The Branch Oxford: Recent Episodes
Ryan Hoover
The Branch Church exists to connect people to the life-giving Vine of Jesus Christ. Come Grow With Us as we Chase Jesus and allow that pursuit to Shape our Culture.
Pastor Ryan closes out tour series on being Transformed by digging deeper into the power of our words.
If you want to Transform your World, you must first Transform your Words.
Pastor Amanda brings part 3 of teaching us how to Transform our lives by changing the way we think. Come Grow With Us!
Pastor Amanda hits hard on how deeply our false narratives affect our Transformation. At our core, do we truly believe that God is truly good & is 100% on your side? Or do we think there is a 1% chance God is not truly good?
Come grow with us today & be Transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Pastor Ryan kicks off our new series called Transformed. He digs into Paul's thoughts to the Romans to Not Conform, but be Transformed!
Pastor Ryan walks us through a few lessons he's learned over one of the most difficult seasons of his life. I hope you're blessed and encouraged through this very challenging message.
Pastor Ryan leads us in the simple thought of Keep Coming Back To The Table & Never Come Alone
There's ALWAYS a place for you at the table. And if there's a place for you, there's a place for them too!
Pastor Ryan walks us through what it truly means to Build an Altar.
When you find the place God moves in your life, Keep Coming Back & Build an Altar to remember!
Pastor Amanda walks us through the most perfect gift ever given in one of our family services.
Pastor Amanda challenges us to Trust I the midst of our Messed Up Plans!
Happy Father's Day
Pastor Ryan walks us through one of Jesus' parables to help us realize what kind of soil & farmer we're meant to be.
Questions for Small Group Discussion:
Read Mark 4:1-20
- Jesus lists 4 types of soil; The Path, The Rocky Places, The Thorns, & Good Soil
a. What type of soil have you been this last week?
- Thinking through the last few years, what type of soil reveals the true condition of your heart?
a. What needs to change in your life to move you closer to Good Soil?
- Now shifting our thoughts to the Farmer, us believers, our job is to simply scatter the Seed of God's Word.
a. If you were hired as a Farmer to scatter God's Word, would you get to keep your job?
b. Knowing that 75% of the farmer's efforts go unfruitful, does this discourage you & keep you from sharing your faith?
c. When was the last time you actually shared your faith with anyone?
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What keeps us as believers from boldly sharing our faith?
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How can we pray for you this week?
Pastor Ryan unpacks one of Jesus' more common phrases, "he who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Questions for Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 11:1-15
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How would you describe your Ear?
a. Do you hear & understand as Jesus describes? Or do you only hear what you want to hear? -
Chasing & Serving Jesus & His Kingdom takes a lot…
a. What are a some of the challenges we can expect to face due to our faith? -
“The Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing…”
a. What goes through your mind when you read this kind of language?
b. Does this contradict your understanding of the loving God? -
How can we pray for you this week?
Pastor Amanda kicks off our Christmas series. Join us as we dig into the battle of Light vs. Darkness. Spoiler Alert - Light Wins!!!
Discussion Questions for Small Groups
1. Are you afraid of the dark? Or have you ever had an experience that made you glad for even a little light? Share about it.
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Pastor Amanda said "You don’t fully appreciate the LIGHT until you’ve experienced real DARKNESS - It’s the absence of light (or darkness) that makes you appreciate the light so much.
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Have you ever walked through a dark season that you are willing to share with the group?
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Read the following to the group and then read the scriptures and discuss together:
Living in darkness looks like:
a. Living with no hope for tomorrow - Romans 15:13
b. Living with an uncertainty about eternity - 1 John 5:13
c. Living with no purpose to life - Jerimiah 29:11
- We've seen the end of the book (Bible) and Light always wins over darkness - and, because of Jesus, we will never know complete darkness. What can/do you do when things seem dark around you, to remind you that darkness will never prevail?
So Thankful that you've joined us today. Pastor Ryan helps us walk through what Thanksgiving truly is.
