Podcasts about pastor brian

How to Identify False Prophets in 2026 with Pastor Brian Gibson is a powerful conversation about discerning real prophecy from counterfeit ministry, testing spiritual gifts, and staying grounded in biblical truth.Zach sits down with Pastor Brian Gibson to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the Church right now: How do you know what's real and what's counterfeit when it comes to prophecy, miracles, and spiritual gifts?Brian shares why the existence of false prophets doesn't erase the reality of true prophetic ministry, how believers can discern the difference between someone who is simply wrong and someone operating deceptively, and why character, accountability, and motive matter just as much as gifting.In this episode, you'll hear:• How to identify the difference between a false prophet and a wrong prophet• How Brian personally caught someone faking a supernatural manifestation• Whether Christians should publicly call out false prophets and false teachers• Why prophetic gifting can still operate when someone's personal life is compromised• How accountability inside the local church protects believers from deception• Why prophetic words should be tested, judged, and handled with humilityIf you've ever wondered how to discern prophetic ministry, what to do when Christian leaders fail, or how to pursue the gifts of the Spirit without falling into deception, this conversation will challenge you to stay rooted in Scripture while remaining open to what God is doing.Subscribe to the I Like Birds Podcast for more conversations that help you grow deeper in your faith, walk boldly with Jesus, and navigate the real questions facing believers today.CONNECT + RESOURCESGet Brian Gibson's book, Ignited by the Spirit:https://www.faithandflame.com/products/ignited-by-the-spirit-a-journey-into-the-prophetic-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-and-your-divine-calling-july-2026Use code ILIKEBIRDS20 for a discount.Get Zach's new book, Me, Armani, & Jesus:Amazon: https://a.co/d/07QqYlywSigned copy: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/me-armani-jesusCome see the live event in Burleson, Texas:https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLBEB869F6Y5R/checkout/7KBLAUBR2NVYOIJDLIIQBFGZPARTNER WITH I LIKE BIRDS MINISTRY

Pastor Brian's sermon explores the Christian identity as pilgrims and sojourners who are called to resist conformity to a world hostile to God. It addresses the inevitable loneliness and persecution believers face, urging them to remain faithful rather than silent or compromising. The preacher outlines practical spiritual disciplines for enduring hardship, including cultivating an eternal perspective, embracing suffering as a blessing, trusting in God's protection, engaging actively in the church community, and drawing encouragement from biblical examples of faithfulness. Ultimately, the message affirms that believers are more than conquerors through Christ, equipped with divine resources to live victoriously in a fallen world.

There really is nothing like a salvation testimony!  Today's message, is about the story of when the Apostle Paul encountered Jesus Christ and had his name changed from Saul to Paul.  Pastor Brian shares a message about his favorite story in the book of Acts. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

Pastor Brian begins the story of Joseph and explores what it means to carry a God-given dream through uncertainty, opposition, and waiting.

Our apologies for the poor audio quality this week, we were experiencing technical difficulties and this is the best we could do with what was available to us.  To open this week, Pastor Keith Lawler shares the ministry of Father's House Fellowship in Cambodia that he leads and all the God is accomplishing through him there.  Then, Pastor Brian shares a very apt message about missions in the early church. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

God's family is not defined by outward rites or religious résumés; it is marked by faith. Abraham was declared righteous before he ever received the covenant sign, and his true children — Jew and Gentile alike — are known by that same believing trust.Romans chapter 4, verses 9 through 12 brings that idea into sharp focus. In a sermon titled, "Family Resemblance," Pastor Brian shows us why faith, not ritual, is the mark of Abraham's family.

Pastor Brian and Director of Outreach Devona give some additional thoughts on the sermon "The Joyful Kingdom", given at WCPC on Sunday, August 9, 2026. Watch the sermon Listen to the sermon

Pastor Brian Mesick discusses the topic of "The Power That Is Toward Us" in his series entitled "Christ and The Passover : Pastor Brian Mesick" This is Part XLVII - 47 and it focuses on the following verses: Luke 22:29; Ephesians 1:19-20

During his sabbatical, Pastor Brian was reminded that God is actively at work around the world, building His Church and drawing people to Himself. Reflecting on Scripture and the lives of faithful believers who sacrificed for the sake of the gospel, he challenged us to invest our time, resources, and lives in what will last for eternity. Though following Jesus will always involve a cost, there is no greater purpose than helping people take steps toward Him, trusting that our labor for Christ will never be in vain.

Pastor Brian speaks to us on how Jesus transforms our wilderness experience.

