Branches HB Podcast

Health & Wealth // Part 1 - April 8, 2018

As we kick off Part 1 of our series, Andrew Schey explores how we become what we worship and invites us to journey to discover the meaningful place money, beauty, possessions, and experience can have in our lives when they're redeemed and placed under Christ's lordship. As we heard last week, we're built with a spiritual root system in which we draw life from somewhere - but when we choose to reflect lifeless things we simply build empty idols that will never bring us fulfillment. In this series, we'll break down the empty promises of the world and uncover true Health & Wealth in God, reflecting His image and bearing good fruit.

With You Always - April 1, 2018

In this Easter message, Andrew Schey reminds us that with Christ’s resurrection comes his commitment to be faithful to us, and the promise of his Holy Spirit to dwell within us. No matter what you encounter on your journey, you do not go alone. For the God of the universe is "with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

I AM (Exodus 35-40:38) - March 25, 2018

In the final message of our I AM series, Andrew Schey unpacks how the Israelites followed the exact pattern for building the tabernacle as God instructed them, which led to a new level of intimacy with God in following the leading of His presence. As followers of Jesus today, this has profound implications for the way in which we lay hold of the life God has given us here on earth. When we strive to follow His exact pattern for walking in discipleship to Jesus, we too can be the well-adorned walking tabernacles where people will come and find the indwelling presence of the living God.

I AM (Exodus 33:7-34:35) - March 18, 2018

From standing before a burning bush in confusion and fear, asking God to send someone else, we now find Moses fighting on behalf of the Israelites and knowing God intimately enough to be certain that He will respond in love. As we hear from Brian Sumner, it is out of God's good pleasure toward Moses and Moses' desire for the people that God agrees to re-engage and be present with them as they make their way to the Promised Land. This level of intimacy speaks of God's nature and His desire for relationship with us - that if we abide in Him we will be rewarded with an even deeper friendship with our Father.

I AM (Exodus 32-33:8) - March 11, 2018

This weekend, Andrew Schey reflected on the sin of the Israelites in the golden calf episode and the motivations behind their activity in Exodus 32, drawing connections to the ugly side of our human nature. The nature of God is also displayed in this passage, revealing the emotional reality of God in the face of sin and His capacity to be hurt. As such, our relationship with God is a REAL relationship - one with the capacity for great hurt as well as perfect joy and peace. 

I AM (Exodus 24:12-31:18) - March 4, 2018

Echoing the creation account, the details of the tabernacle are beautiful and immersive - a place where heaven literally meets earth. In this place of concentrated beauty, God communicated both His nearness and His otherness. Andrew Schey walks us through the key items of the tabernacle before applying the truth that we are now a tabernacle for God's Spirit. As the place where God's Holy Spirit now dwells, you are a creation being recreated from the inside out - if only you will let Him in.

I AM (Exodus 20:1-24:11) - Feb. 25, 2018

In this teaching from Brian Sumner, we continue our I AM series in Exodus 20-24:11 where God meets Moses atop Mount Sinai and establishes the laws and commandments for His covenant with the nation of Israel. More than just displaying His mighty power, God pours out His heart through the laws and commandments, revealing His jealous disposition for their hearts, His holiness above anyone or anything else in all of creation, and the practical examples and details of what it looks like to be in a healthy relationship with Him. Like the Israelites, we have the choice to either follow His commandments in loving obedience or follow our own path instead.

I AM (Exodus 19) - Feb. 18, 2018

In this passage, God previews the covenant He's making with the Israelites and gives them a vision of why He saved them from Egypt to be set apart as a Holy Nation. The God we worship today is the same God who came down on a mountain shaking with fire that would destroy anyone who touched it - and yet many of us get sidetracked and forget where we have come from and where we're going. By pairing the verses from Exodus with the New Testament realities alongside them, Andrew Schey connects us to our past, present, and future, thereby reminding us of God's call on our lives to declare His love across the globe. 

I AM (Exodus 18) - Feb. 11, 2018

This weekend, Andrew Schey shared a pragmatic message on Jethro's advice to Moses and how that relates to our church culture. How do we process our dissatisfaction with church and what does that mean for you personally? This teaching addresses leaders who are worn out, as well as capable people on the sidelines and those who need to step toward spiritual maturity and personal responsibility.

I AM (Exodus 15:22-17:16) - Feb. 4, 2017

Despite some technical difficulties during our park service, we heard an impactful message from Andrew Schey on Exodus 15:22-17:16. Merely three days after they experienced God in amazing ways, the Israelites still got caught up in their needs and circumstances. This "grumbling" speaks to the human condition in which we immediately forget our blessings as soon as we encounter hardship. Although we may test God on a pass/fail system, God tests us in an entirely different way: to grow and mature our relationship with Him.