Discussion Questions for Small Group:
Read the quick story: Luke 17:11-19
- Share about a time when you saw something great in someone & you did not tell them what you thought.
a. Share about a time when you did tell them.
b. Are you quick to
- What are some things in your life that you are easily thankful for?
a. Think a bit deeper now. What are some things that you are thankful for, but maybe you've never acknowledged how much of a blessing they are in your life?
- Pastor Ryan said, "The truth is that none of us deserve anything The Lord has done for us & yet He continues to Give & Give out of His Great Love for us."
a. When you spend time thinking through how gracious & loving God has been to you, what thoughts & emotions come to mind?
- Pastor Ryan said, "Thanksgiving is Trust."
a. If God has been so faithful to bring you to where you are now, why is it so difficult for us to Trust Him to be faithful when a new trial presents itself?
- Pastor Ryan said, "Thanksgiving is Giving."
a. What are some reasons that hold us back from being Thankful through our finances?
b. Pastor Ryan said, "Show me your bank statement and I'll show you what you're thankful for."
i. What are some things that your bank statement would say that you're thankful for that you're not really thankful for?
ii. (Leaders note: The more open & honest you are here, the more open & honest your group will be)
Follow along as Pastor Ryan treks through a fantastic story in God's Word & brings some challenging concepts out of the story.
Discussion Questions:
1 Kings 18:16-40
- Read Vs. 21
a. Does the life you live Monday through Saturday reflect your choice of Who you follow?
b. If there's a difference in the person you are through the week versus the person you are on Sunday, how can you reconcile this?
- Read Vs. 30
a. Is there a sacred place where you continually meet with Jesus? An Alter?
b. Are there Repairs that need to be made in your relationship with The Lord?
c. Pastor Ryan said, "When we read about God's Miracles, they are always attached to Changing Someone's Heart. So Maybe God's Miracle is waiting on a Heart that's willing to change."
i. Are you even willing to make the necessary changes in your life, in your schedule, in your family to repair or prepare God's Altar?
- Read Vs. 33-34
a. Pastor Ryan said, "Make sure everything ends up on the altar."
b. What are some things that are truly difficult to lay down?
i. Why are we so afraid of giving these particular parts of our lives to God?
ii. Do we not trust that He is still a Good, Loving God?
- How do you think this story affected the rest of Israel?
a. If you saw this event firsthand, how would your life change?
b. After digging into this story, what effect do you think it'll have on your life moving forward?
Jesus is the Savior AND Lord, yet we treat this as a choice.
1. The Lord is the Leader
2. The Lord is the Defender
3. The Lord is the Ultimate Authority
Discussion Questions:Read Psalm 23 / Multiple versions
Jesus is Savior AND Lord
- How did you come to the realization that you needed to be saved?
a. What was it that you felt you were being saved from?
- When you signed up with Jesus, did you subscribe to a savior alone?
a. When did Jesus' Lordship come into play with your theology?
- Pastor Ryan said, "The first act of following Jesus is not acceptance by the Christian Community, but an act of Denying One's Self." (Luke 9:23)
a. How well do you deny your own wants, hopes and dreams?
b. What does it look like to truly deny yourself for the sake of The Gospel?
- Pastor Ryan said, The Lord is The Leader, The Defender, and the Ultimate Authority.
a. How can we truly be ourselves when every aspect of life is already spoken for by The Lord?
b. Are we even willing to submit fully to The Lord, or are we going to continue to pick and choose the aspects of Jesus that fit our lives the way we like it?
As we close this awesome series, we close on the thought that We're Going to Be Ok
- We have to Hear & Obey to be OK
- If IMMA BE OK, I must Set my Sights on the Spiritual
Missionary Mack Clements delivers a great word on Praying with Expectation.
"We can't allow the disappointment of yesterday to effect our expectation of tomorrow."
Today is The Branch's 1 Year Birthday! Celebrate with us as we dig into our practical response to God's Love for us.
