Watermark Audio: Sunday Messages

In our series, The Last Word, Todd Wagner teaches through 2 Timothy 3-7 and the three metaphors given to us to be faithful Christians in our daily lives. We are encouraged to live as soldiers, obedient and faithful to our commander, Jesus.

What last words does Paul have for the church today? In the first week of our series on 2 Timothy, David Leventhal introduces the book at a high-level and then dives into verses 1-7 of chapter 1. In them, we will see that this is a letter for us today as much as it is a book for Timothy in 60 AD.

What is the mission of the church? In the fifth week of our Reset series, Todd Wagner teaches about the mission of the church and how we are to live lives of both love and truth.

What is the mission and message of the church? How do we not shipwreck our faith? In week 6 of our series, FOCUS: A Study in 1 Timothy, John McGee teaches through 1 Timothy 3:14-16, showing us that the mission of the church is to be a family that holds up truth and the message of the church is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What are the qualifications for leadership in the church? In week 5 of our series, FOCUS: A Study in 1 Timothy, David Leventhal teaches through 1 Timothy 3:1-13, showing us when God describes a leader, he prioritizes character over anything else. God is setting a standard for leadership that he desires every believer to aspire to.

Watermark has been meeting for 1087 weeks. In this message, David Leventhal reflects back on the three things he has most consistently been reminded of: “God loves you,” “This is Jesus’ church,” and “We are better together.”

Have you heard of Jonah and the whale? What if I told you this story had very little to do with fish? As we continue our series, Retold, David Leventhal teaches through the book of Jonah, showing us that God is the creator of the earth and is sovereign over it. His justice is impartial and his mercy may extend to anyone…whether we like it or not.

Have you heard of the parable of the Good Samaritan? If so, and you think that it teaches you to simply do good works, you are missing it and don’t understand the story! As we kick off our new series, “Retold: History Everybody Should Know”, Todd Wagner teaches through the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.

“Any Christian should be grieved by racism, injustice, and apathy toward the things that break the heart of God. This is how we talked about these things when we gathered last Saturday night. We feel like we missed an opportunity with many of our friends who only tuned in on Sunday morning, and we are grateful to encourage the many who missed it now. We believe sharing our heart is the most helpful thing for us to post today, AND we believe continuing to work together toward the unity, love, and justice our Savior died to make possible is our daily task. Join us as we continue to love kindness, do justice, and walk humbly with our Lord.” – Todd Wagner

Have you ever wondered what happens to your believing family and friends who have died? Whether they are all right, you will see them again, or they will miss out on the blessing of Christ’s return and reign? As we continue studying the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner finishes chapter 4, teaching us what happens to Christians who have died.

In this message Todd talks about our walk with Christ and through that walk, we should become more holy and more like Christ. God's will is for us to be sanctified.

What have you been entertained by recently? How do you decide what to entertain yourself with? Todd Wagner teaches through 1 Peter 1:13-16, helping us think through the impact our entertainment choices have on our own lives and on others.

What trials are you experiencing in life right now? If you aren’t careful, you might miss out on what God wants to do in and through you during this season. Tyler Briggs, Watermark's Fort Worth Campus Pastor, teaches through James 1:2-5, teaching us that trials are a gift because they are God’s mean of growing us.

As we continue studying the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner teaches through chapter 3, teaching us the importance of loving and encouraging one another in the Truth and the significance of our faith regardless of the circumstances life throws our way.

1 Thessalonians is a short book, it’s only 5-chapters and you can probably read through the whole thing in 20-minutes. Between now and next week, read through the entire book multiple times to familiarize yourself with it. Take an online equipping course. Start with Keys to Effective Bible Study.

As you reflect back on your last week, how much did the Bible inform your life? As we continue our series on the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner teaches through 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20, teaching us that once we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s Word should be the foundation of our lives.

The church is not a building, and we are not the church because we gather corporately once a week. As we refrain from gathering corporately due to the current pandemic of the coronavirus, reading through 2 Samuel 24, Todd teaches us about the census and about plagues, and how they apply to us today.

When you reflect on your life, what big changes stand out to you? How about changes from the last year? Month? Week? As we continue our series on 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner teaches us how walking with Jesus should change everything.

Do you have people in your life that you are thankful for? People that God uses to encourage you and who are all about spreading the gospel? As we kick off a new series, studying the book of 1 Thessalonians, Todd Wagner walks us through chapter one.

What exactly is the “gospel”? We use the word around the church all the time, but what is it? John McGee walks through three things the gospel teaches us to do in both life and marriage: initiate, forgive, & commit.

We often misunderstand or under-appreciate all the influence that the gospel is designed to have on our life. The gospel desires to save us, yes. But it also desires to sanctify us and make us more like Christ. From there, it calls us to live a life of reconciliation and regeneration in all areas and aspects of our life.

What exactly should the Christian life look like? Can it be anything for anyone, or are there certain things that God expects for all Christians? David Marvin teaches through 1 Peter 1:23-2:10, explaining what the Christian life should look like and how we can live out and experience the purpose God has for us.

As we wrap up our series, Better Together, we end with the community core value that is really the culmination of faithfully practicing the other five: Engage Missionally. The church was never meant to be some holy huddle, but rather, a group of people that engaged, loved, and served the world around them. Jeff Ward, Christy Chermak, and Bruce Kendrick teach through different ways you and your community group can excel at engaging missionally right where God has you.

What marks the relationships with the people in your life you are closest with? Are you committed to others, and do you have anyone that is committed to you? As we continue our series, Better Together, Beau Fournet, David Leventhal, and Brian Buchek teach us why Watermark is so committed to community, why your community group might be struggling, and how to help your community group grow.

Is your counsel to others informed by the Word of God? Todd teaches on the importance of counseling Biblically, and how we can live this out within our community groups.

How is your relationship with money? Most of us think our relationship with money is similar to our ability to drive…better than it really is. As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Adam Tarnow asks three questions to examine our relationship with money and possessions.

The greatest crisis in America, your home, your work, our world, and your own personal life is a leadership crisis. As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Todd Wagner finishes his two part series starts on leadership, its importance, and why a great leader does what he knows to be right regardless of what others are telling him.

The greatest crisis in America, your home, your work, our world, and your own personal life is a leadership crisis. As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Todd Wagner starts the first of two weeks teaching on leadership, its importance, and why a leadership problem is really a discipleship problem.

