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 If you'd like to support our ministries, please follow this link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6fe0e233-47e0-4a4b-8d21-f21ad5e75db8
Episodes
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 comfort, naming how neglect and hierarchy can grow inside our own circles, even as we celebrate a fresh start. From the aching line before they call, I will answer to the startling i...
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 space in our lives and communities to encounter Jesus with fresh attention and a steadier hope.
To anchor that hope, we head into the world of Haggai. After division, conq...
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 ourselves in the steady assurances of faith. Along the way, we hold a candid story of loss and comfort, a personal glimpse of how hope of reunion can soften grief without denying it.
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—and what it means to reenter the flow with humility. The turning point comes through a brief, piercing parable of two prayers: a polished Pharisee satisfied with himself and a tax...
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 forming a steady heart that keeps showing up for what is right. Along the way we challenge the prosperity gospel and name what many of us already feel—good people face hard thi...
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-sizing, budgets, and hopeful momentum. Instead of lowering the bar, we picture what becomes possible when we live into it: forgiveness that becomes a habit, humility that reshapes...
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 without turning hard. Our guiding vision is simple but demanding: love boldly, serve joyfully, lead courageously. To make that real, we reach for images that breathe—civil righ...
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 humorous confession about a teaching mishap involving teenagers and a misquoted Bible verse, setting the stage for a fresh look at familiar scripture. As we dig deeper i...
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 Methodist Church has embraced a powerful new guiding vision centered on loving boldly, serving joyfully, and leading courageously. This sermon unpacks the firs...
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 finding your "one thing" and Paul's letter to the Ephesians, this message explores how we discover our true purpose within the body of Christ. Paul...
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 Ark—offering surprising spiritual insights about our relationship with God. While Indy pursues the Ark of the Covenant across deserts and oceans, we discover that his determined...
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 Your Dragon" as a creative entry point, we dive into the timeless wisdom behind Jesus's command to "love your enemies and pray for those who persec...
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 character so enduring isn't just his extraordinary abilities—it's what he represents: the very best of humanity, ironically embodied by an alien.
Crea...
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 persistent "thorns" we can't seem to overcome no matter how hard we try.
The Apostle Paul knew this frustration intimately. His mysterious "thor...
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: playing God.
The dinosaur-filled adventures of Jurassic Park aren't just thrilling entertainment—they're modern parables warning us about the consequences of u...
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 through the noise with refreshing clarity.
At the heart of Paul's message lies a fascinating paradox about freedom. Unlike our American understanding of individual...
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 well-worn tale through a transliteration of the original Greek, creating just enough distance for us to hear it anew.
Through careful textual analysis, Gary reveals two ...
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 religious rule-following toward an authentic relationship with God.
The message unpacks how early Christianity navigated its Jewish roots while establishing a distinct id...
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 warm man of deep faith who also happened to be homosexual, challenged me to address LGBTQ issues at least once during the year. On June 29th, nearly one year after ...
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, opens his heart in this intimate conversation about faith, purpose, and presence. With remarkable vulnerability, Tim shares how his professional work supporting military fam...
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