Can the Bible be trusted? Pastors Matthew Johnson, Chris Reed, and Anthony Lombardi tackle doubt, objections, and distorters in this honest conversation.   Read More

Jesus declares Himself not just as a way, but as the door to abundant life. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy—offering counterfeits that promise fulfillment but deliver emptiness. Christ offers something radically different: life to the fullest. This isn't merely existence, but a richness of purpose, peace, and eternal hope. Today, reflect on areas where you've settled for less than God's abundance. Are you pursuing life through other "doors"—success, relationships, comfort—only to find yourself depleted? Jesus stands as the exclusive entrance because He alone provides what your soul truly needs. Surrender your pursuit of counterfeits and walk through the door that leads to genuine, overflowing life.  Read More

Our world is broken. Sin's wages are death, but God's gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ. This is the big picture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. At the cross, we see both God's justice against sin and His mercy toward sinners—mysteries that our finite minds cannot fully reconcile. You may encounter passages that confuse or frustrate you. You might not understand every detail of God's ways or your own experiences. But you can trust the God who loved you enough to die for you. Progressive revelation means God unfolds His truth over time, with Jesus as the ultimate clarity. Today, surrender your need to understand everything. Instead, fix your eyes on the cross—where God's character is most clearly displayed.  Read More

Jesus announced His mission: proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and liberation for the oppressed. This is Scripture's ultimate purpose—not to control or harm, but to heal and restore. Yes, the Bible has been misused to justify terrible things, but that reflects human sin, not God's intent. The same Scriptures that hypocrites twisted were also the foundation for hospitals, schools, abolition, and civil rights movements. Jesus Himself rebuked those who weaponized Scripture while missing its heart. Today, examine how you're using God's Word. Are you wielding it as a weapon to judge others, or as medicine to bring healing? Let Christ's compassionate mission shape your interpretation.  Read More

Ruth steps into a field. Boaz arrives. And God was already there. Pastors Stacey, Matthew, and Chris study Ruth 2:1-7 and the beauty of divine providence.  Read More

The Bible doesn't hide humanity's ugliness. Many troubling passages are descriptive, not prescriptive—they show us the consequences of sin, not God's endorsement of evil. Israel's history serves as a warning and instruction for us. When we encounter difficult texts, we must distinguish between what Scripture records and what it celebrates. God allows us to see the chaos that results when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes." These passages remind us why we need God's objective standard rather than our subjective feelings. Today, when you face a confusing verse, ask: Is this showing me what happened, or what should happen? Let Scripture's difficult moments drive you toward deeper dependence on God's wisdom.  Read More

Can the Bible be trusted? Pastor Anthony Lombardi works through five objections and points back to the cross as the clearest picture of God's heart.   Read More

God has never been silent. Throughout history, He spoke through prophets in various ways, but His clearest revelation came through Jesus Christ. The Bible isn't just ancient literature—it's God's self-disclosure, His desire to be known. When we struggle with Scripture's complexity, we must remember its primary purpose: revealing the heart of God. Not every passage answers our scientific questions or resolves historical puzzles, but every part points toward God's character and His redemptive plan. Today, approach your Bible reading not as a textbook to master, but as a love letter to receive. Ask yourself: What is God revealing about Himself in this passage? How does this draw me closer to Jesus?  Read More

Faith comes through hearing God's Word—not through our own wisdom or reasoning. Just as a GPS requires both knowing where you are and where you're going, Scripture reveals our position in God's unfolding story. We discover who God is, who we truly are, and how salvation bridges the gap between us. Apart from Scripture, we're left wandering without direction. Today, consider how the Bible has shaped your understanding of God's character. Are you reading it primarily for information, or are you allowing it to transform how you see yourself in relation to your Creator? Let God's Word be the voice that guides you home, revealing both your need and His provision.  Read More

Is TikTok shaping your theology? Pastors Anthony, Matthew, and Chris talk discernment, algorithms, and what real spiritual growth actually requires.   Read More

God cannot always make sense to us because His perspective is eternal. He sees the entire story while we see only one page. This reality requires trust, not complete understanding. The disciples trusted Jesus into death because the resurrection gave them hope beyond this life. They suffered the loss of all things because they knew Jesus would give them something immeasurably better. Your faith will only thrive when it's anchored in eternal hope, not temporary comfort. God's purpose isn't merely our happiness but our holiness and His glory across generations. Trust begins at the cross and deepens through relationship. Engage Jesus in your suffering. Ask Him to meet you there. He will, because He's already been there Himself.  Read More

Paul declares that present sufferings aren't worth comparing to coming glory. He's not minimizing pain but providing eternal context. God wastes nothing. Your suffering can bring preparation, reliance on Him, ministry to others, or serve as a reminder of what truly matters. Paul's imprisonment led to a jailer's salvation. His thorn brought humility. Joseph's betrayal positioned him to save nations. God's perspective is eternal while ours is temporal. What feels unbearable today may be the very thing God uses for breakthrough tomorrow. The worker who knows his wages will endure hard labor differently than one who doesn't. Your wages are purpose, presence, and eternal life. Trust that God is working all things—even painful things—together for good.  Read More

The spiritual realm is real - and it affects your everyday life. Pastor Anthony, Pastor Matthew, and Pastor Chris unpack what Scripture actually says.   Read More

Naomi returns to Bethlehem bitter, broken, and empty. Pastor Stacey and Pastor Chris unpack why her raw grief is a picture of genuine faith.  Read More

What do we do when God doesn't meet our expectations? Pastor Matthew Johnson shows us how the cross changes the lens on suffering and trust.  Read More

We're called to run a race, not a sprint. Endurance requires intentionally removing weights and sins that hinder our trust in God. What's weighing you down? Perhaps it's toxic relationships, consuming negative content, or nursing unmet expectations that God never promised. The cloud of witnesses surrounds us—people who finished well despite hardship. But our ultimate example is Jesus, who endured the cross "for the joy set before Him." He looked past the suffering to the resurrection, past the shame to the salvation of many. You are His joy. When the race feels impossible, fix your eyes on Jesus. He understands your weariness because He ran this course first, and He's waiting at the finish line.  Read More

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