Have you ever met someone who always seemed to be grateful? What about someone who never seems to be grateful? What differences come to mind as you think about both people? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” John Elmore teaches us about thankfulness.

When’s the last time you saw something that made you think or say, “Wow…that was good”? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Todd Wagner teaches us about goodness and how it should mark us as we diligently seek it out.

Are there any areas of your life that are difficult right now? Areas where you are tempted to throw in the towel and quit? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Tyler Briggs teaches us about perseverance and its importance in the midst of the trouble, hardship, and suffering of this world.

When’s the last time you engaged in a spiritual conversation with someone? Do you remember the last time someone engaged in a spiritual conversation with you? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Todd Wagner teaches how we are an embassy and that the most loving thing we—Christians—can do is share their faith.

When’s the last time you made a choice that resulted in pain and grief? What about a choice that resulted in peace and joy? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Blake Holmes teaches us how to live a wise life marked by obedience.

Do you have anyone in your life that you highly respect? What marks their life? What about yourself…when was the last time you felt respected by someone? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” Adam Tarnow teaches us how love, kindness, and humility all lead to respect.

Is your life ever marked by stress or anxiety? If so, what do you do in order to find relief? As we continue our series, “This is the Life,” John Elmore teaches us about external peace, eternal peace, and internal peace.

Did you know that the average American makes 35,000 choices per day? When was the last time you or someone you know made a wise choice? What about a foolish choice? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Todd Wagner teaches us about discernment…the power to distinguish what is true, excellent, and appropriate.

When you think of contentment what comes to mind? Who comes to mind? As we continue our series, This is the Life, David Leventhal teaches us about biblical contentment…what it is, where it comes from, and why so many of us don’t experience it in a deep, meaningful, consistent way.

It is with great excitement that we announced on Sunday that the Fort Worth campus will be launched to become an independent local church on June 30, 2020. Todd Wagner, Tyler Briggs, and Dean MacFarlan shared the how and why behind this exciting direction for the Fort Worth campus

When is the last time you saw someone do something courageous? How did it make you feel? Did it make you want to live differently? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Todd Wagner teaches us about courage…what it looks like, where it comes from, and how we should live if we have it.

What or who do you think of when you hear the word “righteous” or “righteousness”? Did you know that those two words appear in the book of Proverbs more than 90-times? As we continue our series, This is the Life, Todd Wagner walks us through many different Proverbs, showing us that righteousness is imputed, earned, and a choice.

What do you think of when you hear someone say, “This is the life”? Wealth? Fame? The American Dream? Todd Wagner walks us through where true life is found as we kick off a new series called, “This is the Life”.

When was the last time you thought about what the end of your life is going to be like? What do you want to be remembered by? Adam Tarnow walks us through 1 Peter 4:7-11, teaching us three ways to make sure we don’t waste our lives.

Have you ever been a member of a church somewhere? If so, what was it like? Did it have any major impact on your life? How you lived? This week, Blake Holmes teaches us about the church and church membership. He teaches us how the church is a people, how it is a family, body, flock of sheep, and an embassy, and how church membership matters.

Have you ever had doubts about your salvation? About whether or not you are saved? As we finish our series, Summer on the Mount, Todd Wagner walks us through Matthew 7:21-29, teaching us how we can know we are saved and what to do—how to live—in light of studying the entirety of the Sermon on the Mount the past three-months.

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.

There’s a good chance you heard the “Golden Rule” growing up…but did you know it’s straight from the Bible? Specifically, straight from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” Blake Holmes walks us through Matthew 7:12, the Golden Rule.

Does prayer really make that big of a difference in life? We all know it’s important and that we should do it, but aren’t things going to happen either way? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” David Marvin walks us through Matthew 7:7-11, showing us how Jesus calls us to pray continually and trust constantly.

What does it mean when the Bible says, “Judge not, lest you be judged”? Todd Wagner answers this question while teaching through Matthew 7:1-6—easily one of the most misinterpreted passages in the Bible—as we continue our series, Summer on the Mount.

What are you most prone to worry about? Everyone has worried about something, but no one wants to. As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount," David Marvin walks us through Matthew 6:24-34, teaching us about the results of worry, the reason we don’t have to worry, and the remedy for worry.

When you think of both money and God, what comes to mind? Do you think God is trying to rip you off? Does Jesus simply want to take your money and possessions from you? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” Jermaine Harrison walks us through Matthew 6:19-24, teaching us what Jesus has to say about money and possessions.

What do you believe about God the Father? What is your attitude when praying to Him? As we continue our series, on the Sermon on the Mount, Blake Holmes teaches and explains to us the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6.

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?

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us to radically love our neighbors (Matthew 5:33-48), a seemingly impossible task. Thankfully, He not only modeled this love for us, He lavishes His love on us, and through His Spirit, He enables us to love others just as He loved us.

What does the Bible actually teach about marriage? What about divorce? Does it address remarriage? As we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount,” Todd Wagner walks us through Matthew 5:31-32, covering those very three things: marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

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.

Have you ever been angry with someone? Lusted after someone? According to Jesus, that makes you a murderer and an adulterer. But take heart, Jesus doesn’t stop there. As we continue our series Jesus starts to get real specific about different topics and issues throughout the rest of Matthew chapter 5—beginning with anger and lust. Learn more about what Jesus teaches about lust and anger from the Sermon on the Mount.

When is the last time you ate something with salt on it? What about the last time you were in a room with a light that was on? In Matthew 5:13-20, Jesus—because of His death on the cross—calls Christians salt and light. David Leventhal teaches us what that means and how we can apply it to our lives today.

What would God say to you if He caught you in the middle of your deepest, darkest secret? The answer might surprise you. Todd Wagner walks us through Matthew 5:1-12, commonly known as the “Beatitudes,” as we continue our series, “Summer on the Mount."

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.

Todd talks of the importance of living our lives for God. God didn't just save us from our sin through the sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God, He saved us for something. He wants us to be the church, to serve and encourage others, to be in community with one another, to share the gospel, and to love others as He does.

What do you believe about the Easter story? About the claim that a man named Jesus was crucified and raised to life three days later? What you believe about Jesus is the most important thing about you. It will determine whether life on this earth is your heaven or your hell. Which is it for you?

Blake talks about why Good Friday is called good, the meaning of the cross, and the sacrifice God made so that we could be reconciled to Him for all eternity.

