Watermark Radio

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 isn’t always bad. We are all prejudiced to some extent; sometimes that’s 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 always been that way since the beginning of time.

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?

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.

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?

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."

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.

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.

Jeff Ward walks us through the “Parable of the Talents” found in Matthew 25:14-30. Jeff shows us how God 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 He is responsible for the results.

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.