There's Room For You
Be The Branch
These last few weeks have laid the foundation for being a Man or Woman of God. The truth is, our identity as a Man or Woman of God has more to do with our Identity as a Child of God than anything else. Join us as Pastor Ryan & Amanda dig into this week's IMMA B!
Being like Jesus is the life long journey of anyone who chooses to follow Him. There are so many things we, as believers, have to work on.
Jesus Loved People
Jesus Served People
Being a Disciple & a Disciple Maker is a Mandate by Jesus, not a Suggestion. "Go into all the world and make disciples." That's our marching order. Join us today as we dig into what being a Disciple Maker looks like!
We believe that real growth is done in the context of community.
Welcome to our quarterly Family Service. When you hear kids playing & babies talking, you'll understand. We value the times our children get to watch their parents worship. I hope you enjoy today's message.
Worship is How We Win
Worship is our Weapon
Worship is all we Have
Following Jesus is the Adventure of a Lifetime
Jesus is Worth Following
There's a Specific Purpose in Following
Following Jesus involves Commitment & Cost
Pastor Amanda kicks off our series entitled, "Imma B," with the most fundamental aspects of our faith; being a Child of God. Join us as we grow together.
Join us today as FCA Missionary Jonathan Fulcher brings a word on Foundations. "Don't just hear God's Word; Activate it."
How to Outlive Your Dream
- Make Peace with Your Past
- Recognize God's Grace Throughout Your Story
This week we dig into "The Journey of a Dream" as we unlock the blessings of Detours. We have seen The Lord revive dreams week after week & cause people to step out in faith as they trust God with their God Dreams!
What Happens when your Dream Goes Dormant?
1. Be With The Lord
2. Serve Others With Your Best
Pastor Amanda challenges us with True Biblical Forgiveness.
We Forgive because we are Forgiven. When we understand the depth of what our Forgiveness cost, we can forgive others & ourselves more easily.
Be blessed as you listen.
The Battle between Freedom & Bondage is a simple choice... Make the right one.
Practical Handles:
1. Talk to your Spouse
2. Agree on Individual Monthly Allowance
3. A Budget is a Living Document
4. If you DON'T have the Money, DON'T buy it
5. Sometimes a purchase might be within your budget, but the cost to maintain is might exceed your budget.
Outrageous generosity is Acknowledging your Limitations, and still Giving Within your Means
Practical Steps:
No Spend Week/Month
Sell things on FB marketplace
2nd Job
Free Family Fun
Basic Budget:
10% to God
10% to Self
80% to Live on
Let's
1. God MUST be #1
2. Something Sacred About 1st
3. Generosity is NOT a Financial Principle, it's a Faith Principle
New Reality / Practical Steps
1. Get on the same page as your spouse
2. Create a Budget & don't Budge
3. No Eating Out until Debt is Done
4. Cut ALL Unnecessary Spending
5. Dave Ramsey - Financial Peace University
YOU are the Place of Worship
The Practical Place of Worship
The Personal Place of Worship
There is Power in Your Place of Worship
Worship is a choice and choosing to praise God during our difficult times can give us peace, hope, and invites God right into the situation we are facing.
Let's have an identity crisis together!!
Who does God say I am & how does that define my identity?
I Am A Worshipper
Easter Changes Everything
Easter Changes Everything; Especially Me
Easter Releases Breakthrough
We tend to see what we're looking at. We also tend to find what we're looking for.
Join us as Pastor Ryan challenges us to take a good look at where we're looking.
Your homework for this week is to read Psalm 144-150 & try to understand just how deeply the Psalmist longed to Praise The Lord!
Chi Alpha Director and Worship Leader, Courtney Clements, teaches on worship.
- Not all Worship is Pleasing to God / Genesis 4:3-7
- Good Intentions Just aren't Good Enough / 2 Samuel 6:1-7
- His Name Will be Praised / Malachi 1:6-13
So what's our Biblical Physical Response in Worship? Join us as Courtney helps us discover the answer.