Do you want to experience freedom from sin in your life? As we continue our series, “How He Built This,” John Elmore teaches us about authenticity and repentance. He shows us how to make war with sin by submitting to God and resisting the devil one day at a time.

While we are constantly encouraged by what God is doing at and through Watermark, we believe there is room for so much more! He built this through faithful people who focused their time, talents, and treasure—all of which belong to God—toward ministry and service over the last 19 years. What about you...are you using your time, talents, and treasure the way the Lord would have you?

If someone points at a dog’s tail and calls it a leg, how many legs does that dog have? Four! In a day and age where truth is questioned and postmodern relativism continues to spread, Christians must speak up—it’s what Scripture exhorts us to do…always.

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.

When is the last time you had to work on a relationship in your life? Relationships require constant maintenance, and just because you need to work on your relationships doesn’t necessarily mean there is anything wrong. As we wrap up this two-week series on forgiveness, Adam Tarnow teaches us how forgiveness is a relentless activity and one of the greatest acts of love.

Isn’t it amazing what a little change in perspective can do? What’s your perspective on forgiveness? Do you know what the Bible teaches about forgiveness? Every single one of us has been hurt by someone. We’ve all been a victim to one degree or another at some point. This week, Adam Tarnow walks us through Matthew 18:21-35 in the first part of a two-part series on forgiveness.

Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, CEO of Compassion International, joins us to talk about the power of hope, God’s goodness, and love—three of the most powerful forces in the world.

There is a big difference between going to Watermark and being part of Watermark. Between identifying as a Christ follower and following Christ. To be part of the body of Christ is to be part of the church, His Church. As we wrap up our series, “How He Built This,” Todd walks us through the importance of Community—doing life together and living out the one another’s of Scripture.

There has been a shift toward coldness—a lack of kindness—in our country, and incivility often becomes hostility. Jesus calls us to more than simply tolerate (a willingness to allow the existence of something), He calls us to love. Even our enemies.

From the very beginning of Watermark, God built this because we believe that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. As we continue our series, “How He Built This,” Todd Wagner walks us through God’s heart for the lost and what we—the church—are called to do about it.

From the very beginning of Watermark, we believed the psalmist when he said children are a blessing, not a burden, that they are worth our very best. We are raising the next generation of leaders—our leaders. Discipling children according to God’s Word is How He Built This.

What do you think of when you hear the word love? Scripture makes it clear that love is a verb. It’s a commitment to act a certain way, even when things aren’t going the way you want them to be. If you build something on faith and hope but don’t have love, your efforts will be in vain. Love seeks, love serves, love shares, love sacrifices, love shines, love saves, and love speaks.

From the very beginning of Watermark we said that if we are biblical, who cares how big we get. The Bible is our authority, it is our conscience, and it is our guide. We are firm where it is firm, and we are flexible where it is flexible. God built this—His church—on the teaching of His Word.

Nearly 20 years ago, those who started Watermark often prayed, “God, you are going to do something today to make your name more famous…if you’re willing, Lord, why not with us?” As we continue to pray that same prayer today, Todd walks us through how we—God’s church—are the visible image of the invisible Jesus, and what is normal in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ.

As we begin our 20th year of ministry, Todd shares how Watermark wasn't just built on the foundation of prayer. Prayer is the entirety of the work of the church. As we each individually make up the church, we learn to live our own lives prayerfully as we join together in the work.

In a season marked by resolutions, make the ones that matter most in the end. In the final words of the Apostle Paul, we see how this faithful man lived his life to the very end. Begin this year with the end in mind. Make resolutions worth keeping.

FW Campus Pastor Tyler Briggs talks about what you should do this year instead of reading your Bible. Engaging the Bible for the purpose of growing in a relationship with Jesus will lead to an amazing year of transformation but pride, insecurity, and laziness will keep you from experiencing it.

In 1955, George A. Buttrick, the Harvard Chaplain was known for saying to students, “Sit down and tell me what kind of god you don’t believe in. I probably don’t believe in that god either.” Along those same lines, Nathan Wagnon walks us through the story of the entire Bible, teaching us what role Scripture—and a right understanding of God—has in spiritual formation.

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.

After 12 years of faithfully serving on staff, JP is transitioning to become the senior pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. In his final message while on staff, he encourages us with nine things that he learned during his time serving Jesus at Watermark.

As we wrap up our series “Philippians: To Live Is Christ,” Todd Wagner teaches through Philippians chapter 4. This section of scripture is home to some of the most frequently misquoted Bible passages in the entire Bible. Todd teaches us how to battle worry and be content with the truth of Christ.

An accountant, an athlete, and an alien walk into Philippi… Have you heard that one? As we continue our series, “Philippians: To Live is Christ,” Todd Wagner walks us through chapter 3, teaching us to count everything but Christ as loss, to discipline ourselves like athletes for godliness, and to live as aliens in a foreign world.

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.

Philippians 2:6-11 is the sun of the book; it is the center and foundation of Philippians. If you understand the foundational truth it teaches, it will change everything about you and your life. This is not primarily a passage on orthodoxy, it is an example of perfect and straight orthopraxy.

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.

"To live is Christ. To die is gain." Does your life reflect this truth from Philippians 1:21? As we finish the first chapter of the book of Philippians, Todd Wagner walks through verses 18-30, teaching us how to both live for Christ and believe that death is gain.

There are two types of people: optimists and pessimists. Which one describes you most days? As we continue our series, “Philippians: To Live is Christ,” JP teaches from Philippians 1:12-20 that as Christians, we should have gospel-driven optimism. When we keep this perspective, it inspires others, sees opportunity, and always overcomes.

As we continue our series “Philippians: To Live Is Christ,” Todd walks us through five things we should pray for if we are followers of Christ: Greater Love, Greater Things, Greater Character, Greater Lives, & Greater Glory.

Kyle discusses the future of the Watermark Plano Campus as they face issues on space. Kyle asks us to spend time praying and seeking God's will about how we can best use the gifts God has given us to contribute to the building of a bigger facility in order to better serve the needs of the community.

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.

Have you come into relationship with Jesus Christ? If so, has it radically changed everything about your life? Tyler Briggs teaches us that life-change in Christ occurs when we commit to being in a relationship with Jesus, commit to getting well, and commit to being the church.

Are you enjoying the benefits of your faith? Does your faith impact where you go, what you do, and your relationships? Teaching through John 6:1-15, JP asks three questions to help you know if you are using your faith for Christ or for yourself.

