Join The Journey

How did Philip vanish after his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch? Why is Bible teaching important? How should we view evangelism and discipleship? In this episode, Emma Dotter and Watermark Students Resident, Ellie Higgins, discuss the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40. Together, they explore the importance of Bible teaching, being Spirit-led to share the gospel, and the joy of understanding Scripture. 
 
// ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: 

Luke 24: 13-35; 2 Timothy 3: 16-17; Hebrews 4: 12; 1 Peter 3: 15; John 6: 21; Luke 4: 30 

// RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  
S4:266 – Acts 7-8 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-266-acts-7-8/id1600151923?i=1000735540307) 
 

// RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: 
Christ from Beginning to End by Stephen J. Wellum and Trent Hunter (https://a.co/d/0d1RXPpP) 
Christian Theology by Christopher W. Morgan with Robert A. Peterson (https://a.co/d/0bB797cA) 
Learn the overarching story of Scripture: God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts (https://a.co/d/07y2Qfc4) 
Learn the Bible’s key people, events, and doctrines: 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders (https://a.co/d/04JQL8Fe) 
// WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? 
Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we’re studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week’s passage. Then, for the next six days, we’ll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we’ll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God’s Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. 
Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com
Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr
Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  
// MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  
Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources
Previous years’ print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma...
Contact the Join The Journey team: [email protected]

"In today's Conversations for the Journey, host and Care Director Wes Butler leads us in praying through Acts 8:26-40. This week, Wes leads us in prayer for three things: for our church to be sensitive to God's sending, for the lost to have an increased hunger and curiosity for Christ, and that we would have a hunger to be witnesses for Jesus Christ to the lost.

Have questions about faith? Check out Great Questions every Monday night at Watemark. https://www.watermark.org/events/6872-great-questions

If you would like to submit a prayer request to the Watermark prayer team, you can do so at https://www.watermark.org/prayer

You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665

Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources!
https://www.jointhejourney.com/

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df"

How should we think about unclean spirits? What are demons? Is spiritual warfare real? What’s so important about Samaria? In this episode, Emma Dotter and Ryan Garrahan, Watermark’s Director of Community Formation, talk about why there was such an intense rivalry between Jews and Samaritans. Then, Emma unpacks unclean spirits, demons, the spiritual realm, and the confidence followers of Jesus have in the face of spiritual warfare.  

// ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: 

1 Kings 16: 24; 11: 31-33; 2 Kings 17; Nehemiah 4: 2; John 4; Luke 10; Acts 1: 8; 8: 1; 1 Kings 16: 24; Ephesians 6: 12; 1 John 3: 8b; Colossians 2: 15; Hebrews 2: 14; Revelation 12: 9-11a; 20: 10; Deuteronomy 32: 16-17; Psalm 106: 35-37; 1 Corinthians 10: 20; 1 Samuel 16: 23; Mark 1: 27; Matthew 12: 28; 10: 5-8; Mark 3: 14-15; Luke 10: 17-20; Acts 16: 18; 19:11-12; 1 John 5: 19; 4: 4; Ephesians 4: 10, 26–27 

// RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  
S4:266 – Acts 7-8 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-266-acts-7-8/id1600151923?i=1000735540307) 
// RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: 
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem - https://a.co/d/0dDrzUwi 
// WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? 
Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we’re studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week’s passage. Then, for the next six days, we’ll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we’ll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God’s Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. 
Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com
Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr
Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  
// MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  
Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources
Previous years’ print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma...
Contact the Join The Journey team: [email protected]

"In today's Conversations for the Journey, host and Care Director Wes Butler leads us in praying through Acts 8:1-25. This week, Wes leads us in prayer for three things: that God would increase the joy and goodness in our city through salvation, pray against pride in those who do not know Christ, and that we would be marked by humility when confronted with our sin.

If you would like to submit a prayer request to the Watermark prayer team, you can do so at https://www.watermark.org/prayer

You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665

Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources!
https://www.jointhejourney.com/

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df"

What is a martyr? Why was Stephen's death so pivotal? Do people still get killed for following Jesus? In this episode, Emma Dotter unpacks the death of the first Christian martyr in Acts 7:54-8:3 and the history of followers of Jesus being killed for their faith. Then, Watermark’s International Missions Director, Bruce Kendrick, joins to discuss how we should think about persecution and martyrdom today. We don't have to fear death because Christ promises eternal life. 

// ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: 

Luke 21: 16 

// RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  
S4:266 – Acts 7-8 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-266-acts-7-8/id1600151923?i=1000735540307) 

// RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: 
The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken with Gregg Lewis - https://a.co/d/01I1REnl 
Serve international students in Dallas: https://www.watermark.org/outreach/international-students  
Learn more about international missions: https://www.watermark.org/discovermissions 
Learn about and pray for the persecuted church: https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/persecution/countries/  
// WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? 
Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we’re studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week’s passage. Then, for the next six days, we’ll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we’ll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God’s Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. 
Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com
Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr
Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  
// MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  
Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources
Previous years’ print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma...
Contact the Join The Journey team: [email protected]