Let's redefine Worship. Today is a bit different, but so should our worship be; different.
Worship is an Outward Expression of an Inward Love that Cannot be Contained!
True worship recognizes the true condition of our soul & God’s immeasurable love despite that condition.
Pastors Ryan & Amanda discuss the topic of Growth using the illustration of different sizes of bicycles.
The goal today is that you would find yourself on this scale and process through what it would look like for you to go to the next level with The Lord.
Tricycle -> Bike with Training Wheels -> Big Boy Bike without Training Wheels -> Mountain Bike
You've been told... But I'm saying...
Join us as we walk through this teaching in our last week in the Upside-Down series.
Success is Surrender!
There's a process we must walk through, but in the end we come to the conclusion that I can't, but You can!
There is true Success only in Surrender!
What is Success? Is it Happiness? Is success having all you want?
Jesus flips Success Upside-Down by showing how Success is Simply Faithfulness!
Come Grow With Us
Missionary Reverend Shadoria Anderson challenges us that Time’s Up! It’s time to get desperate, worship, and testify! Join us on this journey and let your spirit get desperate for more of Jesus today!
- Get Desperate
- Worship from your Desperation
- Testify from your Worship
Join us as we explore the Upside-Down Kingdom of God. We dig into a few key Kingdom Concepts that will help us set the stage for the next few weeks.
1. Love is the Greatest
2. Down is Up
Always Busy, Always Tired.... Did you know this is not the lifestyle God calls us to live? Rhythms of Rest should define our lives. Join us on this journey of reimagining Rest.
What happens when you overslept, kids are going crazy, and you're 3 days behind on that special project at work? If I do make time to pray, my mind is racing 100 miles a minute. Today, Pastors Ryan & Amanda share a few thoughts on Priority Prayers.
We had a snow day in Oxford, MS and it's never a good idea to ask people who aren't used to driving in snow to get out & drive in snow...
Pastor Amanda shares a challenging word on an often overlooked aspect of Prayer... Listening
Book Site: "Whisper" Mark Batterson
To Pray or Not to Pray, that is the Question
Ok, not a question, but that's your choice.
Elective Surgery is a choice, so is Prayer. Join us as we invite the Great Physician to preform Soul Surgery anywhere He sees fit.
It's just that simple. Just Pray. We love to talk about Prayer, but how many of us have the fruit that comes from a life of Prayer. This season of Prayer and Fasting is simply a diet if you're not actually praying. Just Pray!
Be The Branch
January 2nd through 23rd w will step into a season of Prayer and Fasting. Pastors Amanda and Ryan walk through a teaching on what Fasting is and what the purpose is. We would love to have you join us on this journey. I know when you seek God, you'll find God.
Be The Branch
Welcome to our 1st Family Christmas Candlelight service. I hope you get a blessing and a great reminder of why we truly celebrate Christmas!
Be The Branch
Just a reminder that God is With You. He sees you. He loves you. And He is always with you.
A Message on Greatness
- Risky Gratitude - Daniel
- Stinky Gratitude - Jonah
- Faithful Gratitude - Jesus
Pastor Amanda teaches us how to develop a grateful heart.
- Make Giving Thanks a Part of your Every Day
- Express Gratitude Regardless of the Situation
- Praise God when ALL is Well
We had a move of the Holy Spirit during church. The message changed on the spot. We welcome the Holy Spirit to take over & we lovingly follow His lead. There was a sweet spirit during worship that turned into an all out prayer service. I pray you feel the love & comfort of the Holy Spirit as you listen to The Word from 11/14. Be Blessed
Built for Adventure, You Better Keep Up
Galatians 5:25 (Keep In Step)
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us Keep In Step with the Spirit."
1 Corinthians 14:1 (Built for Adventure)
"Follow the way of Love and Eagerly Desire Spiritual Gifts, especially the gift of prophecy."