Best Willow Creek Community Church Podcasts (2024)

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“For God So Loves the Vulnerable” | Megan Marshman 31:35

24h ago31:35

31:35

We often think we have to go somewhere far to help those in need, but what about those facing challenges in our own communities? Matthew 25:31–46 shows us how much God cares for the vulnerable and calls us to love them, too. This week Megan Marshman reminds us that the opportunity to love the vulnerable is closer than we think!…

1
“For God So Loves All People” | Shawn Williams 46:23

4d ago46:23

46:23

Does God love all people? Matthew 25:15–30 gives us a glimpse of His heart. Pastor Shawn Williams kicks off For God So Loves and shares how God’s plan for our lives includes loving those within our reach with God’s love and playing an active part in bringing tangible hope and peace to our friends, family, and neighbors in all spaces!…

1
Lead as Servant, Elisha | Dave Dummitt 37:07

11d ago37:07

37:07

What would the world look like if the dominant leadership style was servant leadership? What would the country look like if the main interest of those in leadership positions—government, municipalities, schools, churches—were to out-serve one another and their constituents? Can you imagine it? The heart of servant leadership is putting the needs of…

1
Courageous Peace, Abigail | Shawn Williams 44:30

18d ago44:30

44:30

What does it mean to be a peacemaker, not a peacekeeper? Which one of those do you think requires the most courage?Abigail in the Bible shows us what real peacemaking can achieve; she saves the lives of her entire family! But puts herself at great risk to do so. Most of the time, being a peacemaker is much harder than being a peacekeeper; because i…

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Humility | Dave Dummitt 39:43

25d ago39:43

39:43

When you think about the leaders in your life, be it your boss, a parent, teacher, governor, or president; do you wish for them to lead with hubris, or humility?Hubris leads a person to inflated self-importance, which in turn leads to pride and over-confidence. Humble leadership, as demonstrated by Moses in the Bible, necessitates a person putting …

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Integrity | Megan Marshman 35:56

1M ago35:56

35:56

At a time when our world is so divided and strained, it’s important for us to remember that, as Christians, we’re commanded by God to pray for our leaders; no matter who they are, or if we like them! In the lead-up to the general election in the USA, we’re bringing you an important series about leadership, praying for leaders, and how we might inco…

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Prayer is powerful (and easier than you think) | Thomas Anderson, Jr. 43:56

1M ago43:56

43:56

It’s likely that at some point in your life as a Christian you have wondered how to pray. Perhaps it’s how to pray for something specific, how to pray a more powerful prayer, or simply “how can I pray to God and will He hear me?”When you have a relationship with God, just like any relationship, communication is an essential part of it. God wants yo…

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Aren’t all religions good? | Shawn Williams 37:42

2M ago37:42

37:42

When we think about all the religions in the world, what makes Christianity the one we want to be a part of? Perhaps you’re wondering if all religions ultimately teach about the same God - and how many gods are there? Don’t all religions basically teach about love and are equally good (or bad, depending on your POV)? There are so many questions. Bu…

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Why does God care about who I sleep with? | Shawn Williams 45:48

2M ago45:48

45:48

What does the Bible say about sex? Let’s talk about it! American culture and the American church have missed the mark on what our sexuality is for and how to use it. From the falsely liberating sexual culture of the modern era to the condemning and damaging messages of purity culture, no wonder the students and young adults in our church are confus…

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Why are Christians hypocrites? | Megan Marshman 39:24

2M ago39:24

39:24

How familiar are you with the phrase “do as I say, not as I do?” Almost all of us have heard that said at least once, right?! Now how do you think you do with saying one thing but living another way? Think about how you present yourself to others and how you really live.Many people are critical of Christians, and for good reason. Christian hypocris…

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Should Christians pursue racial justice? | Dave Dummit & Thomas Anderson Jr. 35:12

2M ago35:12

35:12

Welcome to our new series, which seeks to shed light on and answer the hard questions kids and young people are asking about Christianity. We start with a question that is seen as divisive but shouldn’t be: What role do Christians play in justice, specifically in pursuing racial justice and racial equality? Some people don’t feel this is an area Ch…

1
We all have a part to play | Shawn Williams 32:10

2M ago32:10

32:10

Have you ever considered your spiritual gifts? Are you wondering what spiritual gifts even are?! God has given each person unique skills and talents, including you! But why has God given everyone spiritual gifts? So that you, and each person in the church, can contribute in unique and awesome ways to live out the mission–the purpose–of God’s Kingdo…

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Something good to share (B.L.E.S.S.) | Dave Dummitt 36:00

