Podcasts about pastor brian

Why are you so tired all the time even when you sleep? A lot of us have been trying to sleep off, vacation off, or scroll off an exhaustion that no bed can actually fix. It is not physical. It is soul deep. And Pastor Brian says most of us are carrying a weight we were never built to carry.In this sermon, Pastor Brian opens the story of King Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25. The Bible describes Amaziah with one of the most quietly haunting lines in Scripture. He "did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not wholeheartedly." Not evil. Not rebellious. Just partly in. He says that quiet middle ground is where most people live and get slowly drained without ever knowing why.Amaziah's story unpacks the symptoms one by one. You inherit both the good and the bad from the people you idealize without noticing. You start to blend in, so your budget, your generosity, your forgiveness, and even your joy start looking like everyone else's. You make your own plans first and only consult God when things get bad enough to force it. You worship the gifts victory brings instead of the God who won the victory (Amaziah brought back the enemy's idols and worshiped them after God gave him the win). And eventually, you treat God as a counselor whose input you weigh, instead of Lord whose voice you obey.Then Pastor Brian pulls in the passage that opens the whole thing up. In Matthew 11, Jesus rebukes the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for wanting his miracles but rejecting him as God. And in the very next breath he says something that changes everything. Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28 to 30).Why does Jesus call the half in people weary? Because being in charge of maximizing your own life is the single most exhausting job on the planet. Choosing which advice from Jesus to take, which to skip, which parts of Scripture apply to you, which do not, carrying the weight of every outcome yourself. That is soul exhaustion, and it is what most of us have been calling normal.Jesus offers the trade. You carry obedience. He carries outcomes. Pastor Brian lands the whole thing on Matthew 6:24. You cannot serve two masters. Not because it is forbidden, but because it is impossible. Part-heartedness is not a moral failure. It is a mathematical impossibility. Your heart was not built to do it. Either Jesus is Lord, or you are, and one of those is way harder than the other.If you have been walking around exhausted in a way sleep cannot fix, this teaching is for you. The rest you have been looking for is not another day off. It is a different owner of your life.#AllianceChurch #SundaySermon #BibleTeaching #JesusSaves #ChristianFaith #ChurchOnline #WisconsinChurch #FaithThatMoves #HopeInJesus #SermonSeries #faith #jesus #god #christianity #christian #exhaustion #rest #peace #hope #church #gospel #surrender

What does spiritual maturity look like? In this message from the Built Together series, Pastor Brian Wills walks through Ephesians 3:14–21 and explores God's desire to transform us from the inside out. Through the image of a puzzle, we are reminded that the Christian life is not simply about figuring out what to do, but becoming who God has called us to be. As Paul's prayer unfolds, we discover the journey toward spiritual maturity, deeper faith, and living in the fullness of God.

The ground is level at the cross. Every human distinction — moral, religious, ethnic, cultural — collapses before the one verdict that matters: all have sinned, and all who believe receive the same righteousness through the same Redeemer. At the place where God's justice and mercy meet, there is no distinction.This week, Pastor Brian continues preaching through the Book of Romans with a sermon entitled, Siné Discriminé from Romans chapter 3, verses 21 through 26

Pastor Brian opens by drawing attention to one of the Bible's most consistent and powerful images: a river. From the river flowing out of Eden in Genesis 2, to the prophetic river in Ezekiel 47, to Jesus declaring in John 7 that rivers of living water would flow from those who believe in Him, all the way to the river of life in Revelation—this image traces the unstoppable flow of God's redemptive message throughout all of Scripture. Just as a river cannot be permanently stopped by rocks, logs, or even a dam, neither can the gospel of Jesus Christ be halted by any obstacle the world throws in its path. With that foundation laid, Pastor Brian walks through Acts 21–26, where Paul faces a furious mob, a corrupt governor, a two-year imprisonment, and a skeptical king—and yet the gospel keeps flowing. Each obstacle Paul encounters becomes a missional platform rather than a dead end. The angry crowd in Jerusalem, the political delays of Felix and Festus, and the royal audience with King Agrippa all become opportunities for Paul to tell his story of what Jesus accomplished in his life. Even Paul's appeal to Caesar—which seemed to close the door on his freedom—ultimately placed him in Rome, where he would write the letters that make up much of our New Testament today. Pastor Brian closes with a challenge for every believer: the river keeps flowing, but God calls His people to be faithful channels of it. Whether you are surrounded by people far from God or by fellow believers who need encouragement, your mission field is wherever you are. The question is not whether God's river will continue—it absolutely will. The question is whether you and I will be faithful enough to let it flow through us.

