Thrive Church Podcast

Often times, we tell ourselves that life isn't fair.  Well, we're not entirely wrong, are we?  The reality is, everything stopped being fair when God stopped being first in our lives.  Let's dive into this great message from Pastor Brian together! "The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair." ~ Reliant K Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

We live in a cutler, even a modern Christian one, where there is so much emphasis on “leadership.”  Well, in the New Testament the word leader is used only 2 times, the work servant is used over 200!  A true leader serves those they are around, Jesus was the perfect example of this.  Who else is excited to start this series on being a servant?!  Let's dive in! Also, this Sunday is Pack the Place Sunday!  Please feel free to invite all of your friends and family you believe you are led by God to invite! Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Here it is!  Episode 2!  On this podcast, Pastor Brian and AP discuss the current happenings of today's culture and how it all relates to the Fruits of the Spirit.  What a great way to wrap our current sermon series up and prepare our hearts for what God will be sharing with us next at Thrive! Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

There is a saying that a lot of counselors have, "feelings are information, not direction."  Grief makes us irrational, but the Holy Spirit can convict us to guide our actions.  Let us all display self-control in the gentleness that we treat others with.  Pastor Brian share a powerful message that the whole world needs to hear right now. R.I.P. Charlie Kirk (1993-2025) Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Live to give, strong words from a faithful man of God.  It is made clear in Scripture that the world will know us by the fruits we produce which is a reflection of our heart.  What is a true sign of this?  Our ability to be good to one another, even those who wrong us, and the consistency to which we do it (faithfulness).  We hope this message blesses you this week. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Welcome to the Thrive Church Podcast!  This is Episode 1 - As a prelude to Pastor Brian's Message on the fruit of the spirit, kindness, he sits down with AP to discuss. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

We may not have service this Sunday but Pastor Brian has a very special announcement to share! Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

It sure is difficult to realize that you lack patience for others but expect it from them at the same time; I know I, as the one writing this, have this realization of myself almost daily.  Sometimes God has to hit the brakes in our own lives.  God, who loves us, is not in a hurry.  God knows what He's doing, when He's doing it, and why He's doing it.  Let's dive into the fruit of patience with Pastor Brian. Also, an important message to our kind listeners, there will be no service Sunday, August 31st, 2025, we'll be back to our regular schedule the week after. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Peace, something that tends to elude those of us who live in and near big cities.  This week, we have the opportunity to learn how important peace truly is for us.  Pastor Brian explains the difference between having gifts of the spirit, versus fruits of the spirit, which extends from a peace that surpasses all understanding.  We hope this message blesses you this week. Also, an important message to our kind listeners: there will be no service Sunday, August 31st, 2025, we'll be back to our regular schedule the week after. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Joy is something that can grow out, it's contagious among people.  It's hard to really lean into and experience that joy sometimes in this fallen world we live in.  Some days we're feeling it, some days it feels impossible.  So how do we live out that joy the Holy Spirit bestows upon us?  Let's dive into this with Pastor Brian! Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

The podcast is back Thrive!  Sorry for the absence, we had some technical difficulties that have been worked out.  What a week to be back too, we are in a new series on the Fruits of the Spirit.  Has anyone ever told you judging someone is wrong if you are a Christian?  Well Jesus says we can judge a tree by its fruit?  How can those two ideas line up?  Let's dive into this with Pastor Brian! Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Have you ever been humbled my something rather minor?  Have you ever had an idea that people just were not on board with?  Well don't worry, we serve the most humble King ever, and he's here to be with you.  Welcome to Palm Sunday, we hope to see you all on Easter! Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Life cycles and routines.  Monday, mundane; that might not be a coincidence.  Sometimes life isn't very exciting or just plain difficult, and that's okay!  Often, the life of a believer can be described in mountain tops and slow walks through the wilderness.  We don't always want to go through the wilderness, but we get to go through that with Christ. Let's dive into the story of when Christ was tempted in the wilderness together. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Our final week in Nehemiah!  We might go through cycles of highs and lows in our lives, that's okay.  Not everything is awesome all of the time, but we do live in a fallen world, though things are always surrounded with despair.  We have a God that is bigger than all of that and can help us break these cycles and help us truly live our lives, especially for Him! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Welcome to the key verse of Nehemiah; the Israelites are faced with massive amounts of opposition.  They are trying to re-build their wall while in exile, and others keep telling them or even attacking them, but Nehemiah keeps building the wall around their city for projection anyways.  Will you keep building that wall of God's Word in your own life?  I know I'm convicted to also, let's dive into Chapter 6 with Pastor Brian! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Our enemy hates when we submit our lives to God and live in-line with his Will.  When you want to grow in the Lord, adversity will come our way.  Let's dive into Nehemiah with Pastor Brian to learn how to stand firm against the schemes of our enemy in Christ! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

