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
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 embrace of community faith.
The path begins with childhood church wounds and a Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack—"I am a rock, I am an island"—as spiritu...
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 his youth offers powerful encouragement for young people wondering about their purpose and ability to make a difference in challenging times.
• Jeremi...
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-Reformation religious division, Wesley chose an unexpected path. Rather than demanding theological uniformity, he found wisdom in the biblical exchange: "Is your...
John Wesley's vision of social justice provides a framework for understanding Jesus's teachings in the Beatitudes and challenges us to transform personal faith into active compassion.
• Social justice defined as the belief in equal rights, opportunities and treatment for all people regardless of characteristics
• The Beatitudes begin with blessing those who seem least blessed—the poor in spirit,...
What does a mother's love on Mother's Day reveal about divine grace? Drawing this powerful parallel, today's episode explores grace as unconditional love that finds us even when we're struggling with our own imperfections.
Looking at cultural images of "perfect mothers" from June Cleaver to Roseanne, we acknowledge that real parenting involves both triumphs and struggles – just l...
John Wesley's disciplined approach to faith created a movement that continues to influence millions of Christians worldwide today. His journey from Oxford professor to founder of Methodism reveals how personal faith experience shaped an entire denomination.
• Wesley's "Directions for Singing" reveal his intense, methodical personality and high expectations
• At Oxford, Wesley and his b...
What's a pastor to preach after Easter? With Earth Day approaching, the answer seemed obvious – celebrate God's gift of creation during this feasting season. But any honest environmental sermon must confront an uncomfortable truth: we haven't been the best caretakers of God's garden.
Genesis establishes humanity's purpose with startling clarity – God placed us in the garden "to t...
What does a gardener have to do with Easter? Everything, as it turns out. Moving beyond the familiar imagery of empty tombs and stone rolled away, we explore how John's gospel subtly portrays the risen Christ as a gardener – a profound theological statement inviting us back into Eden, but this time with Jesus tending the garden alongside us.
Having journeyed through Lent using the Grace of Les Miserables...
Gardens hold a sacred place in our spiritual journey - they're where humanity first walked with God, where Jesus prayed before his sacrifice, and where Revelation promises we'll return to paradise. In this powerful culmination of our Les Miserables series, we explore how gardens serve as transformative spaces where divine encounters reshape human hearts.
Victor Hugo's masterpiece consistently r...
We explore the challenge of loving our enemies through the lens of Les Misérables, wrestling with how Christians can fight injustice while still loving those who oppose us. Jesus' radical command to love enemies confronts us with perhaps our most difficult spiritual challenge, especially when facing those who actively work against what we believe is right.
• The French rebellion in Les Misérables represe...
The bright spot in our Lenten journey through Les Misérables has arrived as we explore God's gift of love through the romantic relationship between Cosette and Marius. Their love story unfolds against a backdrop of revolution and upheaval, offering a glimpse of hope amid darkness.
Victor Hugo's masterpiece reveals multiple dimensions of love throughout its narrative. We witness romantic love between...
The unnamed antagonists in our lives—systemic forces like poverty, racism, corruption, and trauma—shape our stories in ways we often fail to recognize. Drawing from personal experiences fostering rescue dogs, teaching high school students, and insights from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, this message explores how these invisible forces impact those Jesus calls us to serve.
Guest Preacher Ryan Blanck intro...
The tension between justice and mercy creates one of life's most profound spiritual dilemmas. Through the character of Inspector Javert from Les Misérables, we explore what happens when justice becomes divorced from mercy, and a system of rules becomes an idol.
Javert's obsessive pursuit of Jean Valjean spans decades, even as he witnesses evidence of Valjean's transformation and redemption. Bor...
Grace transforms even the most broken souls, but only if we dare to believe we're worthy of it. This powerful truth emerges as we begin our Lenten journey through Victor Hugo's masterpiece, Les Misérables, examining how theological concepts manifest in this beloved narrative.
Jean Valjean's story captivates us from his first appearance—a man imprisoned nineteen years for stealing bread to feed ...
Are there moments in your life where you felt a divine presence? Join us as we explore the power of recognition through personal stories and biblical narratives that resonate with our experiences today. From brushes with greatness involving celebrities to the profound moment of transfiguration, we delve into how these experiences shape not only our perspectives but our faith journeys. Discover why we need to engage wi...
The episode delves into the challenging teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Plain, highlighting the complexities of loving one's enemies and the struggle between instinctual responses and the call to resilience through love. It explores the nature of true power and encourages trust in the divine teachings to foster humility and authentic relationships.
• Reflecting on the Walk to Emmaus experience
Audio of Pastor Darren's message from 2/16/25, "Setting Course: Getting Outside Our Walls."
Audio of Pastor Darren's message on 2/9/25: "Setting Course: Leave Everything and Follow."
Audio of Pastor Darren's message on 2/2/25, "A Better Life: Getting Inside and Outside."
Audio of Pastor Darren's message on 1/26/25, "The Better Life: Why This?"
Popular Podcasts
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.