Branches HB Podcast

Presence // Part 1 - September 10, 2017

As we kick off our four-week vision series on the presence of God, Andrew Schey teaches from the Old Testament to illustrate how God is continually working to reunite people into relationship with Him as in the Garden of Eden. However, just like the man who fashions an idol out of a felled tree in Isaiah 44:14-20, our lack of critical reflection on our behaviors leads us to neglect God's presence in our lives. In order to avoid climbing a ladder to nowhere, we must enter into a meaningful, face-to-face friendship with God that distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Because without His presence, nothing else matters.

Resurrection and Marriage - September 3, 2017

In Luke 20:27-40, Jesus is presented with a seemingly trick question by the Sadducees who are attempting to prove that there is no afterlife. Jesus proceeds to dismantle their futile worldview by correcting their assumptions about heaven and demonstrating that God is the God of the living. As Chris Shaddix explains, if we're fixated on the temporary things right in front of us, we will never find fulfillment. Instead, we need to retrain our vision through scripture, worship, communion, and prayer in order direct our eyes to God in hope and expectation of what is to come.

The Parable of the Tenants - August 27, 2017

After His authority is questioned by the chief priests, Jesus goes on to tell the Parable of the Tenants in Luke 20:1-19, illustrating just how intoxicating power can be. As Andrew Schey explains, spiritual leaders shouldn't be lobbied by culture or congregations to remain at the top, but should instead recognize Jesus as the only authority. When we're lead by Jesus, we can build our lives on the one true cornerstone and avoid being crushed by the weight of our sin.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King - August 20, 2017

In this installment of our series, Andrew Schey leads us through Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem detailed in Luke 19:28-48. Despite arriving to shouts of praise from his followers, Jesus is quickly met with disdain from the Pharisees and corruption in the temple. He knows that in just a short while, Jerusalem will not only condemn him to death, but also be destroyed by invading armies. How did the long-anticipated Messiah become unrecognizable to the religious leaders around him? As we find in this teaching, we too can miss the God of the universe right in front of us by looking for the wrong things in the wrong places.

The Sycamore Tree - August 13, 2017

As we continue our series, Brock Snook unpacks the scene in Luke 19:1-9 in which a despised tax collector, Zacchaeus, climbs a sycamore tree to see Jesus pass through a crowd. When Jesus calls him out of the tree in order to be a guest at Zacchaeus's home, we find that salvation is available to anyone who simply accepts Jesus’ free invitation. However, if you don't decide to come down from your tree, you not only reject Him as your savior, but also force Him to be your judge.

Like A Little Child - August 6, 2017

In this message from Luke 18:15-18, Andrew Schey teaches on the importance of becoming like a little child before God to receive His blessing. As his disciples attempted to turn away parents seeking Jesus' blessing for their babies, Jesus challenged societal values and hierarchy by blessing children, though they were unworthy in their weakness and lack of righteousness. As a child, you too must embrace your weakness and acknowledge your needs If you are to receive Jesus' blessing.

 

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector - July 30, 2017

In a parable from Luke 18:9-14, Jesus teaches the importance of humility, as those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. The simplicity of this teaching can cause the message to be overlooked. However, as teacher Kyle Vick points out, a true understanding and practice of the humility Jesus is after is challenging, but Jesus himself says that the one who is humble is justified before God. Are you willing to name your needs and shortcomings before Jesus, who wants to bless you?

 

The Coming Kingdom of God - July 23, 2017

In this teaching from Luke 17:20-18:8, Jesus answered the question of when the Kingdom of God would come, describing a present spiritual reality rather than a calendar date. In this study, Brian Sumner challenges all who hear this teaching not to limit it to a literal, physical understanding of the details and how the events of the end times will happen, but to receive this as a teaching for you today. While the Second Coming of Jesus has not yet happened, the Kingdom of God is a present spiritual reality if your eyes are open to the miracles of God around you and you are living an active, urgent life for God, preparing the way as a preacher of the gospel in whatever position or community God has placed you.

 

Your Faith Has Made You Well - July 16, 2017

Andrew Schey leads this study on Luke 17:11-19, which records the account of Jesus healing ten lepers as he was traveling along the border of Samaria and Galilee. While all nine were physically healed, only one came back to thank Jesus, and only one was healed spiritually and received salvation. What separated him from the other nine was simply his heart of gratitude, which is the door to eternal life. Are you more concerned with physical healing and improving your immediate circumstances, or are you concerned with eternal wellness and thanking the Giver for your blessings?

Unworthy Servants - July 9, 2017

In this message, Andrew Schey teaches from Luke 17:7-10, which contains one of an assortment of Jesus' teachings on how we ought to be as disciples. in the passage, Jesus relates the humility we ought to have through the dynamic between a master and servant, as all who accept God's grace are His servants. If you accept the gospel, you can do so with entitlement or humility, but only humility reflects what Jesus is after. Where is your heart? Is your heart full of gratitude as an unworthy servant or are you entitled to His grace as if God owes you?