3M ago36:00

36:00

This week, we’re asking: What good is knowing the Good News if we’re not sharing it? We’re often hesitant to share our faith with others because it seems too hard or too tricky to navigate, or we worry about how we will be perceived. Pastor Dave shows us how we can practically begin sharing faith with those around us through the B.L.E.S.S. model; a…

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“Relaxed” | Megan Marshman 33:29

3M ago33:29

33:29

New to Willow? Go here to find out more about our church and to see more great teaching: https://www.willowcreek.org/visit/Do you want to discover new joy, set aside shame and guilt, and live relaxed in the midst of stress, mistakes, and fatigue? Sounds pretty good, right?!In the final week of our Summer Book Club series, we hear from our very own …

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“How to Work with Complicated People” | Ryan Leak 37:05

3M ago37:05

37:05

New to Willow? Go here to find out more about our church and to see more great teaching: https://www.willowcreek.org/visit/ We’re so excited to welcome best-selling author, transformational speaker and leadership coach, Ryan Leak!In our Summer Book Club series this week, Ryan teaches from his new book, How to Work with Complicated People. His book …

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The Hidden Peace 37:36

4M ago37:36

37:36

It’s the first of our three-week Summer Book Club series, and we start off with author, preacher and Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31, Joel Muddamalle!We’re excited that Joel is with us to teach from his new book, The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength, and Confidence through Humility. We hear how Biblical humility can h…

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Apocalyptic Literature (Revelation) | Megan Marshman 43:54

4M ago43:54

43:54

Oh boy. Here we go. It’s the book of Revelation (strap in for a wild ride)!A dragon, a white horse, a beast or two, trumpets, a woman clothed in the sun—what is going on? Read the book of Revelation and without any context or understanding, it may seem like it was torn from an epic science fiction novel. Typically this leads to two approaches: 1) t…

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Letters (Romans–Jude) | Shawn Williams 33:28

4M ago33:28

33:28

Have you ever overheard a conversation only to realize it was about something completely different? Context is key—in life and in reading the New Testament Letters! There are a lot of apparent contradictions throughout the Letters, some people point to this as a reason to disprove the Bible. But understanding the context and realizing the purpose o…

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Gospels & The Early Church (Matthew–Acts) | Dave Dummitt 35:14

4M ago35:14

35:14

What are the Gospels? They are books of the Bible that provide historical narratives documenting the life and work of Jesus and the creation of the early church. It is in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts that we see God come to earth as a human, in Jesus. They also show how, as Christians, we are to live and love others as one of God’s children.…

1
Prophecy (Isaiah–Malachi) | Shawn Williams 34:39

4M ago34:39

34:39

The prophets in the Bible did some pretty strange things to grab the attention of God’s people and bring them back to Him. Understanding the prophetic books can be tricky if you don’t know the historical setting, so let’s use them as a framework for cultivating a relationship with Jesus, not simply religious adherence.…

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Wisdom (Job–Song of Songs) | Dave Dummitt 33:24

5M ago33:24

33:24

The Bible lays out fantastic principles for living, but even following them all doesn’t promise a life free from pain. We’ll explore the Wisdom literature to discover how we can seek wisdom, follow it, and find principles for life anchored in Christ.

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The History (Joshua–Esther) | Megan Marshman 36:21

5M ago36:21

36:21

Did you ever do something you knew you weren’t supposed to? Like, rebel against your boss, your parents, God? How did your boss or your parents respond? Probably not great.This week Pastor Megan Marshman covers the History books of the Bible: and, more closely, the book of Ruth. Ruth’s story in the Bible is set during a very dark moment in the hist…

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The Law (Genesis–Deuteronomy) | Dave Dummitt 38:08

5M ago38:08

38:08

So, the Bible is a little long…and overwhelming. And hard to understand a lot of the time. Ever thought: TL;DR? Same. Same.So we’re starting a brand new series on the ENTIRE BIBLE. Yep, everything in seven weeks. If you’ve ever wondered “how to start reading the Bible” or what a good Bible study plan is, this is the series for you.Sound boring? Nah…

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Break free from what holds you back | Betsy Sunny 21:33

5M ago21:33

21:33

What are “strongholds”? Strongholds are more than sins; they’re the patterns, addictions, behaviors, or traits that you might not even realize are holding you back from being the person God created you to be. The good news? The grace of God is available to all of us, and He will help you break free from the strongholds–the sins–that keep you from l…

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We Think Attending Church is Enough | Dave Dummitt 34:04

6M ago34:04

34:04

If you’re the type of Christian who attends church a couple of Sundays each month and maybe reads a Bible plan on your phone app every so often, you’re not living up to your full potential.Just attending church is not enough to fully live out God’s plan. Our true purpose in life is living as the church every day. Wherever you are, that’s where God …

