United Methodist Church Westlake Village
Audio of Pastor Darren Cowdrey's weekly message, as we work together toward fulfilling our mission statement: "Setting a Course for a Better Life."
Live-streamed weekly from our campus in Westlake Village, CA. Video of this entire worship service is available for viewing or listening on our home page at http://www.umcwv.org for approximately 3 weeks, and then also available on our YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/4hFmuBZ
All songs used in compliance with our CCLI and streaming licenses.Copyright License # 1291056Streaming License #CSPL075029
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Episodes
494 episodes
Isaiah’s Promise Of A Listened-To People
What if the most radical act of power is to listen first? We step into the closing vision of Isaiah and meet a people who have finally come home from exile, only to find that old wounds can resurface in new forms. The prophet refuses easy comfo...
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11:37
Hope Is On The Way
Hope doesn’t float in from nowhere; it’s built, stone by stone, by people who believe God is still with them. We open a season of preparation by reframing Advent as more than countdowns and carols. It’s a deliberate reset, a way of clearing spa...
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21:14
Remembering The Saints Who Shaped Us
What if remembrance is more than nostalgia—what if it is a practice that shapes courage, love, and the way we face death? We dive into All Saints Day with open hands, naming the limits of what we know about the afterlife while grounding ourselv...
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13:25
Why Humility Is The Start Of Every Blessing
What if faith felt less like forcing outcomes and more like catching a current you can trust. We explore a vivid river metaphor for God’s presence—how we often fight upstream, stall in eddies, or even scramble onto the rocky bank for control—an...
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20:54
Ready To Dig In
What if faith isn’t a test to ace but a path to walk when life gets heavy? We explore the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, drawing out a countercultural message: persistent prayer isn’t about bargaining with God, it’s about...
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21:50
People Get Ready: Humility, Service, And A Church On The Move
What if deeper faith isn’t about feeling more, but serving longer? We open a hard teaching from Jesus—sevenfold forgiveness, servant language, and the humbling truth that growth takes time—and bring it home to a congregation navigating right-si...
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13:34
Lead Courageously
When courage gets confused with noise and muscle, we step back and ask what strength really looks like. We follow a fresh reading of Ephesians 6—often reduced to battle talk—and uncover a protective way of living that lets love stand its ground...
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20:45
The Joy in Serving Others
Have you ever wondered about the real meaning behind Jesus's parable of the sheep and goats? This exploration of Matthew 25 takes us beyond simple interpretations into the heart of what it means to serve others.The journey begins with a...
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22:35
Love Boldly: The Methodist Vision for a Divided World
What does it mean to "love boldly" in a society fractured by political division and violence? At a pivotal moment in American culture, this exploration of Jesus's greatest commandment couldn't be more timely or necessary.The United Meth...
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24:44
Finding Your One Thing
What do Jack Palance's one-armed push-ups and the wisdom of "City Slickers" have to do with our spiritual journey? As it turns out, everything. Drawing an unexpected but powerful parallel between the classic film's message about fi...
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15:07
Raiders of the Lost Ark: Finding God in Hollywood's Greatest Adventure
What happens when you pair Indiana Jones with spiritual growth? A revelation about intentional faith that might just change your spiritual journey.Our summer movie series concludes with the ultimate adventure film—Raiders of the Lost Ar...
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22:46
Jesus Asked Us to Love Our Enemies, But How Do We Actually Do That?
What happens when you combine a children's movie about dragons with one of Jesus's most challenging teachings? A surprisingly profound exploration of conflict, empathy, and the radical power of loving your enemies.Using "How to Train Yo...
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18:16
The Superman Within: Finding Your Spiritual Superpowers
Superman has captivated American audiences for generations, from Christopher Reeve's wholesome portrayal to Henry Cavill's darker interpretation, and now the latest iteration returning to Superman's optimistic roots. But what makes this charact...
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27:37
What Lilo and Stitch Teaches Us About Unconditional Love and Faith
Ever set out on a journey only to realize you're woefully unprepared? Like hiking up steep trails to Griffith Observatory in completely wrong footwear? These moments of physical discomfort mirror something deeper about our spiritual lives—the p...
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11:26
Playing God: From Dinosaurs to Digital Intelligence
Have you ever wondered about the theological messages hidden within your favorite blockbuster films? This eye-opening exploration uses the Jurassic Park franchise as a springboard to examine one of humanity's most persistent temptations: playin...
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22:32
Fruits of the Spirit
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the complexities of our world—political divisions, global conflicts, economic injustice—wondering what God expects from you in such confusing times? This exploration of Paul's letter to the Galatians cuts throu...
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19:30
Stripping Away Stereotypes: Jesus' Radical View of Compassion
The parable of the Good Samaritan might be the most familiar story Jesus ever told—so familiar that we risk missing its truly radical message. Stepping into the pulpit, Guest Preacher Rev. Gary Keene offers a fresh perspective by reading this w...
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31:59
Breaking Free from Religious Rules
Freedom takes on profound new meaning when examined through the lens of Paul's letter to the Galatians. Beyond the political liberty we often celebrate, Paul reveals a deeper spiritual freedom that liberates believers from the burden of religio...
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19:47
Walking Humbly: Justice and Kindness in a Divided World
A simple email from David Keddle with seven words—"I'm going to need to hear your feelings around the LGBTQ issue"—set the stage for one of the most meaningful pastoral relationships I would form during my first year at this church. David, a wa...
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24:01
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing: Lessons from a Life in Service
How do we recognize God's presence in our daily lives? Where do we turn when the divine feels distant? What actions can bring us closer to our spiritual purpose?Tim Bonds, a longtime church member and RAND Corporation senior fellow, ope...
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20:50
From "I Am a Rock" to "We Are Family": A Spiritual Journey
Have you ever found yourself proudly declaring, "God and I are good on our own" only to discover the painful limitations of spiritual isolation? This soul-stirring journey explores the transformation from fierce independence to the healing embr...
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18:51
Finding God Within
We explore Jeremiah's prophetic journey as a young boy called to deliver difficult messages during Israel's national crisis, drawing parallels to today's graduates facing uncertain futures. God's affirmation that he equipped Jeremiah despite hi...
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7:52
Holy Diversity: The Body Needs All Its Parts
What does it mean to truly embrace diversity within Christianity? John Wesley, Methodism's founder, offered a revolutionary answer in his sermon "On the Catholic Spirit" that still challenges us today.Against the backdrop of post-Reform...
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20:15
