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The Mission of Willow Creek Community Church is to turn irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. The Vision of Willow Creek Community Church is to be a biblically functional community of believers so Christ’s redemptive purposes can be accomplished in the world.
The Practice is an experimental gathering at Willow Creek Community Church where we immerse ourselves in God’s dream for humanity, practice the historic disciplines that align us with His dream, and carry each other along the way. We are learning to live out Jesus’ teachings in the world.
Podcast by Willow Creek Community Church
Our Senior Pastor Rick Thiessen and Executive Pastor Dan Hazen are the main speakers. Occasionally you will also hear from special guest speakers. For more information about Allen Creek Community Church, also known as AC3 please visit www.ac3.org.
Growing as a follower of Christ isn’t measured by how much of God’s Word you know; it’s measured by how you live out your faith in your relationships, day-in and day-out. Midweek is all about helping you engage with God holistically—in every relationship in your life.
Be encouraged, equipped and empowered to help people grow as fully devoted followers of Jesus.
The Practical Worship Podcast is a podcast for the everyday worship leader, designed to help you lead a worship band and be a leader of people. Every month, Dave Dolphin interviews thought leaders in the area of worship, creative and production ministries. New episodes release the first Friday of every month. For more great advice, check out youtube.com/practicalworship and practicalworshipblog.com.
~60 min class time with Pastor Kevin Wright discussing the History of the Church within the context of the history of the world. Listen as they discuss how the Church developed and how it affected the world in the process (and how it was affected by the world in return). Make connections on how history repeats itself -- how we can learn from that, and how we tend to make the same mistakes people made in the past. This series was originally presented with PowerPoint slide shows. Unfortunately ...
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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Celebration Of Hope 2021 Change Your World John Maxwell
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Everyone has the ability to change the world right where they are; be willing to learn, value others, and collaborate to make gospel-centered change. Jesus calls us to be a light to the rest of the world, so let’s be a church that is continually growing, moving, and giving. Let’s offer hands of help to our neighbors, near and far, and share the lov…
Nicole Howe begins our Easter series called "Practicing Joy." What is authentic joy, and how might we be shaped through the practice of celebration to be joyful even in the midst of trials? If The Practice has been beneficial to your spiritual journey and you would like to give to gift, you may do so here.…
Jason Feffer delivers an Easter Sunday message and practice. Inviting us into Mary's experience with the risen Christ, Jason helps us understand and engage with the words of Jesus to Mary, "Do not cling to me." If God has used The Practice in your life, would you consider supporting the future of The Practice Church? A tax-deductible gift can be gi…
The Easter story starts all the way in the beginning. God created a beautiful world. But while there beauty in the world, there is also pain, destruction, and devastation—so much so that we not only feel far from beauty, but far from the God who created it. And just when it feels like we are left condemned with the broken pieces of life in our hand…
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Practical Worship Podcast
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Dave Dolphin on solving the lack of enough volunteers in your ministry and finding devoted and dependable people
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Not having enough people to cover all the bases on a Sunday morning is a constant problem for all of us. I've yet to meet a worship pastor that doesn't struggle with finding enough dependable people to play in the worship band and fulfill all the audio/video needs in the tech booth. In this episode, I share all the tricks I've learned over the last…
As we listen to the stories and the needs of people, how are we intentionally serving them to meet their needs? And as we build relationships, get to know stories, and serve people, we begin to gain the credibility to share the hope we have in Jesus. Jesus modeled this by changing the world from the bottom, up. Jesus said, “I’m not going to change …
Mimi Dixon continues our Lent series on Fasting as Feasting with God. How might fasting in the wilderness lead us deeper into intimacy with God? Mimi says that fasting in the wilderness ought to be an "expected, unavoidable part of the journey toward union with God." Then, Mimi leads us through a prayer practice with a labyrinth. If The Practice Ch…
Jesus communicated a LOT by the seemingly mundane act of eating at Matthew’s house with him and his socially outcast friends. Something powerful happens when we come across tables from one another and share nourishment. The first thing Jesus did after Matthew said “yes” to “follow Me” was share a meal with him. He didn’t have him take a class on ho…
Casey Tygrett continues our series on Fasting as a way of Feasting on God. While this practice is often misunderstood, it is foundational in our formation in Christ's likeness. Practiced rightly, fasting is actually feasting on God! Fasting also reveals our limitations and guides us to repentance. If God has used The Practice in your life, would yo…
Jesus is the one we follow. His whole life was a blessing to the world. Every place that he went, every person he encountered experienced a “God moment” in his presence. Jesus lived out the BLESS practices in his daily life on earth, and he did that by beginning with prayer. If we are going to help people take next steps with God, we have to begin …
Eric Case continues our Lenten journey at the Practice Church, "Fasting: Feasting on God." While this practice is often misunderstood, it is foundational in our Spiritual formation. How might our fasts help us to enter the sorrow of God? If God has used the Practice on your Spiritual journey, consider giving a gift here.…
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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NEXT - Together One Church - Ed Ollie Jr. - Shawn Williams
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At the heart of the Gospel is reconciliation. Jesus’ prayer was that His church would be one. During this message, Dave Dummitt will preach about the ethos of reconciliation, Jesus’ vision for His church, and how that starts at the individual level. Are we pursuing peace and reconciliation in the relationships around us? Dave will address reconcili…
