September 2026.
Take the Next Step
The disciples waited, but when the Holy Spirit finally came, Peter and the others began to obey. The Holy Spirit moves through us in ways we could never accomplish on our own. We may not feel ready or sufficient, but we can take the next step knowing that where we lack, God can fill the gaps.
Wait for His Power
Jesus gave His disciples a seemingly impossible assignment, but He didn’t ask them to accomplish it in their own strength. He told them to wait for the promise of the Father and the coming power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our greatest act of faith is not doing more but learning to wait for God to empower what He has called us to do. We don’t have to manufacture the power to follow Jesus because He provides what we need.
Perfect Prayers
Even when you don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit is praying perfect prayers for you.
Say Yes Before You Know
Peter had no idea what following Jesus would look like after the resurrection. He had failed Jesus, been restored by Him, and was now simply told, “Follow me.” Jesus didn’t give Peter a complete plan for his future. He gave him an invitation to trust and obey. Following Jesus often means saying yes before we know exactly where that yes will lead.
The Holy Spirit, Suffering, and the Prayers We Cannot Pray | The Branch
When words run out, the Holy Spirit prays for us. Pastors Chris and Matthew explore suffering, prayer, and hope from Romans 8.
Power and Boldness
Peter went from denying Jesus to preaching with boldness. Pastor Matthew shows how the Holy Spirit empowers us to obey God's call.
Nothing Can Separate Us
Paul ends this passage with one of the strongest declarations of hope in Scripture: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Trouble, suffering, danger, loss, uncertainty, and even death do not have the final word. God is for us, Jesus has given Himself for us, and the Holy Spirit is with us. We may walk through difficult seasons, but we never walk through them separated from the love of God.
God Is Working for Good
Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is able to work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This doesn’t mean everything that happens to us is good. Some things are painful, broken, and deeply unfair. But God is not finished with our stories. He can take what is difficult and work through it toward His greater purpose—ultimately conforming us to the image of Jesus.
1 John 1:5-10 | Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness | TCBS
The light doesn't create darkness; it exposes it. And John says the safest place for a sinner is right there in the light.
God Knows Where We Are
One of the most comforting truths about God is that He knows us completely. He knows where we are emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically, and relationally. Nothing about our current situation is hidden from Him. And the Holy Spirit doesn’t pray for some generic version of us—He knows exactly where we are and knows exactly where God is leading us. We can trust Him because He knows us perfectly and knows what is ultimately best for us.
When We Don’t Know What to Pray
Sometimes our pain is so deep that we don’t even know how to put it into words. We may feel overwhelmed, confused, or simply exhausted. Paul gives us an incredible picture of the Holy Spirit meeting us in those moments. When we are weak and don’t know what to pray, the Spirit helps us and intercedes for us according to God’s will. We don’t have to find the perfect words because the Holy Spirit already knows exactly what we need.
Finding Peace When the Storm Continues | The Branch
When Life Hurts
Suffering is a reality of following Jesus. Paul doesn’t minimize our pain or pretend that difficult seasons aren’t difficult. Instead, he reminds us that our present suffering is not the end of the story. God has promised a future glory where sin, brokenness, and death will be fully overcome. Our hope isn’t simply that we can survive what we’re facing today. Our hope is that God is making all things new.
1 John 1:1-4 | The Incarnation of the Word of Life | TCBS
John saw Jesus, heard Him, and touched Him. Discover what it means that the Word of life is fully God and fully man.
Let Peace Guard You
God repeatedly reminds His people that they do not need to fear because He is with them, strengthens them, and helps them. Peace does not mean that we will never have difficult circumstances or anxious thoughts. It means we have learned where to turn when those things come. As we choose to trust God, surrender what we cannot control, and remember His presence, we can experience a peace that is stronger than our circumstances. We may not know how the story will unfold, but we can know who is with us as it unfolds.
Jesus Is in the Boat
The disciples’ fear in the middle of the storm made sense based on their experience—they were fishermen who knew how dangerous storms could be. But they had forgotten to account for the most important difference: Jesus was in the boat with them. We can do the same thing when anxiety takes over; we can focus so completely on the storm that we forget who is with us in it. Jesus may calm the storm, or He may allow us to walk through it, but His presence means we do not have to face it alone.
The Exchange
Paul gives us a practical way to respond when anxiety takes hold: pray, ask God specifically for what we need, give thanks, and release the situation to Him. Prayer is more than simply telling God what is bothering us; it is an invitation to exchange our anxiety for His peace. God may not immediately change the circumstance we are facing, but He can change what is happening within us as we trust Him with it. His peace can guard our hearts and minds even when the situation itself remains unresolved.
The Humility to Ask for Help
Peter connects humility with how we respond to anxiety. When we are anxious about things we cannot control, our instinct can be to try harder, figure everything out, or carry the burden ourselves. But God invites us to humble ourselves by recognizing that we need His help and trusting that He cares for us. Casting our anxieties on God is an act of humility because we are admitting that we cannot carry everything on our own.
You Are Not Alone
When Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving, they had plenty of reasons to be anxious about the future. They were about to lose His physical presence and would have to navigate life and ministry without Him beside them. But Jesus promised that they would not be left as orphans because the Holy Spirit would come to be with them and live within them. Our peace is not based on having everything figured out or knowing how everything will turn out; our peace begins with knowing that God is with us.
Learning to Recognize and Respond to God's Voice | The Branch
Pastor Chris Reed and Pastor Matthew Johnson dig deeper into hearing God's voice, from seeking signs to trusting Him one step at a time.