Join The Journey

How do you know if you’re experiencing your conscience or the Holy Spirit? In this episode, Emma Dotter explores Acts 22:30-23:11. She explains the differences between our conscience and the Holy Spirit — your conscience is part of you, the Holy Spirit is God. She explains how to discern if the Holy Spirit is convicting you.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  Acts 26: 9; Acts 8; Romans 2: 15; 1 Cor...

How should followers of Jesus use the law? How did Paul use Roman law to protect himself? In this episode, Watermark member and local attorney Jeff Ward joins Emma Dotter to discuss Acts 21:27-22:29 and the role of the law. Jeff explains how the law can be either a shield or a sword and how what might be lawful to do with the law may not be the right thing to do as followers of Jesus.  // ADDITION...

Why did Paul participate in a Nazarite vow? In this episode, Local & Global Missions Minister at Eastside Community Church, Kaiden Johnson joins Emma Dotter to unpack Acts 21:17-26 and Paul’s involvement in a purification ritual. They also discuss celebrating what God’s doing by sharing it with others. They call listeners to be learners, be gospel-rooted, share the gospel, and be celebrators. ...

What is biblical prophecy? How is it different from what we might think? What’s the difference between Old Testament and New Testament prophecy? In this episode, The Porch Director of Discipleship, Tyler Moffett joins Emma Dotter to discuss Acts 21:1-16 and New Testament prophecy. They answer the question, “Has prophecy changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament?” And they share four key...

Why does Paul encourage those in Ephesus to “be alert?” In this episode, Senior Pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church, Dr. Jeff Warren, joins Ryan Garrahan to discuss Acts 20:28-38. They explore identifying false teachers, how to know if you’re spiritually drifting, and Paul’s emotional departure.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODE...

In this episode, Lead Pastor of Eastside Community Church, Adam Griffin joins Emma Dotter to observe and unpack Acts 20:1-27. Adam is also an author and the host of The Family Discipleship Podcast. They discuss Eutychus raising from the dead and Paul’s address to the Ephesian Elders.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  The Family Discipleship Podcast ( https://podcas...

In this episode, high school students Wyatt and Ally join Emma Dotter to share about their time on a mission trip with Watermark Students to the Dominican Republic this summer. They share about what led them to go, what ministry and evangelism during the week looked like, and what God taught them through the trip. Together, they reflect on stories of people trusting in Christ for the first time, m...

What does life as a missionary in Tokyo look like? What challenges face Jesus followers in Japan? In this episode, Watermark missionary Andre Norasith joins Emma Dotter to discuss his ministry in Tokyo, Japan. They dive into his call to the mission field, his daily life in Japan, and what discipleship through the local church looks like in Tokyo.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  // RESOURCES FOR...

What does it look like to steward your time, talents, and treasures in a biblical way? In this episode, Watermark Elder Kyle Thompson joins Emma Dotter to discuss Acts 19:21-41. They unpack God’s view of our finances and how following Christ informs every aspect of our lives.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  Matthew 6; James 1; Matthew 25; 2 Corinthians 8: 12-15  // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: ...

Can we expect extraordinary miracles today? In this episode, Associate Pastor, David Penuel, joins Emma Dotter to unpack the extraordinary miracles in Acts 19:11-20. They explore the significance of these miracles, along with whether we can expect them to happen today.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:   “S4:263 – Introduction...

Should modern day followers of Jesus exorcise demons? In this episode, Executive Director of The Porch, Kylen Perry, joins Emma Dotter to discuss the role of demons and exorcism in Acts 19:11-20. They discuss what demons and exorcisms are, including methods of deliverance. Kylen answers the question, “What if talk of demons and exorcism scares me?”  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  // RESOURCES FO...

What was the lecture hall of Tyrannus? In this episode, Emma Dotter explores Paul’s ministry in the lecture hall in Acts 19:1-10. She unpacks how Paul took an ordinary lecture hall and turned it in to a discipleship hub. She encourages listeners to consider the question, “What ordinary space and ordinary rhythms has God already given me that I can leverage for His kingdom?”  // ADDITIONAL VERSES M...

