Podcasts about pastor brian

Courage: The Power to Stand Out Without Fear by Pastor Brian T. Lees https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Power-Stand-Without-Fear-ebook/dp/B0F4M36X34 Stlqc.com As long as there is good and evil in our world, we will always be at war. Christians should not be afraid to admit they follow God. They should take an active stance to share the Word and to encourage others to seek and find Jesus. We gather our courage from a wide range of sources. Courage comes from within us. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to put one foot in front of the other and move forward. This book identifies courage we retain from past experiences. It encourages you to look back and learn from your accomplishments as well as your failures. Accomplishments enhance our confidence, and failures are learning lessons. Both contribute to the courage of moving forward. In Matthew 19:26, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” This book identifies real-world situations where Christians have overcome what seemed to be impossible. It includes examples of raw courage we use every day. Some are easy, where others require us to reach out for help. From teenagers saving a town from a flood to addicts stepping up to get free, it identifies the power of raw courage. Courage enables us to do what is right at all costs. Biblical courage identifies Christians’ foundation to stand up and out. We should never be afraid to speak up, never hide our Christianity, and allow God’s grace to shine through us. For that to happen, we need to cling to our inner courage and never hesitate to use it.

Are we following Christ for who He is, or for what we can gain from Him? This message explores the cautionary tale of Simon the Magician in Acts 8 to challenge our motives and call us away from self-promotion toward a genuine preoccupation with Jesus.

Pastor Brian concludes the Breaking Free series by teaching how believers overcome strongholds and addictions by walking in the Spirit and experiencing the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

This message explores the fragile nature of human life and contrasts it with the everlasting love and sovereignty of God. Drawing from thinkers like Viktor Frankl and Scripture such as Psalm 103, it argues that true meaning and stability are found not in achievements or experiences, but in anchoring our lives in God's eternal love.

God always fulfills His promises, but the catch is they are often conditional; though His Will isn't.  Welcome to week 1 of our next series.  This week, Pastor Brian kicks it off with a message on how big God's promises can be. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Struggling with real-life faith questions? In this Fire Away Q&A from Alliance Church, Pastor Brian and Dr. Dennis Episcopo deliver powerful Bible answers straight from Scripture on the topics people are searching for most.Watch as they explore end times prophecy, why does God allow sin, how to hear God's voice, does Jesus love gay people (and the LGBTQ community), child first communion faith steps, Bible anxiety medication wisdom, surrendering to God when you feel unlovable, and how do I know God is real.Packed with end times, communion, anxiety, LGBTQ, prophecy, sin, heaven, Bible, faith, and surrender truth, this pastor-led session shows how Jesus loves every person while calling us to new life through born-again faith and obedience. God meets you right where you are—He speaks clearly through His Word, offers peace beyond worry, and invites full surrender that leads to heaven.Whether you're new to faith or growing deeper, this message brings hope, clarity, and encouragement for everyday life.

Pastor Brian continues in The Upper Room Series with a message on how the Holy Spirit guides, convicts, and empowers us to become like Jesus.

In Nehemiah six and seven, the evidence starts stacking up in plain sight.  The wall is finished, and nobody can explain it away. The nations around Jerusalem see the outcome and realize this work wasn't powered by human grit alone, it was accomplished with the help of our God. But the story doesn't end at “completed,” because victory still needs guarding as Nehemiah sets leaders in place and secures the gates. Now, let's join Pastor Brian for this week's sermon, titled “Undeniable Evidence,” as he traces the moment opposition loses confidence, holy awe takes its place, and God's people learn to protect what He has built.

The world is in so much need of the Church, the church is in so much need of the Church.  Pastor Brian shares a message on the importance of sharing the Gospel and how He can use all of us, even the Apostle Peter. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Explore the powerful and convicting final sermon of Stephen from Acts 7, a message that traces Israel's history through the lens of repeated rejection and God's relentless grace. Discover how Jesus stands as the ultimate "Righteous One" and the centerpiece of our own stories of salvation.

This message from Psalm 103 invites us to examine the image of God we carry and rediscover Him as a compassionate Father rather than a distant authority. Through Scripture and story, we see that His mercy is greater than our failure and His steadfast love forms the foundation of our identity and security.

