Watermark Audio: Sunday Messages

Love is the nature of God; love is the totality and essence of all that the word of God and the law of God teach. This message draws the distinction that God is love, but love is not God. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. " 1 John 4:8 ESV

How can God use a nobody to do something great? Responsibilities and reminders are outlined throughout John 15, emphasizing our continuous need for Him, to abide in Him, to love him, to prepare and proclaim Him. "4. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5 (ESV)

The Bible provides blueprints for church leadership, not just any man should lead a church, but men of good reputation who are lead by the spirit, and know the word of God. In this sermon we discuss the roles of elders and leadership at Watermark.

Tommy Nelson of Denton Bible Church (dentonbible.org) joins us and shares some great truths from the book of Daniel. How are we the church to live amongst a post-modern America? Tommy takes us through 12 lessons from the life of Daniel who, like us, is living in a land that is not his home.

In the letter to the Hebrews, the author reminds them of the "great cloud of witnesses" who have gone before them. They suffered, struggled, and endured coming out the other side saying "He is worth it!" What hindrances in your life are keeping you from running like the patriarchs in Hebrews 11?

Jesus is the King of Peace, and we can trust Him with anything that happens to us in this life. In this message, we hear from several believers who have been through great trials and heartache, yet they lean into their Savior. They have learned to trust Him more through these struggles, and they are a glorious picture of how the peace of God can reign in any circumstance.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) The Spirit of God, the Helper, dwells with us. He is sovereign over all and He loves us, so how could we worry about anything in this world? The peace of God should rest on those who trust Him.

"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:4-7)

A conversation about hope, life, work, and parenting.

"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." (John 14:21). Is Jesus saying that I must be obedient in order for Him to love me? How does this verse fit with verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 that say we are saved by grace through faith alone? If we really celebrate God's love we will walk in the will of God because we trust Him. A love that doesn't labor is lunacy and lifeless.

"We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19) How do you know Christ is your lover and your King? When your life is defined by obedience and relationship with God (the Father, the Son, and the Spirit). Now, we will surely fall and disobey, but do not let your heart be troubled! Sinners on their way to glorification can be strong through repentance and reconciliation as they rely on the person of the Holy Spirit and continue in the faith! Rely on the Helper to cultivate a new heart in you, that your life would honor the Father.

The Holy Spirit is With Those Who Believe

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (John 14:12) We who believe will do great works through Christ. Believers, are you living lives that bring glory to your Savior? Are you living faithfully for Him, and are you surrounded by stories of God moving people from darkness to light? If not, you need to ask yourself if you are an irregular believer or if you believe at all. Follow Him!

Are you weary and troubled? Take heart! Jesus is the source of peace in all circumstances and is in control, marching forward with His plan. Through the person of Christ, we have been delivered from the penalty and the power of sin - He experienced our trouble so that we could live peacefully in His provision! Now trust Him to continually deliver us from the presence of sin in our lives. Believers, He died so that we may live life now, not only after we are gone from the earth. Do you know the power of His work today?

All great stories point to the ultimate story. We see Christ in the stories of the Old Testament, in classic fairy tails, and even in box office blockbusters. We are drawn to redemption stories and they are all just a picture of the greatest redemption story ever told: Jesus defeating death and redeeming us to Himself! He is risen indeed!