Send us Fan MailA lot of Christians quietly live with a low-grade panic: “What if I mess up and God lets me go?” We don't tiptoe around that fear. We argue that saving grace is not a temporary status or a fragile contract, but an unbreakable translation into Christ's kingdom and an acceptance that cannot be severed. If that sounds “too much,” we explain why the gospel really is that bold and why the alternative always ends in anxiety, self-salvation projects, and spiritual burnout.Pastor Brian joins Sister Mariah, Vanessa, Lisa, Brother DT, and Sister Candy to work through Romans 6 and the flashpoint question: does grace become a license to sin? We push back hard. Real grace does not make sin attractive, it makes sin bitter. We talk about how regeneration changes desire, why believers grow in sensitivity over time, and why God's commands are not the cause of salvation but the voice the sheep respond to. One of the most helpful images is the “rope” analogy: salvation is a strong cord made of many strands, and Christ is the One who holds it together.We also clear up a common confusion about law and grace. The law still reveals God's holy character, but it no longer stands over the believer as an executioner. Christ fulfills the law as our substitute, and grace changes our relationship to obedience from fear to love. If you've been trapped between legalism and cheap grace, this will help you name the difference and find solid ground.Listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs peace, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

In this episode, Pastor Brian explores Abraham's story and what it means to trust God enough to take the next step—even when the way forward is unclear.

In a world rife with interpersonal conflict, Jesus calls His followers to an extraordinary standard of grace that goes against human nature. True discipleship requires a lifestyle of habitual, perpetual forgiveness as a baseline obligation of ordinary Christianity.

In this episode, Pastor Brian continues the From Flood to Famine series with a reminder from Noah's life to trust God in uncertain seasons, obey what He has spoken, and believe He still wants to do something fresh in us.

How do you pass on your faith to the next generation? You can spend a lifetime building something good, a family, a career, a walk with God, and still watch it unravel in a single generation. If you have ever wondered why kids walk away from faith, or why the things that matter most to you do not seem to stick with the people you love, this message is for you.In this teaching, Pastor Brian opens up the story of King Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 10. Rehoboam inherited the most successful kingdom of his day. His father Solomon was the wisest man alive, wealthy beyond description, respected by rulers around the world. And in Rehoboam's very first leadership decision, all of it split in half. Not after years of slow decline. One decision, one moment, and a civil war that Israel never fully recovered from.But here is the twist Pastor Brian draws out of the text. This is not really the story of Rehoboam's failure. Scripture repeats one small phrase about the young men Rehoboam listened to instead of the elders: they had grown up with him. The people who shaped Rehoboam were the people who walked with him. And the one person you never find walking with Rehoboam is his own father. Solomon built palaces, cities, and storehouses, but there is no record of him ever investing in his son the way David once invested in him.That is the heart of this message. Faith, wisdom, and character do not transfer by osmosis. They are not passed on through lectures, events, or even success. According to Deuteronomy 11, they are passed on through relationship, when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Only what is passed on through relationship actually gets passed on.Pastor Brian speaks honestly to every generation here. To young people drowning in the noise of peer influence, who have to fight harder than any generation in history for the voices of experience. To parents wondering if what is in their own heart is what they want to see in their kids, because Proverbs 22:15 says foolishness is bound up in a child's heart, and love is what unbinds it. And to grandparents who have believed the lie that their most relevant years are behind them, when research and Scripture both say the opposite.And it all points to the gospel. Jesus did not send us information from a distance. He entered our lives, walked with us through failure, and loved us before we ever asked for it. Then, like every great leader, he told his followers in John 14 that they would go on to do even greater things.So the question Pastor Brian leaves us with is simple and searching: who are you walking with, and how are you walking?

