Watermark Video: Sunday Messages: Recent Episodes
Watermark Community Church, Dallas, TX
This podcast is a production of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, USA. Watermark exists to be and make more fully devoted followers of Christ, looking to God's Word as our only authority, conscience and guide.
In Athens, Paul saw a city full of idols and was moved to share the good news of Jesus. TA taught through the second half of Acts 17, which reminds us that we were made to worship Jesus, but we often give our worship to other things. As we turn our own hearts back to Jesus, we can faithfully share him with others and trust God with the results.
After a short season away, TA shared several ways the Lord met him while praying through Colossians this summer. Rather than picking back up in the book of Acts, he invited us into what God had been shaping in his own heart. This message centered on finding our identity and purpose in Jesus, remaining rooted in the gospel, and pursuing an everyday relationship with Christ that is marked by gratitude, dependence, and prayer.
In Acts 17:1-15, Paul faithfully proclaims one central message wherever he goes: Jesus is the Messiah. As he preaches in Thessalonica and Berea, the same gospel produces two very different responses. Some reject Jesus because they refuse to surrender their own kingdoms, while others eagerly receive the message and search the Scriptures to see that it is true. “Messiah” points to God's promised King who would suffer, die, rise again, and reign forever. Paul believed Jesus was the Messiah because his life perfectly fulfilled the Scriptures. The sermon and Scripture leave us with one question: Will you receive Jesus as your Messiah and King, or will you reject him?
Looking out for our own interests comes naturally, but paying attention to the needs of others is the work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas model a Spirit-led attentiveness to people in very different circumstances—a slave girl, fellow sufferers in prison, and a jailer headed toward despair. As the Spirit led them to see and serve the people in front of them, the gospel continued to advance. The same invitation is before us today: depend on the Spirit to notice the needs of others and respond with the hope of Jesus.
Life rarely goes according to plan but Acts 16 reminds us that God is still accomplishing his purposes in the middle of unexpected turns. As Paul experienced conflict, closed doors, and surprising detours, God faithfully guided him toward opportunities he never could have planned. Because God is in control, we can trust him when our plans change and believe he is at work even when we can't yet see what he's doing.
Acts 15 reminds us that God is still at work in unfinished people. Even in the middle of conflict between Paul and Barnabas, God continued advancing His mission and redeeming John Mark's story. Rather than defining ourselves or others by a single failure or season, we're invited to see every story through the lens of God's redeeming grace, trusting that he is faithful to complete the work he has begun.
Acts 15 records a pivotal moment in the life of the early church as believers wrestled with an essential question: What is required for salvation? Rather than adding requirements to the gospel, the apostles affirmed that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone. As they sought God's wisdom together through Scripture, testimony, and the Spirit's leading, the church preserved both the truth of the gospel and the unity of the body.
Many followers of Jesus want to make a difference for the gospel but can feel discouraged when they don't see immediate results. In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas remind us that God is always working, even when we can't see it. Their ministry was marked by supernatural grit, gospel-given security, and clarity of calling. As we abide in Jesus and depend on the Spirit, God can use us to faithfully help others know Jesus and become more like him.
In this message, Marvin Walker reminds us that God is often at work long before we recognize it. As Paul preaches the gospel in Acts 13, we're invited to see God's sovereign hand throughout history, respond to Jesus by faith, and resist the temptation to remain neutral when God calls us to obedience.
In this message, we looked at the church in Antioch, one of the most influential churches in the first century, and the birthplace of foreign missions. As we examine what marked this church, we're reminded that it's the same God, the same gospel, the same Spirit, and the same mission today. Through four questions, we were challenged to be fully present, fully expectant, and eager to join God in what he wants to do in and through his church.
Acts 12 reminds us that it is the norm for God's people to find themselves in situations so far beyond their control that they feel helpless and hopeless. James is executed, Peter is imprisoned, and Herod appears to have all the power. While Herod displays his control, the church prays earnestly, Peter rests peacefully, and God continues to accomplish his purposes. This passage invites us to trust God's sovereignty, to pray fervently, to find our peace in who God is, and to remember that, in the end, there is only one who is truly in control.
In this week’s message, Dave Bruskas, Executive Director of Discipleship, walks through Acts 11:19-30 and the growth of the church in Antioch, where the disciples were first called Christians. Through the faithfulness of ordinary believers, the encouragement of Barnabas, and the unity of the early church, we see what happens when people are deeply formed by Jesus. The passage challenges us to consider whether our lives are so shaped by Jesus that people naturally see him in us.
In Acts 10–11, we see the first Gentile conversion and one of the most important turning points in the book of Acts. TA walks through four movements in the story and then highlights four things that matter to Jesus and should matter to us. This passage challenges us not to settle for mediocrity as a church and to make sure what matters to Jesus still matters to us.
In this week’s message, TA taught through Acts 9:32-43 and showed how the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha point to one central truth: Jesus is healer. These miracles reveal Jesus’ power not only over physical brokenness, but also over our broken relationship with God through his death and resurrection.
In Acts 9, we see that God saves people no one expects, through servants no one would choose, to accomplish what no one can stop. Tyler walks through Saul’s story and highlights four movements of grace: God’s radical intervention, Ananias’s reluctant obedience, Saul’s redirected purpose, and Barnabas’s risky encouragement. Together, they show that God can make much of your obedience.
Tyler Staton, author and lead pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, OR, walked through Colossians 4:2–6, showing that prayer isn’t just something we do; it’s what our lives are meant to be shaped by.
In Acts 8, we look at a unique moment in the early church where the Spirit is given in a way that highlights the unity of the gospel—that people who were once enemies are now brought together as family.
In this message, TA walks through Acts 8 and challenges the difference between appearing to follow Jesus and actually knowing him. Through the story of Simon, we see how someone can look like a follower of Jesus, believing, being baptized, and staying close to spiritual activity, yet still miss the gospel.
This Easter message from TA reminds us that while the resurrection of Jesus may be familiar, it’s not something to overlook. In Acts 5, the apostles boldly declare that Jesus was raised, exalted, and now offers repentance and forgiveness of sins, inviting us to behold Jesus and respond. Because Jesus is alive, forgiveness is available, death is defeated, and new life is offered to anyone who will receive it.
Good Friday slows us down and brings us face-to-face with the cross. While we’d rather move quickly to Sunday, the cross shows us what was required to deal with our sin. Jesus’s death was necessary because of our sin, exclusive because he alone can save, and sufficient because his work is complete.
TA walked through the story of Stephen, the first follower of Jesus to be killed for his faith, showing us both the reality of persecution and the faithfulness of God in the middle of it. While many of us don’t experience this kind of opposition, millions of Christians around the world do. This passage invites us to see them as family, to be moved by their suffering, and to respond in a way that reflects Jesus.
Watermark’s Students Director, Jermaine Harrison, taught from Acts 7:1–53 and walked through Stephen’s defense before the religious leaders. Instead of defending himself, Stephen walked through Israel’s history to show a pattern: God continually pursued his people, and they continually resisted the Spirit.
On Sunday, Jacob Alger, Watermark’s Senior Director of Community, taught from Acts 6 and asked an important question: What if the greatest threat to the church wasn’t external pressure but internal malfunction? This passage reminds us that a healthy church is one where problems are addressed, leaders remain devoted to prayer and the Word, and every member plays their part in the mission of God.
In this message, TA teaches from Acts 5:12–42 and shows what should mark the church. In the early church, believers gathered together, prayed for those who were sick, and saw God work powerfully as people were healed and “more than ever” believed in Jesus. At the same time, the apostles faced opposition and were arrested, but they continued preaching with boldness, saying, “We must obey God rather than men.” This passage reminds us to be a church that prays for healing, prays for people to know Jesus, and lives boldly for the gospel.
In this message, TA walks through Acts 4:32–5:11 and shows that God’s vision for the church is that it would be satisfying, enjoyable, and worth telling others about. Through three specific “ingredients”, Luke shows us what must be essential if we want to be a church that is alive, unified, generous, and serious about holiness.
In this message on Acts 4, TA walks us through Peter and John’s unexpected arrest and bold defense of the hope that was in them. Instead of shrinking back, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, clearly proclaimed that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus. This passage shows us the essentials for boldly making a defense.
In this message, Trip Lee teaches from Luke 12:22–34 and calls worry what it really is: an unwelcome guest. Jesus doesn’t deny that we have real needs, but he tells us not to invite worry into the equation because it distorts reality and steals peace. Instead, Jesus gives us three reasons worry doesn’t belong.
In this message, TA walks through Acts 3 to show the difference between knowing the right information about Jesus and experiencing real transformation through him.
In this message, TA walks through Acts 2:42-47 and asks whether we want the fruit of the first-century church without the commitment that produced it. While many people desire joy, awe, and meaningful community, the early church experienced those things because they were wholeheartedly devoted. They were all in, together, and unwilling to settle for a convenient or casual version of church. The sermon calls us to stop expecting “pour over taste with Keurig effort” and instead commit ourselves fully to the kind of church God designed.
Due to inclement weather, Watermark Community Church will not be hosting in-person Sunday services. Watch this special Church at Home message as we reflect on the early church in Acts 1 and 2.
In this message, Dave Bruskas walks through Peter’s sermon at Pentecost to help us better understand who Jesus is and why his life, death, and resurrection matter. The sermon shows that while God was at work through Jesus, our sin made the cross necessary. When the crowd realizes this, they ask what to do next, and Peter calls them to repent, be baptized, and follow Jesus. For us today, the invitation is to keep turning to Jesus, enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit, and live as worshipers and witnesses.
In Sunday’s message from Acts 2, we were reminded that while Pentecost was a unique moment in history, the work of the Holy Spirit did not stop there. Acts 2 shows us a church alive by the Spirit—marked by a shared enjoyment of God’s presence, an urgency for mission, and a sense of awe at what God is doing.
In Sunday’s message from Acts 1, TA reminded us that the Christian life and mission are never meant to be lived in our own strength. Before sending the disciples out as witnesses, Jesus told them to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. Acts 1 shows us that waiting is not passive; it is purposeful preparation for God’s power.
On Sunday, December 28, we won’t gather at the Dallas Campus for our usual services—but church is still on. Church at Home Sunday is your chance to slow down, gather your people, start the new year prayerfully, and get a taste of what church was like in the early first-century Church. In the video below, you will be guided through Watermark’s 10 markers and be given time to reflect with your group on each.
On Christmas Eve, we were reminded that Christmas is not only about looking back at the birth of Jesus, but also about looking forward to what his birth makes possible. God gives us a glimpse of eternity and “spoils the surprise” by revealing the gift awaiting everyone who knows Jesus: a new creation.
In Sunday’s message from Hebrews 2, Tyler Moffett reminded us how easy it is to get distracted during Christmas and forget the name this season is really about. Hebrews shows us Jesus is greater than we can comprehend, and yet he went lower than we can imagine.
In Sunday’s message, TA walked through Titus 2, reminding us that Christmas is the celebration of the grace of God appearing in Jesus Christ and that grace is meant to be enjoyed, not ignored.
Philippians 2 shows us Christmas from God’s perspective. Jesus was fully God, yet he emptied himself by taking on our humanity and came all the way down to reach us.
2 Corinthians 5 shows us how to be a bright and attractive light for Jesus in a dark world.
In Romans 5, Paul reveals one prize after another for knowing Jesus Christ. Before Christ, we were enemies of God and at war with him, but through Jesus, the war with God is over, and we now live in a realm where grace reigns.
In this week’s message, Timothy Ateek taught through the book of Acts and highlighted ten characteristics that defined the early Christian church.
This week’s message addressed the painful and complex topic of abuse (especially within marriage). God sees, protects, and provides for the oppressed, and his Word speaks directly to both the abused and the abuser. Jesus not only condemns abuse—he entered into our brokenness, endured abuse himself, and offers healing and hope to both the wounded and the repentant. In his kingdom, oppression will not have the final word.
Gregg Matte, Senior Pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church, taught on Matthew 7:24-29, where Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches the people that he is the solid rock and a firm foundation, unlike anything else we may attempt to build upon.
In Luke 24, we’re reminded that it’s possible to be around Jesus without truly seeing him. But when the Spirit opens our eyes through the Word, we see him clearly, and seeing Jesus always leads to worship.
Time with Jesus must come before service for Jesus. When we sit with Jesus, our service becomes joyful, Spirit-led, and rooted in love—not frustration or self-reliance.
Chip Ingram joined us on Sunday to remind us that just as we have dreams in our hearts for our children, so does Jesus for his Church. He longs to see high-impact churches across the globe. When his children become mature disciples, his dream becomes reality.
TA continues our Year of the Word series by reminding us that when life feels heavy and overwhelming, Jesus extends a simple but profound invitation: “Come to me.” He doesn’t promise to remove every burden, but to give rest for our souls and refreshment that only comes from being with him.
Davis Powell, CEO of the Seed Company, joined us to remind us that the genealogy in Scripture is more than a list of names. It declares that God has kept his word. From Abraham to David to Mary, every covenant and prophecy points to Christ, the Savior for all nations.
Continuing our Year of the Word series, TA explains how God’s plan has always included every people and nation by walking us through Revelation 7:9–17, reminding us that Jesus’ death and resurrection secured salvation for people from every background.
Evil is not just a political or cultural problem. It’s a spiritual one. TA continues our Year of the Word series by walking us through Genesis 3. In it, we see the enemy’s lies that led Adam and Eve to reject God’s design and redefine good on their own terms.
In this message, TA walks through Daniel 7 and explores what Scripture says about the end times. While there are different theological perspectives on how to interpret apocalyptic passages, they all point to Jesus’ return and his eternal reign. The passage reminds us not to get lost in speculation but to live with confidence and humility, knowing that in the end, God wins.
In this message, TA explores two theological frameworks for understanding Israel and the Church: Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology. While not an essential of the faith, many scholars debate how much continuity or discontinuity there is between the Old Testament and the New Testament regarding Israel and the church.
TA continues our Year of the Word series by walking us through Ezekiel 37 and the vision of the valley of dry bones. These bones coming to life show that God brings the spiritually dead back to life through his Spirit. This prophecy points to Israel’s restoration, the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, and the new life believers receive in Christ today.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 is one the Bible’s clearest explanations of the New Covenant. As TA noted, this New Covenant promises a new heart and a new start to all God’s people. Under the New Covenant, God commits to writing his law upon his people’s hearts, dwelling with them intimately, and forgiving their sin.
