Willow Creek Community Church Weekend Podcast

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 or churches that are not involved in church multiplication. Willow wants to be actively engaged in multiplying at every level---disciples, groups, teams, campuses of Willow Creek, and launching independent church plants domestically and globally.

 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.

As Christ-followers, we have a unique opportunity to break down barriers and go where the people are, offering real and lasting hope.

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.”

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 next steps towards financial freedom.

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.

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.

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?

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 shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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.

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 a greater genealogy that you can refer to when life doesn’t go the way you think. Recorded for Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL. Discover: https://www.willowcreek.org/ Watch: https://www.willowcreek.tv/

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 challenge and difficulty in this life that bring us to the one who can (and desires to) restore us eternally for the next.

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 the story of Daniel in the lions den we are going to take a look at a decision each one of us. And in the lion’s den that we face we often come to that moment when we say “I don’t want to be in here, I don’t want to face this, I don’t know where to go so God I’m coming to you. Please let this pass by”

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.

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.

Have you ever felt like an outsider--like a foreigner in a strange land? Meet Daniel--the central character in our Journey series. This week we ask one primary question: How do you follow God in a culture that doesn’t?

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 challenge and difficulty in this life that bring us to the one who can (and desires to) restore us eternally for the next.