Is Acts 19:1-10 grounds for a second filling of the Holy Spirit? Is it formative or normative? In this episode, Emma Dotter unpacks the unique moment in redemption history that moves the gospel forward in Acts 19:1-10. She explores what other passages of Scripture have to say about second filling.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  Acts 2: 4; Acts 8: 17; Acts 10: 44; Acts 10: 47; Acts 1: 8; 1 Corin...

Should we feel responsible for someone’s response to the gospel? In this episode, Emma Dotter discusses Paul’s response to those rejecting the gospel in Acts 18:1-28. She dives into the Old Testament context surrounding Paul’s response. Emma challenges listeners to consider any fears/excuses they may have when sharing the gospel. Remembering that God is the one that changes hearts frees us to shar...

Who were Priscilla and Aquila? In this episode, Emma Dotter unpacks the ministry of Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18:1-28. She explores questions like, “Why is Priscilla sometimes named before Aquila?,” and “How is this a picture of husband and wives doing ministry together?” Priscilla and Aquila weren’t focused on building individual platforms, they were building God’s kingdom.  // ADDITIONAL VERS...

What’s the significance of Paul’s ministry at the Areopagus? In this episode, Emma Dotter explains what the Areopagus is in Acts 17:16-34. She explores sharing the gospel with people who see the world differently than us. She encourages listeners to be curious, listen well, and seek to understand what people believe so that they’re able to lovingly share Jesus.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  //...

How can we prepare to lovingly and confidently share the gospel with followers of other world religions? In this episode, Emma Dotter explores five prominent world religions in light of Paul’s evangelism in Acts 17:16-34. She unpacks what different world religions believe and challenges followers of Jesus to listen well and ask good questions.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  Hebrews 9: 27; Ephes...

What does it mean to be a sending church? In this episode, International Missions Director Bruce Kendrick joins Emma Dotter to discuss the church’s role in missional efforts and Acts 17:1-15. They answer questions about how Watermark Community Church can live out the markers of missional church and sending church.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  Want to find out...

What do we make of the “background” characters of Scripture? Who was Jason? Who were the leading women? In this episode, Emma Dotter explores the background characters found in Acts 17:1-15. She highlights how the gospel makes no distinction, that God’s heart is for all people, and that the Bible is full of God using unlikely people.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  // EPISODE CITATIONS:  Leonard...

Can one person’s faith save an entire household? What can we learn from the salvation of the Philippian jailer’s family? Can people tell Jesus is Lord in your home? In this episode, Emma Dotter unpacks Acts 16:16-20 and the story of the Philippian Jailer. She discusses how God often uses crisis to awaken people to their need for him and how salvation transforms a home.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIO...

How should followers of Christ understand the struggle of suicide in light of Scripture? Why would the Philippian jailer harm himself? In this episode, Emma Dotter is joined by Sierra Sanchez, Re:generation Director, to discuss Acts 16:16-40. Sierra gives listeners red flags to look for and questions to ask when helping someone who is considering self-harm.  If you or someone you know is experienc...

What is the role of women in the book of Acts? What does the role of women in Acts teach us about how God builds his kingdom? In this episode, Emma Dotter surveys the role of women in the book of Acts, including women who prophecy, pray, and lead in the early church . She shares how women (and men) are full participants in Christ’s mission.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  Acts 1: 14; Acts 2:  17...

Who is the Holy Spirit? What are the names of the Holy Spirit? What do these names reveal? In this episode, Emma Dotter explores Acts 16:1-15 and answers these questions. She uses the name, “Spirit of Jesus,” to help listeners understand the different dimensions of the same Person. She teaches how the names of the Holy Spirit reveal something about his nature and work and encourages listeners to e...

"In today's Conversations for the Journey, host and Care Director Wes Butler leads us in praying through Acts 15:36-41. This week, Wes leads us in prayer for three things: for the next generation ministries of Watermark, our international missions team, ministries to women and future Lydias that are being raised in our church. If you would like to submit a prayer request to the Watermark prayer te...

What are Paul’s missionary journeys? Why are they important to us today? What can we learn from Paul’s missionary journeys? In this episode, Emma Dotter gives an overview of Paul’s three missionary journeys throughout Acts. She shares how God used these journeys strategically, intentionally, and powerfully to move the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:...