Can we know the day and time of Jesus’ return to earth as promised in Scripture? How can we best prepare for the second coming? Are we judged by our works? As we wrap up our series, “The 7,” Todd Wagner teaches us about the second coming of Jesus Christ, answering these three questions and more.

What is Salvation? Why do we have salvation? How do we get salvation? Can we lose salvation? How do we know salvation is truly ours? Why does Todd hate candles so much? As we continue our series, “The 7,” Todd Wagner teaches us on the doctrine of salvation, answering those five questions and more.

From Scripture, we know with confidence four things about man/woman: Imago Dei (created in the “Image of God), gender, life, and depravity. Because the world is in a state of mass confusion about the state of mankind, as we continue our series, “The 7,” John Elmore teaches us about our image, gender, and mission in light of God’s creation, man’s destruction, and Christ’s redemption.

Who is Jesus? Do you have a biblical understanding of who He is? How you answer those two questions will have great implications for your life and for your relationships. Ephesians 4 shows us that Jesus proves who He is by changing our relationships, by giving people purpose, and by making people new.

Why is there so much confusion (or disharmony) surrounding the Holy Spirit? Who is the Holy Spirit? What does it mean to be filled by the Holy Spirit? What does it mean to be anointed? How can I know if something is of the Holy Spirit? As we continue our series, “The 7,” Todd Wagner answers these five questions surrounding the Holy Spirit.

A.W. Tozer said, “The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God.” What do you think about? A lion? An ocean and stars? An old man? Jesus? If it does not include The Trinity—we do not have an accurate view of God.

What is your attitude toward the Bible? As we continue our series, “The 7,” we focus on the first of the seven essential beliefs of Christianity: The Bible. The Bible is God’s story anchored in the context of history. It is our authority, our conscience, and our guide. We are firm where it is firm, and we are flexible where it is flexible.

Do you ever find yourself in arguments over the dumbest things? What about arguments over things of the faith? The truth is, sometimes, we argue about some of the most ridiculous things. There are inconsequential things that we should never argue about, and there are some important things that we need to take a stand on. In this start to a new series, “The 7,” Blake Holmes teaches about the essentials and the non-essentials of the Christian faith, and how to discern between the two.

When we seek to serve those dealing with material poverty the mode of our helping matters. We need to thoughtful in our helping so that we don’t unintentionally hurt others through helping. In this message, Fort Wort Campus Pastor Tyler Briggs, provides a roadmap to ensure that we are helping without hurting.

As we wrap up the series, “The Outsiders,” David Leventhal walks us through Luke 26:26-43—the thief on the cross—and shows us how the cross exclaims a warning, forgiveness, and grace. The cross is the exclamation point on this sentence, “God loves outsiders!”

The Romans and Religious ask Jesus to “show me” and miss that he already has. The Rebellious ask Jesus to “Serve me” and miss that he already has. The Righteous ask Jesus to “Save me” and find that he welcomes them with open arms. This passage is the exclamation point to communicate that Jesus loves outsiders and you.

God doesn’t send people to hell. He is not responsible for the actions of people, who are by nature deserving of wrath. An accurate statement would be: “The nature of love is the vulnerability of potential rejection. God is love, and he is willing to allow people the choice to reject him.”

As we continue our Outsiders series, we take a look at Luke 18:18-34 to see how Jesus is our true treasure. He is our prize, our provider, and our provision. When we see Jesus truly, we will be able to love the outsider fully.

In some ways, we are all outsiders battling various lies. Maybe you’re like the younger prodigal son battling guilt and shame over past decisions, and thus you doubt your self-worth and whether you truly belong anywhere. Or maybe you’re the older son trying to turn life into a performance for God. Either way, the way to destroy lies is with the truth. Jeff looks at Luke 15 to help us gain a true understanding of God’s inheritance, sin, and God’s grace. And ultimately, we turn our attention to Jesus, the third Son in this story – the Son of God.

Why is it that we are so reluctant to rescue outsiders? Everyone loves a good rescue mission! Do you know what makes a good rescue mission? There’s always resistance (something to rescue people from), people are always out of reach (or else they wouldn’t need rescuing), and there’s always a story to retell afterward.

When we are in conflict or friends we care about make harmful choices there is a biblical plan to help and restore.

Adam looks at Simon and the sinful woman who wept at Jesus feet in Luke 7 as examples of cold and warm hearts. If our hearts have grown cold, we need to warm them back up again by remembering the following: the breadth of God's love, the depth of our sin, the salvation we have been given, and our privilege to "go in peace" and share the opportunity with others.

No one notices when you keep your cool, but when you don’t, everyone feels it... especially those closest to you. In the message, we explore what to do when emotions are high and it’s your move.

Using the story of the woman who bathed Jesus' feet with her tears in Luke 7, Chase shares how lives can be changed through the forgiveness of sin in Christ. Forgiveness is offered to all, and forgiveness leads to love and to liberty.

Have you ever felt like an outsider? Like everyone else around you knew someone else and you were all alone? Take heart, Christ came to earth for the outsiders! As followers of Jesus, we are called to do what He did and invite others in. We get invited into the Kingdom of God, but then, if we aren’t careful, we forget to go back out and let others in.

Join us as Kyle Kaigler, Campus Pastor at Plano looks at Jesus, his mission statement in Luke 4:16-19, and then his interaction with Levi, the despised tax gatherer, in Luke 5:27-32. We should all model Jesus as He has a Heart that Loves, Eyes that Notice, Feet that Engage, and a Mouth that Speaks.

All of us have a little bit of crazy in us that leads to conflict in our lives. How we deal with conflict is one of the greatest determining factors of the health of our relationships and the health of church. Dealing with conflict well starts with viewing conflict as the constant opportunity for good that it is.

As we wrap up our series, “How to Be Rich,” Todd teaches us that who you run with is the number one determinant in how you will do in your walk with Jesus. It’s impossible to be truly rich in life and live your life alone.

As we continue our series, “How to Be Rich,” Todd teaches us that the reason the Bible talks so much about money is because it can grab our hearts, unlike few things can. God’s Word doesn’t tell us how to get rich but how to be rich. The more we know God, the more we will take joy in being a generous steward on His behalf.

We have a problem...there is something that is preventing us from being truly rich. What is it? A lack of contentment and a greed and desire for more. Todd shows us from 1 Timothy 6:3-16 how contentment in Christ is the only antidote to our problem.