Remember “What Would Jesus do Bracelets”?  More like “Jesus would not have got himself into this situation in the first place,” am I right?  We often find ourselves in difficult situations that we didn't intend to be in.  Thankfully, we serve a God who's bigger than those situations.  Pastor Brian shares a message about how we can change the world through God's calling. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

How are our thoughts affecting us? Do we listen more to our own thoughts, the thoughts of others, or God's thoughts to determine our well-being? Listen as Pastor Brian expounds about our thought life.

Pastor Brian's sermon outlines biblical procedures for handling offenses within the church, drawing primarily from Matthew 18 and Matthew 5. It details a progressive approach for the offended party, starting with overlooking minor transgressions and moving through private confrontation, involving witnesses, and finally church intervention if necessary. Simultaneously, it instructs offenders to recognize their wrongdoing, prioritize reconciliation over ritual worship, and humbly seek forgiveness. The ultimate goal of these steps is the restoration of relationships and the preservation of church unity, while maintaining spiritual purity by addressing unrepentant sin. This process requires both parties to act in good faith, ensuring that grievances are resolved with gentleness and truth.

Even life's hardest seasons can become God's greatest gifts. In this message, Pastor Brian shares the surprising lunch that changed everything—leading him through counseling, sabbatical, and a renewed trust in God's goodness.

When a repentant offender is kept under endless probation, our refusal to forgive can destroy the very relationships we are called to protect. Preaching from 2 Corinthians 2:5–11, this message explores how choosing immediate pardon over prolonged punishment comforts the brokenhearted and outsmarts the enemy's schemes against the church.

Pastor Brian continues Jacob's story, revealing how genuine repentance leads to a new identity—and how forgiveness frees us from the bitterness of the past.

What do you do when everything you built is taken from you in a single storm? Almost no one thinks that question will ever land on them personally, and then one day it does. Pastor Brian preached this message to a congregation whose city had just been devastated by an EF3 tornado, and the answer he gave is one every person is going to need at some point.In this sermon, Pastor Brian opens with a hard truth. On July 27, 2026, an EF3 tornado over a mile wide touched down for more than twenty minutes and tore through the neighborhoods of Appleton, Menasha, and Neenah. Miraculously, no one was killed. But the loss will take generations to rebuild. And in a moment like that, everyone around you starts watching to see how you respond. Not because you asked for the spotlight, but because the world is quietly asking a question in every disaster. How do Christians handle storms?Pastor Brian says the answer is that Christians are different. Not weird. Different. Christians still grieve. Jesus himself grieved the death of Lazarus in John 11, even though he was minutes away from raising him. Grief is not weakness. It is honesty. But the way a Christian grieves is otherworldly, because our identity is anchored in a King whose kingdom is not of this world.Then Pastor Brian walks through two storms in Scripture that reframe everything. In Luke 8, Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee, and the disciples' response is not relief but fear, because they realize they had no idea who was in the boat with them. And in Matthew 27, at noon on the day Jesus was crucified, the sky went dark and Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1). He names what the cross actually is. It is the storm that defines Christians. You and I were asleep in a sinking boat we did not even know we were in, and Jesus went into the water for us. We may not get every "why" answered on this side of glory. But we know the why of Jesus. His why was you.That is why Christians are different about home (we build houses, not homes, because only Jesus is home), different about neighbors (we can be generous because we gave up everything to Christ already), and different in storms (we do not have all the answers, but we have the God who understands the tears).Eight people gave their lives to Christ in the seven days after this tornado through Samaritan's Purse and community ministry. The house may fall. The eternal work never does.If you have been through a storm you cannot explain, or you are watching one right now, this teaching is for you.#AllianceChurch #SundaySermon #BibleTeaching #JesusSaves #ChristianFaith #ChurchOnline #WisconsinChurch #FaithThatMoves #HopeInJesus #SermonSeries #faith #jesus #god #christianity #christian #tornado #storm #hope #grief #church #gospel #wisconsin

