Watermark Audio: Sunday Messages

God doesn't want us to deny our desires, he wants our desire to be informed by wisdom. But we need to put aside our filthiness and wickedness, and be filled with humility and receive the word of God. "Daaaad!" video used by permission | Igniter Media

God isn't trying to rip us off, but rather set us free. He desire to lead us, but often we pursue our own desires despite his wisdom. When we live and abide with the father we know his character. We know of his goodness and well intent for us. Apart from him we can be tempted by the things of this world leading us astray from the fullness of joy in him.

Life isn't always the easy road, it often presents us with trials and tribulations which test our faith. We often need to check our lives considering Christ's goodness and love, not being swayed by tribulation. The way the world will know we are believers in God is not by our professing to know him, but by publicly living out the transformed life Christ has brought about in use as we have declared our faith in him.

We live in a world that likes the idea of exclusivity but denies things based on a fear of rejection. In the same way, culture tends reject Christ on the same grounds. Yet we know Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. A truth that defines the world Christ made, and provides a life as Christ intended cannot exist apart from Christ. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" John 14:6

We trust Christ for having forgiven our sins, but often not for the freedom from our sins living in slavery to sin. Slavery to our sin is the problem, what is the answer to the problem? We need to die to ourselves and accept that the old "me" is dead and gone, raised up to walk in the light of Christ.

Christ's love controls us, as he died for us all so that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ who gave His life for us. Dying to one self may be the most difficult spiritual discipline, but we know that those who seek Him know Him. "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Baptism is being identified with Christ's death resurrection breaking the power of sin and death in our lives. As an outward symbol of and inward faith to identify to the world that we are followers of Christ.

There are a number of reasons you might “want” to be baptized, or not want to be baptized. But what are some reasons you really to be baptized? Having trusted in Christ alone and being aware we’re sinners in need of a savior, and abiding in Christ in everything we do. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

For our sake Christ gave his life on the cross for our sins, so that in he we might become the righteousness of God. Apart from him we are devoid of Christ, but in with Christ he breathes life into us, so that we might know he is Lord and serve him. As John 14:12 shows us, '...whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these'"

A time of reflection, communion and preparation for Easter. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24

David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus, joins us at Watermark to discuss the symbols and significance for Christ followers in the Jewish Passover Seder. David will re-create the traditional Passover service and explain how it foreshadowed Jesus' death and resurrection as well as the connection between the events of the first Passover in Egypt and the redemption that Jesus accomplished.

Nearly two thousand years ago, on a single weekend in the Jewish month of Nisan, two profound miracles occurred, the effects of which have reverberated throughout human history. The first miracle no one saw, because it couldn't be seen except by God Himself. The second miracle only a few saw, but multitudes actually experienced. This was the week of Jesus' passion, the occasion of His miraculous death and resurrection. If you've ever pondered the question of why Jesus came in the first place, this important new presentation will help elucidate the mystery, that the Son of God was "delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."

Todd and Greg Answer Questions About the Faith

Communion is a remembrance of Christ's love and sacrifice for us, and a blatant acknowledgement of his grace. As we take a look inside ourselves to evaluate our own heart and consecrate the selfless example Christ set for us, and a celebration of his resurrection. We do this in remembrance of Christ, his broken body, and blood which was poured out for the forgiveness of our sins.

Christ learned obedience through suffering, we learn Christ likeness through serving like him. There is no joy, nor freedom in a self obsessed life. We can draw from Christ's example as he came not to be served, but to serve as the ransom for many. "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28