Thanks

Sarah and I got a thank you card from a pastor friend and his wife for taking them to dinner recently. While I read it I re-lived the feelings I had while we were sharing a great meal and even better conversation. When someone takes the time to say, "Thanks" it causes you to stop and smell the roses... to literally be transported to the moment of kindness. Giving thanks creates the environment you want to live in.

Branch Family Church
Thanks!

Get Planted

Thanks / Thankful – Grateful; impressed with a sense of kindness received. Gratitude is the feeling or sentiment excited by kindness; thanks are the expression of that sentiment.

Isaiah 51:3 – Comfort, restoration, beauty, joy and gladness reside in an environment of Thanksgiving.

Grow Strong



Psalm 50:23 – God is ready to demonstrate His salvation to the thankful person. Salvation miracles are for the thankful!

Ephesians 5:15-20 – A life of thanksgiving is a sign that the Holy Spirit fills and controls you

Philippians 4:4-7 – Worry is the enemy of thanksgiving. You can’t be thankful and worry at the same time.

Branch Out

Colossians 3:12-15 – The description of what life in a community of Believers should look like. Acts of kindness, doing good to others, are the seeds that will create a heart of thanksgiving.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 – Be thankful about others’ growth.

Gift Card December

Hey Branch Family Church! It's gift card December.


Here's how it works:

1. As you are out shopping, pick up gift cards to places like Target, Old Navy, Walmart, Toys R Us. You choose the place and the amount.
2. Bring the cards to church on Sunday or drop them by the Branch Christian Academy or the Branch Ballantyne Annex office during the week.
3. Bask in the Joy of knowing that you are helping someone at the Branch have a great Christmas!
   

Galatians 6:10 NLT - Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Sheep and Shepherds - Job Description

That's not in my job description!

We have all heard someone say those 6 words... maybe you have even uttered them. People with this attitude are almost always looking out for number one and not very interested in serving. They seem to want to do the minimum amount of work required to fulfill their job description. Nothing more. Bosses never want to promote people with this attitude. But, as a Christian, you possess a dual job description: Sheep and Shepherd. Your responsibilities go way beyond yourself.

Branch Family Church
Sheep and Shepherds

Get Planted

Job description: Shepherd
Ezekiel 34:1-10 - Irresponsible shepherds
Ezekiel 34:11-16 - Responsible shepherds

Grow Strong

The goal of the Branch is to develop healthy sheep and healthy shepherds

We are all Sheep... Take responsibility for yourself.

• Learn how to follow the Good Shepherd and know His voice.
  

We are all Shepherds... Take responsibility for others. Psalm 23 - He makes me lie down in green pastures:

• Sheep are timid. They refuse to lie down unless they are free form fear.
• Sheep are social. They will not lie down unless they are free from friction.
• Sheep hate aggravation. They will not relax when there are flies or parasites.
• Sheep need food. They won’t rest if they are hungry.

Galatians 6:10 - If I am not willing to walk across the room and inconvenience my self for you then the lost have no chance.

Responsible Shepherds do two things:
Matthew 9:35-38 - Reach
Mark 6:34 - Teach

Branch Out

Matthew 10:7-9 (The Message) - Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment...

Sheep and Shepherds - We are all shepherds

Hey Branch... ready for a double dose of my preaching buddy? Today Scott Jenkins is teaching at the Mallard Creek campus while I'm down at the Ballantyne campus. I'm tag team teaching with the newest Branch pastor DaVon Alexander. By the way, Pastor DaVon is doing great down here! I will be back at Mallard Creek next week to finish this series up. Meanwhile, Scott and I studied together for Sheep and Shepherds and today he is bringing a message that will challenge you to get out there and be Jesus! Here are the notes and you can click the picture to get the Podcast.

Branch Family Church
Sheep & Shepherds
Pastor Scott Jenkins

Get Planted
We are all shepherds...

Acts 3:1-11 - Disciples who have been with Jesus are able to give Jesus

Luke 5:17-26 - Sheep must have the heart of The Chief Shepherd. Shepherds must always lead people to the Chief Shepherd. When you find people that need a miracle... Bring them to the Chief Shepherd.

Grow Strong
Shepherds bring others to "The Shepherd"...

• You bring others close to Jesus because The Chief Shepherd is in you.
• Compassion is the call of Jesus. Listen for compassion and then act!
• Prepare to be inconvenienced. Compassion must be stronger than convenience.
• Don’t give up. Do whatever it takes to bring people to Jesus.
• Realize that your faith can change someone else.
• The result is that many will be attracted to Jesus.

Branch Out

Matthew 10:7-9 (The Message) - Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment...

Coast to Coast

I realized the other day that the Turner brothers (Derek, Scott & Kyle) are all church planters and represent churches that stretch from coast to coast. Obviously, God is responsible for this, but we also have some pretty amazing parents.

Thanks Mom & Dad!

