The Porch

In our world, joy seems to be a lost art — so where do we find it? This week, Kylen Perry leads us through the book of Philippians, where God gives us a roadmap to a life of excitement, joy, wonder, and delight.

God wants more for your life than occasional optimism. He wants you to have and experience true joy, because He that's who He innately is. This week, we kick off our aptly named "Joy" series as Kylen Perry points to a variety of Scriptures that all lead to one conclusion — the Joy you’ve been looking for came looking for you.

Has your jealousy turned everyone around you into the competition? This week, our lead pastor and elder, Timothy "TA" Ateek, leads us through 1 Samuel 18 to show us how different people dealt with the future king David's success, and what it means for us to celebrate the success of those in our lives who seem to turn everything they touch to gold.

How do we pick up and put back the pieces when we're suffering — and how do we reconcile that God allowed it to happen? This week, as we close out our "Deconstructed" series, Kylen Perry walks us through John 16 to remind us that God has made us a way through our suffering now and will one day remove it forever.

Two things can be true: Life can be hard and God can be good. This week, this idea is unpacked as Kylen Perry points to Matthew 11 to show us how God meets us in moments of disappointment and reminds us of His truth when we come to a crisis in our faith.

Rather than conforming our lives to the truth, we often try to conform the truth to fit our lives. This week, Kylen Perry walks us through John 18 as we see Jesus answer the question "What is truth?" — a question many of us might be asking ourselves.

Has your church experience felt like a bait and switch? As Kylen Perry picks back up in Matthew 23, we can be encouraged that no matter how big an issue we have with religious hypocrisy, Jesus has a bigger one — and that He has come to heal the hurt in His church.

What do you think of when you hear "spiritual warfare?" While it might seem like science fiction, the reality is that it's all around us — and we have to be prepared as believers. This week, guest speaker and Lead pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church, Jonathan "JP" Pokluda, leads us through Ephesians 6 as he reminds us that in the face of danger, we have to take up the Armor of God.

Sometimes what makes us doubt God's goodness is the lack of goodness we've seen in His people. So how do we overcome our hurt when it was caused by friendly fire? This week, Kylen Perry takes us through Matthew 23 to show how Jesus dealt with religious figures who leveraged their authority against the people Christ came to save.

What happens when you have doubts? This week, as we kick off our "Deconstructed" series, Kylen Perry walks us through Luke 24 to remind us that God doesn't want to build in us an unbreakable belief as much as He wants to build an unbreakable bond — and that through every doubt, we have an opportunity to love God more.

The Porch Returns this week to talk about what it means to depend on the Lord while navigating the new. Our Director, Kylen Perry, points to Numbers 13-14 to remind us of key truths from Scripture that should mark our decision-making and actions as believers.

Have you lost your wonder for the Christmas season? For our "Christmas At The Porch" message, Kylen Perry reminded us of Philippians 2:6-11, where we're told we can have peace, joy, and hope in every season because Jesus reigns over all.

Too often, we view salvation as essential and discipleship as optional — but in Scripture, we see that it's impossible to find Jesus and not follow Him. This week, Kylen Perry takes us to Matthew 28 to remind us of our God-given purpose and role in the Great Commission.

Have we grown disenchanted in our discipleship to Jesus? This week, Kylen Perry takes us to Revelation 2 to remind us that if we've lost our love for Jesus it may be time to be reacquainted with our Savior.

Believers are told we have the unmatched gift of Christ in us — so why do we act so underwhelmed by the God of the universe making His home in our hearts? This week, guest speaker Drew Worsham takes us through Colossians 1:24-29 to remind us of the mystery and majesty of our relationship with the Lord of our lives.

When we lack control in a situation it's easy to feel fearful, stressed, and overwhelmed. This week, our Lead Pastor and Elder Timothy "TA" Ateek points to Mark 4:35-41 to remind us that when we cast our cares upon the Prince of Peace, we can choose faith over fear.

It may feel impossible to believe that after all the times we’ve hidden from, avoided, and ran from God, He would still be faithful to pursue us— but that's exactly what Scripture says to be true. This week, our guest speaker, Brenna Blain, describes how the Lord used the book of Hosea in her own story and reminds us that God is faithful even when we are not.

So many of us want a life of deep meaning and to be connected to something that truly matters — and the Bible tells us that God wants those things for us too. This week, Kylen Perry takes us to Matthew 14:22-33 to show us that we find this not just by knowing of Jesus, but by becoming more like Him.

Being a disciple of Jesus means we must seek His people — but who are His people? This week, Kylen Perry points to Luke 8:26-39 to show us that Jesus has always sought to give dignity to the defiled and extend salvation to those we may deem too far gone.

What did Jesus say is the greatest commandment? To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. But how do we actually do that? This week, Kylen Perry walks us through Matthew 22:34-40 and gives us practical ways to live out what is most important.

Jesus has extended us the ultimate invitation — one where we can lay down our burdens and enjoy true rest in relationship with Him. This week, our Lead Pastor Timothy "TA" Ateek points to Matthew 11:28-30 to remind us that we shouldn't settle for anything less than full satisfaction through our Savior.