TA continues the Year of the Word series with a focus on Psalm 63, reminding us that we need God’s presence more than his gifts. When we learn to “gaze” at Jesus instead of just “glance,” we discover that he’s not only sufficient, he’s better.
Jermaine Harrison, Students Director, continues our Year of the Word series and walks through Jeremiah 1, exploring how God equips us to faithfully follow our calling—even when it’s hard.
Continuing the Year of the Word series, Executive Director of Discipleship Dave Bruskas guides us through Isaiah 61 and poses three reflective questions from Jesus’ revelation in Nazareth: Do we see who he is clearly? Are we free from sin? Are we ready for Christ’s return?
Kylen Perry, Executive Director of the Porch, continues our Year of the Word series by walking through Isaiah 6—a vision of God’s holiness that reshapes how we see ourselves and live in response.
Continuing our Year of the Word series, we heard from Tyler Moffett, The Porch Director of Discipleship, as he walked us through the book of Ecclesiastes and how keeping eternity in view helps us live wisely today.
Community Director Jonathan Linder walked through the Book of Proverbs, showing us that wisdom starts in a relationship with the Lord and will lead to transformation by the Lord.
TA continues the Year of the Word series and shares how Proverbs 7:1-5 outlines a plan to battle porn and find freedom from this sin.
Whether married or single, we often see singleness as a less-than proposition. Kylen Perry continues our Year of the Word series and reminds us that while being married or single comes with different challenges and benefits, we all long for the same things: relational connection, fulfillment, and purpose.
Marriage, like a fire, requires intentional cultivation to remain vibrant and faithful—through character, affirmation, and attention to spiritual and emotional health. Drawing from Song of Solomon, TA calls couples to reflect on the current state of their marriage and renew their commitment to love one another as Christ has loved us.
As a second part to last week’s message, TA walked through Watermark's Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage statement, Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19, and Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7 to explain God’s design for marriage as a lifelong covenant. TA urged believers to pursue what is most glorifying to God, not simply what is most relieving, and reminded us that marriage is meant to reflect Christ’s unwavering love for his Church.
In this message, TA unpacks God’s vision for love and marriage as seen in Song of Solomon and identifies four key characteristics of biblical love in marriage. Using his own marriage as an example, TA illustrates how love has been both a feeling and a choice—a daily commitment rooted in vows. The message is a reminder that the Bible presents marriage as a reflection of a greater love: Christ’s love for his bride, the Church.
Director of Care Ministries Wes Butler explores the book of Job in our Year of the Word series, revealing how Job corrects misunderstandings about suffering.
After walking through the books of the Law and the Historical Books of the Bible with Year of the Word, we took Sunday to pause for an extended time of prayer together. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther guided us in praying for each other and our church.
Chris Sherrod continues our Year of the Word series this Mother's Day, exploring how Hagar, Leah, Jochebed, and Hannah's unexpected trials were where God was leading them the entire time.
Continuing our Year of the Word series, TA walks us through 1 and 2 Chronicles, revealing three powerful ways to adjust our spiritual sight and deepen intimacy with God.
In this week's message, TA wrapped up the book of 1 Chronicles, focusing on David’s anointing of his son, Solomon. Through David’s charge to Solomon, we see things we should desire for the next generation of believers and Christ followers. We were challenged that no matter our age (yes, even 30+), we are called to live surrendered lives with undivided hearts.
In this week's message, pastor, author, and illusionist Drew Worsham examines Mark 9 to explore how doubt can strengthen faith and lead to a deeper trust in God.
TA continues our Year of the Word series by walking us through 2 Samuel 11. We learned that David’s failure came when he relaxed spiritually and compromised his integrity. The Scripture reminds us to choose faithfulness to God instead of choosing compromises that lead to sin.
TA continues our Year of the Word series and walks us through the book of 1 Samuel, showing us that it is primarily about the fall and rejection of Israel’s first king, Saul, and the rise of their second king, David.
TA continues the Year of the Word sermon series by walking through the book of Ruth, looking at God’s pursuit of Naomi and how the book’s truth applies to the Christian life today.
TA continues our Year of the Word series by walking us through the book of Judges to highlight Israel's failure and God's never-ending faithfulness.
In this week's message, Jonathan Linder takes us on a tour through the book of Joshua to highlight God keeping his perfect promises in his perfect timing.
In this week's message, Trip Lee unpacks James 4:13-17 and shows why we don't need to have it all figured out. Discover how embracing our limitations and trusting God with tomorrow brings more peace than any perfect plan ever could.
Chris Sherrod, Watermark’s Family Director, joined us as we continued in the Old Testament with Year of the Word. Through Moses' instructions to Israel in Deuteronomy 6, we learned three ways we can pass our faith on to the next generation.
TA continues our Year of the Word series and surveys the Old Testament to answer a hard question: Why does God show so much violence throughout the Old Testament? By doing so, he shows that God is no moral monster but demonstrates a consistent and faithful character marked by holiness and grace throughout the entire Bible and all of history.
TA continues our Year of the Word series by showing us how the book of Numbers is a study in God’s faithfulness to a very unfaithful people.
TA continues our Year of the Word series by walking us through the book of Leviticus, where we see God drawing near to His people and, ultimately, revealing a glimpse of the perfect sacrifice found in Jesus Christ.
TA continues our Year of the Word series by walking us through Exodus, where God rescues Israel from slavery in Egypt, revealing his holiness and commitment to dwelling with his people, while setting the stage for a deeper relationship that will ultimately be fulfilled in Christ.
Continuing the Year of the Word series, Kylen Perry, Executive Director of the Porch, begins walking us through the book of Exodus, showing us how each piece of Scripture fits into God's larger story while holding its own unique significance.
TA continues our series, Year of the Word, by covering a large part of “the beginnings” of creation and of a people called out by the Lord to take part in his Kingdom plan of redemption.
In the first message of our new series, Year of the Word, TA introduces the upcoming year with the reminder that the Bible tells the story of one person (Jesus) written in four movements (Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation).
In this Christmas Eve message, Timothy Ateek walks through John 2:1-11, reminding us that Jesus was born to rescue us from shame, fill us with joy, and give us hope.
In this message, Chris Sherrod, Marriage & Family Director, closes out the series A Gospel-Saturated Church by leading us through John 14:1-9 and encouraging us that Jesus is the unchanging source of hope in a world of uncertainty.
By healing the invalid by the pool of Bethesda, Jesus provides us with a lasting witness to his absolute power to restore that which is broken. In this sermon, TA draws four questions out of the text to help us discern where we stand on God’s pathway to healing.
TA kicks off the new sermon series, A Gospel-Saturated Church, by leading us through John 3:16-21 and encourages us to embrace Jesus and his love for us and to let it overflow into our lives.
Jacob Alger, Director of Men's Community, wraps up our current sermon series, A Community Church, and encourages us with five characteristics of thriving community groups.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Community Church, TA wraps up our study of the book of Colossians and shares six practical steps for us to prayerfully consider for our own lives and community groups.
In the sermon series, A Community Church, TA walks through Colossians 4:2-6, encouraging the body to be on mission together to share the gospel with those in our sphere of influence.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Maturing Church, TA walks us through Colossians 3:18-21 and reminds us that when we are in Christ, we will point to Christ in our singleness, in our marriages, and in our parenting.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Maturing Church, TA looks at Colossians 3:11-17, where Paul gives us clarity on how the church should relate to and bear with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
John Piper walks through Paul’s reminder that our purpose as Christians is to magnify the supreme Lordship of Christ in the way we serve the fading structures of this world.
Continuing in our current sermon series, A Maturing Church, TA reminds us that when we place our faith in Christ, we have been united with Christ. By remembering our identity in Christ, we can put sin to death through the power of the Holy Spirit and become more mature in Christ.
Most people in the Church today have been taught that the phrase “fear of God” simply means awe or reverence. Jonathan Pokluda, Lead Pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church, walks us through how as a result, any fear surrounding God’s power and wrath can dissipate, as we remember that the One worthy of being feared deeply cares for us and desires to use us.
Continuing in our Maturing Church series, TA invites us to consider the full reality of our union with Christ.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Maturing Church, TA challenges us to ask ourselves: is Jesus enough for us? When we receive the truth of the gospel, we can rest knowing that we are already fully accepted and loved by God.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Maturing Church, Kylen Perry, Young Adults Director, explains how Colossians 2:6-15 shows us what it means to live fully alive in Christ.
Moving forward with our ongoing series, A Maturing Church, TA overviews how Paul's ministry in Colossians 1:24-2:5 compels us to live life in such a way now that will lead to no regrets later.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Maturing Church, TA walks us through Colossians 1:21-23 encouraging us to reassess our perspective and truly behold the gospel.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Maturing Church, TA explores what Colossians 1:15-20 says about Jesus being the purpose and point of our lives.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Maturing Church, Ben Stuart, pastor of Passion City Church, Washington D.C., explores what the book of Colossians says about the knowledge of Christ and our growth in Him.
In the first message of our new sermon series, A Maturing Church, TA teaches from the book of Colossians on our spiritual growth as maturing Christians.
In this message, TA clarifies the win for Watermark this fall that is captured in this statement, “Abiding in Jesus, we are making disciples together."
In this message, Marvin Walker, South Dallas Campus Pastor, talks about ignoring precise advice.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Bible-Revering Church, Blake Holmes, Elder and Lead Pastor of Ministries and Staff, explores what the Bible says about listening.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Bible-Revering Church, Luke Friesen, Senior Director of Operations, explores what the Bible says about contentment.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Bible-Revering Church, Kylen Perry, Young Adults Director, looks at what the Bible says about ambition.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Bible-Revering Church, TA looks at what the Bible says about money.
Continuing our current sermon series, A Bible-Revering Church, TA looks at what the Bible says about politics.
God cares deeply about our physical bodies, so we should too. In this message, TA continues the series, “A Bible-Revering Church” by zooming in on what the Bible says about how God created, redeemed, and owns our physical bodies.
Continuing the "A Bible-Revering Church", Dave Bruskas, Director of Re:Generation, talked about the challenge today regarding gender ideology within the church. He began by asking, “Who is Jesus to us?”, then worked towards understanding who we are as gendered people.
In this message, TA continues the series, “A Bible-Revering Church,” and unpacks what God says about marriage from Ephesians 5:22-33.
Having a reverence for God's Word can drastically change how Christians relate to God and His people. In this message, TA walks through Scripture to show us three ways Jesus revered the Bible and how we can do the same. The list of Jesus in every book in the Bible was adapted from material from JD Greear at the Summit Church, GotQuestions, and Scripture & Story.
Through looking at Psalm 119:97-104, Jermaine Harrison, Students Director at Watermark, asks some questions to help us grow in treasuring God’s Word in response to His great love and saving work for us in Christ.
In this message, TA shows a story from Nehemiah 8 that reveals the key to revival. All it takes is a collective reverence of and response to the Word of God.
In Part 2 of a two-part series, TA talks about being the right friend or family member when you know someone who is struggling with mental health.
In Part I of a two-part series, TA reminds us that Jesus Himself felt deep sadness, agony, and distress while remaining fully surrendered and pleasing to God, and he identifies five choices to make if you’re struggling with mental health.
In this message, Oren Martin, Senior Director of Equipping and Professor of the Watermark Institute, wraps up our "A Missional Church" series. He walks through Jonah 4 and shows how Jonah’s failure to rightly see God’s grace in his life resulted in him not wanting to proclaim God’s grace to others.
In this message, Matt Carter, Vice President of Mobilization at Send Network (North American Mission Board), continues our "A Missional Church" series. Through Jonah 3, we see God’s heart to save the nations for His glory and His heart to use imperfect people to do it.
In this message, Timothy "TA" Ateek continues the "A Missional Church" series. We want to be a church that is on mission with God. We want to be a people leveraging our lives for the sake of the gospel going to unbelievers in our neighborhoods, gyms, and workplaces, as well as to the places in the world that have never heard the name of Jesus.
Timothy "TA" Ateek begins a new series about being on mission with God. If we are going to be a missional church, then our hearts should be synced up with God’s heart. We take a spiritual EKG by looking at someone in Scripture who did have something wrong with his heart — he didn’t want what God wanted.
Timothy “TA” Ateek celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ by walking through John 11. One day everyone will die, and Jesus’ resurrection gives Christians hope that through Him death is not the end. Even though we die, we can now live because He is also the resurrecting Christ. As a result, Jesus’s resurrection gives us power now for our activity to match our identity and reality.
In this message Dave Bruskas, Director of Re:generation, asks, “What do we do with Good Friday? What should be our response?” He then focuses our attention on the cross of Christ. When we come to Holy Week, we can often run past the cross to the resurrection. But the death of Christ is crucial for us and our salvation.
Timothy "TA" Ateek concludes the series on the Holy Spirit by talking about the gifts of the Spirit that have controversy surrounding them; specifically, the gifts of speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing.
In this message, Timothy "TA" Ateek continues the series on the Holy Spirit and asks, “Is Watermark a church where every member is faithfully using their God-given gifts to serve and build up the body in Christ?"
In this message, Kylen Perry, Director of Young Adults, walks through Ephesians 4 and unpacks how God’s goal for His people isn’t one of uniformity, but unity in Christ. We may play different positions, but we wear the same jersey. Because we belong to Christ, we belong to each other and live that out in our lives together at Watermark. And instead of those differences stunting our walk with God, they stir our wonder of God because of his work in Christ to bring all kinds of different people together in him.
Are we, both individually and corporately as a church, led by, filled with, emboldened by the Spirit, and are we all in on what God is doing in Christ by his Spirit at Watermark? Is the Spirit having his way in our lives and in our church for God’s glory in Christ?
In this message, John Elmore teaches on the indwelling, sanctification, and illumination of the Holy Spirit.
Timothy "TA" Ateek continues our series as we seek to have a deep understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit. From John 3 and Romans 8, TA unpacks all that the Holy Spirit has done just to get us to day one of trusting in and knowing Jesus.