Turners from Coast to Coast:
Derek - EAST (Charlotte, NC) - http://www.BranchChurch.org/
Scott - WEST (Irvine, CA) - http://www.thesummitoc.com/
Kyle - CENTRAL (Kansas City, MO) - http://www.thecausekc.com/

Too Busy For People

We asked our church-leader friends what they might do differently if they could do it all over again. One of them answered with disarming honesty, "I would just get together with a few friends over a drink at the pub to talk about Jesus and what he is doing." Then he added wistfully, "But I can't do that; I have too many church responsibilities."

Rather than someplace to go on Sunday mornings, church in the New Testament was a vibrant community of Jesus followers, a 24-7 Kingdom lifestyle. Church was simple, taking place over meals and based on relationships.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two of three gather together as my followers, I am there among them," and ask, "Could this be the simplest definition of church?

Are we so busy doing church that we've forgotten to be the church? As we approach Thanksgiving, it's appropriate to try to spend time putting aside our gratitude for what our volunteers have done and reflect on our appreciation of who they are. Yes, they've helped us accomplish ministry goals, but have we:

• Borne their burdens? (Galatians 6:2)
• Taught them? (Colossians 3:16)
• Preferred them in love? (Romans 12:10)
• Shared what we have with them, including meals and our hospitality? (Acts 2)

If we have too many church responsibilities to have time to build relationships, then I suggest we all reconsider our priorities. It's interesting to me that the Christians in Acts 2 "had favor with all the people." That's certainly not true today, is it.

Could it be because we're not acting like the Acts 2 Christians acted?

Guest Blogger Brian Proffit
The Equipping Ministry Blog: Too Busy For People

UNCC Intervarsity

I spoke @ The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The campus is directly across the street from the Branch Christian Academy. Mike Witt is the fearless leader of the Intervarsity group and 180 is the name of their gathering. Grayson and Tori did music and I talked about the undeserved nature of forgiveness. I love speaking to the students! Here are my notes:

1. Know God Forgives you...

Forgiveness is always for the undeserving:

• Acts 15:11 - We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.
• Romans 3:24 - Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
• Romans 5:2 - Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
• Romans 11:6 - And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

2. Forgive others...

Matthew 18:21-35 - Every time is the right time for forgiveness.

John 20:21-23 - Releases the Divine part of you. You are never more “Christ-like” than when you forgive! Message - Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"

Luke 7:47 - Message - If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal. There is no such thing as a partial sinner. Everyone was forgiven of the greatest debt of sin that you could never pay for. The results of knowing what you have been forgiven, forgiving others and forgiving yourself is “loving much.”

3. Forgive Yourself...

Romans 8:1 - Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is you. God says, I forgive you with no condemnation... don't disagree with Him!

Sheep and Shepherds - We are all sheep

Today Scott Jenkins is teaching at the Mallard Creek campus while I'm down at the Ballantyne campus. We studied together on this sermon series and I know he will bring a perspective that only Scott can! Here are the notes and you can click the picture to get the Podcast.

Branch Family Church
Sheep & Shepherds
Pastor Scott Jenkins

Get Planted
We are all sheep...

Luke 18:35-43 - Sheep must always go to the Chief Shepherd.

Grow Strong
When you need a miracle go to the Chief Shepherd with the same attitude as the blind beggar:

• Realized Jesus was close
• Called on Jesus
• Did not care what others thought
• Had Jesus’ attention
• Received what he needed
• Praised God for what He did
• Made an impact on those around him

Branch Out

Psalm 18:3 / Psalm 55:16 / Psalm 86:7 / Psalm 91:15

Berzerkowitz and ChurchBartender

Recently Grayson Berkowitz was interviewed by Michael Trent about Charlotte One.

Check it out... Charlotte One w/ Grayson hosted by michaeltrent at 11/03/2009 20:52:44

By the way, cool things are brewing for the Branch and Charlotte One... Stay tuned!

Sheep and Shepherds

Click the Sheep photo and listen to the Pod cast.
Pastoral language and image have a root in Shepherding. But Most Christians have a very narrow view of Shepherding or Pastor.

It's not about a small group of Pastors and a large group of the "Pastored". We all better be Shepherded by the One True Shepherd... Jesus! And we all better love people with the heart of The One True Shepherd... Jesus!

So we are all sheep and we are all shepherds.

Get Planted

Psalm 23 - All this because the Lord is my Shepherd...

• Leads me to a good place
• Rest
• Feeding
• Nurturing
• Restoration
• Comfort
• Guidance
• Included in His flock
• Protection from enemies
• Goodness and Love

Grow Strong

We are all Sheep...
There is one Shepherd and we are all shepherded by the expert Shepherd.
1 Peter 2:25
John 10:7
It’s all about your relationship with THE Shepherd. The moment I rely on a human being for what the Chief Shepherd should give me... I’m in trouble! When you are in a difficult situation the first place you should go is the Throne, not the phone.

We are all Shepherds...
I am standing in a room of shepherds. The Spirit of the Good Shepherd dwells in you.
Romans 8:11
1 Corinthians 3:16
You have the instincts of a shepherd. Something in you wants to do what a Shepherd does.

Branch Out

Matthew 9:35-38 - Compassion on sheep without a shepherd is the motivation to win the lost. Jesus connects the heart of a pastor to evangelism.