistently works through brokenness to accomplish His redemptive purposes. They also address difficult questions about tragedy and suffering, reminding listeners that our comfort is not found in always knowing why, but in knowing who God is.

This episode encourages believers to remain faithful, resist fear and compromise, and trust that God’s plans and purposes will stand.

Watch the full episode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWB-wwjflxw

When is God calling you to step forward in faith, and when is He asking you to step back and trust Him?

In this episode of The Branch, Matthew Johnson is joined by Pastors Anthony Lombardi and Pastor Chris Reed to talk through the tension between action and surrender. Sometimes obedience means taking initiative. Other times it means waiting and letting God move. But how do you know the difference?

The pastors discuss how personality shapes our instincts, why trust is at the center of discernment, and how to respond when you feel like you’ve missed God. They also explore what to do when God seems silent and why knowing Scripture is essential for rightly hearing His voice.

Ultimately, obedience is measured by faithfulness, not immediate results. This conversation will help you navigate decisions with confidence rooted in relationship with God.

Watch the full episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYgunr46cu0

In this episode of the Branch Podcast, Pastor Anthony Lombardi sits down with Pastor Matthew Johnson and Pastor Chris Reed to discuss a challenging topic from the book of Psalms.

Some of the psalms include prayers where the writers cry out to God in anger and ask Him to bring judgment against their enemies. These passages can feel intense and even uncomfortable. So how should Christians understand them today? And how do we reconcile those prayers with Jesus’ command to love our enemies?

The Pastors explore the difference between justice and revenge, righteous anger and sinful anger, and what it means to entrust our pain to God rather than take matters into our own hands. This conversation offers a biblical and pastoral framework for navigating anger, injustice, and trust in God’s justice.

Watch the full episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDvQIxS7ZE8

In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastors Matthew, Anthony, and Chris discuss a thoughtful question many married couples face. Can God call one spouse to make a major life change that the other spouse does not agree with?

Through honest dialogue and real-life examples, the pastors talk through what calling looks like for Christians, how it can shift through different seasons, and how marriage shapes the way believers discern God’s direction. They emphasize the importance of unity, humility, patience, and honoring one’s spouse, especially when clarity does not come easily. The conversation also addresses common pitfalls, healthy practices, and the role of prayer and wise counsel when couples feel stuck or uncertain.

This episode offers a helpful framework for couples navigating decisions around work, relocation, ministry, or long-term direction, while keeping marriage and faith at the center.

Watch the full episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-9vFuVH7q8

In this episode of the Branch Podcast, Pastor Chris Reed is joined by Pastor Anthony Lombardi for an honest and thoughtful conversation about how Christians discern good and evil in a complicated world. With culture, politics, and media often pulling in competing directions, the Pastors reflect on how followers of Jesus are called to think wisely, remain grounded in Scripture, and live faithfully.

The discussion explores Jesus as the ultimate standard for truth, the idea of human flourishing, and the tension between submitting to governing authorities while remaining loyal to Christ and His kingdom. Drawing from passages such as Romans 12–13 and historical examples, the Pastors emphasize discernment, humility, and resisting reactionary thinking.

Rather than focusing on grand gestures or public spectacle, this episode consistently returns to the power of daily faithfulness and obedience as the primary way God brings lasting change.

Watch the full episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxVQX_fUIvg