T.A. invites some friends for a discussion to help us establish a solid foundation regarding the person of the Holy Spirit.
Timothy Ateek begins a new series on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. This series is meant to be a deep dive into the Holy Spirit so that the people of Watermark can more fully understand and experience the Spirit in our lives. We want to be a Spirit-led church.
In the third week of A Praying Church, Timothy Ateek encouraged the body to become a people who know the power, joy, and necessity of prayer.
In the second week of A Praying Church, Timothy Ateek encouraged the body to pair prayer and fasting together to maximize enjoyment in Christ with a goal to develop a growing conviction that nothing is more important than fellowship with God.
This week we begin our new sermon series on the topic of prayer. We want to be a praying church, not just a church that prays. Prayer is the primary pathway to greater intimacy with God and the people who experience the greatest intimacy with God are the people who have tapped into the joy of prayer.
Today was "Vision Sunday," in which Timothy Ateek shared the elder's answer to this question, "What is the most God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, gospel-believing, proclaiming, and advancing version of Watermark?"
A new year is a great time for a new path. From Psalm 1, Marriage & Family Director, Chris Sherrod, shows how God’s people can experience God’s blessing in Christ in 2024.
In this message, Timothy Ateek walks through 1 John and challenges Christians to reflect on our lives in light of the gospel by examining what we believe, how we live, what we love, and where we live.
In this message, John Elmore shows what Jesus came to do and how he came to do it. Jesus came to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God.
Christmas is a reminder of the intensity and intentionality of God’s pursuit of us and the joy that comes from being found. Timothy Ateek begins a new series today called Born. Each week we are looking at an explicit statement in Scripture that unpacks why Jesus was born. Today we see that Jesus was born to seek and to save the lost.
The way the Savior is announced shows how the Savior is to be received. In Luke 1:26-38, Timothy Ateek shows how God’s grace, King, and power show up in Mary’s life, and as a result, everything changes.
In Psalm 23, David gives us a glorious view of God from a sheep’s perspective. From this Psalm, Oren Martin shows how God’s people experience His never-failing faithfulness, care, deliverance, provision and protection because the LORD is “My Shepherd.”
We want our life to count. John Elmore leads us through 1 Chronicles 28-29 as we see David's last words to leave a legacy for others.
These chapters look at the most painful years of David’s life. Pastor Timothy Ateek guides us through snapshots in David’s life from chapters 15-18, and helps us find 5 keys to surviving the painful days, weeks, and years of life.
In this Psalm from David's life, John Elmore shows us how the Lord saves through the sacrificial life and death of Jesus, who died for our sins and was raised from the dead so that His people might share of His great salvation with those who need saving from their sin.
The story of David in 2 Samuel 12 shows us four things that God does to rescue His people from sin. He sees sin, interrupts sin, sobers us to sin, and in His extravagant grace prevails over sin through Christ.
The story of David and Bathsheba shows us David’s sin and failure to take God at His Word. Despite all the progress David made in establishing God’s kingdom in fulfillment of his covenant promises, David is not God’s forever king who will finally usher in God’s people into God’s place and presence. In this passage, we see the enemy within, cycles of sin, and Jesus wins.
How do we find lasting security in times of distress? From Psalm 16, Jonathan Linder shows how David chose God as his confidence, treasure, and counsel. Now, through faith in the greater David, Jesus Christ, Christians can have God as their confidence, treasure, and counsel, for Jesus experienced and overcame the fullness of death through his perfect life, death, burial, and resurrection so that we can experience fullness of joy in His presence both now and forever.
The story of David and Mephibosheth shows us a burdened, helpless man with no future being brought into a covenant with the king. It shows an outcast orphan finding a family, a future, and a home. It paints a beautiful picture of the gospel.
2 Samuel 7 is one of the most important chapters in the life of David – and the entire Bible. In this message, Timothy “TA” Ateek teaches through a story that begins with David’s plans and culminates with God showing His plans to be far greater than anything David could’ve imagined.
2 Samuel 6 displays God’s holiness as David seeks to establish his kingdom in Jerusalem with God as the Eternally Enthroned One. Do you want God in your life? Do you fear God? Do you worship God with your entire life?
2 Samuel 5 displays David walking and living in the “sweet spot” of God’s will as God, in his timing, makes him king over Israel. David displayed his trust in the Lord by knowing God’s priorities, being filled with God’s Spirit, and seeking God’s direction. David, however, was not perfect and sinfully took wives he should not have taken, which points beyond David to the greater David, Jesus, who will perfectly do God’s will to bring salvation to his people.
God was working to establish his kingdom through David, but David trusted the Lord to fulfill his promises in his perfect timing. Instead of listening to his men and seizing the kingdom, David trusted the Lord in action, word, and heart. John Elmore teaches through 1 Samuel 24, giving three ways to trust God when wronged, and pointing to the greater David who perfectly brings God’s kingdom and salvation in his time.
How we handle other people’s success reveals what we truly believe about God and His will for us. Do we try to rule over our lives, or do we recognize that a true and loving King reigns over it all for our good and His glory? Timothy Ateek teaches through 1 Samuel 18 and gives three ways to respond to God’s will.
The familiar story of David and Goliath was really God’s story that David was a part of. In this message, John Elmore reminds us that the Lord is the one who saves. We all face things that we are powerless to overcome, but the gospel hope is that Jesus, the Son of David, is our giant-slayer.
David is the Old Testament character that is spoken about most in the Bible. He wrote one of the most famous chapters in the Bible (Psalm 23) and is featured in other well-known Bible stories. He is also called “a man after God’s own heart.” In this message, however, Timothy “TA” Ateek points out that the most important thing about David is the way he is connected to and foreshadows Jesus Christ.
Have you ever given up praying for a situation before getting an answer from God? In this message, John Elmore teaches through The Parable of the Persistent Widow and shares why we are to always pray and not lose heart.
Do you ever struggle with performance or comparing yourself with others? In this message, Blake Holmes will help us to look at the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. This parable is ultimately a story about Jesus warning us against the spiritual pride in all of us and how it blinds us from the truth.
As we look at the parable of the talents, what is clear is that one day we will stand before Jesus and give an account for how we have lived the one life He has given us to live. If you were to die tonight and stand before Jesus, what do you expect His response to be?
Do you struggle with unforgiveness? For anyone who is in Christ, living in unforgiveness is nothing short of hypocrisy. But Jesus has provided forgiveness for each person’s insurmountable debt of sin. Therefore, God calls us to forgive one another as Christ forgave us. John Elmore unpacks The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.
Are you more naturally a rule breaker or a rule follower? In this message, Timothy (TA) Ateek helps us continue to look at the parable of the two sons in Luke 15. This parable is ultimately a story about how rule breakers and rule followers interact with the grace of a perfect heavenly Father.
Why are some people present with God and others are not? In this message, John Elmore walks through the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son. Through this story, we see God’s heart for both the self-indulgent and the self-righteous.
Marvin Walker explains that the focus of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-9 is not the sower, but rather the various types of soil. This parable shows us that the seed of the gospel is not ineffective, but if it’s planted in the wrong type of soil, the consequences can be painful and even deadly.
Our culture would define success as being ‘built different’; this person would be the greatest of all time, a hard worker, gifted in business, athletic abilities, or exceptional talent, and this is reserved for just a select few. Jermaine Harrison shares that in God’s Kingdom, everyone can be ‘built different,’ and it is way more important than the accomplishments of this world.
Listen to Timothy “TA” Ateek share the parable of the Good Samaritan and learn what the point of this story is truly about. No one can come to God without recognizing who they are in God’s eyes. We like to think we are “good enough,” but the Good Samaritan story is intended to provoke humility that leads to eternity with God.
Do you believe that God truly wants us to come to Him in prayer and that He will actually answer? He does, and He will! In this message, John Elmore walks through Jesus’ parable about a friend’s response to a bold request and what it teaches us about God our Father.
Without making an intentional decision, we might fail to give our time this summer to Jesus. In this message, Timothy “TA” Ateek teaches through two parables about the kingdom of heaven: the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Value.
Is money the source of your joy, peace, and security? In this message, Watermark Elder Kyle Thompson shares four questions about money and generosity, and the answers to those questions in Scripture. He reminds us that generous living is not a one-time decision but a lifetime of daily discovery of what faithfulness looks like.
Do you ever look at your life and finances and think, “I’ve got it”? In this message, Watermark elder Mickey Friedrich shares about three warnings from Scripture for when we have self-dependence in our stewardship and why we must shift to a dependence on the Lord.
Did you know that Jesus spoke on the topic of money more than the topics of heaven and hell combined? Our relationship with money has a big impact on our spiritual life. Listen as John Cox starts a new series with what Scripture has to say about the connection between money and your heart.
In the conclusion of 1 Peter, we are reminded that we have an enemy, and his goal is to cause us to suffer and fear. 1 Peter 5:6-14 shows us that, when life is H.A.R.D., the prescription is to Humble yourself, make sure your Anxieties are cast, Resist in faith, and trust in the Dominion of God.
What makes a healthy church? Have you ever been a part of a healthy church without healthy leaders? Timothy “TA” Ateek walks through the beginning of 1 Peter 5 and the importance of elders in the local church. This message is a charge to shepherds of the flock as well as the flock.
All of us experience suffering. Our broken world brings loss of health, death, divorce, prodigal children, financial troubles, job loss, and so on. God sees it all. He allows suffering and redeems it so that it may be a gift to our faith. John Elmore walks us through 1 Peter 4:12-19 on navigating the inevitable suffering that will come as we abide in Christ.
As believers, we often focus on the cross as a symbol of our salvation. But the good news is not just that Jesus died, but that He rose again. On Easter, John Elmore explains three truths that the empty tomb should remind us of.
For Good Friday, Timothy “TA” Ateek teaches through 2 Corinthians 5:21 and encourages us to remember the reason for the cross, the reality of the cross, and the result of the cross.
If Jesus told you exactly when He would return, what, if anything, would change in your life? Listen to Timothy “TA” Ateek walk through 1 Peter 4 and give five keys to living like the end is near.
Have you ever felt alone, left out, or mocked because of your faith? Jesus’s victory over sin and death offers us hope in our present suffering and secures our glorious future with Him. Blake Holmes walks through 1 Peter 3:18-22, encouraging us to live a life of holiness in all circumstances.
Oren Martin walks us through 1 Peter, giving evidence for why relationships and suffering are primary ways we can share the gospel with others. Specifically, our relationships with believers, relationships with non-believers, and times of suffering need to be understood as opportunities to share our hope in Jesus Christ.
Want a better marriage? The key to a better marriage is to show Jesus in your marriage. You can show Jesus in your marriage by fulfilling your God-given role, cultivating your character, and hoping in God.
God’s truth dispels the lies of our false identities so we can be secure in who we are and know how to live as we follow God. Listen as John Elmore shares from 1 Peter 2 the truth of our identity, calling, and Jesus’s example for our lives.
Are you at the right church? How do you even know? With Scripture from 1 Peter 2:4-12, here are six questions you should ask regarding church.
Are you growing spiritually? How can you measure your spiritual growth? Spiritual growth is measured not by external performance, but by an inner transformation of our hearts. 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 shows us three indicators of spiritual growth: love for others, hatred for sin, and hunger for truth.
We are all prone to spiritual amnesia. We forget the truth that is meant to transform us. Listen to Timothy “TA” Ateek share from 1 Peter 1 three crucial reminders we need daily.
What is a right theology of suffering? We will all face different trials in life, but God can use your suffering for your good and His glory. 1 Peter 1:3-12 shows us that we can praise God and have joy in suffering because we have the hope of ages.
The Christian life is a race. One of the keys to running the Christian race well is never forgetting who you are. Timothy “TA” Ateek unpacks 1 Peter 1:1-2 to show us how God has set His affections on us.
Where you find your value informs the values you live by. John Elmore walks us through values the first “apostle” displayed to the Gentiles and how Jesus embodied them perfectly for our sake.
Simple obedience to the Lord can lead to eternally significant moments. Specifically, there is joy in loving unbelievers like Christ. As you are transformed by Christ, the hope is that people will taste the love of Christ simply by being in a relationship with you.
Being transformed by Christ is not a one-time event at the point of salvation. We are called to continually be transformed by Him every day. John Elmore walks us through Romans 12:1-2 and the first part of Watermark’s vision – “Transformed by Christ, to love like Christ” – to detail three ways we are transformed by Christ.
New Year’s Day is often the only time people pause to think about what has happened in the past year and make plans for the year to come. Using Psalm 71 as an example, Chris Sherrod talks about how we should reflect on God’s attributes and what He has done, use our mouths to talk about what our hearts are excited about, and build a hunger for God in the hearts of the younger generation.
The birth of Jesus was a gift from God to the world. How you respond to that gift matters. Some people need to investigate Jesus to learn who He was and why He matters. For others, the next step is to receive Jesus and accept the gift of eternal life. And if you are already following Him, you should behold Jesus, be captivated by His goodness, and be moved to gratitude and worship.
The Bible is a story of promise and fulfillment with waiting in between. In our Made series, we have been walking through Genesis 1-3, from the beauty of creation to the devastation of sin entering the world. So how do we respond to our broken world? Oren Martin walks us through how to trust in God’s promises and put our hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
We are in a war, and that war is already won. Yet, the unseen spiritual battle rages on. During this Christmas season it is crucial to understand and remember that we were made to be saved.
God created us to work. It was part of His good and perfect design for humanity (Genesis 2:15). However, because of sin, work is now under the curse and is not what God intended it to be. Timothy “TA” Ateek walks us through the effects of the curse on our work in Genesis 3:17-19 and the ways we can still glorify God through our jobs in Colossians 3:22-24.
Sin is inevitable; therefore, forgiveness is essential. Forgiveness must flow from us as we live out the gospel in the way we handle sin and conflict in our relationships.
Genesis 3:7-11 shows us when shame entered the human experience. How does shame shape how we view ourselves and how we live? Timothy “TA” Ateek walks us through how God’s grace is greater than our failures, guilt, and shame.
We live in a broken world with an enemy, Satan, who lies to us about God and His goodness. Satan’s tactics in Genesis 3 are the same ones he uses today. He wants us to question God’s instruction, understate sin’s consequences, be intrigued by sin’s offering, and be trapped in shame. The way to quit falling for Satan’s lies is to be filled with God’s truth.
