Join The Journey

Did God punish Herod too harshly in Acts 12? Was God fair to hold him accountable for something he didn’t do? In this episode, Emma Dotter covers the death of Herod at the end of Acts 12, explaining why he was immediately struck down when people called him a god. She explores what this passage tells us about God’s holiness, character, and perfect justice, as well as man's accountability for sin, and what it all means for us today. 

// RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  
S4:268 Acts 12-14 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-268-acts-12-14/id1600151923?i=1000735847137) 
 

// 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]

Are you ever surprised when God answers prayers? Should we pray even if we doubt God will answer? How do emotions play into doubt? In this episode, Emma Dotter explores how the early church was surprised by God answering their prayers for Peter to be freed from prison, how that applies to our prayer lives today, and how God doesn’t rely on our emotional stability to answer prayers. 

// RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  
S4:268 Acts 12-14 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-268-acts-12-14/id1600151923?i=1000735847137)  

// 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 12. This week, Wes leads us in prayer for three things: for those who are greiving to receive comfort, for those asking for a miracle, and for faith in us to wait on God's answers.

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 the purpose of speaking in tongues throughout the book of Acts? What does its presence in Acts 10:34-11:30 signify? In this episode, Emma Dotter explores how speaking in tongues was purposeful in the book of Acts. Tongues signified the spread of the gospel beyond the Jewish people to the Gentiles. She also discusses the difference between descriptive and prescriptive texts in Scripture and provides insight into applying these passages today. 

// RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  
S4:267 Acts 9-11 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-267-acts-9-11/id1600151923?i=1000735699050) 

// 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]

Why was Peter’s vision about food? And how did he know God wanted him to connect that to Gentiles believing in Jesus? In this episode, Emma Dotter circles back to Acts 10:1-33 and breaks down Peter’s vision about the animals and the sheet. To us, it seems random, but to Peter, it would have been a clear reference to the rules of cleanliness, the dietary laws, and the ceremonial rituals laid out in the Old Testament—God was doing something new. 

// ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: 

Hebrews 9: 13-14; Acts 1: 8 

// RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  
S4:267 Acts 9-11 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-267-acts-9-11/id1600151923?i=1000735699050) 

// 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]