What do you do when everything you built is taken from you in a single storm? Almost no one thinks that question will ever land on them personally, and then one day it does. Pastor Brian preached this message to a congregation whose city had just been devastated by an EF3 tornado, and the answer he gave is one every person is going to need at some point.In this sermon, Pastor Brian opens with a hard truth. On July 27, 2026, an EF3 tornado over a mile wide touched down for more than twenty minutes and tore through the neighborhoods of Appleton, Menasha, and Neenah. Miraculously, no one was killed. But the loss will take generations to rebuild. And in a moment like that, everyone around you starts watching to see how you respond. Not because you asked for the spotlight, but because the world is quietly asking a question in every disaster. How do Christians handle storms?Pastor Brian says the answer is that Christians are different. Not weird. Different. Christians still grieve. Jesus himself grieved the death of Lazarus in John 11, even though he was minutes away from raising him. Grief is not weakness. It is honesty. But the way a Christian grieves is otherworldly, because our identity is anchored in a King whose kingdom is not of this world.Then Pastor Brian walks through two storms in Scripture that reframe everything. In Luke 8, Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee, and the disciples' response is not relief but fear, because they realize they had no idea who was in the boat with them. And in Matthew 27, at noon on the day Jesus was crucified, the sky went dark and Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1). He names what the cross actually is. It is the storm that defines Christians. You and I were asleep in a sinking boat we did not even know we were in, and Jesus went into the water for us. We may not get every "why" answered on this side of glory. But we know the why of Jesus. His why was you.That is why Christians are different about home (we build houses, not homes, because only Jesus is home), different about neighbors (we can be generous because we gave up everything to Christ already), and different in storms (we do not have all the answers, but we have the God who understands the tears).Eight people gave their lives to Christ in the seven days after this tornado through Samaritan's Purse and community ministry. The house may fall. The eternal work never does.If you have been through a storm you cannot explain, or you are watching one right now, this teaching is for you.#AllianceChurch #SundaySermon #BibleTeaching #JesusSaves #ChristianFaith #ChurchOnline #WisconsinChurch #FaithThatMoves #HopeInJesus #SermonSeries #faith #jesus #god #christianity #christian #tornado #storm #hope #grief #church #gospel #wisconsin

Have you ever found yourself caught in the endless cycle of striving, performing, and trying to *do* enough for God? ... Read More

God does not justify us as payment for what we have accomplished; He credits righteousness to the ungodly who trust Him. Like Abraham and David, we discover the blessed freedom of receiving by faith what we could never earn through works.Romans chapter 4, verses 1 through 8 brings that question into sharp focus. In a sermon titled,  “Unearned,” Pastor Brian shows us why righteousness is not a reward for the deserving, but a gift received by faith.

From Thursday night at Accelerate, Pastor Brian Smith challenges Church on the Rock to stop viewing the local church as a cruise ship built for spectators and begin seeing it as a battleship filled with people on mission. Teaching from Acts 1:8 and Matthew 16:18, Pastor Brian explains that the church is not simply a place we attend to hear a message. The church is a group of people carrying the message of Jesus into their homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, cities, and world. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, every follower of Jesus is called to be His witness and participate in the Great Commission. In this practical and urgent message, Pastor Brian shares his personal testimony of moving from religion into a real relationship with Jesus, confronts the excuses and fears that keep Christians from sharing their faith, and reminds us that awkward conversations can change lives. You do not need a ministry title, perfect theology, or the gift of evangelism to tell someone what Jesus has done for you. You need compassion, initiative, and a willingness to take the next step. We have all fallen. We cannot get up. Jesus took the fall, and Jesus got up. Discover how to walk in the Holy Spirit's power, clearly share the gospel, pray for your plus one, and change your world as part of a church on the move. If not me, then who? If not here, then where? If not now, then when?   New here or made a decision to follow Jesus today? We would love to connect with you. Fill out our digital connection card: https://churchontherock.net/connect-card  

A verse-by-verse study through the book of James. The words we speak reflect what is in our hearts. Pastor Brian expounds what this means in this powerful study.

A verse-by-verse study through the book of James. The words we speak reflect what is in our hearts. Pastor Brian expounds what this means in this powerful study.

When old family drama resurfaces after years of buried guilt, we are often tempted to ask "what if" instead of trusting in God's mercy. Exploring the dramatic climax of Genesis 50, this sermon reveals how releasing past wounds allows us to embrace the healing power of divine grace.

Because salvation is God's gift from beginning to end, all human boasting is excluded. Jew and Gentile alike are justified in the same way, through faith alone in Christ alone. Far from overthrowing God's law, faith establishes it by receiving the righteousness the law itself could never produce.This week, Pastor Brian considers one of the great pillars of the Protestant Reformation  with a sermon entitled, Sola Fidé from Romans chapter 3, verses 27 through 31.

In part 6 of this series, Pastor Brian unpacks the story of Jacob where we discover how small compromises shape our lives and learn how God transforms destructive patterns into powerful legacies of faith.

DMV lines, broken tech, and minor inconveniences often reveal the anger already simmering beneath the surface of our hearts. Looking at Jesus' words in Matthew 5, this episode explores how unaddressed anger poisons our spiritual lives and why true discipleship requires moving beyond avoiding physical harm to actively pursuing reconciliation.

In this episode, Pastor Brian continues Abraham's story, reminding us that God is faithful in the waiting, present in our grief, and worthy of our obedience.

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?

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.

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

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

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