Marriage is one of God's most creative tools for refining us and drawing us closer to Him. God designed marriage to shape us into the people He has called us to be! In this message, Pastor Brian walks through Ephesians 5 as we look at three truths about the mystery of marriage: Marriage is one of God's most creative ways of making us holy. Men and women have unique roles. True love draws from a heart that is filled with the Holy Spirit. Whether you're married, preparing for marriage, or simply want to better understand God's heart for marriage, this message will encourage you to pursue Him first and discover what it looks like to live out a biblical marriage in your everyday life. Download the message guide for this sermon at the link below: https://chicocommunity.church/watch

What does the Bible say about happiness? Is true joy found in success, money, relationships, or something deeper? Pastor Brian walks through Matthew 5 to help us find the answer.

We are a distinct, diverse, unified, and devoted people for Christ.

After surveying the entire human race, Paul delivers a universal verdict: no one is righteous, and no one stands innocent before God. The law was never given to provide a defense, but to expose guilt and silence every excuse. Before the perfect Judge, every mouth is stopped and the whole world stands accountable.With that in mind, let's turn our attention to Pastor Brian for this week's sermon entitled, “Silentium” from Romans chapter 3, verses 9 through 20.

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Pastor Brian speaks to us about how Faith is a journey of growing trust in God above all else.

Brian Grant (Senior Pastor of Grace Christian Assembly and heard on the "Living God's Way" broadcast Sundays at 530pm & 1130pm on WFIL) joins the show today! Pastor Grant relays info on GCA's Mount Pleasant Avenue Summerfest, their upcoming worship & fun community outreach event (Fri 7/10 & Sat 7/11). Pastor Grant also shares his testimony, stories about his path to preaching and the radio, and regarding ministering with his wife of 50+ years including youth outreach, adding a little flavor with insight into Jamaican cuisine too :). You can find out more at www.gcafamilychurch.org. Newt Gingrich (former US Speaker of the House, NY Times bestselling author, Professor & Historian) also checks in regarding his "Newt's World" Podcast which just celebrated its 1000th episode and most currently is featuring an "America 250" series through July 4. More information can be found at www.gingrich360.com. Sports clips:Trea Turner (Philadelphia Phillies shortstop) (WFIL Sports)Danny Briere (Philadelphia Flyers General Manager) (Flyers YouTube)Mauricio Pochettino (US Men's National Soccer Team head coach) (FIFA YouTube)Malik Tillman (US Men's National Soccer Team member) (FIFA YouTube)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our biggest opponent is ourselves, but we can overcome our sinful nature by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Are you keeping count of the wrongs done to you, or are you living truly debt-free? In this message, we dive into Matthew 18 to discover how remembering the astronomical debt God forgave us completely transforms our willingness to extend radical mercy to others.

This message, we are blessed to have Pastor Brian and Angela preach together.  When it comes to ministry, there are people who breathe life into it, those that struggle who do so, and those that just kill it.  It should be our goal to bring that life to ministry to lead more to Christ, let's listen to this blessed message together. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

God's covenant faithfulness does not rise and fall with the faithfulness of His people. Human unbelief cannot overturn His promises, nor can human sin be twisted into an argument against His justice. The God who gave His word remains true, even when every other voice proves false.This week, Pastor Brian's series through Romans moves into Chapter 3 with a sermon entitled, “Fidelis” from Romans chapter 3, verses  1 through 8.

Pastor Brian and Pastoral Resident Liang give some additional thoughts on the sermon "Daniel and the Lions' Den", given at WCPC on Sunday, June 28, 2026. Watch the sermon Listen to the sermon

Pastor Brian shares from Genesis 2:18; Deuteronomy 6:5–9, 17; John 4:13–14, 23–24; Matthew 6:5–13; John 14:15, 21; John 15:4–8.

It's Father's Day!  What a better day to talk about our commitments.  In Acts 5 it speaks about that living up to the commitments that we make, let's listen to the Word that Pastor Brian share from God's heart. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

There are times we are defiant, we push the line.  Beliee it or not, sometimes it's Godly to do so!  Pastor Brian shares a great message about Acts 4 where the early church pushes the line. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

This week Brian emphasizes God's command to be holy, encouraging believers to live with purpose and intentionally make room for God in their daily lives, and in the world around them.

Don't let a "spiritual autocorrect" distort God's true message of grace or keep you trapped by the heavy chains of bitterness. In this series premiere of Forgiven to Forgive, we explore the vital difference between God's courtroom and His living room to discover how forgiven people can truly learn to forgive others.