Everything that happens in Genesis is an overflow of the goodness of God, and the creation of marriage is no exception. Timothy “TA” Ateek walks us through the story of how God made marriage in Genesis 2:18-25 and how God embeds in the story five ways we can experience His goodness in marriage.
God has created three divine institutions to protect and care for us in relationship. The family provides love to counter loneliness; the government provides order to counter chaos; and the church provides growth to counter immaturity.
We are exhausted as a society. God offers a solution, but how do we live in that reality? With Christ, we are given a way of rest.
Genesis 2:4-25 says that we were made to flourish as God's image-bearers. What do you believe it means for you to flourish? Where do we find meaning? Where is life found? Blake Holmes reminds us we are made to flourish in relationship with God, through His provision, under His rule, and by His design.
The sermon series, Made, continues with TA reminding us of God’s heart for the nations and His eternal plan that includes every nation enjoying His presence, protection, and provision.
Genesis 1:26-27 says that all people are made in the image of God. Being God’s image-bearers means that every human has a specific and noble purpose; every human is of great value to God; and every human needs Jesus.
To help us deepen our theology and be equipped on how to engage with others in an intelligent and winsome way, John Elmore sat down with the Great Questions Ministry Panel to train us on the top four questions and biblical answers directly related to the MADE series in Genesis 1-3.
The God who spoke everything into existence wants to speak to you. Do you want to hear Him? What we need most is to prioritize hearing the Word, reading the Word, and meditating on the Word of God.
Knowing who God is and what He does as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit affects how we live, love, and worship God. John Elmore dives into Genesis 1:1-5 to explore the Trinity and what it says about who God is and what He does.
The more we know God, the more we will love and worship Him. John Elmore discusses Genesis 1:3-25 and how the varying aspects of Creation point to God’s inscrutable, teleological, ordered, and providing nature.
If you find yourself struggling to make time for God or make Him the focus of your life, it is likely because your view of God is too small. In this first part of a new series, “Made,” Timothy “TA” Ateek identifies seven key characteristics of who God is in Genesis 1:1-2.
Are you aiming to be good or to be godly in your day-to-day life? God has given you everything you need to be a godly man or woman. When you delight in the Lord, your life will shift and change.
God’s people are saved by faith and are called to also live by faith, not by logic. John Elmore unpacks John 2:1-11 and how the story of Jesus’s first miracle shows us how to live a life of faith through prayers of faith, obedience of faith, and sharing of faith.
David Marvin gives the final sermon from the 1 Corinthians series, recalling the four commands Paul gives to the people of Corinth in his farewell letter. These commands are both challenging and encouraging for believers in society today.
When believers gather as a church body, we should come with the intention to love and build up others using our spiritual gifts. Oren Martin walks through 1 Corinthians 14 and lays out four things Paul says corporate worship should be.
If Watermark does not have love, then we don’t have anything. Using the famous “love passage” of 1 Corinthians 13, Timothy “TA” Ateek identifies four truths about love and explains how they should guide the way we relate to each other in the church.
When you trusted in Christ, the Holy Spirit entrusted to you a gift (or multiple). Is it being used for the common good of the body? John Elmore walks through 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 to remind us that we’re under new management and that the spiritual gifts we have been entrusted with can edify and build God’s church.
Some of Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 are specific to the culture of his time and are not rules that we have to follow today. However, while culture changes, theology does not. The theological truths in this passage are that men and women are equal in value and dignity, have different responsibilities and opportunities, and are completely interdependent.
We are tempted to sin daily, and giving into that sin without repentance keeps us from the abundant life God has promised us (John 10:10). John Elmore walks through 1 Corinthians 10:1-33 to discuss how to live in repentance, allegiance, and deference for the glory of God and for our own good.
Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can set free those who are enslaved to sin and Satan – and believers are given the tools to offer that freedom. John Elmore walks us through 1 Corinthians 9, where Paul lays a roadmap for how Christians are to give for the gospel, share the gospel, and live for the gospel.
How do Christians preserve unity when they disagree on controversial topics? Jermaine Harrison walks us through 1 Corinthians 8 and shows us how we can foster unity when nonessential matters push to divide relationships.
The Christian American Dream involves meeting your spouse and getting married in or shortly after college. Yet the Apostle Paul had a high view of being single. Timothy “TA” Ateek turns to 1 Corinthians 7 to discuss how to steward well the assignment and gift of singleness.
When you hear about evil acts and tragedies in the world (or experience them in your own life), you might wonder, “God, why don’t You do something?” In such times, it is good to be reminded that God will do something, that He is doing something, and that He already has done something.
The ultimate purpose of marriage is to put the glory of God on display to an unbelieving world. Marriage is important to God, so He calls us to fight for it. Timothy “TA” Ateek turns to 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 to discuss ways to safeguard your marriage and stay in your marriage to glorify God.
The ultimate point and purpose of our lives is to glorify God. One of the areas we struggle most to do this is in the area of sexuality. We live in a culture that prioritizes gratifying self instead of glorifying God. Timothy “TA” Ateek turns to 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 to identify five keys to glorifying God with your body in regard to sex.
How can the institutions of marriage and family be a part of restoring our culture to God’s original design? As we take a break from our 1 Corinthians series, Chris Sherrod, Watermark’s new Director of Marriage and Family, shows us how to love completely, train intentionally, and testify personally so that every generation is equipped to teach the next generation about the wondrous works of God.
What does it look like for Christians to resolve significant conflicts with each other in significant ways? In the ninth week of our 1 Corinthians series, Timothy Ateek shows us four reasons why conflict is an inevitable opportunity.
When was the last time you pointed out sin in a fellow Christian’s life and helped them to repent from it? As we continue our 1 Corinthians series with a look at 1 Corinthians 5, John Elmore shows us how the sinfulness of sin, the impact of grace, and the call to shepherd are essential to the health of the body of Christ.
Do people see God at work in your life? For Easter, Timothy “TA” Ateek uses 1 Corinthians 15 to help renew our appreciation of the resurrection so that we can apply it to how we live our lives. The resurrection of Jesus is the fact our faith is built on. Because of the resurrection, you can have freedom from your past, power in the present, and hope for the future.
The Lord’s Supper, or communion, is so much more than just some words to recite and a small wafer and cup to eat and drink. In this Good Friday service, John Elmore helps us more fully understand the gravity, depth, and richness of the cross and how we remember it through the Lord’s Supper.
Do you sacrificially steward your life so that lost people can be introduced to Jesus? Picking back up in our sermon series 1 Corinthians, John Elmore shows us how to order our lives for the purpose of Christ, in the plot twists of Christ, and by the power of Christ.
Do you feel empowered and equipped to share your faith? Taking a short break in our 1 Corinthians series, Timothy “TA” Ateek uses 2 Corinthians 5 to provide clarity around our mentality, message, mission, and motivation in proclaiming the gospel to those who need to hear it.
In today’s world of ministry scandals and church leadership failures, what constitutes a healthy church? As we dive into the fifth week of our 1 Corinthians series, Timothy “TA” Ateek shows us how healthy churches require healthy people and healthy pastors.
When you think of spiritually mature individuals, what comes to mind? As we continue in our sermon series 1 Corinthians, Timothy Ateek walks us through the miracle of spiritual growth by showing us four realities of the Spirit, the result of the Spirit, and a right response to the Spirit.
How can we put our faith in a salvation plan that is so counterintuitive, many reject it as foolishness and choose to live in their own self-sufficiency? In the third week of 1 Corinthians, Timothy Ateek shows us four reasons why our salvation is a miracle.
In the age of “celebrity pastors”, how can we make sure that the gospel message is exalted rather than the gospel messenger? In the second week of 1 Corinthians, John Elmore shows us the priority of unity, the problem of preference, and where power is lost and found.
After trusting in Christ, can you see how He has been at work in your life, sanctifying you in preparation for His return? As we kick off our new series on 1 Corinthians, John Elmore encourages us with the truth that we are called by Jesus, gifted by Jesus, and kept by Jesus.
Have you ever seen something that was out of focus, only to eventually have clarity on what it looks like? Continuing in our Loaded Questions series, David Marvin challenges us to see the gospel through the eyes of Nicodemus, a prominent Jewish leader who had to reframe his expectations of a Savior.
Does your understanding of following Jesus align with what Scripture says about following Jesus? As we continue our Loaded Questions sermon series, Timothy Ateek shows us how Jesus addressed those whose actions weren’t in accordance with what they said they believed.
Does worshipping God through song recharge you spiritually? As we continue our Loaded Questions sermon series, John Elmore shows us the importance of worship music in our relationships with Christ.
Have your transgressions hijacked your identity, causing you to feel full of guilt and shame rather than purpose for God? In the fifth week of our sermon series Loaded Questions, Timothy Ateek gives us five truths for dealing with the failures in our lives.
Do you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or out of control? As we continue our sermon series Loaded Questions, Timothy Ateek gives us four key truths to know when dealing with stress that point us to God instead of looking inward at our circumstances.
Has your faith ever been tested to the point of wanting to walk away from Jesus? As we continue our sermon series Loaded Questions, Blake Holmes shows us what it looks like to wrestle with God’s goodness in the face of life’s challenges and what genuine faith in Him looks like.
If someone were to ask you who Jesus is, what would you say? In the second week of our sermon series Loaded Questions, John Elmore shows us how confessing Jesus’s deity leads to building His Church and to Christians’ willingness to make sacrifices for His glory.
Do you feel a longing for something to be different in your life? As we start a new sermon series called Loaded Questions, John Elmore shows us how an interaction Jesus had with a disabled man thousands of years ago can radically change us today.
Have you grown so familiar with the Christmas story that it’s lost some of its awe and wonder? In this Christmas Eve message, John Elmore shows us how amazing the birth of Christ was, and how the Almighty God intentionally chose to reveal Himself to those who were most humble, lowly, and distant from Him.
Once we are redeemed from our sin, how can we be restored to a Christ-like condition? As we wrap up our sermon series called The Story, John Elmore shows us how God restores both our souls and our relationships, and ultimately restores us into His dwelling place.
After the separation from God that comes from sin, where do we find hope? In the third week of our sermon series called The Story, David Marvin shows us what Redemption is and how we can appreciate the gospel as we celebrate Jesus’ birth in the Christmas season.
How should we deal with the disappointments that life in a broken world inevitably brings? In the second week of our sermon series The Story, Timothy Ateek uses the account of Zechariah and Elizabeth to show us five truths about living in a world marked by the fall of man.
How does the story of God creating the world affect our lives today? As we kick off a new sermon series called The Story, John Elmore uses the creation account in Genesis to show us how God is actively at work in our lives.
When you hear the word “immigration”, what comes to mind? As we wrap up our sermon series Uncompromised: Holding to Christian Convictions in a Cancel Culture, Oscar Castillo gives us five biblical principles about immigration and global persecution that will align our focus with God’s heart on these subjects.
What can Christians do to tackle the topic of racism? In the fifth week of Uncompromised: Holding to Christian Convictions in a Cancel Culture, John Elmore, Marvin Walker, Sierra Sanchez, and Oscar Castillo share how (and why) we can pursue God’s ideals of diversity, unity, peace, and reconciliation.
How do Christ-followers live faithfully among the messages that our culture sends us about sexuality? In the fourth week of Uncompromised: Holding to Christian Convictions in a Cancel Culture, John Elmore shows us the key differences between biblical sexuality and cultural sexuality, and what our role is as believers in a world that conflicts with Scripture on this topic.
Do you have a biblical view of life, desiring to protect the unborn and vulnerable members of our society, but don’t know how to get started? In the third week of Uncompromised: Holding to Christian Convictions in a Cancel Culture, John Elmore and Bruce Kendrick cast a vision for a world that esteems what God has created and give us ten steps of faithfulness to value life in and out of the womb.
As we seek to remain uncompromised in our culture, where in Scripture can we turn to for examples of how to do this well? In the second week of Uncompromised: Holding to Christian Convictions in a Cancel Culture, John Elmore shows us four examples of God’s people who have honored God as they stood up for His ways while still submitting to the government He ordained.
As sin is normalized in an increasingly divisive world, how can Christ-followers hold fast to the Word of God? Introducing a new sermon series called Uncompromised, John Elmore shows us ten ways to remain uncompromised.
Do you believe that God is for you? Do you truly live like God is for you? In the eighth week of Dying to Live, Harrison Ross walks through Romans 8:31-39 to show us the simple truth of the gospel that God so greatly loves us and has favor on us.
Do you sense an ache in your soul, longing for something greater than what you experience in this world? In week eight of Dying to Live, Blake Holmes walks through Romans 8:18-30 to show us what it looks like to anticipate the future glory that is promised in Scripture.
Are you tired of trying to overcome sin on your own, or frustrated by your inability to follow all the rules? In the fourth week of our sermon series Dying to Live, John Elmore reminds us that following Christ is not about following rules, but rather living in relationship with Him and letting the Spirit’s power work in us.
If you are a Christian, do you still struggle with trying to earn favor with God or understanding who you are before Him? In the third week of our sermon series Dying to Live, David Marvin describes our position when we have a relationship with Christ: where it comes from, what it leads to, and what it includes.
Have you ever used short cuts in your walk with Christ, trying tips, tricks, and life hacks to get closer to Him? In the second week of our sermon series Dying to Live, Blake Holmes dives into Romans 6:1-14 to teach us where true spiritual growth comes from and what it looks like.
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “obedience”? As we kick off Dying to Live, a sermon series on the book of Romans, Nathan Wagnon shows us what the obedience of faith is, and the importance of daily surrender in your relationship with Christ.
Do you see the Lord as your shepherd, and are you fully surrendered to Him with complete trust? As we continue our Playlist series, Jermaine Harrison walks us through Psalm 23 to show that we can trust God to be both a Good Shepherd and a Gracious Host.
Have you ever struggled to feel known, loved, and significant? In the most recent week of our sermon series Playlist, David Marvin uses Psalm 139 to teach us that with God, we are never alone; our lives were designed with a purpose by a Creator who knows us intimately and loves everything about us.