Pastor Brian speaks to us on how the Holy Spirit is God's personal presence dwelling in us, forming us and bringing life and peace.

Pastor Brian KetterMarch 1, 2026

Every follower of Jesus has been given spiritual gifts to build others up. The Spirit not only distributes these gifts but empowers them, calling us to step out in faith, serve boldly, and rely on prayer so that God is the one at work. When our gifts are exercised rightly, they don't draw attention to us—they lift up Jesus, because neglect is never neutral and faithfulness always points to Him.

Every follower of Jesus has been given spiritual gifts to build others up. The Spirit not only distributes these gifts but empowers them, calling us to step out in faith, serve boldly, and rely on prayer so that God is the one at work. When our gifts are exercised rightly, they don't draw attention to us—they lift up Jesus, because neglect is never neutral and faithfulness always points to Him.

Pastor Brian shares his testimony of God's hand in his life and the message of the scriptures of how God strengthens us in the storms of life.

Psalm 123 speaks to those overwhelming moments when we feel like we've reached our breaking point. This Psalm of Ascent was sung by ancient pilgrims facing grueling journeys to Jerusalem, and it offers timeless wisdom for modern struggles. When life feels too much to bear, the world offers temporary solutions like accumulation, distraction, and isolation. However, the psalm calls us to lift our eyes to God, who is both powerfully enthroned in heaven and intimately merciful. Rather than viewing God as a police officer looking for violations, we can see Him as a potter who gets His hands dirty to transform us. Following Jesus doesn't promise an easy path, but it offers hope that transformation happens precisely in the midst of life's messy, difficult circumstances.

Discover what it means to be part of the "fellowship of shining faces" by examining the life and courage of Stephen. This message explores how being full of God's grace allows us to reflect His glory even in the face of intense opposition and trials.

In this week's message, Pastor Brian shares a message about discipleship.  So, what is that?  It means to be a student, and in our case, a student of Jesus Christ. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

If Nehemiah was expecting trouble, he probably assumed it would come from outside the walls. But in Nehemiah 5, the real crisis breaks out inside the community. The people doing the rebuilding begin to devour each other, and the mission starts bleeding from internal wounds. In this week's sermon, entitled “The Enemy Within,” Pastor Brian considers the danger of forgetting we belong to one another. We'll watch Nehemiah confront injustice, call God's people back to integrity, and learn how unity isn't something we assume, it's something we protect.

When the church becomes centered on personal preference instead of Christlike sacrifice, it loses the very heart it was meant to display. Communion reminds us that Jesus gave Himself fully for His people, and gathering as His body should reflect that same humility, unity, and care for one another. The invitation is simple but searching: what is one way you can live out Jesus' heart of love and sacrifice for His church?

When the church becomes centered on personal preference instead of Christlike sacrifice, it loses the very heart it was meant to display. Communion reminds us that Jesus gave Himself fully for His people, and gathering as His body should reflect that same humility, unity, and care for one another. The invitation is simple but searching: what is one way you can live out Jesus' heart of love and sacrifice for His church?

Pastor Brian speaks on the topic of trusting the Lord from the passages of Psalm 1 and Romans 10:1-15.

Our Power Conference Saturday Night Worship Experience streamed live on February 14th, 2026. Experience life with people, power, and purpose. Connect with us! https://www.kcalaska.com/ https://www.facebook.com/kingschapel.alaska/ https://www.instagram.com/kingschapelalaska/ Give: https://www.kcalaska.com/give/

Steve Osterholzer, Founder and Director of the ministry, Of Mountains and Men, joins Pastor Brian, your Crosswalk host, to talk about his journey into ministry, and OMM's work with young men to guide them into Christian manhood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's message, Pastor Brian shares a message about our great commission; for us to share the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, to the entire world.  So, let's all be the small woodland creature that removes the dirt of sin we are all covered in. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

When growth brings grumbling, how does a church stay on mission? This episode explores Acts 6:1-7, uncovering how the early church transformed a potential split into a powerful demonstration of teamwork and "planned neglect" to keep the main thing the main thing.