Do you want to be rich? What about being the richest person alive that you know? Because of the grace of God, you can be the richest person you know. The living God is better than you can imagine, and a relationship with Him is the way to be rich.

Have you ever had to take your car to the shop because it was broken down? Just like when a mechanic diagnosis a car in need of repair, Jermaine Harrison teaches us five questions we can ask ourselves to diagnose and evaluate our relationship with God when it feels broken down.

Baptism Service 2018

It’s really hard to be a teenager is 2018. This is the first generation to grow up in a completely digital age, only 4% of teenagers born since 1999 have a biblical worldview, and teen depression and suicide rates are both skyrocketing. However, don’t lose hope! The key to having a healthy church is having a healthy next generation. By using 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 as a foundational Scripture and encouraging church membership, we are seeing life transformation and growth in teenagers as we make sure they are: 1) Known & accepted, 2) Taught about Jesus, and 3) Challenged to grow.

What if God wanted to give you a gift? A gift that is available to anyone who is willing to receive it, is not deserved, and cannot be earned or bought. Some people will gladly receive it and others will reject it. Teaching from Romans 5:1-11, Blake Holmes tells us about such a gift, as well as six blessings that come when you receive the gift.

Do you remember when you were first given the dignity of responsibility? Gary Haugen—founder and CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM)—teaches us how we have all been given the dignity of responsibility from God, as we do His work in His world. God has us in an utterly unique moment in history, fighting against the most iconic evil in the human story: slavery.

As Todd walks us through the end of Acts 28, he encourages us that we—today, 2,000 years later—are living out the mission of the entire book of Acts: the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is alive and well, and there is nothing that can stop it. Do you have a saving faith, and are you on mission today?

As Todd walks us through the beginning of Acts 28, there are multiple lessons about kindness and leadership that we can learn from Paul by how he handled being shipwrecked on the island of Malta. It’s been said that kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Have you ever responded to the extraordinary kindness of Christ?

God is sovereign over the storms of life. If we are to sail in the storm, we must trust God and keep doing the things we know we need to be doing such as givings thanks, staying in community, abiding in His Word and trusting in His promises. God is in control of our "ships" despite how treacherous the storms seem.

Are you a fool if you believe there is a God? Todd teaches us—through the lives, hurt, and pain of Watermark members and from a look at the life of Job —that it is anything but foolish to believe in God and allow Christ’s death, resurrection, and forgiveness to transform your life.

Todd Wagner unpacks what it means to be the Church in our communities. Teaching from 1 Timothy 4, we examine the true purpose of Christ’s Bride : The Church and how fully-devoted followers of Christ can increase their effectiveness for the Kingdom.

The Fort Worth campus celebrates five years as a campus by looking at what God has done and how our only right response should be to go and tell others of what Jesus can do for them as well.

Adam Tarnow teaches us about the negative equity game of selfishness. We think selfishness will give to us—we think we can win—but in the end, it only takes. All of us struggle with selfishness. Using Matthew 20:1-28, Adam shows us three things selfishness robs us of: contentment, empathy, and true greatness.

People have been flooding into Collin County for 30+ years for various opportunities. For the believer, it’s important to remember that God brings you to any place because of the gospel opportunity that exists among the people. And here in Collin County, it is no different. Though the outward appearance of our cities and county looks good, there are many wounds that exist among our people. Jeff looked at the history of Collin County to remind us of some of the wounds that have existed here while looking at the gospel opportunities that are coming Collin County’s way as more and more people keep coming from all over the world.

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 is not always bad. We are all prejudiced to some extent; sometimes that is 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 been that way since the beginning of time.

Can you relate to authority? Because every one of us serves under someone who has authority over us in some way. The Bible speaks to us in 1 Peter 2:11-25 about how we can submit in a loving, respectful way, even to those who are not "good" leaders. People who are under the authority of God tend to thrive under earthly authority, so as Christians, we submit to our government, our employer and church leadership.

As we continue our series “Can You Relate?”, JP teaches about our relationship with Community. At Watermark, we bet the farm on Community. It’s how we shepherd one another, and the bigger we get, the smaller we must become. Community is a T-E-A-M sport (Time, Encouragement, Accountability, & Maturity) where every individual exists for the team, not for themselves.

As we continued our series “Can You Relate?”, Todd teaches us about the relationship we spend roughly twenty-five percent of our time with - work. How should you view your relationship with work? It is not a curse. In short, when you hear work, you should think worship. Does that describe you?

This weekend, as we continue our series in “Can You Relate?”, Todd teaches us about the importance and responsibility of relating to children. It is a great privilege to pour into the next generation, no matter your life stage or relationship status. The greatest thing you can do to positively influence the next generation is to be—above all else—passionate about Jesus.

This weekend, Todd continues our series “Can You Relate?” by teaching us about the relationship of marriage. In order to rightly relate to marriage, we must remember to do three things: Trust the giver, live for another world, and understand that people are married for a single reason.

Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t like? JP teaches us from the Scriptures how singleness is a gift, and it’s one that we—the church—have not always done a good job appreciating and celebrating. The truths and realities about the gift of singleness apply to everyone, not just singles. Do you appreciate the gift?

As we continue our series “Can You Relate?”, this week Todd took us through the importance of rightly relating to the Bible. He showed us how it’s not a mess or a moral book, but rather, a treasure. A treasure to relate to like your life depends on it.

This weekend, Todd kicked off a new series about relationships called “Can You Relate?” It’s been said that what you think about God is the most important thing about you…that if you don’t get your relationship with God right it will affect every other relationship in your life. Todd taught us about the importance of us viewing God as the good, loving, perfect, holy Father that He is.

This weekend, Blake Holmes helps us prepare for the 2018 Journey (www.jointhejourney.com) by giving us an overview of the book of Romans. Blake takes us on a 30,000-foot flyover of the entire book as he breaks down the four main sections—Sin, Salvation, Sovereignty, & Service—as well as gives us a one or two-word title for each of the book’s 16 chapters.

In this Christmas Eve service, Todd shares why Christmas can seem crazy, believing in this Jesus. However, through all the fulfilled prophecies and the universal need for a Savior, we find the veracity of Christmas. Jesus fully met that need that we all have, whether a pharisee or a shepherd. Christmas is a time of great awe because we have seen God come.