When you feel like life is in a freefall, where do you turn? In the second week of our summer series Playlist, Blake Holmes uses Psalm 16 to show us how God is our Refuge, Satisfaction, Counselor, and Hope.
What does it mean to “magnify the Lord” or to “taste and see that the Lord is good? In the first week of our Playlist series, John Elmore dissects the lyrics of Psalm 34 and reminds us of how God is good even in trials.
Do you express more allegiance to your earthly country than to your eternal home? Using the book of Philippians, Nathan Wagnon asks four key questions that are helpful in identifying what citizens of heaven look like.
Have you ever considered the link between pride and sin? In the most recent installment of our sermon series Never Be the Same, John Elmore shows us an example of one man who abandoned his pride and found Jesus.
Do you think you’re too broken or too sinful to be healed? In this week in the sermon series, Never Be the Same, David Marvin shows us through Matthew 8 that Jesus is the only cure for our sin and brokenness.
Would the people who know you best say that you have never been the same since you started following Jesus? This week, in our sermon series Never Be the Same, David Penuel gives us three metrics by which we can gauge our growth in Christ: Places, People, and Purpose.
Do you have desires or longings that don’t ever seem to be quenched? In the second week of our sermon series called Never Be the Same, David Marvin shows us why we might feel dissatisfied and where true, life-changing satisfaction comes from.
Has your past ever held you back from sharing Christ with others? To kick off our new sermon series, Never Be the Same, John Elmore shows us the beauty of showing our wounds to share our Savior.
What does it look like to build relationships with those who live in your neighborhood? Going into the summer, Jeff Ward breaks down three helpful descriptions of good neighbors and three obstacles that can keep us from becoming good neighbors.
Do you find yourself spending too much time and energy on the inconsequential things of this world? As we close out our sermon series The Last Word, Blake Holmes shows us three practical ways to invest in what truly matters so that we might finish well when our time on earth is done.
How can we live with an eternal perspective to make the most of our brief time on earth? As we start the second half of 2 Timothy in our series The Last Word, John McGee shows us the importance of inspecting for predators, expecting persecution, and respecting God’s Word.
What do you believe to be true about God and the Bible? In Sunday’s message, Blake Holmes reminds us of three things that never change despite the world around us: The character of God, the Word of God, and the mission of God.
In this Easter weekend message, Todd Wagner shows us how God’s promise to perfectly bless mankind by blessing imperfect Abraham culminated in the provision of the perfect Lamb of God who laid down His life as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
In our series, The Last Word, Todd Wagner teaches through 2 Timothy 3-7 and the three metaphors given to us to be faithful Christians in our daily lives. We are encouraged to live as soldiers, obedient and faithful to our commander, Jesus.
What last words does Paul have for the church today? In the first week of our series on 2 Timothy, David Leventhal introduces the book at a high-level and then dives into verses 1-7 of chapter 1. In them, we will see that this is a letter for us today as much as it is a book for Timothy in 60 AD.
What is the mission of the church? In the fifth week of our Reset series, Todd Wagner teaches about the mission of the church and how we are to live lives of both love and truth.
Todd talks of the importance of humility, love, and abiding in Christ in order to be an effective leader.
Have you ever been hurt by someone? Have you ever hurt someone? Do you have peace in those relationships today? David teaches on the importance of pursuing peace in our relationships through extending forgiveness and making amends.
David teaching focuses on how to live our lives with God as our one priority, everything else should pale in comparison to living a life focused on Him
Despite 2020 being a difficult year, full of new uncertainties, Bruce teaches on the attributes of God and why we can still trust and worship Him above all things.
Nathan preaches a Christmas message that reminds us the Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are to put away our idols and follow the one and only King.
Mickey provides us with two warnings and truth regarding contentment in God's provision.
What is the mission and message of the church? How do we not shipwreck our faith? In week 6 of our series, FOCUS: A Study in 1 Timothy, John McGee teaches through 1 Timothy 3:14-16, showing us that the mission of the church is to be a family that holds up truth and the message of the church is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What are the qualifications for leadership in the church? In week 5 of our series, FOCUS: A Study in 1 Timothy, David Leventhal teaches through 1 Timothy 3:1-13, showing us when God describes a leader, he prioritizes character over anything else. God is setting a standard for leadership that he desires every believer to aspire to.
David leads the congregation in praying for our government, church, and families, as well as teaching about the importance and purpose of fasting. The service ends with communion and worship.
This Sunday's message is a panel discussion covering the topics of abortion, healthcare, and immigration, with the intention of equipping the Christian with biblical principles to use at the voting booth.
With all of the upheaval of 2020, we may be confused on how to vote and concerned about our future. Blake walks us through the Biblical roles of government, church, and family so we can better discern how to live as Christians in this fallen world.
David reminds us that as Christians we are citizens of Heaven and Jesus Christ has already won the war. We do not need to be worried about the future, but instead we need to be focused on living our lives for Christ and reaching out to those who do not know Him.
God created men and women for specific roles, today's culture is trying to eliminate these gender roles. David walks us through what 1 Timothy 2 says about how the roles of men and women are different and what God intended for each one.
Watermark has been meeting for 1087 weeks. In this message, David Leventhal reflects back on the three things he has most consistently been reminded of: “God loves you,” “This is Jesus’ church,” and “We are better together.”
David uses the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach us of God's reckless love for us and what our response to that should be.
The book of Acts describes the beginning of the Christian church and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Today we learn what that means to us and how being members of this church should affect our lives.
Have you heard of Jonah and the whale? What if I told you this story had very little to do with fish? As we continue our series, Retold, David Leventhal teaches through the book of Jonah, showing us that God is the creator of the earth and is sovereign over it. His justice is impartial and his mercy may extend to anyone…whether we like it or not.
In this message David Penuel retells the story of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. He uses the story to teach us what faithfulness and trusting in God looks like even in the face of opposition.
In the story of David and Goliath, many of us would like to see ourselves as the hero David. Tyler teaches us why we are more like Israel than David. We all need a deliverer and God, in His mercy, sent us a more perfect Deliverer than David, in the person of Jesus Christ.
Tyler talks on the reasons God gave us the Ten Commandments and reminds us how important it is to love the Law of God.
The Christian life is one of surrender and service. It starts by acknowledging who Jesus is and your need for Him. And when we do that, we know that we have an eternal hope through Him. We then have the privilege to be ambassadors of Christ, to share our hope with those around us.
Have you heard of the parable of the Good Samaritan? If so, and you think that it teaches you to simply do good works, you are missing it and don’t understand the story! As we kick off our new series, “Retold: History Everybody Should Know”, Todd Wagner teaches through the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.
In this Sunday outdoor message, Todd shares how we are to love others, listen to their stories, and live like Christ during this time of racial turmoil and injustice in our country.
“Any Christian should be grieved by racism, injustice, and apathy toward the things that break the heart of God. This is how we talked about these things when we gathered last Saturday night. We feel like we missed an opportunity with many of our friends who only tuned in on Sunday morning, and we are grateful to encourage the many who missed it now. We believe sharing our heart is the most helpful thing for us to post today, AND we believe continuing to work together toward the unity, love, and justice our Savior died to make possible is our daily task. Join us as we continue to love kindness, do justice, and walk humbly with our Lord.” – Todd Wagner
As we wrap up our series on 1 Thessalonians, David Leventhal talks about what a healthy church family should look like and how we are to relate to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, the body of Christ.
Todd uses Romans 12-14 to help us as Christians know how to navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19 in a way that that honors, loves, and preference to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In this week's sermon, Todd will show us where to find safety, warns us of the trouble coming for those who are not saved, and reminds those who are in Christ how to live in light of the coming Day of the Lord.
Have you ever wondered what happens to your believing family and friends who have died? Whether they are all right, you will see them again, or they will miss out on the blessing of Christ’s return and reign? As we continue studying the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner finishes chapter 4, teaching us what happens to Christians who have died.
In this message Todd talks about our walk with Christ and through that walk, we should become more holy and more like Christ. God's will is for us to be sanctified.
What have you been entertained by recently? How do you decide what to entertain yourself with? Todd Wagner teaches through 1 Peter 1:13-16, helping us think through the impact our entertainment choices have on our own lives and on others.
What trials are you experiencing in life right now? If you aren’t careful, you might miss out on what God wants to do in and through you during this season. Tyler Briggs, Watermark's Fort Worth Campus Pastor, teaches through James 1:2-5, teaching us that trials are a gift because they are God’s mean of growing us.
As we continue studying the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner kicks off chapter 4, teaching us the importance of encouraging one another and how we can excel still more.
As we continue studying the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner teaches through chapter 3, teaching us the importance of loving and encouraging one another in the Truth and the significance of our faith regardless of the circumstances life throws our way.
As you reflect back on your last week, how much did the Bible inform your life? As we continue our series on the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner teaches through 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20, teaching us that once we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s Word should be the foundation of our lives.
1 Thessalonians is a short book, it’s only 5-chapters and you can probably read through the whole thing in 20-minutes. Between now and next week, read through the entire book multiple times to familiarize yourself with it. Take an online equipping course. Start with Keys to Effective Bible Study.
The church is not a building, and we are not the church because we gather corporately once a week. As we refrain from gathering corporately due to the current pandemic of the coronavirus, reading through 2 Samuel 24, Todd teaches us about the census and about plagues, and how they apply to us today.
When you reflect on your life, what big changes stand out to you? How about changes from the last year? Month? Week? As we continue our series on 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner teaches us how walking with Jesus should change everything.
This is week 2 of the study on 1 Thessalonians; how leaders and mature believers should and should not act.
Do you have people in your life that you are thankful for? People that God uses to encourage you and who are all about spreading the gospel? As we kick off a new series, studying the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner walks us through chapter one.
What exactly is the “gospel”? We use the word around the church all the time, but what is it? John McGee walks through three things the gospel teaches us to do in both life and marriage: initiate, forgive, & commit.
We often misunderstand or under-appreciate all the influence that the gospel is designed to have on our life. The gospel desires to save us, yes. But it also desires to sanctify us and make us more like Christ. From there, it calls us to live a life of reconciliation and regeneration in all areas and aspects of our life.
What exactly should the Christian life look like? Can it be anything for anyone, or are there certain things that God expects for all Christians? David Marvin teaches through 1 Peter 1:23-2:10, explaining what the Christian life should look like and how we can live out and experience the purpose God has for us.
As we wrap up our series, Better Together, we end with the community core value that is really the culmination of faithfully practicing the other five: Engage Missionally. The church was never meant to be some holy huddle, but rather, a group of people that engaged, loved, and served the world around them. Jeff Ward, Christy Chermak, and Bruce Kendrick teach through different ways you and your community group can excel at engaging missionally right where God has you.
What marks the relationships with the people in your life you are closest with? Are you committed to others, and do you have anyone that is committed to you? As we continue our series, Better Together, Beau Fournet, David Leventhal, and Brian Buchek teach us why Watermark is so committed to community, why your community group might be struggling, and how to help your community group grow.
Is your counsel to others informed by the Word of God? Todd teaches on the importance of counseling Biblically, and how we can live this out within our community groups.
Everyone has a different siren song, what is yours? Do you have godly friends that come alongside you and encourage you in your walk with Christ? Today Todd talks about the importance and purpose of community within the church.
Will you devote yourself daily to the Word of God? In this sermon Todd talks about the importance of being in the Word daily so that we can be what God wants us to be for His glory and our good.
What are you looking forward to in the coming year? It is important to remember that no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in we need to seek Christ, respond to Him faithfully, and know that God sent Jesus to free us from our bondage to sin.
How is your relationship with money? Most of us think our relationship with money is similar to our ability to drive…better than it really is. As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Adam Tarnow asks three questions to examine our relationship with money and possessions.
The greatest crisis in America, your home, your work, our world, and your own personal life is a leadership crisis. As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Todd Wagner finishes his two part series starts on leadership, its importance, and why a great leader does what he knows to be right regardless of what others are telling him.
The greatest crisis in America, your home, your work, our world, and your own personal life is a leadership crisis. As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Todd Wagner starts the first of two weeks teaching on leadership, its importance, and why a leadership problem is really a discipleship problem.
Have you ever met someone who always seemed to be grateful? What about someone who never seems to be grateful? What differences come to mind as you think about both people? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” John Elmore teaches us about thankfulness.
When’s the last time you saw something that made you think or say, “Wow…that was good”? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Todd Wagner teaches us about goodness and how it should mark us as we diligently seek it out.
Are there any areas of your life that are difficult right now? Areas where you are tempted to throw in the towel and quit? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Tyler Briggs teaches us about perseverance and its importance in the midst of the trouble, hardship, and suffering of this world.
When’s the last time you engaged in a spiritual conversation with someone? Do you remember the last time someone engaged in a spiritual conversation with you? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Todd Wagner teaches how we are an embassy and that the most loving thing we—Christians—can do is share their faith.
When’s the last time you made a choice that resulted in pain and grief? What about a choice that resulted in peace and joy? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Blake Holmes teaches us how to live a wise life marked by obedience.
Do you have anyone in your life that you highly respect? What marks their life? What about yourself…when was the last time you felt respected by someone? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Adam Tarnow teaches us how love, kindness, and humility all lead to respect.
Is your life ever marked by stress or anxiety? If so, what do you do in order to find relief? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” John Elmore teaches us about external peace, eternal peace, and internal peace.
Did you know that the average American makes 35,000 choices per day? When was the last time you or someone you know made a wise choice? What about a foolish choice? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Todd Wagner teaches us about discernment…the power to distinguish what is true, excellent, and appropriate.
When you think of contentment what comes to mind? Who comes to mind? As we continue our series, This is the Life, David Leventhal teaches us about biblical contentment…what it is, where it comes from, and why so many of us don’t experience it in a deep, meaningful, consistent way.
When is the last time you saw someone do something courageous? How did it make you feel? Did it make you want to live differently? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Todd Wagner teaches us about courage…what it looks like, where it comes from, and how we should live if we have it.
It is with great excitement that we announced on Sunday that the Fort Worth campus will be launched to become an independent local church on June 30, 2020. Todd Wagner, Tyler Briggs, and Dean MacFarlan shared the how and why behind this exciting direction for the Fort Worth campus
What or who do you think of when you hear the word “righteous” or “righteousness”? Did you know that those two words appear in the book of Proverbs more than 90-times? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Todd Wagner walks us through many different Proverbs, showing us that righteousness is imputed, earned, and a choice.
