Best Willow Creek Community Church Podcasts (2024)

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

4d 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…

1
Break free from what holds you back | Betsy Sunny 21:33

11d 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…

1
We Think Attending Church is Enough | Dave Dummitt 34:04

18d 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

25d 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…

1
We Think It's Solely About Getting into Heaven | Megan Marshman 33:20

1M 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

1M 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…

1
I think it’s about me | Shawn Williams 35:04

2M 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…

1
All things are possible | Dave Dummitt & Shawn Williams 33:18

2M 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 …

1
You have something to offer | Dave Dummitt 43:48

2M 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…

1
Tune your heart | Shawn Williams 37:01

2M 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…

1
Doubts and questions | Pat Brennan 25:39

3M 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…

1
Easter at Willow | Dave Dummitt 27:48

3M 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. …

1
Not alone in our loneliness | Shawn Williams (Good Friday Full Service) 54:53

3M 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…

1
Can we be angry? | Megan Marshman 38:30

3M 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…

1
Overcoming shame | Shawn Williams 36:19

3M 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…

1
A God who grieves | Thomas Anderson Jr. 28:08

4M 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…

1
Contagious joy | Dave Dummitt 39:46

4M 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…

1
It transforms the world | Megan Marshman 39:48

4M 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…

1
It costs you something | Shawn Williams 41:14

4M 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…

1
It starts with gratitude | Dave Dummitt 48:29

4M 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…

1
Dreams greater than you imagine | Shawn Williams 33:26

5M 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…

1
Testing that defines and refines | Dave Dummitt 29:07

5M 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…

1
When others threaten your dreams | Dave Dummitt 33:27

5M 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…

1
Discovering God's Dream for Your Life | Megan Marshman 41:07

5M 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? …

1
Finding Rest in a Chaotic World | Dave Dummitt 35:52

6M 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,…

1
Evangelism: A value to live, not a thing to do | Betsy Sunny 30:15

6M 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…

1
A King Among Kings| Shawn Williams 24:10

6M 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

6M 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…

1
Distractions & Detours | Shawn Williams 28:59

7M ago28:59

28:59

In week 2 of our Christmas series, we look at how we can focus on the goodness of God in the busyness of the season or the chaos of our lives. Jesus’ birth came at a most inconvenient time—or so Mary thought. Right before the birth of Jesus, His parents, Mary and Joseph, had to journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and by the time they arrived, there…

1
What's the Real Gift? | Dave Dummitt 30:23

7M ago30:23

30:23

Christmas is an exciting time of year, filled with food, lights, traditions, connection, and gifts. But in the midst of the holiday season, we can forget that Jesus is God’s gift to us, and He offers us many gifts, too: peace, strength, companionship and direction. It’s easy to become fixated on the gifts, forgetting about the Giver. What happens w…

1
Self-Control Through Temptation | Dave Dummitt 44:43

7M ago44:43

44:43

Here comes the fruit of the spirit some of us really don’t want to talk about: ‘self-control’. Why is self-control sometimes so hard? And what benefits can we draw from this fruit of the spirit to help our own lives and those of others? The Holy Spirit can help empower us to be masters over our own desires and destructive impulsivity. Pastor Dave c…

1
Faithfulness That is Trustworthy | Shawn Williams 29:05

7M ago29:05

29:05

The Holy Spirit, using the fruit of the spirit called ‘faithfulness’ equips and empowers us to become trustworthy users of our thoughts, time, energy, and resources. By being faithful, we can most effectively use all of those things at our disposal to reflect the love of God in our embattled world.

1
Gentleness That Serves | Dave Dummitt 39:48

7M ago39:48

39:48

Gentleness is a fruit of the spirit that we think we get, right? But how exactly can our being gentle, or using gentleness, bring us closer to living our lives like Jesus? And doesn’t that just make us weak? Through the Holy Spirit, we’re empowered to live lives of humility, using our power, strength, and influence to benefit others. Does that soun…

1
Goodness Anchored in Integrity | Shawn Williams 39:04

8M ago39:04

39:04

Which fruit of the spirit is probably the hardest to understand or define? Could it be ‘goodness’? We know what it means to be a good kid, or a generally good person, but ‘goodness’ feels a little more intangible. And it’s not just about doing a good deed, or being good natured. As Pastor Shawn explains this week, the Holy Spirit empowers us to liv…

1
Kindness That Fights Injustice | Dave Dummitt 35:36

8M ago35:36

35:36

Let’s look at the fruit of the spirit known as kindness. Why is kindness important as a fruit of the spirit? Because the kindness of God is an incredibly powerful force against injustice and cruelty. And when our world feels so full of injustice, we can work to restore the brokenness with our kindness.…

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Peace That Heals | Shawn Williams 36:21

8M ago36:21

36:21

As we continue to explore the fruit of the spirit, in this week’s teaching we learn about peace. There are plenty of Bible verses about peace, but it's not just about having our own peace of mind; it’s about enjoying the peace of God that allows us to live fully at peace in a broken world.