What do you long for? Do you yearn for and anticipate better things in your life? Do you enjoy getting gifts? This week, Todd teaches us about longings, anticipation, and gifts as we reflect on and prepare for Christmas.

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?

As Todd preaches on Acts 23 and 24, he reminds us through the historical, not mythical, life of Paul that God is still alive and working through normal people that know and love Him.

Using Paul in Acts 22:21-23:11 as an example, Adam Tarnow shows us how to remain calm in crisis. Just like Paul was not caught off guard or surprised, we don’t have to be either. Adam teaches us that truth by giving us three reminders: remind yourself this is not a surprise, remind yourself this is not punishment, and remind yourself of God’s promises.

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.

Fort Worth Campus Pastor, Tyler Briggs, leads a celebration of the life change that has come through the investments of the body and informs them of opportunities that still exist to continue to eagerly invest in the mission.

JP walks us through the first half of Acts 21, showing us that true courage comes from love, and that what we love will impact our behavior. Love gives us courage to do three things: stay on mission, lose our lives, and become all things to all people. What do you love?

Todd speaks from Acts 20 about the mindset that should reform the church and our individual hearts. Discuss these together with your community group. Pick a series of questions that best fits where your group is currently.

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?

This week JP walks us through Acts chapter 19. He shows us how the church in Ephesus—arguably the most influential church in all of church history—has “good guys” (the committed, cured, and converted) and “bad guys” (the calloused, counterfeit, and critical). He reminds us that if we leave our first love, like Ephesus did, we are in danger of becoming a graveyard.

David Marvin walks us through Acts 18. He shows how Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable, were willing to go, and made disciples. He warns us how easy it is to have a marriage full of ministry activity, but not a marriage on mission. While Priscilla and Aquila are examples for us, these truths do not just apply to married couples, but to all Christians who desire to live on mission.

This week we journey through the second half of Acts 17 together. Todd shows us through the text how we should: be an observer of human futility and not a hater, be a teller and not a troublesome meddler, and be a faithful ambassador, not a mocker.

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."

Todd finishes up the last part of Acts 16 and starts into Acts 17. He shows us how the lives and teachings of the Scriptures from 2,000 years ago are still relevant and applicable to us today. God wants to use us just like He used Paul and the early church in this section of Scripture from the book of Acts.

Todd re-visits the middle of Acts 16 from last time and then finishes the chapter as we continue our journey through the book of Acts. He shows us how history is not Christian or secular—just history. Todd discusses how money makes a horrible god, how demons have better theology than we might realize, and how we must be ready to give a defense for the hope and faith that is in us.

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.

We are the Church; all of us. It's not a particular ministry, program, pastor, or a building. Harrison speaks to us about the importance of being the Church, to raise up the next generation and to be disciple-makers. He gives us real life examples from his life, and Martha Kate shares her story of being raised and discipled by Watermark.

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.

Do you feel stuck? JP walks us through Acts 15:36-16:5. While this passage of Scripture is descriptive and not prescriptive, JP shows us how God can move us forward on mission, despite feeling stuck. God doesn’t give us permission to get stuck or to stay stuck, but there is hope that He can use us in our mess, and there is hope for us to get out of our mess.

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.

Todd spends time in Acts 14, showing us one of the many history lessons the Bible has to offer. He walks us through Paul’s journey in Acts 14, Greek & Roman mythology, man’s religion, the reformation, the reliability of Scripture, and ways we can live out our faith—using the history of Acts 14 as our inspiration—today.

David Martin answers the question "Do good people go to heaven?" In this conversation he discusses good versus evil, the standard that we'd have to live up to get into heaven, and what the Bible has to say in Romans 3 about who does get into heaven. We find that entry into heaven is not based on our good, but on the good work God has done on our behalf.

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

There’s a big difference between regretting our actions and repenting from them. Scripture tells us that sorrow for our sin should lead to repentance and our repentance should bear fruit. Using Psalm 51, Jeff looks into King David’s life following his affair with Bathsheba and highlights several truths about repentant hearts.

This week, Todd talks about the importance of leadership. Specifically, he discusses church leadership and how God's design for the church is a plurality of leaders.

This weekend, on the one year anniversary of the Dallas police officer shootings, Todd spends time in 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, and 1 Peter, calling us to be a blessing to the city in which God has placed us. Our future and hope are in Jesus' resurrection and, as we seek God, that future and hope will transform our city.

We all have conflict in our lives that we are dealing with in one way or another. We internalize, explode, or stew as conflict continues. Today, as Adam walks us through Matthew 5:21-26, he shows us God's definition of anger and His desire for us to experience reconciliation in the midst of conflict.

We can inaccurately anticipate that the spiritual life will be easy, up and to the right, when we accept Jesus. This is not the case. Today Blake Holmes shows us 3 pictures of the spiritual life from 2 Timothy 2:1-6. We'll see what we should expect along the way as the spiritual life is like a war, a race, and a farm.

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.

JP challenges us to think about how we can parent extraordinarily. He gives us 10 ways that any parent can be an extraordinary in the way that they raise their children. For more great resources on parenting, visit watermark.org/parenting.

On this Baptism service we hear Paula's story of how God freed her from financial debt and grew her as a disciple. Todd reminds us that we all have a debt that we could never pay against God, but that God offers us forgiveness and freedom. We also hear Michael's story, in which, faithful people were obedient to share. Their actions affected his life which is now affecting the lives of others. In the same way, we should see our actions of faithful obedience as farther reaching than we could ever know.

Todd leads us through Acts 13:13­–52. This passage describes a pivotal point in the spread of the Gospel beyond Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8). Yet this passage is not simply a record of “Paul and his companions” as they brought the Gospel to Galatia; rather, it is instructive to us today, if we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts ready to respond!

Following the week of Watermark's Church Leaders Conference, Todd shares how every week at Watermark is a church leaders conference, where God's people are at work. Todd invites Blake Holmes and John McGee to share from CLC. Blake shares how in ministry, you don't teach someone to sail from the shore, but instead, you get them into the water. John shares how parenting is like watching a shot clock run down and making the best use of time with your children. And in the same way, we are to make the most of our time following Jesus.

For many of us, the idea of speaking into culture and cultural issues can produce a variety of emotions. Some shrink back because of fear, others because of inadequacy. By walking through 1 Peter, Derek shares how Christ empowers you to overcome these fears and inadequacies in order to courageously engage the culture around you.

