Join The Journey

Thank you for joining us on this Journey in 2023! Things don't always go according to plan here on the podcast and we thought we would share a few bloopers from this year with you all. See you in 2024!

"Come, Lord Jesus." Why do we want Jesus to come?  Emma Dotter is joined by Community Director, Katie Shemanske to talk about the Holy Spirit's role in our lives and what Jesus is doing right now.    Additional Scripture referenced in this episode:   John 16:7-14, Holy Spirit's role  2 Corinthians 3:18, "transformed by the Spirit"  2 Corinthians 4:4, "the god of this world has blinded the minds of...

"Behold, I am coming soon." Today on the podcast, Emma Dotter is joined by young adult, Trey Mapes to talk about living with a heavenly mindset and being prepared for when Jesus comes back.     Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:  https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Feeling-Gods-Way-Journey/dp/B0CPJ7WXN5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IEYKICMCV7IF&keywords=join+the+journey+watermark&qid=1702568266...

Emma Dotter is joined today by Porch Staff member, Aaron Collins. In today’s passage, the church at Laodicea was not making wise choices. Christ was their Savior but he was not the Lord of their lives. This transformation of their lives wasn’t happening because of their lukewarm choices. The main point of this passage is to choose to repent out of love. God wants to fellowship with us, and through...

This earth is not as good as it gets. Today, Ashley Lawerence joins Emma Dotter walking through this passage in Revelation! Advent is a period of preparation to prepare of the coming of Jesus. And we can still celebrate the glory of Jesus even this day after Christmas.    Want to serve at the porch? Fill out the application here: https://watermark.formstack.com/forms/porchvolunteerapp     Addition...

Merry Christmas! A question to consider in light of Joseph’s example is this: am I taking time to actually pause and consider things in the presence of God? Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark’s Men’s Community Director, Jacob Alger. Jacob challenges us to think about the gravity of this passage! Jesus is simultaneously being held by his earthly mother Mary and holding the universe! How beautiful i...

Who is on the throne of your life? Today Emma Dotter is joined by Josiah Jones, the Young Adults Director of Volunteers. Of all of the people to study in this passage, Josiah chose to look into the villain of our passage, Herod, and the dangers of clinging tightly to a position over trusting in Christ.     Additional Scriptures in this Podcast:  1 Thessalonians 2:8, “We were willing to share not o...

The Lord emphasizes using unexpected people and unexpected places to display His glory. Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member, Rebekah Leal to talk about the fulfillment of prophecy and Jerusalem's response.    Want to serve with JTJ? We would LOVE to have you! Here is the link to sign up!   https://www.watermark.org/search/serve?query=Join%20the%20Journey    Grab a NEW Join The Journ...

We get to see God's ultimate plan of redemption through Jesus in Micah?! Today on the podcast, Emma Dotter is joined by Minh and Leah Le to talk through God's restoration and what it means to trust in the good Shepherd.    Additional Scripture referenced in this episode:  Matthew 2:6 - References Micah 5:2    Leaving a review helps others more easily find the podcast! We'd love to hear from you so...

What is the significance of God choosing the shepherds as the first to hear of the Savior's birth? Emma Dotter is joined by Kelsey Foreman; Watermark's Institute Coordinator, to talk about the shepherds and what we can learn from Mary's response to them.    Additional Scripture referenced in this episode:  Luke 1; Census taken    Leaving a review helps others more easily find the podcast! We'd lov...

Emma Dotter is joined by her friend Casey Crane! Casey and Emma give the listeners so many interesting facts to deepen our love for this passage. He teaches that the two questions that this passage is asking is this: who is Jesus and how should we respond? God chooses to give this incredible news to the humble in heart, which are the shepherds!     Additional Scriptures used in this Passage:   Psa...

Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark Young Adult, Angie Hernandez! Angie challenges listeners by reminding us that the only part of the equation that we bring in salvation is that we are broken, and that God is the Savior. The way that the Savior came was not the way that Israel was expecting, but God is a God of process, and he came in the perfect processed timing.     Grab a NEW Join The Journey J...

Today Emma Dotter is joined by fellow Watermark Staff member, and casual YouTuber Will Mcllroy. The way that God is at work may not be as “efficient” as we would think, but it is providential. What people think may be “inefficient” shows our lack of trust in God’s plan. The Christmas story is not a myth, it’s not random, and it is simple!     Additional Scriptures used in this Passage:   Philippia...