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Practical Worship Podcast
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Jeff Sandstrom on running sound in church, finding volunteers and building a bridge from the booth to the stage
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One could say the most important member of the band is the person running sound. They're the ones taking the stage inputs and crafting them into something that is musical and impactful, so how a worship pastor and the audio engineer work together can have a significant impact on the overall effectiveness of the worship band. Jeff Sandstrom has been…
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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Next - X-Factor Multiplication - Dave Ferguson
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Jesus understood exponential growth. By taking 12 ragtag, misfit men and training them, discipling them...the world turned upside down. We can live lives of exponential impact by following the ways of Jesus to be and make disciples. We also believe that the church is the hope of the world. New churches baptize many more people than older churches o…
Jason Feffer begins our Lenten journey at the Practice Church, "Fasting: Feasting on God." While this practice is often misunderstood, it is foundational in our Spiritual formation. Jason reminds us that when practiced rightly, fasting is actually feasting on God! Then, Jason helps us craft a practice of fasting for this season of Lent. If God has …
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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Everyone In A Group-Every Group On Mission-Megan Marshman
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As a church, we’ve spoken heavily about getting connected into small groups, but we are going to double-down. Part of our NEXT vision is becoming a church OF small groups, not just a church WITH small groups. We want to make “big church...small” with everyone in a group and every group on mission.
Nicole Howe closes out our series "Desiring Deeply: Freedom and Detachment." After exploring the final result of Christian detachment, interior freedom, we then practice a prayer of discerning where God is inviting us to experience deeper levels of true freedom. Find more info on our website. If the Practice has been meaningful in your spiritual jo…
As Christ-followers, we have a unique opportunity to break down barriers and go where the people are, offering real and lasting hope.
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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Game_On-The_Big_Game-Megan_Marshman-Albert_Tate-Dave_Dummit
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Church can be fun and meaningful at the same time. Albert Tate and Megan Marshman bring their A-game to The Big Game as we wrap our series, “Game On.”
As we continue our series Desiring Deeply: Freedom and Detachment, we invite you to make room in your day for a practice of the Examen. In this practice, we review our day with Jesus, paying attention to what we notice and having a conversation with the Lord. Will you join us in this practice?
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Practical Worship Podcast
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Drew Powell on creating a thriving worship ministry by intentionally shaping culture and building relationships
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We all want our worship ministries to be a thriving part of the church's mission. What's required to make that happen typically has less to do with Planning Center and gear and more to do with how you as the leader shape the culture of that ministry. How are you pouring into the people you're leading? Drew Powell is the creative pastor at Cross Poi…
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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Game On-Step Forward in Financial Freedom-Dave Dummit
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2020 took a hit on many people’s finances. Jobs were lost, businesses closed, and many people racked up even more debt. How to we get back in the game with our finances? Dave Dummitt teaches this week using Bible-based principles found in the book of Proverbs, Colossians, and I Timothy to help people, regardless of where they are financially, take …
Continuing our series, Desiring Deeply: Freedom and Detachment, Jason Feffer helps us explore what happens when our desires run amuck. What can we do when we struggle to live in the freedom of detachment? View more information on our website here. If you would like to give to the Practice Church, you can do so here.…
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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Game On-Step Forward in Faith-Dave Dummit
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What happens when we fail or make regrettable decisions? Does God condemn us and consider us done for? This week we’ll take a look at the most regrettable moment of a man named Peter and how God redeemed that moment to strengthen his faith and give him a do over so he could get back in the game.
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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Game On-Step Forward in Peace- Derwin Gray
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Happy are the merciful. In the story of the Good Samaritan we see a man show tremendous compassion on someone others had labeled an enemy. When we remove human labels and instead look for common humanity we can experience power and goodness. Treat everyone like Jesus died for them, because He did.
Joan Kelley continues our series "Desiring Deeply: Freedom and Detachment" with an exploration of holy desire. What role does desire play in our spiritual journey? How do our deepest desires help us uncover God's loving will for our lives? After Joan's teaching, we practice a prayer of discerning our desires in God's presence. If you would like to …
Father Michael Sparough leads us in an embodied practice of detachment. Find the entire teaching here.
Father Michael Sparough begins a new teaching series titled "Desiring Deeply: Freedom and Detachment." We are reminded of the truth that Jesus invites us to hold all things with open hands in order to find the fulfillment of our deepest longings in God alone. Then, we practice a powerful embodied prayer of detachment. Find more info on our website …
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Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast
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Game On-Step Forward in Health-Dave Dummit
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Our physical health impacts our entire well being. But in order to have victory in living as the healthiest versions of ourselves, we have to start with right motivation. Our decisions about personal health impact ourselves, impact those around us, and impact our relationship with God.