Blake Holmes walked through Colossians 2:6-23 and showed the four dead ends to spiritual growth that Paul wanted the church at Colossae to avoid. These four dead ends are: worldly philosophy (any system that denies the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ), legalism (any attempt to earn God's favor), mysticism (religious experiences that are based on emotion, and reserved for only a select few), and asceticism (any attempt to earn God's favor through an extreme form of self-denial or punishment). Paul reminds the Colossians, as Blake reminds us, that there is one way to be right with God and find life, that is Jesus alone.

The search to be loved is common to all of us. When we search for love apart from God it wears us out. In this message, Tyler shares about how God frees us from the relentless search for love, to begin experiencing joy, and enjoying relationships. We can do this because God has brought love to us, He has given us an endless supply, and that fills us with joy and freedom.

Todd interviews a special guest, Joni Eareckson Tada, who is a quadriplegic who God has used a as a "spectacle of glory". Joni shares her story, her struggles, and trust in God. How, as a young girl, she was paralyzed and what she has learned about God, His character, and how to live a life in submission to Him.

Todd shares during this Easter service how Jesus Christ has delivered us from the decree, dominion, and despair of sin. Jesus is the only one who has defeated the grave, and so is worthy of our trust. God doesn't want you to just hear a story, he wants you to respond to it. If you haven't trusted in Christ yet, today is the day of salvation.

Today Todd walks us through Acts 13:1–12. In this passage, the church in Antioch and Paul and Barnabas demonstrate what it means to live worshipful, missional, and prophetical lives, challenging us to do the same!

Todd describes the church at Antioch, and how we learn from them what kind of church and what kind of person God uses. He looks at Acts 11 to see the beginnings of the church. And then, he transitions to Acts 13:1-3 to see who and how the Antioch church send on mission. The prophetic, biblical teaching, disciple making, grace-filled, unified, spiritually disciplined, Holy Spirit attentive, abiding, ambitious missional Church is the church God uses to change the world.

Todd finishes up Acts chapter 12, teaching on verses 20-25. As we look at Herod's life and death, we learn that it's important to read and know the scripture. Todd reminds us that the Bible is a reliable source of truth. Hearing, reading and knowing scripture encourages us to live faithful lives and fret not when prideful leaders, like Herod, reign over us.

JP teaches from Acts 12:1–19, a powerful passage on prayer mightily demonstrated in the early church surrounding Peter's escape from prison. When God's people pray, 1) there is an incomprehensible peace, 2) we participate in God’s power, and 3) the impossible is possible. What if more than we talked, complained, vented, posted, wrote... what if we prayed?

In the midst of a season where sickness is spreading, JP teaches us about the good “infection” of Christianity that spread in Acts 11:19-30 and is still spreading today. Some of the symptoms of this good infection are that it is very contagious, it makes people hungry, and it heals. More specifically, this good infection causes those infected to want to evangelize and share the good news of Jesus, it causes those infected to be hungry for God’s Word and a deeper relationship with Him, and it causes brokenness left by sin to be healed.

In Acts 10:34-11:15 we learn how we must let go of our comfortable traditions and pious prejudices to fear God and do what is right. Todd teaches us three ways we can know we are humble men worthy of praise, able to receive the gift of grace. He also reminds us how Godly men and women, who know the love of God, must purge themselves of bias and cultural and racial arrogance.

Prejudice, racism, and confusion about God’s love for all people were and continues to be a problem in the church. We learn in Acts 10:1-43 how the Gospel is made known to Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, but also see how God’s love continues to be shown to Peter and the rest of the early church. As the early church had to learn to leave traditions and ingrained prejudices left over from their days before knowing Christ, the church today needs to be reminded of God’s desire for unity and oneness among all people despite traditions, pride and prejudices.

While teaching through “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9–15, Adam Tarnow explains that what we think about God influences our relationship with God. He teaches us that we all have a view of God that is clouded, Jesus wants to clear up our clouded view of God, and when our view of God is cleared up, it changes everything. God is not merely a reflection of our earthly father, He is the absolute perfection of our earthly father. God is like nobody we have ever met, and for that reason, we should respond by thanking him, worshiping him, and telling others about Him.

Who are you? To answer this question of eternal significance, JP walks us through Philippians 3, where he encourages us to forsake the fake identities of this world — our accomplishments, our past, and our earthly desires. The person you really are is the person you are in eternity. What matters in heaven is what you did on earth. We want to live our lives knowing our true identity as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Who or what are you following? We all follow something. In this message, JP unpacks John 10:1-15. We may feel like we are free, but JP asks, what about freedom from anxiety, love of money, worry, approval of man, significance in children, debt, illusion of control, whatever your vice is. The enemy uses these traps to lure and ensnare us. JP helps us understand it is only in following Jesus that we can experience true freedom. Christ is our true shepherd and in Him, full life and forgiveness is found.

Jeff Parker, the Director of re:generation at the Plano campus, shares his own powerful story of confession and repentance, and shows us four traits of all disciples. All disciples have a past, must come to a place of authentic confession, must run with other disciples, and must spend their lives pursuing God's purposes. Jeff looks at the life of Matthew the tax collector (Matthew 9:9-13) to show us how to live a life marked by confession, desiring now only to be used by God for His glory and purposes.

JP leads us during Raise the Mark, a service where our church gathers for an extended time of prayer, praise, and proclamation of what God has been doing in and through our body, and to partake corporately as the body of Christ in the Lord's Supper. During this time, we ask people to break into small groups and pray through the prayer guide inside the Watermark News.

Todd shares about Watermark Fort Worth's opportunity to purchase land and asks the church to prayerfully consider how the Lord would have them respond.

In this final sermon in the Better Together series, John, Adam, and Todd help hash out how a genuine biblical community operates. In this segment, Adam Tarnow discusses how biblical community operates when we pursue each other relationally in "L.O.V.E." by having the Latest information, being on Offense, prioritizing community as Vital relationships, and Expecting to work at it.

In this final sermon in the Better Together series, John, Adam, and Todd help hash out how a genuine biblical community operates. In this segment, Todd discusses how every individual, every community group is the a "location" of the local church. How's your location doing?

In this final sermon in the Better Together series, John, Adam, and Todd help hash out how a genuine biblical community operates. In this segment, John Elmore discusses how we grow by staying plugged in to the source through our devotional life by walking with Jesus throughout out day.

