The scariest monsters are those that come from within!

JR. Forasteros - September 7, 2014

Take a Risk

Branches

We live in a world that doesn't know how to disagree well. As a result, we form circles of people who largely agree with us, who see the world the way we do and reinforce our beliefs and ideas. Even in the Church, we tend to group with people like us. But according to Paul, we need people who are different from us. And our spirituality should connect us with people who aren't like us. If Church is one more place that affirms our divisions, we're doing it wrong.

From Series: "Branches"

No matter how much we enjoy the weekend worship experience, sooner or later, we stop growing. That's because we need more than great music and an engaging message. We need to connect with other people who are on the same journey as us. Learning we're not alone as we try to follow Jesus changes everything, and that's what Branches is all about. In a Branches group, you'll find people who've been where you are, who know the joys and pains of building relationships, work and figuring out your calling, raising a family, leaving a lasting legacy. They're people you can join with in figuring out exactly how the new life Jesus offers us changes our whole world. If that sounds too good to be true, it's not. Becoming part of a small group is the single best way to pursue a thriving, life-changing relationship with God. This is Branches. And big things happen in small groups.

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This is the season of the year when people start to think about monsters – ghosts and goblins and things that go bump in the night. We normally don’t think of monsters having anything to do with the Church, but we’d be wrong. The reason people tell monster stories is that monsters are a safe way to talk about things we’re not ready to admit about ourselves. We don’t want to see ourselves as selfish, unforgiving, ill-tempered. So we tell stories. We create monsters.

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