God's enemies work overtime to stop his Kingdom through ridicule, fear, and threat. Nehemiah's answer is simple and steady: pray, post a guard, and keep building. In other words, God's work requires both a trowel and a sword, constructive obedience in one hand and watchful resistance in the other. The danger for us is drifting into one ditch or the other: building without vigilance or fighting without building. Today we're talking about what it means to remember the Lord, protect what matters, and keep putting stone on stone until the wall goes up.Now, let's turn our attention to Pastor Brian for this week's sermon from Nehemiah, chapter 4, titled, “Sword and Trowel.”

Brian shares how God makes Himself known to us through Scripture, the Spirit, Jesus, and the lives of ordinary people, and how your story can point others to Him.

Discernment.  A topic the world seems to lack, or even modern mainstream Christianity at times.  In this episode of the podcast, Pastor Brian and A.P. delve into the subject of Godly Discernment, a gift from God that needs more attention brought to it. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

During Missions Week (2025), we had the privilege of having Pastor Matt Tyler from FBC Mount Pleasant, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, guest preach for us and sit down with Pastor Brian to record four interview sessions. This is part four of those interviews.

What is The Church?  Well, it's God's Bride, it's Christ's Body, it's a great place to fellowship, it's a place and who we are all at the same time.  What is it not?  Alone.  Pastor Brian shares a message about being plugged into a local church, not just the Big C church. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

God builds His kingdom through ordinary people doing assigned work with shared purpose, so no one's part is pointless and no one's presence is optional. In Nehemiah 3, you don't just see a wall going up, you see a people waking up, as names and neighborhoods line up shoulder to shoulder for the common good. It's a chapter that reminds us God doesn't only use the gifted and the visible, He uses the faithful and the available, right where they are.  After all, we know God's work moves forward when all of His people take their place.Now, let's turn our attention to Pastor Brian as he helps us “find our section of the wall” and lean into it with joy, in this week's sermon titled, “The Common Good.”

Here is this Sunday's Sermon from Pastor Brian titled, "Live Generously" from Colossians 3:23–24, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Matthew 6:24, John 15:13, and Mark 12:41–44. This sermon focuses on the topic of money and how God views it.

During Missions Week (2025), we had the privilege of having Pastor Matt Tyler from FBC Mount Pleasant, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, guest preach for us and sit down with Pastor Brian to record four interview sessions. This is part three of those interviews.

Pastor Brian, your Crosswalk host, invites Robin Coran, field representative for the Truth and Liberty Coalition, into the studio to discuss politics and the Christian, as well as some ballot initiatives for Protect Our Kids Colorado.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an interesting world we live in right now, but we serve a God that is bigger, and more loving, than it all.  In this episode, Pastor Brian and A.P. tackle the complexities of loving in a hostile world while still upholding the law, but trying to filter through God's Law vs. the law of the land. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Brian explores how God's heart for righteousness (tzedakah) and justice (mishpat) shapes both our worship and our life in the world. This message invites us to live as a distinct people marked by sacrificial love, compassion for the vulnerable, and faithful engagement in a complex public space.

Explore the early church's radical culture of generosity and the sobering moment when hypocrisy first threatened its unity in Acts 4 and 5. By examining the story of Ananias and Sapphira, we learn why God values authentic integrity over the dangerous pretense of looking more spiritual than we truly are.

Freedom always comes with choices. Every yes inevitably means a no to something else. A person shaped by Jesus learns to say no to self in the present, not as loss, but as a delayed yes that for the sake of the gospel and eternal reward. The real question isn't what we're free to do, but whether our understanding of eternity is strong enough to reshape how we live right now.

Freedom always comes with choices. Every yes inevitably means a no to something else. A person shaped by Jesus learns to say no to self in the present, not as loss, but as a delayed yes that for the sake of the gospel and eternal reward. The real question isn't what we're free to do, but whether our understanding of eternity is strong enough to reshape how we live right now.

During Missions Week (2025), we had the privilege of having Pastor Matt Tyler from FBC Mount Pleasant, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, guest preach for us and sit down with Pastor Brian to record four interview sessions. This is part two of those interviews.