Join The Journey – Details, episodes & analysis

What is God's design for gender identity and marriage? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark Family Director Chris Sherrod to walk through how Genesis 1-5 shapes how we live today. God is the designer and definer of reality, so He in His goodness is the one who gets to determine gender and marriage. However, our culture says we are the ones who get to decide our own reality. Genesis 3:15 foreshadows a promise that the rest of the Old Testament unfolds that a serpent-crusher will come to redeem and restore God's creation that sin has distorted. 
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 Isaiah 29:16 – God is our designer
 Isaiah 64:8 – we are all the work of God's hand
 Romans 8:18-25 – our bodies will be redeemed and healed fully one day
 
 For a helpful resource on helping children understand gender, check out this book by Marty Machowski God Made Boys and Girls:
 https://www.christianbook.com/girls-helping-children-understand-gift-gender/marty-machowski/9781645070313/pd/070315?en=google&event=SHOP&kw=childrens-books-0-20%7C070315&p=1179710&utm_source=google&p=1234083&dv=c&cb_src=google&cb_typ=shopping&cb_cmp=20379181146&cb_adg=157175267691&cb_kyw=&utm_medium=shopping&snav=GMERCH&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsOq6BhDuARIsAGQ4-zjFVPL-Iu9c1Em2ttnLIkV930N0uInCIEPhnZD-xZ3d0HK90BZ2loAaAh7IEALw_wcB

Today, Emma Dotter finishes out the 2024 year by discussing Revelation 22:16-20, Jesus' identity, the call to come, and the hope we have in Jesus' return. 

In today's episode, Emma Dotter discusses Micah 5:2-5 and how Jesus' eternal nature reminds us that he is the eternal king, our shepherd who cares and loves for us, and the one who gives us true peace. 
 
 Year of the Word Prayer Service 
 January 5th in the Watermark Chapel from 5:30pm - 6:30pm
 
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
 
 Order our NEW Join The Journey Jr. Discussion cards to help you and your family study the Bible together: https://my.watermark.org/registration?RegistrationInstanceId=4093

Is it possible for God's steadfast love to cease? And is it okay for us to ask that? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark staff member Lauren Atkinson to talk about Psalm 77 and how we wrestle with doubt that comes from suffering. When Asaph is in suffering, he is honest with God and calls himself to remember God's faithfulness in his life. Jesus Christ has shown us that His love for us could never cease.
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 Psalm 73 – "why do the wicked prosper?"
 Isaiah 9:6 – the Messiah is "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God"
 Romans 8:39 – "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus"
 John 17:23 – "you loved them even as you loved me"
 
 Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g
  
 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
  
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

"If we don't appreciate the wrath of God, we are minimizing what Jesus accomplished on the cross." In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member John Michael Davis talk about how when we take sin lightly, that hinders us from understanding the fullness of the gospel.
 
 Grab a Psalms Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g
 
 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
 
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

When the world feels like it is spinning out of control, how do you remind yourself that God is the one who steadies the pillars? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member Amber H. dive into Psalm 75 and talk about how God is just and executes good judgement. Because of this, we can sing praises to the Lord no matter the circumstance.
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
 Psalm 33:4-5, “For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.”
 2 Peter 3:9, " The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
 
 Want to listen to our episode on Psalm 9? Check out the link below!
 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jtmmDaTHQQ6fMc65H26XW?si=88dc4df4101048e4
 
 Grab a Psalms Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g
 
 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
 
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

Who or what is a Leviathan? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark high school senior Tee Parker dive into Psalm 74 and the different interpretations of Leviathan. Whether the Leviathan was a myth about chaos or a real sea serpent creature, we can know that when facing evil and enemies of God, we can trust that in the struggle, God will be faithful to deliver us.
 
 Check out Tee Parker’s previous episode!
 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mb7gJYTFmL0PfpwQ1DAlk?si=4e73e5f8a2c042b6
 
 Grab a Psalms Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g
 
 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM

How can we learn from verses we may not easily understand? Today, Join the Journey staff member Lauren Atkinson considers the context while studying Psalm 73. The author, Asaph, was a righteous man who was despondent as he saw the prosperity of the wicked. When we see the wicked prosper, we can look to God for wisdom in discerning the future, and realize that first: purity, obedience and faithfulness are not for nothing, and second: that in God’s presence, there is fulness of joy.
 
 Additional Scripture referenced:
 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
 Hebrews 11:24-25, “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.”
 
 Grab a Psalms Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g
 
 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
 
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

Today, Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member, Ben Solomon, who serves with School Impact to reach students and parents of local schools. In Psalm 72, Solomon describes a just king, but how does that relate to our call as Christians today? Ben walks us through how Psalm 72 is a picture of God’s heart for children in poverty and how we as believers can respond. No matter our decisions on education, our conversations should reflect the love of Christ and his heart for children of every socioeconomic status. 
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced: 
 Ephesians 4:29 – "let no unwholesome talk come out of our mouths"
 Colossians 4:6 – "let your speech always be gracious"
 
 For more of Ben’s story, check out his previous episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2-235-nehemiah-13/id1600151923?i=1000637165655
 
 To learn more about School Impact and resources for parents or ways to serve, check out this link: https://www.watermark.org/ministries/engage/school-impact
 
 
 Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g
  
 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
  
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
 

How can we balance petitioning God for help while placing our confidence in Him? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Join The Journey staff member Lauren Atkinson to talk through Psalm 71. David appeals to God’s righteousness and asks for God’s refuge while recounting God’s faithfulness in the past, present and future. This psalm provides a model for how we can pray as we praise God for His character and ask Him to act according to who He is. We know now that David's prayer for salvation and deliverance in God's righteousness is answered fully and finally in Christ.
 
 Additional Scripture mentioned:
 Colossians 2:9-10, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”
 1 Corinthians 1:30, “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
 
 Check out Lauren’s previous episode:
 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oYLSsWyw2kTfnYCz7xWyL?si=dcec620db1284013
 
 If you're interested in serving on the Join The Journey Hospitality Team, check out this link: https://www.watermark.org/search/serve?query=Join%20the%20journey
 
 Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g
 
 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
 
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898