In this Fire Away Q&A service, Pastor Brian and Dr. Dennis Episcopo sit on stage together (it just so happens to be Father's Day, and Dr. Dennis is Pastor Brian's actual dad) and answer the questions our congregation texts in live. No script, no preselected questions, no editing. Just real pastoral answers to the things people are actually wrestling with.Pastor Brian and Dr. Dennis Episcopo open with a question almost everyone new to faith eventually asks. How do you read the Bible when it feels impossibly large and confusing? They recommend starting in the Gospel of Mark or Luke (Jesus is the point of the whole Bible, so go straight to him), then layering in Proverbs for everyday wisdom, and using a basic study guide like Halley's or Unger's when you get into the Old Testament.The tithing conversation that follows is honest and not soft. Dr. Dennis Episcopo points out that Jesus endorsed tithing in the New Testament and that the principle of percentage giving (10 percent of the gross before anything else) is the only biblical percentage anywhere in Scripture. Pastor Brian shares how multiple people in the church recently told him, unsolicited, that giving sacrificially was the moment everything else in their faith and marriage started to heal.Then the conversation gets harder. If God can heal, why does he allow sickness? Their answer leans on John 9 (the man born blind, "so that the works of God might be displayed in him") and the truth that suffering matures us in ways nothing else does. Pastor Brian adds the line that lands hardest. Suffering is God asking us, am I enough?The parenting question hits anyone in the throes of raising young kids. Family dinners. Annual family only vacations. The marriage prioritized above the parenting. The line they both come back to is that more is caught than taught.They close with the Great Commission in Matthew 28. A disciple is not an egghead loaded with knowledge. A disciple is someone who makes other disciples. The Greek "as you are going" matters. Discipleship happens in the ordinary cadence of real life, not in a special program. And Jesus is with you in it.

Romans 2 ends with a sobering reminder: it's possible to wear the appearance of faith while remaining untouched by the transformation faith was meant to produce. Ritual, knowledge, and religious identity cannot replace an obedient heart. What God has always desired is not outward performance, but inward renewal through the Spirit.This week, Pastor Brian concludes chapter 2 of the book of Romans with a message entitled, “PRETENSE” from chapter 2, verses 17-29.

Pastor Brian speaks to on how Faith is surrendering to God.

Pastor Brian continued last weeks message that answers the question of who is Jesus and why following him is worth giving up everything.

Starting our new series, Resilient Exiles, Brian explores 1 Peter 1 and what it means to live as faithful exiles in a world filled with uncertainty and suffering. Discover how the living hope found in Christ becomes a light for our path, a foundation for our faith, and a promise that carries us through every season of life. This message reminds us that Christian hope is not wishful thinking, it is a confident certainty grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

How well do we really know anything, and more importantly, how well does God know us? Dive into Psalm 139 to discover the life-changing truth that you are fully known, deeply loved, and have absolutely nothing to hide from your Creator.

When we come to God in prayer, we should come to Him in expectation.  Maybe it is a desire you have based on how things have been going, better yet, maybe it's one that God put in you; either way, it is good to seek after, pray for, and anticipate God's Will when we come to Him in prayer.  Pastor Brian shares a great message about how the early church did this.  “Somethin's bout ta happen!” Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

It's the week after Pentecost.  Not that exciting, but this is life.  What matters is that when life seems mundane, our faith in Christ is immovable.  Pastor Brian shares a message about how, in Christ, we are NEVER alone. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

When life hits us with unexpected stress and anxiety, we often try to stabilize ourselves using flimsy temporary fixes that quickly flatten under pressure. Drawing from Psalm 16, this episode challenges us to stop relying on spiritual quick fixes and instead anchor our faith securely in the unyielding, 24/7 presence of God.

Following God's will does not guarantee an easy journey; in fact, obedience often leads into delays, difficulties, and apparent dead ends that test our trust. In this message Brian teaches that “walking” in God's will is not just about discernment or decisions, but about faithfully taking the next step even when the outcome is unclear.