A group of friends wrecked a roof to get their friend to Jesus; they were committed to relentlessly doing whatever it took for their friend to experience the transformation that only Jesus offers. What does it mean for us to live on mission, committed to doing whatever it takes to reach people with the hope of the Gospel?…
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Practical Worship Podcast
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Kyle O'Neal on creating a healthy culture of worship with the band and how to lead people on and off the stage
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The leading we do on a Sunday morning is just a small part of the opportunity we have with people. A good part of our effectiveness as worship pastors happens off the stage during the week. Kyle O'Neal is one of the worship pastors at Life.Church, and in our conversation we talk about the importance of investing in the people in your church and how…
What's in a name? When a new baby is born, parents give a name for lots of different reasons, but in ancient Hebrew culture a name set the course of a child's life. This week we take a look at the naming of Jesus out of Isaiah 9:6: 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name sha…
It’s amazing how important a kick can be. This week we will take a look at one of the most significant kicks in history as we pursue understanding one thing: There is a direct correlation between proximity with God and Joy.
This resource includes three prayers: one for morning, another for midday (10:01), and the last for evening (14:00). The prayers will follow a consistent pattern each week with new scriptures every day. In this series, we embrace the season of Advent. How might we wait on the Lord in preparation for Christmas?…
Matthew 1 digs into the genealogy of Jesus. We all come in here with scandalous schizophrenic family trees not just in our past but in some degree scandalous and schizophrenic ourselves. But that should never trump the fact that when you give your life to Jesus all of a sudden. You have a greater pedigree. You have a greater spiritual DNA. You have…
Marion Medina continues our Advent journey as we listen to the longings revealed in this season. What is percolating below the surface? How are we being invited into a deeper life with God, into our heart's truest home? For more info on our website here.
Divine interruptions have a huge impact on our spiritual lives because if we don’t recognize them and respond to them, we miss out on some of the most important things God wants to do in our lives.
Even during seasons when hope is running low, God’s hand of care is not removed. This week Shawn Williams teaches us that having eyes to see God’s goodness—gratitude—is a key ingredient to living a joyful life.
This is such a powerful moment. Do you see what Jesus is doing? He is revealing his purpose in this world as one sent by God to bring about restoration to that which has been broken. It’s the fully restored relationship with God that gives us the promise or guarantee that one day everything will be made new. And it is often our greatest seasons of …
Advent is especially needed during a year as painful as this one. In our Advent series, Jason Feffer explores the invitation to lean into all this year has been, to find our longing in it, and to wait for Jesus. Find more info on our website.
This resource includes three prayers: one for morning, another for midday (11:23), and the last for evening (15:19). The prayers will follow a consistent pattern each week with new scriptures every day. In this series, we embrace the season of Advent. How might we wait on the Lord in preparation for Christmas?…
This resource includes three prayers: one for morning, another for midday (8:00), and the last for evening (11:56). The prayers will follow a consistent pattern each week with new scriptures every day. In this series, we embrace the season of Advent. How might we wait on the Lord in preparation for Christmas?…
Ian Simkins concludes our “Love and…” series. Ian reminds us that love begins with listening, the kind of listening that not only hears others but is incarnationally present to them. Find more info on our website.
2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for the entire world. This weekend we will be meeting people in the wake of a major presidential election. Some people will be celebrating and hopeful, others will be frustrated or even fearful. In the middle of tough and uncertain circumstances we have a decision to make: do we trust God or not? Using t…
God is able. But what will you do even if he does not? This week we will look at Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego and their confidence in God in the middle of dire circumstances. While they were hoping to get delivered from the furnace, God chose to deliver them in the furnace.
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The Practice Church Podcast
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Practice Daily Office: The Sermon on the Mount
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This resource includes three prayers: one for morning, another for midday (8:54), and the last for evening (12:52). The prayers will follow a consistent pattern each week with new scriptures every day. In this series, we focus on the Sermon on the Mount. How might Jesus form us as we soak in this important teaching for three month.…
Nicole Howe reminds us of how God can bring order out of chaos. When everything in us and around us seems to be swirling out of control, we can rest in Our Creator who ordered the whole world, the cosmos, with beauty, goodness, and truth. In our practice, we lean into the chaos while also inviting God's creative Spirit to meet us and bring cosmic o…
As our community discerns the way forward, we offer this practice of discernment. In this prayer, we will listen to the Holy Spirit while letting go of what stands in the way of following God fully, and we will employ the Ignatian concepts of consolation and desolation as we listen with loving attention.…
Ever felt powerless? What’s the secret to having peace and calm when you can’t control much of anything? This week Albert Tate takes us through week 2 of our Journey through Daniel to take a look that even in powerless circumstances we have access to an all-powerful God.