1
We Think It’s About Our Agenda | Thomas Anderson Jr. 30:52

6M ago30:52

30:52

Where does your loyalty lie? Your sports team? Your family? Your political party?What about with Jesus? Does Jesus sit at the top of your loyalty list? If not, we can become diverted from God by other things. As much as we might feel passionate about a cause we believe in, or fiercely loyal to our “people”; Jesus should always be the one you're mos…

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We Think It's Solely About Getting into Heaven | Megan Marshman 33:20

6M ago33:20

33:20

It’s easy for Christians to focus solely on answering the question; “how do I get into Heaven''? and getting others into Heaven with them. But when we break the real message of the Bible down to just that, we’re missing a huge part of it: God’s purpose for your life.God’s not only concerned about you getting into Heaven, He wants you to express Hea…

1
We Think It’s Just About the Rules | Dave Dummitt 29:10

6M ago29:10

29:10

When you become a Christian you have to follow a bunch of boring rules, right? Well… sort of! It’s not so much rules as it is moral boundaries that God sets. These boundaries allow us the freedom to live fully in the beautiful life He has planned for us.Some people believe they’re being a “good Christian” by following the “Christian rules”. Perhaps…

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I think it’s about me | Shawn Williams 35:04

6M ago35:04

35:04

What do Christians get wrong about Christianity? We can all be in danger of veering off in a direction that God never intended. In this new series, exploring the church in the book of Ephesians in the Bible, our hope is to remember the mission of the church as it was originally designed, and inspire you to be a part of it!When Christians think it’s…

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All things are possible | Dave Dummitt & Shawn Williams 33:18

7M ago33:18

33:18

All things are possible with God. No, really! Nehemiah’s story in the Bible shows us how, in partnering with God first, nothing is impossible. Nehemiah does what was previously impossible for 100 years–built the walls of Jerusalem–through his faith and partnership with God. What could that look like today for us?In our final week of Celebration of …

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You have something to offer | Dave Dummitt 43:48

7M ago43:48

43:48

Do you have what it takes to make a difference in the world? To change it for the better and to help others? Yes! You do! Nehemiah, in the Bible, felt like he had many constraints, but he was still able to use his influence as King Artaxerxes’ cupbearer and his connection to God to serve others in need. And you can too. In week two of Celebration o…

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Tune your heart | Shawn Williams 37:01

7M ago37:01

37:01

What do you do when you’re faced with a big problem? Most of us do one of two things: either move quickly into action, or become overwhelmed and freeze. It’s fight, or flight, or freeze.When we think about how to change the world, or how to help people in difficult times, our best course of action is to go to God first. It’s a natural thing to want…

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Doubts and questions | Pat Brennan 25:39

7M ago25:39

25:39

Have you ever been told to stop questioning and just believe? People say that with good intentions, but it can lead to a lack of faith. It’s perfectly normal and expected to have doubt and curiosity about Jesus and the Bible. Have you ever heard of “doubting Thomas?” In John 20, Doubting Thomas had witnessed Jesus’ miracles and heard Him teach, but…

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Easter at Willow | Dave Dummitt 27:48

8M ago27:48

27:48

We know the Easter story—Jesus lived a perfect life, suffered and died on the cross, and then rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. But what would it have been like to be one of His disciples or friends at Easter? They changed their entire lives to follow Him; then everything they thought would happen shattered when Jesus died. Their own hope died. …

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Not alone in our loneliness | Shawn Williams (Good Friday Full Service) 54:53

8M ago54:53

54:53

Many of us have a fear of being alone. It’s a very human trait to suffer through feeling lonely and social isolation. But with God next to us, we are never truly alone. And God understands our feelings of loneliness and sadness; Jesus suffered terrifying depression and loneliness in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)and cried out to God in…

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Can we be angry? | Megan Marshman 38:30

8M ago38:30

38:30

We imagine Jesus as a very serene, calm and soft-spoken man. But, just like us, Jesus feels anger, and in John 2:13-25, He gets so angry Jesus flips tables!But have you ever noticed that anger comes from another feeling? The thing that lies underneath it causes an explosion that sometimes we struggle to contain; your disappointment, grief or sadnes…

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Overcoming shame | Shawn Williams 36:19

8M ago36:19

36:19

Shame is a word and feeling we all want to avoid. Shame is often a barrier between us and God, too. Our regrets, all those actions and feelings we carry with us for years, weigh us down and make us feel less than worthy of God’s love. But that’s just not true at all. In John 18, Peter denies Jesus three times, something he is deeply ashamed of. And…

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A God who grieves | Thomas Anderson Jr. 28:08

9M ago28:08

28:08

Does God understand our grief? In the story of Lazarus and his death and resurrection, Jesus shows us that He lives grief just as deeply as we do. Even though Jesus knew Lazarus would be brought back from the dead, He still joined Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, in their grief and sadness. Jesus also demonstrates how, through Him, we can use our…