What well are you drinking from?  Are you drinking from the Well of Life?  God is the Well of Life in our lives.  Let's learn about entering the fountain gates together. Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Turning of the tide.  When the King asks, “How can I help you?” the king's favor is over Nehemiah's life.  Likewise, God's favor is over us, which comes from great faithfulness.  If you want God's favor, we need to be faithful.  Let's explore faithfulness with Pastor Brian! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

In God, we have authority, we have freedom, we have responsibility.  Sometimes it's joy, sometimes it's hard.  This is exactly what Nehemiah had to implement in Chapter 2.  Let's explore this text together with Pastor Brian. Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

This week, Kimmy Zwartz shares her testimony and all the great things God has done in her life through RFK!  If you believe God is calling you to donate to this special cause, please do so on our website!  It has touched countless lives and truly spreading the Gospel to children in need. Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian begins our next series in Nehemiah!  With Israel in exile, over 1,000 miles away from their homeland, they feel the call to re-ignite the fire of passion for God.  Are you on fire for God?  Let's pray that fire rages again if it has been dwindling! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Ed Ainsworth is fired up from the Men's Conference!  He shares his message When the Light Goes on, the Fight Goes on!  Let's enjoy what God shares through him together. Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian and Angela tag team the message this morning.  Let's keep moving forward!  What's a great way of doing so?  Pressing forward when it seems like there's no path.  Serving God when it seems like no one else wants to.  Let's be a part of the moving forward club! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

It's a new year!  It's a new building!  It's a new town!  God is good!  Let's move forward together! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

God wants to be the general contractor for our lives.  God is over the grand scheme of all things, especially your life.  What is God's goal?  You.  Showing you what your true identity is, showing you His perfect will, showing us all that God is in charge and gets it.  Let's Dive into Daniel 7 together and put our hope in God and God alone! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Our brother Chase shares a message from Daniel 4.  We may have the head knowledge of Scripture, but do we have the heart knowledge and desire to carry out God's Word? Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

By nature, we as humans raise things up to be worshiped: idols, money, celebrity, ourselves.  God desires for us to lift Him up to be worshiped though through that burning passion within us that only comes from Him.  Let's dive into Daniel 3 with Pastor Brian!  Are you on fire for God? Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

This week Pastor Brian shares with us how Daniel, when faced with a request of King Nebuchadnezzar, was able to tell the king what a dream meant.  He not only did Daniel interpret the dream, he even explained what the dream was without experiencing what the king had dreamt!  How, Daniel was constantly seeking guidance from God.  Let us not be spiritually numbed to the Spirit of God by culture, media, and whatever else may distract us.  Are you in tune with the Spirit of God? Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian shares a message about how special of a place Israel is.  There's a lot of eyes on this small country all the time, but maybe not for the reason most think.  Israel is a place that can be called “Holy,” set apart from the world for God.  How is God calling you to be holy today? Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian explains how our mind, body, and spirit reflects the Trinity that is God in Heaven.  This final week, we complete the series with our spirits.  Is your spirit healthy?  God wants you to be healthy!

Pastor Brian explains how our mind, body, and spirit reflects the Trinity that is God in Heaven.  This week, we explore the body portion of our being.  Is your body healthy?  God wants you to be healthy! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian explains how our mind, body, and spirit reflects the Trinity that is God in Heaven.  This week, we dive to the mind portion of our being.  Is your mind healthy?  God wants you to be healthy! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian shares a brief history of the beginning of the Church but leads us into a message about allowing the Spirit of God to move in our lives.  This means, putting God's Will first in our lives, even if it leads to putting ourselves in harm's way.  Let's dive into 3 John together! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

The Love of Believers, the Love of God.  Pastor Brian shares a message about what love truly is, per God from 1 John 4. Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian shares a message to us about the gift of prophesy and how God speaks to us through His word from 1 John 4.  What is the Lord speaking to you today?  God is for you, not against you! Learn about us at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian continues our series, Grace Awakening, and speaks on the three types, or levels, of grace.  Join us in person next week at the Dellwood Park Community Center, Lockport, IL. We're having our Youth Group Pie Smash Fundraiser! Your donation gives you the opportunity to smash a pie in a leader's face! Hope to see you there!  More at encounterthrive.com

Pastor Brian leads our Father's Day service talking about our Abba and His unending grace.  Join us next Sunday at the Dellwood Park Community Center. Connect with us at encounterthrive.com. 