Series: Matthew for TodayPastor Brian KetterJune 7, 2026

Can you keep sinning and still go to heaven? Is it okay to support a friend who just told you she had an abortion? How do you honor a parent who says they're a Christian but doesn't live like one? These are the kinds of questions most people are afraid to ask out loud.In this Fire Away Q&A service, Pastor Brian and Pastor Brandon sit on stage together and answer the questions our congregation texts in live. No script, no preselected questions, no editing. Just real pastoral answers to the things people are actually wrestling with.Pastor Brandon opens with the apologetic question: how do you reach a family member who loves history but is on the fence about the gospel? He points to the historical credibility of the gospel accounts, especially the witness of the women at the resurrection in a culture that did not value women's testimony, 1 Corinthians 15 where Paul says you could still go talk to people who saw the risen Jesus, the work of scholars like Wes Huff and Lee Strobel, and the wild improbability of the disciples inventing a story they would die violent deaths to defend.The conversation gets harder fast with the abortion question. Pastor Brian and Pastor Brandon walk slowly through what it means to love someone who has done something Scripture calls sin without endorsing the sin. Be available. Play the long relational game. Pray that one day God uses you to point them not just to the gravity of what they have done, but to the cross that has already paid for it.On honoring a parent who says they are a Christian but does not live like one, Pastor Brian unpacks the difference between obey and honor, why honor has to transcend even decades of disappointment, why dishonor is just drinking poison and hoping the other person dies, and why the deeper question may not be "how do I confront this person" but "does this person actually need to be born again?"They tackle tattoos (mostly a conscience question for New Testament believers, not the Old Testament Canaanite context many people assume), the best advice for newlyweds (Pastor Brian's encouragement to pray together out loud regularly, and Pastor Brandon's reminder to find a community of other young couples who love Jesus), and they close with one of the most asked questions in modern American Christianity. If I keep sinning, can I lose my salvation?Pastor Brian's answer here is worth the whole service. You did not behave your way into salvation, and you cannot behave your way out of it. But do not play games with God either. The reason you are saved is to be sanctified. If your sin is bothering you, lean into that conviction. A bruised reed Jesus will not break, and a smoldering wick of faith he will not put out (Isaiah 42:3).If you have ever had real questions about heaven, sin, family, marriage, or doubt that nobody around you was answering, this teaching is for you. Skip to the chapter that sounds most like your story, or watch the whole thing.

We are quick to condemn the sins of others while ignoring the same guilt in ourselves. God's patience is not approval, but an invitation to repent before judgment comes. No one stands above the standard, and no one sits beside the Judge.This week, Pastor Brian continues his series through the book of Romans with a message entitled, “PRESUMPTION” from chapter 2, verses 1 through 11.

This teaching explores the Name of God: Jehovah Rapha - The God who heals. We learn that God is a healer from the beginning in the Old Testament, from Genesis and ongoing - our God's heart is to heal. Then, in the New Testament, God was a healer through his Son Jesus. When Jesus went to heaven and left the Holy Spirit to those who believe, He became a healer through His Church.

Pastor Brian is joined by Mike Genung of Blazing Grace ministries to discuss pornography and sex addiction and the church.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Brian concludes the Ask It series by answering questions about spiritual gifts, God's calling, tithing, eternity, and salvation—pointing us back to a faith that is personal, biblical, and centered on Jesus.

This week's teaching explored Jehovah Jireh, “The Lord Will Provide,” through Abraham's willingness to trust God even when he couldn't see the outcome. We were reminded that God often tests what we treasure most, not to harm us, but to reveal whether He truly holds first place in our hearts. Just as God provided a substitute for Isaac, He ultimately provided Jesus to meet our greatest need—forgiveness and reconciliation with Him—giving us confidence to trust Him with every other need we face.

Pastor Brian speaks to us on how Faith is learning discernment from the Lord.

How does Jesus-shaped change happen? It happens when you commit God's Word to your heart, give it time to grow, water His Word with prayer and continuously tend to the soil of your heart. Continue listening to find out more about HOW to do just that!▶SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/SouthernHillsLV▶Do you know Jesus as your Savior? https://www.southernhillslv.com/the-gospel▶ DONATE: https://pushpay.com/g/southernhills?src=hpp&r=monthly▶ Visit Southern Hills: https://www.southernhillslv.com/▶ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernhillslv▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernhillslv/Pastor Brian Krum serves as the Discipleship Pastor at Southern Hills Church in Las Vegas. He has an undergrad in Cross-cultural Sociology from UC Irvine, a Masters of Divinity from Palmer Seminary, and a Doctorate in Missional Leadership from Fuller Seminary. Before coming to Southern Hills, he served for 28 years in New Zealand in various roles including youth pastor, teaching pastor, seminary professor, and the leader of National Youth Ministries.