In Luke 1:46-56 Emma Dotter is joined by Makayla Greene, Watermark Porch Communications Coordinator. In the podcast, Makayla highlights that Mary praises the greatness of God and humbly worships God. Mary was in awe of the fact that God would choose to use her. God didn’t have to use Mary or even use us, but God chooses to use us and that is a gift.     Want to serve with JTJ? We would LOVE to hav...

If we jump into this Christmas season as “normal” then we will miss the need that we actually have for Christmas. Emma Dotter is joined by Ryan Garrahan, Community Team focused on Formation team as they talk about our need for Christmas.  All of the pent up need and expectation for Christmas is seen here. Ryan shares how his own life has experienced miracle after miracle from God, and we see the s...

"God is intentially always at work and often moves in ways we wouldn't expect." Emma Dotter is joined by her friend Sam Morey, to talk about the importance of the 14,14,14 generations mentioned in Matthew and how we can practically look the ways God is working in our lives today.    Sam's Previous JTJ episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey/id1600151923?i=1000607105969    G...

As we continue to look at the story of advent, we see here 4 allusions to the coming of Jesus. Today Emma Dotter is joined by two of her friends: Abi Tacam & Madi Bellinghausen. A star and scepter is coming! David didn’t need to build a house for God, God was going to build a dynasty through him! And there is a Branch that is coming and all of these things are pointing to the coming of Jesus. ...

How should we think about Israel? What does Romans 9 really mean? Today on the podcast, Emma Dotter is joined by Brandon Brower, a faithful Watermark member, to walk us through some difficult passages and how they can be helpful this Advent season.    Other helpful podcast episodes:  Romans 9: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey/id1600151923?i=1000551847956  Romans 11: https://p...

Emma Dotter is joined today by Kendall Kaigler, the Young Adults Women’s Coordinator. There is a blessing that is going to come from the Abrahamic line; there is a prophet coming that is better than Moses; and then a passage in Acts that ties all of this together. Jesus is this promised prophet! Kendal ends the podcast by asking the question, “Are we living with the end in mind?”     Additional Sc...

Looking at Genesis in a Bible reading plan for Christmas can seem random? Why study Genesis? What does this have t do with Jesus? But today Emma Dotter and Emily Engstrom explore how Genesis 3:15 is the first promise of Christmas. The Savior and Serpent Crusher promised here is the promise of Christmas!     Additional Scripture in this passage:  John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Wo...

The word “believed” is used 84 times in the book of John, and the book’s whole purpose is that the people who read it would believe in Jesus. Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark’s teaching pastor, Timothy (TA) Ateek. TA shares how the entire claim of the book of John is found in John 1:14, that the Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled) among us.     Additional Scripture used in this po...

In today's bonus episode, Emma Dotter is joined by Hank Hoaglund to kick off Advent season on the podcast! Our goal is to deepen our understanding of Jesus, but before we begin, we thought it would be helpful to breakdown what Advent even is.     Join The Journey Advent Reading Plan: https://www.watermark.org/christmas/advent?q=advent+2023    Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with thi...

In today’s bonus episode, Hannah Staubs gives a high-level recap of the book of Nehemiah. We get to see Nehemiah step up and own the disobedience of the people of Israel and his own disobedience. We also see Nehemiah's confidence in the Lord's work and God sustaining and leading him through it all.    Additional Scriptures mentioned in today's episode:  Philipians 1:6 "Good work in you"    Join Th...

As believers, we are called and equipped to address brokeness. In today's episode, Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark partner, Ben Solomon to talk through what is looks like to be ministers of reconciliation.    Additional Scriptures mentioned in today's episode:  2 Corinthians 5:11-21, "Ministers of reconciliation"  Isaiah 58:12 - "God's heart for the poor"    More info on how to serve w...

Emma Dotter is joined by today’s devo writer, Chris Bryan. This construction was about more than just a wall being built, it was Nehemiah leading the people of God back into obedience to God. Oftentimes we can become so focused on accomplishing things that we miss celebrating what God has done. Chris & Emma encourage us to take the time to celebrate the big and small things God is doing.     I...