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Contagious joy | Dave Dummitt 39:46

9M ago39:46

39:46

When Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding, it was not only His first miracle but also caused great joy. No, not because the guests got the best wine (but that did make them pretty joyful)! But because Mary, Jesus’ mother, saw Him step into His calling. We can sometimes wonder how we can be happy. Or curious about where others are finding joy i…

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It transforms the world | Megan Marshman 39:48

9M ago39:48

39:48

What is the power of our giving? Can our generosity change the world? In the earliest Christian church (in Acts 2:42-47), people gave so that others in their community were looked after. Orphans were homed, the sick were cared for, and anyone with a need was helped. Jesus calls us to do the same in our world today! We can help in our community by g…

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It costs you something | Shawn Williams 41:14

9M ago41:14

41:14

What is a motivating factor in giving when you decide to give? It’s usually in response to a need; a heartstring has been pulled, and you want to help someone else. When something really hits home, we can feel like it’s worth giving sacrificially–more than we might usually, or perhaps we have to forgo something else to help meet someone else’s need…

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It starts with gratitude | Dave Dummitt 48:29

9M ago48:29

48:29

Church offerings, or the concept of “tithing,” is typically hard to talk about, hard to begin doing and often is questioned. When many doubt the church's intentions, what good comes from tithing? Tithes and offerings are all about generosity. It’s about how you give, not how much. It is an expression of worship in response to God’s goodness. And it…

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Dreams greater than you imagine | Shawn Williams 33:26

9M ago33:26

33:26

Yes, God’s will for your life is much bigger than you could imagine! God wants to use YOU to help heal, restore, and redeem the world. You can change the world in partnership with God’s work in your life. But how?We finish up the last week in our Divine Dreams series by looking at Joseph in the Bible, in Genesis 50 and Romans 8:28, and learning how…

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Testing that defines and refines | Dave Dummitt 29:07

10M ago29:07

29:07

Temptation is all around us, testing our character and will. Temptation also affected Joseph in the Bible. When faced with temptations such as seduction by Potiphar’s wife, a weak work ethic, and revenge on his despicable brothers, Joseph leans into his faith and resists, choosing instead to show kindness and keep his integrity. Pastor Dave explore…

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When others threaten your dreams | Dave Dummitt 33:27

10M ago33:27

33:27

How do you hold onto your life’s dreams and persevere through tough times when others threaten to derail them or even actively hurt you? The story of Joseph in the Bible deals with his struggles with a highly dysfunctional family and the ways in which they harm him (Genesis 37–40) when they dislike his big dreams for life. Joseph holds onto hope th…

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Discovering God's Dream for Your Life | Megan Marshman 41:07

10M ago41:07

41:07

Many of us wonder: what is my life’s purpose? We have big dreams, but do they match God’s will for our lives? And what happens when obstacles get in the way of our dreams? Remember when you were a kid, and you wanted to be an actor, a firefighter, or a marine biologist, but life got in the way, reality hit, and your big dreams fell by the wayside? …

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Finding Rest in a Chaotic World | Dave Dummitt 35:52

10M ago35:52

35:52

It’s a new year; we’re all thinking about what we want to do and achieve in the next 12 months. Do you want to hit the gym, read those books you’ve had on your shelf for ages, or pick up a new hobby? How about rest? Could resting well be a part of what you want to achieve this year? It’s different, sure! But God Himself takes a rest, and if He can,…

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Evangelism: A value to live, not a thing to do | Betsy Sunny 30:15

11M ago30:15

30:15

Once you make a decision to follow Jesus, you’re told to go out and evangelize to everyone you know; and all those you don’t know too. Ooof, that sounds scary, right? What does evangelism really mean? We’ve all seen the guy standing on the street corner yelling at everyone to repent. But that’s not what the Bible tells us about evangelism. Is evang…

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A King Among Kings| Shawn Williams 24:10

11M ago24:10

24:10

The biblical Christmas story is one of peace and hope, but only if you see Jesus for who He really is. When Jesus, the King of Kings, was born, King Herod felt intimidated and tried to eliminate the threat to his kingdom. What’s your response to Jesus? You can ignore Him, feel threatened by Him, or choose to follow and experience the wholeness He h…

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An Approachable King | Megan Marshman 41:46

11M ago41:46

41:46

If you ever felt like you didn’t fit into church or God wasn’t for you, you aren’t alone. The shepherds in the Bible were the first to hear the news of the birth of Jesus. The “lowly” shepherds, as they’re sometimes referred to, were not important, high-powered people. Had Jesus been born in a castle or fortress, He would only be accessible to a se…

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