Humble Faith: Holding Truth, Questions, and Trust Together - The Branch Podcast with Pastor Chris Reed, Pastor Matthew Johnson, and Pastor Anthony Lombardi of The Tree Church in Lancaster and Logan, Ohio.  Read More

The cross is God's ultimate answer to our doubts about His love. When we question whether God truly cares, we must return to Calvary. Jesus didn't suffer because the Father was absent or powerless, but because love required sacrifice for our redemption. God said "no" to Jesus' request to avoid the cross because there was a redemptive purpose worth the pain—you. If God loves you enough to sacrifice His Son, then when He allows suffering in your life, trust there's a redemptive reason you cannot yet see. Power, knowledge, and presence are incomplete without love. The cross completes the picture, proving that God's love is not passive but sacrificial, not distant but deeply personal.  Read More

The heroes of faith experienced both miracles and suffering. Some conquered kingdoms while others were tortured, yet all trusted God through their circumstances. The difference wasn't in their outcomes but in their lens. When we view God through our suffering, everything becomes dark. When we view suffering through God's faithfulness, we find endurance. Today, identify what lens you're using. Are you judging God's character by your current pain, or are you trusting His proven faithfulness despite your circumstances? The saints who suffered didn't receive immediate promises, yet they persevered because they believed God's purpose extended beyond their present moment. Choose today to shift your perspective from disappointment to trust.  Read More

Transformation happens through the renewal of your mind—testing and discerning God's good, acceptable, and perfect will. You've examined the blocks; now it's time to rebuild intentionally. Not every teaching you received was false. Not every experience was harmful. Don't throw out truth with error. As you reconstruct, focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. Build with Jesus' words, practiced in relationship with Him. Invite Him into every area—your relationships, sexuality, finances, anxiety, purpose. He doesn't just give rules; He offers Himself. The strongest life isn't built on having perfect theology—it's built on knowing the Person of Jesus. Today, choose one "block" to place back intentionally. Let it be founded on truth you've tested and a God you're learning to trust.  Read More

Sometimes God gives answers. Often, He gives something better—His presence. In your valley of questions, you may be demanding explanations when God is offering companionship. The psalmist didn't say, "I understand the valley, therefore I fear no evil." He said, "You are with me." Jesus didn't promise to remove every burden; He invited us to carry them alongside Him. What if the peace you're seeking isn't found in resolving every theological tension, but in experiencing God's nearness in the midst of uncertainty? Today, stop asking "why" long enough to ask "where are You?" Sit quietly. Tell Him what you're struggling with. Don't rush to fill the silence with answers. Let His presence speak what words cannot.  Read More

What if deconstruction doesn't have to destroy your faith? Pastor Matthew Johnson shows how to strip away what's false and rebuild on what's true.  Read More

Has the church made saving faith too easy? Pastor Matthew, Pastor Anthony, and Pastor Chris unpack what genuine faith actually looks like.  Read More

A Moabite widow makes an unexpected vow, and everything changes. Pastor Stacey and Pastor Chris unpack Ruth's radical loyalty in Ruth 1:6-18.  Read More

Jesus doesn't promise a storm-free life—He promises a foundation that holds when storms hit. Rain falls on both houses; the difference is what they're built upon. Your deconstruction may feel like a storm, but perhaps it's revealing whether your faith was built on religious performance, others' expectations, or cultural Christianity rather than on Christ Himself. The wise builder doesn't just hear Jesus' words; they do them. They experience Him. Knowledge alone won't sustain you when questions rage and doubts flood in. Relationship will. Today, identify one teaching of Jesus you've heard but haven't truly practiced. Choose to obey it—not from duty, but as an experiment in trust. Let experience deepen what knowledge alone cannot.  Read More

The Bereans didn't blindly accept Paul's teaching—they examined the Scriptures daily to test what they heard. This is biblical deconstruction: careful evaluation with the goal of finding truth, not just tearing down. God invites your honest questions. He's not threatened by your doubts. But examination requires intention. Are you deconstructing to discover what's true, or simply to justify walking away? There's a profound difference. Today, bring your hardest question to God. Write it down. Then commit to genuinely seeking His answer through Scripture, prayer, and trusted community. Don't pull blocks randomly from your faith—examine them carefully, remove what's false, and intentionally replace it with truth that makes you stronger.  Read More

Before you deconstruct anything in your life, remember what stands at the foundation: God's love for you. Jesus simplified everything to this core truth—love God who first loved you, then love others. When questions arise and doubts surface, return to this bedrock. God didn't wait for you to understand everything before loving you. He loved you first. Your faith journey isn't about having all the answers before believing; it's about experiencing relationship with the One who is the Answer. Today, instead of demanding God make sense intellectually, ask Him to reveal His love personally. Spend time simply receiving His affection. Let love be the first block you examine—and the one you keep.  Read More