What do you think of when you hear someone say, “This is the life”? Wealth? Fame? The American Dream? Todd Wagner walks us through where true life is found as we kick off a new series called, “This is the Life”.
When was the last time you thought about what the end of your life is going to be like? What do you want to be remembered by? Adam Tarnow walks us through 1 Peter 4:7-11, teaching us three ways to make sure we don’t waste our lives.
Have you ever been a member of a church somewhere? If so, what was it like? Did it have any major impact on your life? How you lived? This week, Blake Holmes teaches us about the church and church membership. He teaches us how the church is a people, how it is a family, body, flock of sheep, and an embassy, and how church membership matters.
Have you ever had doubts about your salvation? About whether or not you are saved? As we finish our series, Summer on the Mount, Todd Wagner walks us through Matthew 7:21-29, teaching us how we can know we are saved and what to do—how to live—in light of studying the entirety of the Sermon on the Mount the past three-months.
Do you like to make choices when there are many different options to choose from? In America, one might think that freedom = many options. As we near the end of our series, Summer on the Mount, Adam Tarnow walks us through Matthew 7:13-20, where Jesus teaches something that is very un-American. Not anti-American, but un-American, as Jesus says you only get two options for the most important decision you will ever make.
There’s a good chance you heard the “Golden Rule” growing up…but did you know it’s straight from the Bible? Specifically, straight from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” Blake Holmes walks us through Matthew 7:12, the Golden Rule.
Does prayer really make that big of a difference in life? We all know it’s important and that we should do it, but aren’t things going to happen either way? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” David Marvin walks us through Matthew 7:7-11, showing us how Jesus calls us to pray continually and trust constantly.
What does it mean when the Bible says, “Judge not, lest you be judged”? Todd Wagner answers this question while teaching through Matthew 7:1-6—easily one of the most misinterpreted passages in the Bible—as we continue our series, Summer on the Mount.
What are you most prone to worry about? Everyone has worried about something, but no one wants to. As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount," David Marvin walks us through Matthew 6:24-34, teaching us about the results of worry, the reason we don’t have to worry, and the remedy for worry.
When you think of both money and God, what comes to mind? Do you think God is trying to rip you off? Does Jesus simply want to take your money and possessions from you? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” Jermaine Harrison walks us through Matthew 6:19-24, teaching us what Jesus has to say about money and possessions.
One of the greatest threats to any local body is that they can easily form inward facing circles and forget the missional call on every individual's life. Holy huddles shrivel up and die. At the same time, if we were to only face outward, we would become hallow and weak. A healthy church makes circles that are both inward and outward facing. Adam Tarnow and Jeff Ward talk through how Watermark embraces the tension of being both inward and outward focused.
Todd talks of the importance of living our lives for God. God didn't just save us from our sin through the sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God, He saved us for something. He wants us to be the church, to serve and encourage others, to be in community with one another, to share the gospel, and to love others as He does.
What do you believe about the Easter story? About the claim that a man named Jesus was crucified and raised to life three days later? What you believe about Jesus is the most important thing about you. It will determine whether life on this earth is your heaven or your hell. Which is it for you?
Blake talks about why Good Friday is called good, the meaning of the cross, and the sacrifice God made so that we could be reconciled to Him for all eternity.
Do you want to experience freedom from sin in your life? As we continue our series, “How He Built This,” John Elmore teaches us about authenticity and repentance. He shows us how to make war with sin by submitting to God and resisting the devil one day at a time.
While we are constantly encouraged by what God is doing at and through Watermark, we believe there is room for so much more! He built this through faithful people who focused their time, talents, and treasure—all of which belong to God—toward ministry and service over the last 19 years. What about you...are you using your time, talents, and treasure the way the Lord would have you?
If someone points at a dog’s tail and calls it a leg, how many legs does that dog have? Four! In a day and age where truth is questioned and postmodern relativism continues to spread, Christians must speak up—it’s what Scripture exhorts us to do…always.
When you hear the word conflict, what comes to mind? Part of the “Watermark brand”—that being, the Christian brand—is that we are people who deal with conflict swiftly and in its entirety. We believe conflict is a constant opportunity to glorify God, to grow others, and to change & grow ourselves. As those who have been forgiven by Christ, Scripture exhorts us to be marked by peace and unity.
When is the last time you had to work on a relationship in your life? Relationships require constant maintenance, and just because you need to work on your relationships doesn’t necessarily mean there is anything wrong. As we wrap up this two-week series on forgiveness, Adam Tarnow teaches us how forgiveness is a relentless activity and one of the greatest acts of love.
Isn’t it amazing what a little change in perspective can do? What’s your perspective on forgiveness? Do you know what the Bible teaches about forgiveness? Every single one of us has been hurt by someone. We’ve all been a victim to one degree or another at some point. This week, Adam Tarnow walks us through Matthew 18:21-35 in the first part of a two-part series on forgiveness.
Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, CEO of Compassion International, joins us to talk about the power of hope, God’s goodness, and love—three of the most powerful forces in the world.
There is a big difference between going to Watermark and being part of Watermark. Between identifying as a Christ follower and following Christ. To be part of the body of Christ is to be part of the church, His Church. As we wrap up our series, “How He Built This,” Todd walks us through the importance of Community—doing life together and living out the one another’s of Scripture.
There has been a shift toward coldness—a lack of kindness—in our country, and incivility often becomes hostility. Jesus calls us to more than simply tolerate (a willingness to allow the existence of something), He calls us to love. Even our enemies.
From the very beginning of Watermark, God built this because we believe that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. As we continue our series, “How He Built This,” Todd Wagner walks us through God’s heart for the lost and what we—the church—are called to do about it.
From the very beginning of Watermark, we believed the psalmist when he said children are a blessing, not a burden, that they are worth our very best. We are raising the next generation of leaders—our leaders. Discipling children according to God’s Word is How He Built This.
What do you think of when you hear the word love? Scripture makes it clear that love is a verb. It’s a commitment to act a certain way, even when things aren’t going the way you want them to be. If you build something on faith and hope but don’t have love, your efforts will be in vain. Love seeks, love serves, love shares, love sacrifices, love shines, love saves, and love speaks.
From the very beginning of Watermark we said that if we are biblical, who cares how big we get. The Bible is our authority, it is our conscience, and it is our guide. We are firm where it is firm, and we are flexible where it is flexible. God built this—His church—on the teaching of His Word.
Nearly 20 years ago, those who started Watermark often prayed, “God, you are going to do something today to make your name more famous…if you’re willing, Lord, why not with us?” As we continue to pray that same prayer today, Todd walks us through how we—God’s church—are the visible image of the invisible Jesus, and what is normal in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ.
As we begin our 20th year of ministry, Todd shares how Watermark wasn't just built on the foundation of prayer. Prayer is the entirety of the work of the church. As we each individually make up the church, we learn to live our own lives prayerfully as we join together in the work.
In a season marked by resolutions, make the ones that matter most in the end. In the final words of the Apostle Paul, we see how this faithful man lived his life to the very end. Begin this year with the end in mind. Make resolutions worth keeping.
In 1955, George A. Buttrick, the Harvard Chaplain was known for saying to students, “Sit down and tell me what kind of god you don’t believe in. I probably don’t believe in that god either.” Along those same lines, Nathan Wagnon walks us through the story of the entire Bible, teaching us what role Scripture—and a right understanding of God—has in spiritual formation.
Todd uses the story of the rich, young, ruler to encourage and motivate us to not go through Christmas superficially and bow to Jesus only for a moment, but to realize that hope has come through the Lamb of God to take away our sins. We don't just keep commandments and we don't attain to righteousness, it is a gift of God because God is good and He loves us. Christ still does miracles and still changes lives; because of this, we should share this just as the shepherds shared about His birth.
After 12 years of faithfully serving on staff, JP is transitioning to become the senior pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. In his final message while on staff, he encourages us with nine things that he learned during his time serving Jesus at Watermark.
As we wrap up our series “Philippians: To Live Is Christ,” Todd Wagner teaches through Philippians chapter 4. This section of scripture is home to some of the most frequently misquoted Bible passages in the entire Bible. Todd teaches us how to battle worry and be content with the truth of Christ.
An accountant, an athlete, and an alien walk into Philippi… Have you heard that one? As we continue our series, “Philippians: To Live is Christ,” Todd Wagner walks us through chapter 3, teaching us to count everything but Christ as loss, to discipline ourselves like athletes for godliness, and to live as aliens in a foreign world.
Who would you most like to meet? Even the most devout of us are tempted to put someone on a pedestal. A singer? An athlete? An actor? But who are the real stars in life? They are all around you—not in the spotlight here—but they are the ones that are entertaining angels. As we continue our series “Philippians: To Live is Christ,” JP walks us through Philippians 2:14-30, teaching us that true stars stand out in their attitude, what guides them, and their actions.
Philippians 2:6-11 is the sun of the book; it is the center and foundation of Philippians. If you understand the foundational truth it teaches, it will change everything about you and your life. This is not primarily a passage on orthodoxy, it is an example of perfect and straight orthopraxy.
Did you know that a car engine has 14,000 parts that work together to make a car run? 14,000! As expensive and complex as an engine is, without oil—an extremely simple and inexpensive thing—an engine will lock up and die because of heat and friction. Similar to a car engine without oil, relationships are prone to friction and damage. In order to keep unity and not damage relationships, we need humility. Humility is the oil to healthy relationships.
"To live is Christ. To die is gain." Does your life reflect this truth from Philippians 1:21? As we finish the first chapter of the book of Philippians, Todd Wagner walks through verses 18-30, teaching us how to both live for Christ and believe that death is gain.
There are two types of people: optimists and pessimists. Which one describes you most days? As we continue our series, “Philippians: To Live is Christ,” JP teaches from Philippians 1:12-20 that as Christians, we should have gospel-driven optimism. When we keep this perspective, it inspires others, sees opportunity, and always overcomes.
Kyle discusses the future of the Watermark Plano Campus as they face issues on space. Kyle asks us to spend time praying and seeking God's will about how we can best use the gifts God has given us to contribute to the building of a bigger facility in order to better serve the needs of the community.
As we continue our series “Philippians: To Live Is Christ,” Todd walks us through five things we should pray for if we are followers of Christ: Greater Love, Greater Things, Greater Character, Greater Lives, & Greater Glory.
After close to 20 years, this is the first time Watermark has taught on the book of Philippians in its entirety. In the first week of the new series, Todd teaches us an overview of the book, as well as the historical context in which it was written. He also gives some historical context about Watermark and how if he wrote a letter to Watermark, it would be just like Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi.
Have you come into relationship with Jesus Christ? If so, has it radically changed everything about your life? Tyler Briggs teaches us that life-change in Christ occurs when we commit to being in a relationship with Jesus, commit to getting well, and commit to being the church.
Are you enjoying the benefits of your faith? Does your faith impact where you go, what you do, and your relationships? Teaching through John 6:1-15, JP asks three questions to help you know if you are using your faith for Christ or for yourself.
Can we know the day and time of Jesus’ return to earth as promised in Scripture? How can we best prepare for the second coming? Are we judged by our works? As we wrap up our series, “The 7,” Todd Wagner teaches us about the second coming of Jesus Christ, answering these three questions and more.
What is Salvation? Why do we have salvation? How do we get salvation? Can we lose salvation? How do we know salvation is truly ours? Why does Todd hate candles so much? As we continue our series, “The 7,” Todd Wagner teaches us on the doctrine of salvation, answering those five questions and more.
From Scripture, we know with confidence four things about man/woman: Imago Dei (created in the “Image of God), gender, life, and depravity. Because the world is in a state of mass confusion about the state of mankind, as we continue our series, “The 7,” John Elmore teaches us about our image, gender, and mission in light of God’s creation, man’s destruction, and Christ’s redemption.
Who is Jesus? Do you have a biblical understanding of who He is? How you answer those two questions will have great implications for your life and for your relationships. Ephesians 4 shows us that Jesus proves who He is by changing our relationships, by giving people purpose, and by making people new.
Why is there so much confusion (or disharmony) surrounding the Holy Spirit? Who is the Holy Spirit? What does it mean to be filled by the Holy Spirit? What does it mean to be anointed? How can I know if something is of the Holy Spirit? As we continue our series, “The 7,” Todd Wagner answers these five questions surrounding the Holy Spirit.
A.W. Tozer said, “The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God.” What do you think about? A lion? An ocean and stars? An old man? Jesus? If it does not include The Trinity—we do not have an accurate view of God.
What is your attitude toward the Bible? As we continue our series, “The 7,” we focus on the first of the seven essential beliefs of Christianity: The Bible. The Bible is God’s story anchored in the context of history. It is our authority, our conscience, and our guide. We are firm where it is firm, and we are flexible where it is flexible.
Do you ever find yourself in arguments over the dumbest things? What about arguments over things of the faith? The truth is, sometimes, we argue about some of the most ridiculous things. There are inconsequential things that we should never argue about, and there are some important things that we need to take a stand on. In this start to a new series, “The 7,” Blake Holmes teaches about the essentials and the non-essentials of the Christian faith, and how to discern between the two.
When we seek to serve those dealing with material poverty the mode of our helping matters. We need to thoughtful in our helping so that we don’t unintentionally hurt others through helping. In this message, Fort Wort Campus Pastor Tyler Briggs, provides a roadmap to ensure that we are helping without hurting.
As we wrap up the series, “The Outsiders,” David Leventhal walks us through Luke 26:26-43—the thief on the cross—and shows us how the cross exclaims a warning, forgiveness, and grace. The cross is the exclamation point on this sentence, “God loves outsiders!”
The Romans and Religious ask Jesus to “show me” and miss that he already has. The Rebellious ask Jesus to “Serve me” and miss that he already has. The Righteous ask Jesus to “Save me” and find that he welcomes them with open arms. This passage is the exclamation point to communicate that Jesus loves outsiders and you.
God doesn’t send people to hell. He is not responsible for the actions of people, who are by nature deserving of wrath. An accurate statement would be: “The nature of love is the vulnerability of potential rejection. God is love, and he is willing to allow people the choice to reject him.”
