Branches HB Podcast

I AM (Exodus 6:30-15:21) - Jan. 28, 2018

In this teaching, Andrew Barris focuses on Exodus 13:17-14:31 in a God-centered message on the ways God puts His characteristics on display to redeem humanity. Using His creation as a stage, God demonstrates that He has the might to deliver His people - even in impossible circumstances. From parting the Red Sea for the Israelites to sending His son as our redeemer, God affirms that there is no one like Him in all of the universe.

I AM (Exodus 5-6:30) - Jan. 21, 2018

Sometimes when we follow the will of God, our circumstances actually get worse. As Andrew Schey points out, even though Moses is told what's going to happen, the experience of Pharaoh's rejection is hard to take, causing disillusionment for not only Moses but also the Israelites. Moses' experience parallels Jesus' teaching that in this life we will experience hardship. Although we are told what to expect, it is much harder to accept experientially. As a result, circumstantial hardship often shakes the foundation of our faith and leaves us feeling like God over-promised and under-delivered. But by pairing glory and suffering, we acknowledge hardship as part and parcel to our development as followers of Jesus and point to the promise of glory that we cling to in faith.

I AM (Exodus 3-4:31) - Jan. 14, 2018

Appearing as flames within a bush, God calls upon Moses to bring the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt - but such a call is quickly met with resistance. Rather than listing out all of the reasons why He chose Moses, God instead responds with a personal declaration of might and power beyond human limitations. As Andrew Schey explains, natural ability isn't the justification or qualification for our calling. Instead, God's presence enables us to do what we normally cannot do, thereby using our empty vessel to do something phenomenal.

I AM (Exodus 1-2:10) - Jan. 7, 2018

Starting the year off with a new series, Andrew Schey walks us through Exodus 1-2:10 and the apparent absence of God during hardship. Although God's presence isn't always readily apparent, as we see in the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, grace is the undercurrent beneath the injustices of the earth, leading God's people on a winding road to redemption. So, what does it mean to trust in a bigger reality despite our limited experience of this world?

Taking Hold of God's Promises - Dec. 31, 2017

In this standalone message, Brock Snook teaches from Joshua 1:1-11 to encourage us to take hold of God's promises, just like Joshua did after 40 years in the desert. By seeing everyday as preparation, trusting God's word, and moving forward in faith, we can be ready for God's call to act and step into the promised land.

LET THERE BE LIGHT - Dec. 24, 2017

Life can feel like a moonless night and navigating a way forward requires that we find a light. The story of Christmas and Christ’s coming is a story of light. It is a creation story, or rather, a re-creation story. Just as God spoke light into the void of darkness at the creation of the world, so God in sending Jesus into the world spoke a spiritual light into the void of spiritual darkness. 

LET THERE BE LIGHT // through us - Dec. 17, 2017

In the third week of our advent series, LET THERE BE LIGHT, Andrew Schey unpacks Isaiah 58:1-12 and we find that if we aren't taking up God's cause and expressing love, we're dying from the inside out. In spending ourselves on behalf of others, our experience of the present darkness will change and our overall experience of the world will brighten. We can radically reshape reality by allowing God's light to shine through us. Though it may seem daunting at first, it all starts with reaching the person right in front of you.

LET THERE BE LIGHT // in us - Dec. 10, 2017

What does it mean - right now - to follow God and make the most of the opportunities you have? This weekend in part two of our series, Let There Be Light, we faced the stark reality that what makes us different is not our capacity for sin, but what we do with it. Using Paul's teachings in Ephesians 5:8-20, Andrew Schey emphasizes that we must be very careful how we live because our days are short despite appearing endless. By bringing our sin into the light, releasing it to God, and receiving healing, we can seize each day to do His will and stir up a song in our hearts.

LET THERE BE LIGHT // in darkness - Dec. 3, 2017

In the first part of our advent series, Let There Be Light, Andrew Schey confronts the darkness of this world and our desire for peace and restoration. Reflecting on Lamentations 2:11-15 and Isaiah 9:1-7, we learn that the arrival of Jesus will result in a joy like that of those who realize their toil is over and the harvest is plentiful. Like the sun rising at dawn, the light of Jesus will only get brighter and higher; however, as we'll discover in the weeks ahead, allowing His light to shine in and through us involves a choice. 

Jesus Appears to the Disciples and the Ascension - Nov. 26, 2017

In the conclusion of our yearlong study of the gospel of Luke, we find Jesus extending a patient invitation to believe and instructing the disciples in what is to come, thus transforming their confusion into experience-based conviction. Although the task of telling others about your own experiences with God can be daunting, we don't share it alone; instead, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to make up for our inadequacies and expect God to make good on His promises. As Andrew Barris points out, the world is broken, but God is transforming it from the inside out - one heart at a time.