Live from Dellwood Park Bandshell, our first of two scheduled outdoor services this summer! Pastor Brian continues our series Grace Awakening. With God, Jesus eliminates the middleman to get to God.  Join us for our Father's Day service next Sunday. We'll be back at the Dellwood Park Community Center. Come for coffee at 9:30! Service starts at 10:00am. Connect at encounterthrive.com. 

Pastor Brian Bougher returns to teach on Grace in our first week of our new series Grace Awakening. In today's message, Pastor Brian compares the power of God's grace to the oil needed to run the engine of your life.    Audio clip courtesy of The Bible Project, "The Law."  https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/law/   Join us at the Dellwood Park Bandshell in Lockport, IL, for a fun outdoor service next Sunday, June 9th. Find more and connect with us at encounterthrive.com. 

Dave and Bobbie Ebert are US Missionaries that minister to survivors of sex and human trafficking. Their ministry uses improv games and exercises to help survivors develop communication skills, find their voice and confidence, and tap into their creativity, ultimately leading to finding their identity in Christ. Today, they share on JOY and how we can always choose joy!  Find our more about Dave and Bobbie's work at improvmissionaries.com.  No service next week, Sunday, May 26th, Memorial Day Weekend.   

Today we dive into Proverbs 31 with Ximena Jensen for this special Mother's Day Message.  To all the Moms, grandmoms, stepmoms, adoptive moms, and spiritual moms, from us at Thrive, Happy Mother's Day!!! 

Pastor Brian Bougher shares on trusting in God and building faith in times of struggle. We begin in Proverbs 16:9.  Join us for a special Mother's Day message next week. We'd love to see you in person Sunday at 10am, at the Dellwood Park Community Center, Lockport, IL. Find more at encounterthrive.com.

Pastor Brian Bougher continues our series through Proverbs. Pastor Brian admonishes us to strive to always be teachable and be willing to take correction. Join us next week at the Dellwood Park Community Center in Lockport, IL. Find more at encounterthrive.com.  Mark your calendars for our RFK Fundraiser Comedy Night and Silent Auction. More at rfklockport.wellversedcomedy.com 

We pick back up our Proverbs series beginning in Proverbs chapter 6. Today's message is titled Lessons on Evil and Deception vs. Wisdom and Flourishing.  Join us next week at the Dellwood Park Community Center in Lockport, IL. Find more at encounterthrive.com.  Mark your calendars for our RFK Fundraiser Comedy Night and Silent Auction. More at rfklockport.wellversedcomedy.com 

On a day where we celebrated Baptisms, we continue our Son of God series with Pastor Brian. We dive into the story on The Road to Emmaus.  Join us for services next Sunday at the Dellwood Park Community Center, Lockport, IL. Find more at encounterthrive.com. 

Thrive's annual Easter-palooza is celebrated with the honoring of Jesus's victory over sin and death. Join us for our Easter/Resurrection Sunday message from Pastor Brian Bougher.  Join us in person next Sunday at the Dellwood Park Community Center. Next Sunday is BAPTISM SUNDAY! Let us know if you want to join in this public declaration of what Jesus has done in your life! Find more at encounterthrive.com. 

We honor and remember what Jesus experienced in His final hours of His natural life on earth. Let us never get bored with the message of the Cross. Let us never not be in awe of what Jesus went through for us. 

Pastor Brian Bougher teaches on the meaning of Palm Sunday and Jesus's stating His Kingship.  Join us for Good Friday on Friday, March 29th, at 7pm. Then, come out for Easter-Palooza next Sunday as we celebrate our Risen King! Find more at encounterthrive.com/easter. 

Who do you say Jesus is? We begin our series in preparation of Easter with the Son of God.  Make plans to join us for Good Friday Service, Friday, March 29th, 7:00pm at the Dellwood Park Community Center. Then, celebrate the risen King with Easterpalooza on Sunday, March 31, also at the Dellwood Park Community Center. Find more at encounterthrive.com. 

Royal Family Kids Camp is a camp for abused and neglected kids in the foster care system. It's a week where kids are loved and treasured and introduced to the love of Christ. Kimmy Zwartz is the director of Royal Family Kids - Lockport. She shares the story of camp and the need for volunteers and support to be able to bring 20 kids to camp this year.  Follow RFK - Lockport at www.facebook.com/rfkLockportIl Find more at www.encounterthrive,com/camp 

Pastor Brian Bougher opens up our new series on Proverbs, and the wisdom of the man considered the wisest ever, King Solomon. Today, our focus is the Fear of God. Join us in person next Sunday at the Dellwood Park Community Center, Lockport, IL. Find more at encounterthrive.com.