Join The Journey

Watermark Community Church, Dallas, TX

Reading the Bible regularly can be a challenge, and our goal is to help you not only get into God's word regularly, but also help you understand and apply what you're reading! Join The Journey is a Bible study podcast built to follow our daily reading plan available for free at jointhejourney.com. New episodes will be available Monday through Friday. We hope you can join us!

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    S5:012 Acts 6:8-15 – The persecution of the Church

    How do followers of Jesus remain faithful in persecution? Does the Church really thrive under pressure? In this episode, Emma Dotter examines Acts 6:8-15 and the extraordinary faith of an ordinary man named Stephen after being arrested by religious officials. Even though Stephen was not an apostle, he accomplished incredible things by the Holy Spirit’s power. Then, one of Watermark’s overseas workers, Seth, joins to shed light on the persecuted Church, why God allows persecution, and how we should respond when we’re persecuted.   // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  Exodus 34: 29; Luke 4: 22; Acts 4: 33; 2 Timothy 3: 12; John 15: 18; 2 Thessalonians 1; Hebrews 13: 3; Ephesians 6: 12; Matthew 25: 40; Romans 12: 14  // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:   S4:265 – Acts 5-6 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-265-acts-5-6/id1600151923?i=1000735373170) // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  Hope for the Troubled Heart by Billy Graham Apologeticus by Tertullian Support Bible translation for the unreached: https://seedcompany.com/ Learn more about God’s heart for the nations: https://www.watermark.org/discovermissions  // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY?  Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we’re studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week’s passage. Then, for the next six days, we’ll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we’ll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God’s Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights.  Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...   // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:   Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years’ print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org

    42 min
  2. 17 MAR

    S5:011 Acts 6:1-7 – Care and correction in the Church

    What should care and correction in the church look like? How should followers of Jesus care for widows in their church body? In this episode, Watermark elder Todd Anders joins Emma Dotter to discuss Acts 6:1-7 and what it means to be a shepherding church, the five aspects of a shepherd, and the “one another” commands in Scripture. Then, faithful Watermark member Melanie Graber describes her experience in being cared for by the church and offers practical advice on caring for widows.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  Exodus 17: 11; 18: 21-22; Ephesians 4: 15; 2 Peter 3: 9; Psalm 23  // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:   S4:265 – Acts 5-6 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-265-acts-5-6/id1600151923?i=1000735373170) // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  Church Membership by Jonathan Leeman: (https://a.co/d/035b4DsL) Aging with Purpose: 7 Essentials for Finishing Well by Dr. Hal Habecker (https://a.co/d/0fP6bqSu) Read Melanie Graber’s story: (https://www.watermark.org/blog/ordinary-obedience) Watermark Community Church ministries mentioned: Christ-Centered Recovery (https://www.watermark.org/ministries/regeneration-recovery) Marriage Enrichment (https://www.watermark.org/ministries/re-engage) International Student Ministry (https://www.watermark.org/outreach/international-students ) Women’s Bible Study (https://www.watermark.org/ministries/womens-bible-study)  Newly Married Women (https://www.watermark.org/ministries/to-have-and-to-host)  Men and Women 60+ (https://www.watermark.org/ministries/legacy)  // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY?  Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we’re studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week’s passage. Then, for the next six days, we’ll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we’ll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God’s Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights.  Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...   // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:   Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years’ print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org

    1hr 2min
  3. 10 MAR

    S5:010 Acts 5:17-42 – How to respond when criticized for faith in Jesus?

    What do we do when faithfulness brings legal pressure? // How should we respond when we’re criticized for our faith? Why is Gamaliel important? Who was Polycarp? In this episode, Emma Dotter unpacks Acts 5:17-42, the legal pressure the apostles faced, and how God used a Jewish official named Gamaliel to protect the gospel. Then she tells the story of Polycarp, a disciple of John who refused to deny Jesus and was martyred for his faith. When we face public criticism for the gospel, we can be bold and courageous in a way that honors God.  Image 1: 11 Luther nails up the 95 Theses" by fz1844 is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.  Image 2: Mishnah Berurah, first edition, Warsaw" by Charlie Smith FDTB is marked with CC0 1.0.  Image 3: Saint Polycarpe au bûcher" by Octave 444 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  Acts 22:3 John 16:13 Colossians 3:23-24 Romans 1:16 Ephesians 6:19-20 Ephesians 3:20 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:   S4:265 – Acts 5-6 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-265-acts-5-6/id1600151923?i=1000735373170) // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:    // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY?  Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we’re studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week’s passage. Then, for the next six days, we’ll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we’ll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God’s Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights.  Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...   // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:   Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years’ print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org

    32 min
  4. 3 MAR

    S5:009 Acts 5:12-16 – What are the Different Views on Sign Gifts?

    What are the different views about signs and wonders? Do miraculous gifts still exist today? Can the Church disagree about this and still be unified? In this episode, Emma Dotter unpacks Acts 5:12-16 and explains the spectrum of convictions within the Church about the miraculous gifts (healing, tongues, prophecy), from cessationism to continuationism. Then, Executive Director of Watermark Health, Christy Chermak, joins to discuss how followers of Jesus can have a good theology of healing.  // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED:  1 Corinthians 12-14; 2 Corinthians 12: 12; Hebrews 2: 3-4; 1 Corinthians 13: 8-10; Acts 2: 16-21; James 5: 14-16; 1 Corinthians 14: 1; 1 Thessalonians 5: 21; Revelation 21: 4; Romans 8: 19-24  // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:   S4:265 – Acts 5-6 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-265-acts-5-6/id1600151923?i=1000735373170) S4:283 – 1 Corinthians 12-16 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-283-1-corinthians-12-16/id1600151923?i=1000738504112) // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  How to remain unified when others in the Church believe differently? (https://www.watermark.org/blog/agree-to-disagree-how-to-handle-essentials-convictions-opinions) Watermark message about the miraculous gifts: (https://www.watermark.org/message/10670-the-gifts-of-tongues-prophecy-and-healing-1-corinthians-14)   // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY?  Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we’re studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week’s passage. Then, for the next six days, we’ll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we’ll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God’s Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights.  Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...   // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:   Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years’ print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org

    50 min

Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

About

Reading the Bible regularly can be a challenge, and our goal is to help you not only get into God's word regularly, but also help you understand and apply what you're reading! Join The Journey is a Bible study podcast built to follow our daily reading plan available for free at jointhejourney.com. New episodes will be available Monday through Friday. We hope you can join us!

You Might Also Like