As we continue our Outsiders series, we take a look at Luke 18:18-34 to see how Jesus is our true treasure. He is our prize, our provider, and our provision. When we see Jesus truly, we will be able to love the outsider fully.
Why is it that we are so reluctant to rescue outsiders? Everyone loves a good rescue mission! Do you know what makes a good rescue mission? There’s always resistance (something to rescue people from), people are always out of reach (or else they wouldn’t need rescuing), and there’s always a story to retell afterward.
In some ways, we are all outsiders battling various lies. Maybe you’re like the younger prodigal son battling guilt and shame over past decisions, and thus you doubt your self-worth and whether you truly belong anywhere. Or maybe you’re the older son trying to turn life into a performance for God. Either way, the way to destroy lies is with the truth. Jeff looks at Luke 15 to help us gain a true understanding of God’s inheritance, sin, and God’s grace. And ultimately, we turn our attention to Jesus, the third Son in this story – the Son of God.
When we are in conflict or friends we care about make harmful choices there is a biblical plan to help and restore.
Using the story of the woman who bathed Jesus' feet with her tears in Luke 7, Chase shares how lives can be changed through the forgiveness of sin in Christ. Forgiveness is offered to all, and forgiveness leads to love and to liberty.
Adam looks at Simon and the sinful woman who wept at Jesus feet in Luke 7 as examples of cold and warm hearts. If our hearts have grown cold, we need to warm them back up again by remembering the following: the breadth of God's love, the depth of our sin, the salvation we have been given, and our privilege to "go in peace" and share the opportunity with others.
Join us as Kyle Kaigler, Campus Pastor at Plano looks at Jesus, his mission statement in Luke 4:16-19, and then his interaction with Levi, the despised tax gatherer, in Luke 5:27-32. We should all model Jesus as He has a Heart that Loves, Eyes that Notice, Feet that Engage, and a Mouth that Speaks.
Have you ever felt like an outsider? Like everyone else around you knew someone else and you were all alone? Take heart, Christ came to earth for the outsiders! As followers of Jesus, we are called to do what He did and invite others in. We get invited into the Kingdom of God, but then, if we aren’t careful, we forget to go back out and let others in.
As we wrap up our series, “How to Be Rich,” Todd teaches us that who you run with is the number one determinant in how you will do in your walk with Jesus. It’s impossible to be truly rich in life and live your life alone.
As we continue our series, “How to Be Rich,” Todd teaches us that the reason the Bible talks so much about money is because it can grab our hearts, unlike few things can. God’s Word doesn’t tell us how to get rich but how to be rich. The more we know God, the more we will take joy in being a generous steward on His behalf.
We have a problem...there is something that is preventing us from being truly rich. What is it? A lack of contentment and a greed and desire for more. Todd shows us from 1 Timothy 6:3-16 how contentment in Christ is the only antidote to our problem.
Do you want to be rich? What about being the richest person alive that you know? Because of the grace of God, you can be the richest person you know. The living God is better than you can imagine, and a relationship with Him is the way to be rich.
Have you ever had to take your car to the shop because it was broken down? Just like when a mechanic diagnosis a car in need of repair, Jermaine Harrison teaches us five questions we can ask ourselves to diagnose and evaluate our relationship with God when it feels broken down.
It’s really hard to be a teenager is 2018. This is the first generation to grow up in a completely digital age, only 4% of teenagers born since 1999 have a biblical worldview, and teen depression and suicide rates are both skyrocketing. However, don’t lose hope! The key to having a healthy church is having a healthy next generation. By using 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 as a foundational Scripture and encouraging church membership, we are seeing life transformation and growth in teenagers as we make sure they are: 1) Known & accepted, 2) Taught about Jesus, and 3) Challenged to grow.
What if God wanted to give you a gift? A gift that is available to anyone who is willing to receive it, is not deserved, and cannot be earned or bought. Some people will gladly receive it and others will reject it. Teaching from Romans 5:1-11, Blake Holmes tells us about such a gift, as well as six blessings that come when you receive the gift.
Do you remember when you were first given the dignity of responsibility? Gary Haugen—founder and CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM)—teaches us how we have all been given the dignity of responsibility from God, as we do His work in His world. God has us in an utterly unique moment in history, fighting against the most iconic evil in the human story: slavery.
As Todd walks us through the end of Acts 28, he encourages us that we—today, 2,000 years later—are living out the mission of the entire book of Acts: the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is alive and well, and there is nothing that can stop it. Do you have a saving faith, and are you on mission today?
As Todd walks us through the beginning of Acts 28, there are multiple lessons about kindness and leadership that we can learn from Paul by how he handled being shipwrecked on the island of Malta. It’s been said that kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Have you ever responded to the extraordinary kindness of Christ?
God is sovereign over the storms of life. If we are to sail in the storm, we must trust God and keep doing the things we know we need to be doing such as givings thanks, staying in community, abiding in His Word and trusting in His promises. God is in control of our "ships" despite how treacherous the storms seem.
Are you a fool if you believe there is a God? Todd teaches us—through the lives, hurt, and pain of Watermark members and from a look at the life of Job —that it is anything but foolish to believe in God and allow Christ’s death, resurrection, and forgiveness to transform your life.
Todd Wagner unpacks what it means to be the Church in our communities. Teaching from 1 Timothy 4, we examine the true purpose of Christ’s Bride : The Church and how fully-devoted followers of Christ can increase their effectiveness for the Kingdom.
People have been flooding into Collin County for 30+ years for various opportunities. For the believer, it’s important to remember that God brings you to any place because of the gospel opportunity that exists among the people. And here in Collin County, it is no different. Though the outward appearance of our cities and county looks good, there are many wounds that exist among our people. Jeff looked at the history of Collin County to remind us of some of the wounds that have existed here while looking at the gospel opportunities that are coming Collin County’s way as more and more people keep coming from all over the world.
Adam Tarnow teaches us about the negative equity game of selfishness. We think selfishness will give to us—we think we can win—but in the end, it only takes. All of us struggle with selfishness. Using Matthew 20:1-28, Adam shows us three things selfishness robs us of: contentment, empathy, and true greatness.
The Fort Worth campus celebrates five years as a campus by looking at what God has done and how our only right response should be to go and tell others of what Jesus can do for them as well.
This weekend, JP teaches us how to dress as Christians, but not in the clothes you might be thinking of. God cares about what we wear, so much so that He directly told us to “…clothe yourselves with humility…” (1 Peter 5:5-11). Conversely, when we wear pride, we are opposing ourselves to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Wearing pride leads to anxiety, sin, and even death. In contrast, the benefits of wearing humility are overwhelming. What are you wearing: pride or humility?
As we finish our series “Can You Relate?”, Todd teaches us about our relationship with race. Being prejudicial is not always bad. We are all prejudiced to some extent; sometimes that is good, and sometimes it’s bad. Regardless of any prejudice, we are all different shades of one color. We are all one race, we are all brothers and sisters, and it has been that way since the beginning of time.
Can you relate to authority? Because every one of us serves under someone who has authority over us in some way. The Bible speaks to us in 1 Peter 2:11-25 about how we can submit in a loving, respectful way, even to those who are not "good" leaders. People who are under the authority of God tend to thrive under earthly authority, so as Christians, we submit to our government, our employer and church leadership.
As we continue our series “Can You Relate?”, JP teaches about our relationship with Community. At Watermark, we bet the farm on Community. It’s how we shepherd one another, and the bigger we get, the smaller we must become. Community is a T-E-A-M sport (Time, Encouragement, Accountability, & Maturity) where every individual exists for the team, not for themselves.
As we continued our series “Can You Relate?”, Todd teaches us about the relationship we spend roughly twenty-five percent of our time with - work. How should you view your relationship with work? It is not a curse. In short, when you hear work, you should think worship. Does that describe you?
This weekend, as we continue our series in “Can You Relate?”, Todd teaches us about the importance and responsibility of relating to children. It is a great privilege to pour into the next generation, no matter your life stage or relationship status. The greatest thing you can do to positively influence the next generation is to be—above all else—passionate about Jesus.
This weekend, Todd continues our series “Can You Relate?” by teaching us about the relationship of marriage. In order to rightly relate to marriage, we must remember to do three things: Trust the giver, live for another world, and understand that people are married for a single reason.
Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t like? JP teaches us from the Scriptures how singleness is a gift, and it’s one that we—the church—have not always done a good job appreciating and celebrating. The truths and realities about the gift of singleness apply to everyone, not just singles. Do you appreciate the gift?
As we continue our series “Can You Relate?”, this week Todd took us through the importance of rightly relating to the Bible. He showed us how it’s not a mess or a moral book, but rather, a treasure. A treasure to relate to like your life depends on it.
This weekend, Todd kicked off a new series about relationships called “Can You Relate?” It’s been said that what you think about God is the most important thing about you…that if you don’t get your relationship with God right it will affect every other relationship in your life. Todd taught us about the importance of us viewing God as the good, loving, perfect, holy Father that He is.
This weekend, Blake Holmes helps us prepare for the 2018 Journey (www.jointhejourney.com) by giving us an overview of the book of Romans. Blake takes us on a 30,000-foot flyover of the entire book as he breaks down the four main sections—Sin, Salvation, Sovereignty, & Service—as well as gives us a one or two-word title for each of the book’s 16 chapters.
In this Christmas Eve service, Todd shares why Christmas can seem crazy, believing in this Jesus. However, through all the fulfilled prophecies and the universal need for a Savior, we find the veracity of Christmas. Jesus fully met that need that we all have, whether a pharisee or a shepherd. Christmas is a time of great awe because we have seen God come.
What do you long for? Do you yearn for and anticipate better things in your life? Do you enjoy getting gifts? This week, Todd teaches us about longings, anticipation, and gifts as we reflect on and prepare for Christmas.
This weekend, JP walks us through Acts 25 and 26. Using the historical account of Paul being on trial before Festus and Agrippa, JP shows us four pieces of evidence that should mark Christians: belief in the Resurrection, a life of Repentance, a life marked by Righteousness, and constantly Retelling the Gospel story. If you were tried today for being a Christian—if being a Christian was illegal—would you be found guilty?
As Todd preaches on Acts 23 and 24, he reminds us through the historical, not mythical, life of Paul that God is still alive and working through normal people that know and love Him.
Using Paul in Acts 22:21-23:11 as an example, Adam Tarnow shows us how to remain calm in crisis. Just like Paul was not caught off guard or surprised, we don’t have to be either. Adam teaches us that truth by giving us three reminders: remind yourself this is not a surprise, remind yourself this is not punishment, and remind yourself of God’s promises.
Fort Worth Campus Pastor, Tyler Briggs, leads a celebration of the life change that has come through the investments of the body and informs them of opportunities that still exist to continue to eagerly invest in the mission.
This week we look at Paul’s example in Acts 21 and 22 of how God uses Paul’s past experiences and trials as a believer to proclaim Jesus. Paul was seized and dragged from the temple, the Jews were trying to kill him, and the Romans pulled him from the mob. Paul uses his ancestry and lineage, as a Roman and Jew, to get a platform to share the gospel. Our problems and our pasts can often build a platform to proclaim Jesus.
JP walks us through the first half of Acts 21, showing us that true courage comes from love, and that what we love will impact our behavior. Love gives us courage to do three things: stay on mission, lose our lives, and become all things to all people. What do you love?
Todd speaks from Acts 20 about the mindset that should reform the church and our individual hearts. Discuss these together with your community group. Pick a series of questions that best fits where your group is currently.
Todd teaches through Acts 20, a section easily glossed over as it records many of Paul's activities to the point where one may ask, Who cares? Todd reminds us even here, Paul is doing the very thing he was called to do—making disciples. Everywhere he went, he had men he was discipling with him. Paul wanted to make sure the work of God would continue after him. Christians are always one generation from extinction. Ask yourself, Who are the disciples in your life? What happened in your life this week that was unexplainable and foolish except for the Gospel being true?
This week JP walks us through Acts chapter 19. He shows us how the church in Ephesus—arguably the most influential church in all of church history—has “good guys” (the committed, cured, and converted) and “bad guys” (the calloused, counterfeit, and critical). He reminds us that if we leave our first love, like Ephesus did, we are in danger of becoming a graveyard.
David Marvin walks us through Acts 18. He shows how Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable, were willing to go, and made disciples. He warns us how easy it is to have a marriage full of ministry activity, but not a marriage on mission. While Priscilla and Aquila are examples for us, these truths do not just apply to married couples, but to all Christians who desire to live on mission.
This week we journey through the second half of Acts 17 together. Todd shows us through the text how we should: be an observer of human futility and not a hater, be a teller and not a troublesome meddler, and be a faithful ambassador, not a mocker.
Todd teaches on the importance of life—all life. When accounting for abortion, the actual infant mortality rate in America is between 20-25%. Todd shares his vision for the Life Center, a place dedicated to the sanctity of life and would include a museum, office and conference space, and a place to help women in crises. He challenges Watermark to get involved with foster care or adoption in Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin counties. Watermark is also partnering with Compassion International to work with and train churches in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Todd invites Charles Mully on stage who is using his riches for the glory of God and has adopted thousands of children in Kenya. Todd challenges the church to bridge the gap between God's heart and the orphan. With many opportunities to get involved, he exhorts us to discover what is our next "yes."
Todd finishes up the last part of Acts 16 and starts into Acts 17. He shows us how the lives and teachings of the Scriptures from 2,000 years ago are still relevant and applicable to us today. God wants to use us just like He used Paul and the early church in this section of Scripture from the book of Acts.
Todd re-visits the middle of Acts 16 from last time and then finishes the chapter as we continue our journey through the book of Acts. He shows us how history is not Christian or secular—just history. Todd discusses how money makes a horrible god, how demons have better theology than we might realize, and how we must be ready to give a defense for the hope and faith that is in us.
JP walks us through the first half of Acts 16. He shows us the helpless are the objects of God’s affection and both hospitality and hostility reveal the objects of our affections. He challenges us to take an honest inventory of our affections and to grow in our generosity—and even more, our hospitality—as we strive to use God’s provision in our lives for serving others rather than serving ourselves.