A church pauses to celebrate 15 years of God's faithfulness - and receives an honest challenge about what comes next.   Read More

When Israel committed to serve God, Joshua erected a stone witness—a permanent reminder of their covenant. Spiritual growth requires tangible commitments, not just emotional moments. What stone of remembrance will mark this season of renewal? Perhaps it's a financial commitment that demonstrates trust, a service role that displays availability, or a relational connection that reflects community. Joshua knew human hearts drift, so he created accountability. The stone "heard" their promise and would testify against unfaithfulness. This isn't legalism; it's wisdom. We need visible reminders of invisible commitments. As you conclude this devotional, make one specific, measurable commitment to God. Write it down. Share it with someone. Let it stand as your witness that you're not coming down from what God has called you to build.  Read More

"Choose this day whom you will serve." Joshua forced a decision because neutrality is impossible—you serve whoever you obey. This isn't a one-time altar call but a daily declaration lived through behavior. Your calendar, bank account, and conversations reveal your true allegiances more than your Sunday worship. Joshua's boldness inspires: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." He planted his flag regardless of others' choices. Who will you serve today? Not theoretically, but practically—in that difficult conversation, financial decision, or time allocation. Your choices are your worship. God doesn't demand perfection, but He does require direction. Where your obedience goes, your heart follows. Make your declaration, then live it.  Read More

Pastor Stacey Crawford, Pastor Chris Reed & Pastor Zach open Ruth 1:1-5 - loss, hard decisions, and what it means to trust God when life gets complicated.  Read More

Joshua's warning cuts deep: the same God who blesses obedience will discipline disobedience. This isn't about earning God's love—that's already secured—but about experiencing His best. Divided loyalty always leads to diminished life. What competes for God's place in your heart? Career success? Financial security? Others' approval? These aren't inherently evil, but when they command the obedience that belongs to God alone, they become functional gods. Joshua witnessed an entire generation miss the Promised Land because they trusted their fears more than God's faithfulness. What are you missing by serving lesser things? Today, identify one area where you've given another voice authority over God's. Repentance isn't condemnation; it's the pathway back to blessing.  Read More

Joshua did something remarkable—he gave Israel land as inheritance that enemies still occupied. This reveals a profound truth: God's promises often require our participation. There are territories in your life—relationships, callings, character growth—that God has already assigned to you, but opposition remains. The enemy still lives there. Yet God's promise stands: "One of you puts to flight a thousand." What promised land has God shown you that still feels occupied by fear, doubt, or circumstance? Your inheritance isn't based on current conditions but on God's covenant faithfulness. The work isn't done, but neither is God. He's given you the land; now walk in faith to possess it.  Read More

Before moving forward, we must look back. Joshua gathered Israel to recount God's miraculous interventions—parted rivers, fallen walls, supernatural victories. What has God done in your life? Perhaps He provided when resources seemed impossible, healed a relationship you thought was dead, or opened doors you never imagined. These memories aren't nostalgia; they're fuel for faith. When we rehearse God's past faithfulness, we build confidence for future battles. Today, write down three specific ways God has proven faithful in your journey. Let these testimonies become stones of remembrance, anchoring your trust when new challenges arise. God's track record in your yesterday guarantees His presence in your tomorrow.  Read More

Nicodemus, who first came to Jesus by night, eventually stepped into the light. After the crucifixion, he publicly identified with Jesus, bringing burial spices and caring for His body. The secret seeker became a bold disciple. When he encountered the resurrected Christ, Nicodemus must have understood fully what being "born again" meant. His transformation from midnight questioner to daylight follower illustrates what Jesus does in every surrendered life. You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. The same resurrection power that raised Jesus transforms everyone who believes. Your response to Jesus determines everything.  Read More

Jesus didn't come to condemn, yet some face condemnation. What makes the difference? Not God's willingness—He proved His love at the cross. The difference is our response. Belief isn't mere intellectual agreement; it's surrendering control of your life to Jesus. Some refuse because they love darkness more than light, preferring to hide rather than be exposed and healed. But today is the day of salvation. The invitation stands open. Jesus offers new birth, forgiveness, eternal life, and relationship. The most powerful Being in existence, who has a redemptive plan for your life, loves you more than anyone ever has or will.  Read More

Pastor Matthew Johnson, Pastor Anthony Lombardi & Pastor Chris Reed celebrate 100 episodes with their most personal theological conversation yet.  Read More

Pastor Matthew Johnson delivers a powerful Easter message on John 3 - what it means to be born again, and why the difference is your response to Jesus.  Read More

Pastor Stacey Crawford, Pastor Chris Reed & Pastor Zach launch a new Bible study series on the book of Ruth - redemption, faithfulness & God's surprising plan.  Read More

We're diving into the Book of Ruth! This beautiful 4-chapter story bridges the gap between Judges and Kings, showing us God's faithfulness in the midst of devastation and complexity.  Read More