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Did you know that about 1 in 2 adults in the United States report feeling lonely? The Surgeon General has called it an epidemic — and it should not surprise us. From the very beginning, God designed us for relationship. Genesis 2 makes it clear that it is not good for us to be alone, and God Himself exists in eternal relationship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this week's discussion, Matthew, Chris, and Anthony explore why loneliness persists even in a world more "connected" than ever, and what real, God-designed relationships actually look like — marked by vulnerability, trust, cost, and intentionality. The church is uniquely positioned to offer what the world cannot: a community that acknowledges brokenness and meets it with grace. If you have been feeling disconnected, this conversation is for you. Watch or listen and share with someone who needs it.

What if the most important thing you could do for the people you love is simply share what God has done in your life? In Ephesians 2, Paul makes it clear that without Christ, we are dead in our sins — not struggling, not searching, but dead. And yet, those two powerful words change everything: "But God."God's strategy for reaching a lost world is not complicated. It is you. Your story, your relationships, your table, your invitation to "come and see." You do not have to have it all together. You do not have to close the deal. You simply have to be faithful and trust the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do.Join us as we continue our series on evangelism and discover how ordinary relationships can become the greatest mission field you will ever have.

In this episode of The Branch, Pastor Matthew Johnson, Pastor Chris Reed, and Pastor Anthony Lombardi sit down for an honest and often lighthearted conversation about communion.You’ll hear Pastor Chris explain the main views of communion held throughout church history. The three share how they experienced communion growing up and talk about two dangers, treating it like a magic trick or going through the motions.The conversation then traces communion back to Passover. Pastor Chris reads God’s four promises from Exodus 6 and walks through the four cups and the unleavened bread. Pastor Anthony explains how Jesus fulfills Passover as the Lamb of God.The episode closes with practical questions about how often to take communion, whether it is only for believers, and Paul’s warning to the Corinthians.Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oEmugwB5gfg

Have you ever sensed God calling you to something while feeling afraid at the same time? On this episode of The Branch, Pastor Matthew Johnson is joined by Pastor Chris Reed and Pastor Anthony Lombardi for an honest conversation about being empowered by the Holy Spirit.You will hear them walk through Peter's story, from denying Jesus to preaching at Pentecost, and what it teaches about willpower and the Spirit's power. They talk about past failures, the difference between fear and disobedience, how to know when God is calling you, and how the Holy Spirit works in ordinary, everyday moments. The episode closes with practical advice for anyone feeling that tension this week, including telling someone, asking for prayer, and taking the first step.Watch the full conversation on YouTube at https://youtu.be/BhaMb-TxXtU

In this episode of The Branch podcast, Pastor Chris Reed sits down with Pastor Matthew Johnson to revisit Sunday's message from Romans 8. Together they talk about suffering, God's plan for our lives, and how the Holy Spirit prays for us when we don't have the words.You'll hear both pastors share honest stories from seasons when God felt distant. Chris describes pain as a fog that hides what we know to be true. Pastor Matthew explains how praying in tongues fits into his devotional life. They also discuss why Romans 8:28 promises that all things work toward good, and why a loving God sometimes says no.The episode closes with practical help for anyone who is hurting. That help includes honest prayer, journaling, listening for God, praying the Psalms, and bringing mature believers alongside you.Watch the full conversation on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/hmRZo6gU84k

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by anxiety, even when you know God is good? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Anthony Lombardi rejoins Pastor Matthew Johnson and Pastor Chris Reed for an honest, personal conversation about finding peace when the storm does not seem to end.Listeners will hear the three pastors open up about their own seasons of unsettledness, wrestling with anxiety, and learning what it means to trust God even when their emotions do not line up with what they know to be true. The conversation covers the Holy Spirit as Comforter, Helper, and Advocate, the difference between sympathy and empathy when supporting someone who is struggling, and how gratitude and obedience can carry believers through seasons that last far longer than they would like.Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/houroFRgfJA

Pastor Chris Reed and Pastor Matthew Johnson dig deeper into Matthew's recent sermon on hearing God's voice. They talk through why believers still need the Spirit's specific guidance beyond scripture's general wisdom, the difference between seeking a sign and seeking His voice, and what to do when God feels silent. Matthew shares personal stories along the way, including a pivotal early testimony from his ministry that shaped how he listens for God's leading today. If you have ever wondered whether you are really hearing from God, this conversation offers a grounded, practical place to start.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kt7sTHF2P2A

Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit nudge you to do something, but talked yourself out of it before you could act? That quiet prompting to pray for someone, to reach out, to step into something uncomfortable, that is the Holy Spirit at work. In this week's Branch Podcast, Pastor Anthony Lombardi rejoins Pastor Matthew Johnson and Pastor Chris Reed for an honest, personal conversation about learning to recognize, trust, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit rather than relying on themselves. They open up about their very different spiritual upbringings and how each of them worked through skepticism, insecurity, and self-reliance to arrive at a healthier, Spirit-dependent way of living and leading.🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Erklj2xRwek

True transformation is not a sprint, and it is not a marathon. It is a lifestyle. In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Chris and Pastor Matthew talk honestly about what it looks like to let the Holy Spirit shape, correct, and lead us toward the life God designed, if we are willing to listen.The hardest part is surrendering control. We all want to get better, but on our own terms. Real change happens when we stop defining "better" for ourselves and let God set the standard. As Psalm 139 reminds us, the invitation is simple, ask God to search your heart, reveal what is displeasing, and lead you in His everlasting way. His discipline is not punishment, it is proof of His love.Part of the Proof series at The Tree Church.Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/D9SxceDBLDU

Have you ever felt God moving in your life but didn't have the words to describe it? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Matthew and Pastor Chris sit down for an honest, personal conversation about the Holy Spirit. They share their very different spiritual backgrounds, one shaped by a charismatic upbringing, the other by a quieter Lutheran tradition, and how those experiences led them to very different starting points in understanding the Spirit's work.Listeners will hear stories about prophecy, tongues, moments of doubt, and moments of clear confirmation from God. Matthew and Chris talk through what they've each had to unlearn theologically, how the Spirit has guided key decisions in their ministries and families, and why they believe every believer is invited into this same kind of relationship with God.Part of the Proof series at The Tree Church.Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/HKmHZ4SK8aI

Faith and science are often put on opposite sides, but Pastor Chris Reed, Pastor Anthony Lombardi, and Pastor Matthew Johnson do not think that tension has to exist. In this episode of The Branch Podcast, the three pastors go deeper on Pastor Tim's recent message and work through some of the biggest questions at the intersection of faith and science.They talk through what Genesis was actually designed to communicate, how Christians should engage scientific consensus, whether evolution conflicts with a biblical view of creation, and how the age of the earth does or does not affect Christian faith. The conversation also takes on philosophical and moral questions that science simply cannot answer on its own.This is a grounded, honest conversation that takes both faith and intellectual integrity seriously. It is a great listen for anyone who has wrestled with these questions personally or in conversation with others.▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kdvFDnVdn5c 🌳 The Tree Church | Lancaster & Logan, OhioSunday Services: 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM

What does it actually mean to believe Jesus is the only way in a world that says every path leads to the same place? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Chris Reed sits down with Pastor Matthew Johnson for an honest and grounded conversation about truth, relativism, and the exclusivity of Christ in a pluralistic culture.They discuss how faith is both intellectual and experiential, why every belief system makes an exclusivity claim, and what it looks like to hold deep convictions while still loving people well. The conversation also explores how to share faith relationally, how to navigate deconstruction in a healthy community, and what the historic essentials of Christianity actually are.If you have wrestled with these questions yourself or know someone who has, this is a conversation worth sitting with.Watch the full episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/kvhmntHev_s

Why do so many people struggle to trust the Bible? In this episode, we explore some of the biggest questions driving deconstruction—hypocrisy, suffering, culture, contradictions, science, and authority—and discuss how faith can be reconstructed on truth instead of emotion, misinformation, or bad experiences.

Social media has put theology in everyone's pocket - but is it forming us or deforming us? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastors Anthony Lombardi, Matthew Johnson, and Chris Reed examine the world of Christian influencers and short-form theological content. They explore why platform size does not equal credibility, how algorithms quietly shape belief, and why genuine spiritual growth has always required community, accountability, and the long, unglamorous work of studying scripture. The conversation closes with practical steps for anyone who wants to take their spiritual formation seriously in a world built for distraction.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MqL7pY5BGls

What does it look like to deconstruct and reconstruct your faith in a healthy way? In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Chris Reed, Pastor Matthew Johnson, and Pastor Anthony Lombardi tackle that question head-on - and the answer starts with humility. The conversation covers why demanding that God make sense on our terms is rooted in a consumer-culture arrogance, and why real trust in God is built through relationship rather than information. The pastors also address the hurt and disillusionment that often sit beneath intellectual questions about faith, how the church has historically mishandled doubt, and what it practically looks like to create safe space for people who are wrestling. Grounded in Romans 8, John 8, and James 4, this is a pastoral, honest, and encouraging conversation for anyone navigating a season of questioning. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_Kw2bMVmMU