The question is not whether you will make disciples; it is what kind of disciples you will make? Wes speaks to the parents at Watermark and teaches from Deuteronomy 6:4-9. The goal of discipleship is full-hearted devotion to the Lord, and the key to discipling your kids is your own transformation. It is not taking your kids to church so the pastors and experts can teach them. However, Watermark Kids does want to help partner with families in their discipleship efforts by providing resources, leaders and teachers, and community groups.
David grabs the attention of the audience by showing a rack of jerseys and clothes on stage, illustrating how we tend to imitate people we admire. He encourages kids to imitate those who follow Jesus. He teaches from Hebrew 13:7, exhorting kids to Remember, Consider, and Imitate their leaders. At Watermark, there are many kids who are leading kids. And he challenges kids to start leading today.
We are the Church; all of us. It's not a particular ministry, program, pastor, or a building. Harrison speaks to us about the importance of being the Church, to raise up the next generation and to be disciple-makers. He gives us real life examples from his life, and Martha Kate shares her story of being raised and discipled by Watermark.
Do you feel stuck? JP walks us through Acts 15:36-16:5. While this passage of Scripture is descriptive and not prescriptive, JP shows us how God can move us forward on mission, despite feeling stuck. God doesn’t give us permission to get stuck or to stay stuck, but there is hope that He can use us in our mess, and there is hope for us to get out of our mess.
This week, Todd continues through Acts. Through Paul's example at the end of Acts 14, he reminds us to strengthen one another, encourage each other to continue in the faith through trials, and to hold each other accountable. Continuing on in Acts 15, we see the Council at Jerusalem. There was disagreement about whether circumcision is required for salvation. It was reaffirmed in Acts 15:11 that men are only saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nobody is ever saved through the Law or legalism. All men have always been saved by grace through faith.
Todd spends time in Acts 14, showing us one of the many history lessons the Bible has to offer. He walks us through Paul’s journey in Acts 14, Greek & Roman mythology, man’s religion, the reformation, the reliability of Scripture, and ways we can live out our faith—using the history of Acts 14 as our inspiration—today.
David Martin answers the question "Do good people go to heaven?" In this conversation he discusses good versus evil, the standard that we'd have to live up to get into heaven, and what the Bible has to say in Romans 3 about who does get into heaven. We find that entry into heaven is not based on our good, but on the good work God has done on our behalf.
There’s a big difference between regretting our actions and repenting from them. Scripture tells us that sorrow for our sin should lead to repentance and our repentance should bear fruit. Using Psalm 51, Jeff looks into King David’s life following his affair with Bathsheba and highlights several truths about repentant hearts.
Jeff Ward walks us through the “Parable of the Talents” found in Matthew 25:14-30. Jeff shows us how the Master gifted his servants with talents. In the same way, he also gifted each of us with something of tremendous value. He wants us to invest in ways that serve others and bring Him glory. Jeff discusses how God gives us all something of tremendous value, how He wants you to invest radically, and that God is ultimately responsible for the results.
This week, Todd talks about the importance of leadership. Specifically, he discusses church leadership and how God's design for the church is a plurality of leaders.
This weekend, on the one year anniversary of the Dallas police officer shootings, Todd spends time in 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, and 1 Peter, calling us to be a blessing to the city in which God has placed us. Our future and hope are in Jesus' resurrection and, as we seek God, that future and hope will transform our city.
We all have conflict in our lives that we are dealing with in one way or another. We internalize, explode, or stew as conflict continues. Today, as Adam walks us through Matthew 5:21-26, he shows us God's definition of anger and His desire for us to experience reconciliation in the midst of conflict.
We can inaccurately anticipate that the spiritual life will be easy, up and to the right, when we accept Jesus. This is not the case. Today Blake Holmes shows us 3 pictures of the spiritual life from 2 Timothy 2:1-6. We'll see what we should expect along the way as the spiritual life is like a war, a race, and a farm.
While Father's Day is a day of celebration for many, it can also be a day of sadness and hurt. Wherever you are and whatever Father’s Day means to you, Todd reminds us that our earthly fathers are not a perfect reflections of our Heavenly Father, but that our Heavenly Father is a perfect example of what our earthly fathers should be. He loves you, and He wants you to ask Him for His advice every day, not just on Father’s Day.
Continuing in Acts 13 Todd talks about how we as Christians should be people of peace, even as the world moves toward greater chaos. As God's people, we are to live life and love others in a way that authenticates who God is and His love for us. That means we are to not grow weary in sharing the gospel, we are to never stop sharing our lives with other Christ followers, and we won't allow the world and all its chaos to rob us of joy.
In Acts 13, we see Paul and Barnabas head out on their first missionary journey. The people they encounter respond with humility, wanting to know more. Todd reminds us that our lives of good works should do the same as the message we share, cause people to want to know more. Both good works and God's word draw people to relationship with God. Todd invites Jeff Ward along with four external focus ministry partners to share about how the Church is doing good and discipling the community. These ministers of the gospel encourage us and share with us practical ways to be God's men and women where we are and serve our community with the gifts and resources that God has given us.
JP challenges us to think about how we can parent extraordinarily. He gives us 10 ways that any parent can be an extraordinary in the way that they raise their children. For more great resources on parenting, visit watermark.org/parenting.
On this Baptism service we hear Paula's story of how God freed her from financial debt and grew her as a disciple. Todd reminds us that we all have a debt that we could never pay against God, but that God offers us forgiveness and freedom. We also hear Michael's story, in which, faithful people were obedient to share. Their actions affected his life which is now affecting the lives of others. In the same way, we should see our actions of faithful obedience as farther reaching than we could ever know.
Todd leads us through Acts 13:13–52. This passage describes a pivotal point in the spread of the Gospel beyond Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8). Yet this passage is not simply a record of “Paul and his companions” as they brought the Gospel to Galatia; rather, it is instructive to us today, if we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts ready to respond!
Following the week of Watermark's Church Leaders Conference, Todd shares how every week at Watermark is a church leaders conference, where God's people are at work. Todd invites Blake Holmes and John McGee to share from CLC. Blake shares how in ministry, you don't teach someone to sail from the shore, but instead, you get them into the water. John shares how parenting is like watching a shot clock run down and making the best use of time with your children. And in the same way, we are to make the most of our time following Jesus.
For many of us, the idea of speaking into culture and cultural issues can produce a variety of emotions. Some shrink back because of fear, others because of inadequacy. By walking through 1 Peter, Derek shares how Christ empowers you to overcome these fears and inadequacies in order to courageously engage the culture around you.
Blake Holmes walked through Colossians 2:6-23 and showed the four dead ends to spiritual growth that Paul wanted the church at Colossae to avoid. These four dead ends are: worldly philosophy (any system that denies the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ), legalism (any attempt to earn God's favor), mysticism (religious experiences that are based on emotion, and reserved for only a select few), and asceticism (any attempt to earn God's favor through an extreme form of self-denial or punishment). Paul reminds the Colossians, as Blake reminds us, that there is one way to be right with God and find life, that is Jesus alone.
Todd interviews a special guest, Joni Eareckson Tada, who is a quadriplegic who God has used a as a "spectacle of glory". Joni shares her story, her struggles, and trust in God. How, as a young girl, she was paralyzed and what she has learned about God, His character, and how to live a life in submission to Him.
Todd shares during this Easter service how Jesus Christ has delivered us from the decree, dominion, and despair of sin. Jesus is the only one who has defeated the grave, and so is worthy of our trust. God doesn't want you to just hear a story, he wants you to respond to it. If you haven't trusted in Christ yet, today is the day of salvation.
Today Todd walks us through Acts 13:1–12. In this passage, the church in Antioch and Paul and Barnabas demonstrate what it means to live worshipful, missional, and prophetical lives, challenging us to do the same!
Todd describes the church at Antioch, and how we learn from them what kind of church and what kind of person God uses. He looks at Acts 11 to see the beginnings of the church. And then, he transitions to Acts 13:1-3 to see who and how the Antioch church send on mission. The prophetic, biblical teaching, disciple making, grace-filled, unified, spiritually disciplined, Holy Spirit attentive, abiding, ambitious missional Church is the church God uses to change the world.
Todd finishes up Acts chapter 12, teaching on verses 20-25. As we look at Herod's life and death, we learn that it's important to read and know the scripture. Todd reminds us that the Bible is a reliable source of truth. Hearing, reading and knowing scripture encourages us to live faithful lives and fret not when prideful leaders, like Herod, reign over us.
JP teaches from Acts 12:1–19, a powerful passage on prayer mightily demonstrated in the early church surrounding Peter's escape from prison. When God's people pray, 1) there is an incomprehensible peace, 2) we participate in God’s power, and 3) the impossible is possible. What if more than we talked, complained, vented, posted, wrote... what if we prayed?
In the midst of a season where sickness is spreading, JP teaches us about the good “infection” of Christianity that spread in Acts 11:19-30 and is still spreading today. Some of the symptoms of this good infection are that it is very contagious, it makes people hungry, and it heals. More specifically, this good infection causes those infected to want to evangelize and share the good news of Jesus, it causes those infected to be hungry for God’s Word and a deeper relationship with Him, and it causes brokenness left by sin to be healed.
In Acts 10:34-11:15 we learn how we must let go of our comfortable traditions and pious prejudices to fear God and do what is right. Todd teaches us three ways we can know we are humble men worthy of praise, able to receive the gift of grace. He also reminds us how Godly men and women, who know the love of God, must purge themselves of bias and cultural and racial arrogance.
Prejudice, racism, and confusion about God’s love for all people were and continues to be a problem in the church. We learn in Acts 10:1-43 how the Gospel is made known to Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, but also see how God’s love continues to be shown to Peter and the rest of the early church. As the early church had to learn to leave traditions and ingrained prejudices left over from their days before knowing Christ, the church today needs to be reminded of God’s desire for unity and oneness among all people despite traditions, pride and prejudices.
While teaching through “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9–15, Adam Tarnow explains that what we think about God influences our relationship with God. He teaches us that we all have a view of God that is clouded, Jesus wants to clear up our clouded view of God, and when our view of God is cleared up, it changes everything. God is not merely a reflection of our earthly father, He is the absolute perfection of our earthly father. God is like nobody we have ever met, and for that reason, we should respond by thanking him, worshiping him, and telling others about Him.
Who are you? To answer this question of eternal significance, JP walks us through Philippians 3, where he encourages us to forsake the fake identities of this world — our accomplishments, our past, and our earthly desires. The person you really are is the person you are in eternity. What matters in heaven is what you did on earth. We want to live our lives knowing our true identity as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Who or what are you following? We all follow something. In this message, JP unpacks John 10:1-15. We may feel like we are free, but JP asks, what about freedom from anxiety, love of money, worry, approval of man, significance in children, debt, illusion of control, whatever your vice is. The enemy uses these traps to lure and ensnare us. JP helps us understand it is only in following Jesus that we can experience true freedom. Christ is our true shepherd and in Him, full life and forgiveness is found.
Jeff Parker, the Director of re:generation at the Plano campus, shares his own powerful story of confession and repentance, and shows us four traits of all disciples. All disciples have a past, must come to a place of authentic confession, must run with other disciples, and must spend their lives pursuing God's purposes. Jeff looks at the life of Matthew the tax collector (Matthew 9:9-13) to show us how to live a life marked by confession, desiring now only to be used by God for His glory and purposes.
JP leads us during Raise the Mark, a service where our church gathers for an extended time of prayer, praise, and proclamation of what God has been doing in and through our body, and to partake corporately as the body of Christ in the Lord's Supper. During this time, we ask people to break into small groups and pray through the prayer guide inside the Watermark News.
In this final sermon in the Better Together series, John, Adam, and Todd help hash out how a genuine biblical community operates. In this segment, Todd discusses how every individual, every community group is the a "location" of the local church. How's your location doing?
In this final sermon in the Better Together series, John, Adam, and Todd help hash out how a genuine biblical community operates. In this segment, John Elmore discusses how we grow by staying plugged in to the source through our devotional life by walking with Jesus throughout out day.
In this final sermon in the Better Together series, John, Adam, and Todd help hash out how a genuine biblical community operates. In this segment, Adam Tarnow discusses how biblical community operates when we pursue each other relationally in "L.O.V.E." by having the Latest information, being on Offense, prioritizing community as Vital relationships, and Expecting to work at it.
Rob warns us of “cancers” that can kill relationships within your community: indifference to sin, "I'm not going there" or a lack of authenticity, and idleness towards scripture.
As a part of the first week of the "Better Together" series, Todd explains the importance of community. In particular he highlights the importance of church membership. He explains that we are all called to belong to one another, that all parts of the Body of Christ are necessary, and that as believers, we should be deeply connected to other believers in a local context.
Todd Wagner, Jonathan Pokluda, and Rob Barry collaborate to kick off a new series on community called “Better Together.” JP shows us how to be accountable to those in our community groups. He shares what we need to be held accountable to and for, and how to do it well.
The Psalms are quite simply some of the most honest thoughts and emotions recorded in God’s Word. They are not complicated and are clear in pointing us toward our true path to follow in life, Jesus Christ. We learn from Psalm 1:1-6 how this path of blessing brings fulfillment, joy, satisfaction, and lasting pleasure when we delight in and devote ourselves fully to the source, God’s Word. God has given us this treasure, but we often ignore it and choose a path of our own leading to destruction. While it is not always easy to stay the course, it is clear how we are to do so. Be encouraged and remain firmly planted in the truth God gives us by His Word.
Todd shares that the birth recount of Christ was not something sweet and picturesque as we make it out to be. Instead, it's a story of redemption through tough situations. Todd uses illustrations of broken lives in relation to ingredients of God intervention, when He makes all things right and good.
In this final sermon in a two-part series on generosity, Todd shares how God’s indescribable gift—His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, and the reconciliation we have through Him—should prompt us to be generous givers as well. In 2 Corinthians 8–9, we see that God doesn’t want anything from us but rather for us. By encouraging us to be generous, He is not desiring to rip us off, but rather to set us free–even free to be conformed into the likeness of His Son, Who, “though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The antidote to the gravitational pull of money is generosity.
While teaching from 1 Timothy 6:17-19, JP shows us the roots of generosity (losing the love of money), the requirements of generosity (doing good and sharing), and the results of generosity (a truly rich life).