Watermark Radio

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.

Have you and your community group experienced the freedom and fruitfulness that comes from discussing how each of you are stewarding God’s resources? Have you ever won any awards in life? What was your motivation for winning them? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” John Elmore kicks off Matthew chapter 6, asking all of us to answer the question: Are you living to get worship or to give worship?

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.

What is the best sermon you’ve ever heard? What about the most famous? As we start our new series, “Summer on the Mount,” we’re going to make a case that the Sermon on the Mount delivered by Jesus in Matthew 5-7 is the most influential and best sermon of all time. As we start the journey of studying it in-depth together, David Leventhal teaches us the historical context and a high-level overview of the entire sermon.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.