Willow Creek Weekend Podcast

When you scroll through social media or watch the news, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the negativity and hate around you—whether it's the latest conflict, violence, or tragedy. It’s a reminder that our world is often shaped by personal feelings of powerlessness, mistreatment, or fear. But there’s hope! Pastor Dave Dummitt highlights Peter’s antidote to hate: the power of the resurrection, which calls us to love one another in radical, transformative ways. In 1 Peter 4:8, we're encouraged to love deeply, as love has the power to heal, break down barriers, and unite us, just as Jesus loves us. In John 13:34-35, Jesus said, “Love one another... By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” It’s through this love that we can make a true difference!

Dave Dummitt, Willow's Elders, and Shawn Williams share an update on our senior pastor transition. You can learn more at https://www.willowcreek.org/updates/

Imagine the moments leading up to the feeding of the 5,000. Why was the boy so close to Jesus with five loaves and two fish when no one else had food? In our own lives, we often face moments where we can choose to give what little we have, and watch God multiply it in miraculous ways. In this story from John 6:1-15, Pastor Shawn Williams explores the amazing story of the feeding of the 5,000 and how we, as carriers of hope, have a part to play! Just like the little boy who offered his small lunch, we see that no act is too small for God to multiply into something miraculous. Whether it’s a little or a lot, we all have a role in spreading hope and making a difference in the world!

Stories help us make sense of the world around us. But in doing so, we often make assumptions—about people, situations, or circumstances—only to realize later that we were completely misguided. Pastor Dave Dummitt explores how hope gets curious, shatters assumptions, and breaks down barriers to restore what’s broken! The story of the blind man in John 9 challenges our misconceptions and shows how curiosity leads to powerful physical and spiritual healing. As Jesus brings hope, His light spreads, transforming not just the blind man’s life, but everyone around him. And we’ll also see how this ripple effect of hope is making a real impact through our global partners, bringing healing, dignity, and restoration in ways only Jesus can!

What was it like to be the leper in Matthew 8? How long had he suffered, isolated from others? What gave him the courage to approach Jesus? We explore the powerful story of the leper from Matthew 8:1-4 and Mark 1:40-45, where Jesus shows us that He is our source of hope—expressed in tangible, personal ways. Just as Jesus reached out to heal the leper, He brings us hope through compassion and tangible acts of healing.As we kick off Celebration of Hope, we’re reminded that Jesus draws near to the broken and outcast. He continues to transform lives today, and we are called to bring that same hope to others. Let’s open our hearts, understand their stories, and partner with God in His work!

Life stages are inevitable as we age and make our way closer to eternity. We come into the world needing those around us to care for, nurture, lead, teach, and love us. As we near the end of life, we often find we need similar things: care, nurturing, guidance, and love as our minds and bodies decline. The full-circle nature of life is inevitable. Pastor Dave Dummitt teaches from Exodus 20:12, Matthew 18:1–5, and Colossians 3:18–25 to show what God says about parenthood and childhood—reminding us how we will always retain our childhood as God’s kids.

Trad wives. Toxic masculinity. Fourth-wave feminism. The “manosphere.” Egalitarianism. Complementarianism. What do all these terms have in common? They represent ways to view or interpret what it means to be a woman or man. They have helped shape our culture both within and outside of the church. Pastors Megan Marshman and Shawn Williams unpack Genesis 1:26–27, Genesis 2:15–22, and  Ephesians 5 to show the beautiful harmony that can be achieved when tradition and cultural expectations are put in their proper place, and God’s vision for manhood and womanhood is elevated.

We all have multiple roles we play in life, whether that be a son or daughter, friend, parent, or spouse. From the moment we are born, expectations are placed on us that seep into the identities we take on. Sometimes, these identities fit, and other times, they feel like clothing three sizes too big—they weigh us down. We are products of our families, cultures, and environments—often, our circumstances feed more into who we see ourselves as than anything else.Pastor Dave Dummitt opens up Genesis 1:26-28 and Luke 3:22 to show the remarkable foundation of a life lived with purpose and meaning—the truth of Jesus’ identity. If the Son of God was assured of His identity before He set out to live into His purpose, how much more do we, as His followers, need the same?

There are real and major conflicts constantly going on throughout the world. When the conflict feels far, it can feel overwhelming to the point of paralysis. How could I possibly help? We might also tune it out because, after all, it doesn’t affect our day-to-day lives. In this message, we look to 2 Samuel 19:9-15, where David builds a bridge with his enemies. When we see the reality of conflicts, prayerfully seek God for guidance, and take a step forward, we can collectively make our world a better place.

You make choices that impact those around you every day. But what happens when the internal conflict you are dealing with hurts others? How do you deal with the conflict you have caused? Pastor Dave dives into 2 Samuel 12 and narrows in on a moment in King David’s life where he mismanaged things in a way that deeply and tragically impacted the lives of those around him. King David decided to take a step back from his kingly responsibilities and instead, ended up initiating an affair with a woman named Bathsheba. A marriage is destroyed, a couple of pregnancies happen, and people end up suffering. What a mess—and one we can learn from.When we have caused the conflict around us, the best course of action is to turn to God, acknowledge our responsibility, repent, and repair the conflicts we’ve caused.