Willow Creek Weekend Podcast

By Willow Creek Community ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

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Willow Creek Weekend Podcast episodes

November 17, 2024 “For God So Loves the Vulnerable” | Megan Marshman
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!

32 min
November 10, 2024 “For God So Loves All People” | Shawn Williams
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!
47 min
November 03, 2024 Lead as Servant, Elisha | Dave Dummitt
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 others ahead of your own while pursuing their good. From the moment we are introduced to Elisha in the Bible (1 Kings 19), we see this about him.

In our final week of this series, Pastor Dave will use the story of Elisha in the Bible to show us the meaning and beauty of servant leadership. As a concept, servant leadership came about in the 1970s. And yet, well before the business world could articulate a leadership theory, there were characters in the Bible who lived it out as a model for us to embrace and live by. How can we all embody servant leadership as our own leadership style?
38 min
October 27, 2024 Courageous Peace, Abigail | Shawn Williams
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 it means sticking your own neck out on the line and that’s hard for anyone unwilling to lead with peace to do.
But we would want someone to lead from the front for us, right? Someone willing to go for peace and the greater good for everyone. And that’s what we should be praying for when we pray for our leaders, and ourselves.
45 min
October 20, 2024 Humility | Dave Dummitt
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 others before themselves, and not relying entirely on their own way of thinking. In the story of Moses, he is face-to-face with God on numerous occasions, and each time Moses realizes that his leadership is weak without God.
When we look at Moses’ life, we see a man of humility—even if his story isn’t always that way. This week, Pastor Dave looks at Moses’s response to his father-in-law’s instructions in Exodus 18, and various other parts of the story of Moses, to learn what leading with humility looks like.
40 min
October 13, 2024 Integrity | Megan Marshman
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 incorporate some of the qualities that matter to God into our own lives and leadership.

In week 1, Pastor Megan Marshman uses the story of Deborah in the Bible, an inspiring judge and prophetess in the book of Judges. Biblical Deborah is an example of a leader who retains her integrity throughout. What does it look like in our own lives to retain our integrity in leadership? Let’s explore that.

36 min
October 06, 2024 Prayer is powerful (and easier than you think) | Thomas Anderson, Jr.
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 you pray and speak to Him. Yes, He already knows everything that is on your mind and heart; but communicating that to Him helps your own heart and partnership with your loving Heavenly Father.
This week, Pastor Thomas shares how to pray, and listen to, God. How to pray privately, regularly and genuinely. And it’s really not complicated! We look at Matthew 6:5-13.
44 min
September 29, 2024 Aren’t all religions good? | Shawn Williams
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. But that’s what we’re here to answer today: how Jesus makes the biggest difference in our lives because of the relationship with God He offers us. We seek to address the heart of this question: our desire to see everyone get into Heaven.
Let's look at the book of John, chapters 14 and 15, to help us understand and answer this question.
38 min
September 22, 2024 Why does God care about who I sleep with? | Shawn Williams
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 confused because, if we’re honest, a lot of Christian adults are too.
It might seem odd, but God really does care about who you sleep with and gives us all great guidance on how to be wise with our sexuality. Advice designed to help us live fully into our potential and purpose, caring for our entire being; mind, body and soul.

Pastor Shawn teaches this week on what the bible says about sex.
46 min
September 15, 2024 Why are Christians hypocrites? | Megan Marshman
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 hypocrisy is responsible for countless hurts to masses of people throughout history and even now. How can we claim to love others when so many who represent Jesus use the Bible or their faith to inflict pain?
In week two of our series exploring and answering questions our kids are asking, pastor Megan Marshman addresses questions about hypocrisy in the Bible and the church. We walk through Matthew 23:1-7 and Romans 3:21-24 to see what the Bible says about the danger of hypocrisy and how we all need Jesus to help us.
40 min