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Unshakeable Joy | Megan Marshman 36:43

8M ago36:43

36:43

This week, Pastor Megan Marshman takes a look at the happiest-sounding fruit of the spirit: joy! Why is joy a trait of Jesus that we should be using regularly? Because the joy of God in our lives is strength against darkness. Ever hear the phrase “the joy of the Lord is my strength”? That’s what we’re talking about! Learn how to leverage God’s stre…

1
Patience That Slows Us Down | Dave Dummitt 42:44

9M ago42:44

42:44

Week 2 of our series and this week, Pastor Dave explores the fruit of the spirit “patience”. Patience, or forbearance as it’s sometimes referred to in the Bible, is something we could all do with in our daily, incredibly busy lives. When impatience threatens to destabilize our mental and emotional health, the Holy Spirit can help guide us in health…

1
Selfless Love | Shawn Williams 40:02

9M ago40:02

40:02

In this series about the 9 fruits of the spirit in the Bible, we will be exploring what it means to live like Jesus, with the Holy Spirit as our guide. We’ve been given 9 traits of Jesus that, when applied to our lives through the Holy Spirit, can help us live more like Him. Why? Because that’s what we’re called to do. The 9 “fruits of the spirit” …

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On Earth As It Is In Heaven | Fabian Garza & Dave Dummitt 24:44

9M ago24:44

24:44

Revelation 7 talks of every tribe and tongue worshiping God together in heaven. If Jesus prayed, “your Kingdom come on Earth as it is in heaven,” we better get moving on that type of unity NOW! This week we enjoy a multi-lingual Spanish/English teaching from pastors Fabian and Dave about mode

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Where is Heaven? | Megan Marshman 37:30

9M ago37:30

37:30

This week Pastor Megan Marshman paints a picture of what heaven looks like both “up there” and down here, on earth. Where is heaven? Is heaven real? What is heaven like? The Bible reveals a lot about heaven; including what we can expect in heaven, and what we can do here to engage in heaven on earth.…

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What Does The Bible Say About Heaven? | Megan Marshman 44:08

10M ago44:08

44:08

We’re beginning an exciting new series on heaven with Pastor Megan Marshman, who takes us through passages referencing heaven in the Bible, Revelation 21 and John 4, to discover answers to a big question; What is heaven like? What does the Bible say about heaven? Quite a bit, it turns out! It can be nerve-wracking not knowing everything about what …

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Abundant Life is Possible | Shawn Williams 36:55

10M ago36:55

36:55

We wrap up our series around the story of the Prodigal Son in the Bible, from Luke chapter 15. Learn how transformation, the ability to change your life, comes through the power of God. What happens after we begin a relationship with God? It’s important to develop that relationship through regular rhythms of discipleship. Such as prayer, Bible stud…

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God Really Does Love You | Fabian Garza 31:56

10M ago31:56

31:56

Does God love me? YES! He does! The most significant, life-transforming truth we can learn to receive, accept, and live in, is the truth that God loves us. He really loves us with an unending, unbreakable, unwavering love. Pastor Shawn takes us through Luke chapter 15, verse 21, and the story of the Prodigal Son that gives us insight into how much …

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Help Is Near | Dave Dummitt 38:00

10M ago38:00

38:00

It’s week 3 in our series, Finding You Way Back To God, and we’re talking about how to satisfy our soul-wrenching desires through relationship with God, looking at the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Just like the prodigal son’s father, God is full of compassion for you and actively wants to welcome you back into relation with Him when you’re…

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Recovering From Regret | Dave Dummitt 34:04

11M ago34:04

34:04

This week in our series on the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, we’re looking at what happens when our desires lead us to make choices we regret, or try to find our satisfaction in misleading places. When we try to find quick fixes for our desires, they can lead us down a path of bad decisions and addictions to things that exacerbate our poor choices. How …

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What's Your Purpose? | Faith Schiller 34:08

11M ago34:08

34:08

What do you want for your life? Not just health, wealth, and love, but what do you want your purpose to be? Dive into the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 to discover where genuine satisfaction comes from.

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Obadiah | Megan Marshman 40:03

11M ago40:03

40:03

In our final week of the series, looking at short books of the Bible, we finish with Obadiah! Pastor Megan Marshman shows us how the book of Obadiah, in the Old Testament, provides a great lesson about shifting our focus from serving ourselves, to serving God and loving others, and how that shift can make life infinitely more rich.If you’ve ever wo…

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The book of Philemon | Shawn Williams 37:04

11M ago37:04

37:04

Have you ever held a grudge, been unable to let something go, or even felt at odds with yourself? God’s heart is to restore all people to Himself and restore communities, relationships, and even our internal worlds. Learn from the book of Philemon about how you can experience a new level of reconciliation and restoration.…

1
The book of Jude | Dave Dummitt 33:08

11M ago33:08

33:08

We’re diving into a new series focussed on short books of the Bible, and we kick it off with Jude! The Book of Jude is a one-chapter, short book of the Bible that’s really not a book at all, but a letter written by Jude, a half-brother of Jesus. But while the Book of Jude is short, it is packed with spiritual nutrition to strengthen our faith. He t…

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