As a part of the first week of the "Better Together" series, Todd explains the importance of community. In particular he highlights the importance of church membership. He explains that we are all called to belong to one another, that all parts of the Body of Christ are necessary, and that as believers, we should be deeply connected to other believers in a local context.

Todd Wagner, Jonathan Pokluda, and Rob Barry collaborate to kick off a new series on community called “Better Together.” JP shows us how to be accountable to those in our community groups. He shares what we need to be held accountable to and for, and how to do it well.

Rob warns us of “cancers” that can kill relationships within your community: indifference to sin, "I'm not going there" or a lack of authenticity, and idleness towards scripture.

The Psalms are quite simply some of the most honest thoughts and emotions recorded in God’s Word. They are not complicated and are clear in pointing us toward our true path to follow in life, Jesus Christ. We learn from Psalm 1:1-6 how this path of blessing brings fulfillment, joy, satisfaction, and lasting pleasure when we delight in and devote ourselves fully to the source, God’s Word. God has given us this treasure, but we often ignore it and choose a path of our own leading to destruction. While it is not always easy to stay the course, it is clear how we are to do so. Be encouraged and remain firmly planted in the truth God gives us by His Word.

Todd shares that the birth recount of Christ was not something sweet and picturesque as we make it out to be. Instead, it's a story of redemption through tough situations. Todd uses illustrations of broken lives in relation to ingredients of God intervention, when He makes all things right and good.

In this final sermon in a two-part series on generosity, Todd shares how God’s indescribable gift—His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, and the reconciliation we have through Him—should prompt us to be generous givers as well. In 2 Corinthians 8–9, we see that God doesn’t want anything from us but rather for us. By encouraging us to be generous, He is not desiring to rip us off, but rather to set us free–even free to be conformed into the likeness of His Son, Who, “though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The antidote to the gravitational pull of money is generosity.

While teaching from 1 Timothy 6:17-19, JP shows us the roots of generosity (losing the love of money), the requirements of generosity (doing good and sharing), and the results of generosity (a truly rich life).

The book of Acts reminds us how God can do way more than we often think He can. We learn in Acts 9:31-43 from Peter’s example more specifically that we are not the light of the world, but we are the vessels through which the light is sent throughout the world. Our heavenly Father has left us here on this earth for a purpose and in this message Todd reminds us that God changes the world through people He changes and if we are not part of God changing the world we should ask ourselves if we have been truly changed by God.

In Acts 9:19–31, we see how Jesus Christ changed Paul’s purpose, problems, and perspective. Just as Jesus did for Paul, so too does He long to change our life as well. We would do well to pay attention to the lessons from this powerful passage in Acts!

While teaching Acts 9:1-19, Todd Wagner showed us the conversion of Saul, who would later give himself the name of Paul, and how Ananias responded faithfully to God’s call to love a person who formerly persecuted the church.

Faithful Christ followers not only know what needs to be done, but they actually take steps to do all that God asks of them. We learn from Acts 8:25-40 that extraordinary outcomes start with ordinary obedience, extraordinary opportunities open through ordinary obedience, and ordinary obedience leaves an extraordinary legacy. Most of us are not going to be remembered by what we do one day, so let us be remembered by what we do every day.

How should the church deal with those who crave power rather than a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ? In Acts 8:4-24, we see the apostles deal with Simon Magus, a Samaritan sorcerer in the time of the early church. We would do well to learn from their response, for false teachers and power-thirsty men and women continue to abound today.

Adam Tarnow teaches from Acts 8:1-8, where the church begins to scatter and the Gospel is spread from Jerusalem. Adam shows us that 1) God uses people, not positions, to share his message, 2) God scatters people on purpose, and 3) the world is changed when the good news is shared. The most significant contribution you make may not be something you do, but rather someone you share the good news with. So share the good news!

If you want to be a faithful witness, be prepared to have your faith tested. Todd preaches from Acts 7:54-8:1 about Stephen, a man of honor and faithfulness, who was tested and ultimately put to death for the message he delivered. Despite the criticism, Stephen saw, appealed to, and trusted Jesus. He was a faithful mailman delivering a faithful message about God. Likewise, we are here to suffer and serve the world, not to be celebrated by it.

In this day, we hear true love means do "what you want,” not “what is right.” God’s Word warns of this kind of love — a love divorced from God’s truth — which isn’t love at all, but is a deceitful kiss. God gives us His Word, His Spirit, and His people to help us live in His love and truth. Todd walks through Matthew 18:15-17 and describes the process of care and correction within our shepherded body. He explains a letter is a period at the end of a conversation. It is never a surprise, never impulsive, never without community and elder agreement, never without a path back towards restoration, never lacks specificity, never separates truth and grace, never the desire, and always with love and friendship. A friend speaks the truth in love, faithfully wounds, and cares personally. Jesus Christ is filled with grace and truth, and His love calls us to repentance and calls us — as ambassadors of Christ — to call others to the same.

Todd teaches through Acts 6:7-7:58, which is Stephen's sermon. Stephen's sermon walks through the rich story of the Old Testament, which culminates in Jesus Christ destroying the shadow of temple worship, fulfilling the law, and giving a bigger vision for the spread of Christianity now to all people of all nations.

Too often we conclude it is a risk to our desires to go all in for Christ rather than the fulfilment of them. We learn from Luke 18:18-30 that there are three things that will keep us from going all in: self-reliance, fear of losing what you have, and not realizing what you will gain. The one true rich, young ruler invites us in and we would be fools to not say “yes” every time, with everything.

“Factions and distractions” will disrupt any organization on mission, including the church. In Acts 6:1–7, God’s Word tells us how the early church fought against these two internal threats. After listening to the concerns of the marginalized Hellenized Jews, the apostles divided and then delegated the work of the ministry to Spirit-filled leaders. We would do well to learn from their example, as factions and distractions continue to threaten the church today!

JP teaches on Acts 5:17-42. As we see the apostles, imprisoned, set free and then continuing to share the gospel, we learn that the gospel is not like a fad that dies out quickly. The gospel, instead, grows stronger in opposition, it will not be stopped, and it moves forward through believers. JP encourages us to live out the purpose of our lives as followers of Christ, to share the gospel.

We will either be a good example or a horrible warning to others with our lives. We learn from Acts 5:1-14 that holding back even one area of your life from God can cause destruction. Our God is serious about removing sin from where He dwells, and we should be too.