How do we respond when Jesus says, "Follow Me"? What does it even mean to follow him? This week, Kylen Perry dives into Luke 5:1-11 to show us the response we ought to have when we encounter Jesus. Following Jesus has a cost but nothing is worth keeping if it keeps us from Jesus.

How should we think about ourselves as children of God? True significance isn’t found in who you are; it’s found in who God is. This week, Kylen Perry refers to the story of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3 to remind us that we won't feel worthy until God enters our story.

Do we look for the path of least resistance when God is calling us to follow the path that leads to Him? This week, our guest speaker Nate Hilgenkamp, young adults and teaching pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church, takes us to 2 Samuel 15 & 18 to remind us that God doesn’t promise easy, instead He’s given us a Kingdom purpose in enemy territory.

You've heard that comparison is the thief of joy, but what else is it stealing from us? If we look to our left, right, or even down at our phones, it's not hard to find someone to compare ourselves against — but Kylen Perry reminds us through John 21 that while comparison turns friends into rivals, Christ's compassion frees us from the fear of deficiency.

This week, we welcomed John Cox, Watermark's executive pastor, and Caitlin Van Wagoner, Watermark's senior communications director, on stage with Kylen Perry to share Biblical truths and practical wisdom they've learned over the course of their careers.

Following Jesus isn't a solo sport, and we're called to pass the baton of faith on to those around us. But how do we do this well? This week, Josiah Jones walks through Hebrews 12 to show us lessons he's learned from Scripture and a life of ministry on how to live out the mission we've been called to.

We often want to find our purpose in our work, but God has already filled our jobs with purpose. This week, Kylen Perry refers to Ephesians 6 to show us that we've been instructed in how to work well in a world that wants us to work with an agenda.

The ideas of revenge and bitterness aren’t exactly new, but the Bible and the world have very different opinions on how we should deal with the sting of betrayal. This week, Kylen Perry points to Genesis 37-50, where Joseph is betrayed by everyone around him - including his own brothers - yet God uses what some meant for evil for the good of a nation.

The Bible uses a lot of “family” language, but what does it mean that we’re a part of God’s family? This week, Oren Martin, Watermark’s Senior Director of Equipping, points to Mark 3:20-35 to show us how Jesus is making a new family of God on earth gathered around Himself — and he’s doing it with outsiders.

How we relate to Jesus says a lot about how we'll relate to our spouse. This week, Kylen Perry and his wife, Brooke, walk us through the misconceptions of marriage and what scripture says marriage is - and isn't - truly about.

We spend a lot of time seeing if other people measure up to our ideal dating checklist — but have we stopped to evaluate ourselves first? This week, Kylen Perry points to 1 Timothy 4:12 and other passages to remind us that a meaningful connection to God is the source of a meaningful connection to others.

Why do we have friends — and more importantly how do we become good ones? As we kick off "The Relationship Series," Kylen Perry points to 1 Samuel 18 to show us the theology of friendship and how we can deepen the relationships that God gave us for our enjoyment.

The more we look to Jesus, the more we become like Him — and that means living like we believe we have a mission here on earth, because we do. This week, Kylen Perry points to Colossians 4:2-6 to remind us that as we gain clarity of Christ, we should start to pray, walk, and speak differently than we did before.

What if you believe in God, but just don’t feel Him right now? This week, guest speaker Tyler Moffett, points us to Isaiah 49 as we consider what it means to navigate trials and suffering while trusting in God’s promises — and it all starts with a moment of surrender.

The world has repackaged the shackles of pornography as the symbol of sexual freedom — so how do we move forward? This week, Timothy "TA" Ateek points to Colossians 3:5 to remind us that we're called to put all sexual immorality - whether it's videos, books, thoughts - to death and live in the freedom that Christ offers.

If we're made new when we accept Christ, why do we try to keep the old? This week, Kylen Perry walks us through Colossians 3:1-17 to remind us that we're called to set our sin aside and set our minds on Christ instead.

Are you trying to add to Jesus? This week, Kylen Perry walks us through Colossians 2:16-23 to show us that we don't have to chase spiritual feelings, seek moral activities, or give an impressive appearance — our love of Christ is what makes us more like Him.

Do you put more weight on your faith in God or your fear of failure? This week, guest speaker Nate Hilgenkamp takes us through Numbers 13-14 to remind us that when we expand our view of God, we'll realize that He's never been (and will never be) the God of "good enough."

Who - or what - is lord of your life? If you claim Jesus Christ, then there has to be a total life transformation that follows. This week, Kylen Perry walks us through Colossians 2 to give us a few lessons for the living we see Paul outline for the church of Colossae.

Who is Jesus really? Is he a miracle worker? Religious figure? The guy my parents believe in? Or is He something more altogether? This week, Kylen Perry walks us through Colossians 1:15-20 to provide clarity on who Jesus actually is. Speaker: Kylen Perry

While we were once slaves to our sin, Jesus came to make a way for us to live as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father — so why do we still act like orphans? This week, guest speaker Drew Worsham walks us through the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 to remind us that we're not defined by our rebellion, but by our reconciliation to the Father.

The point of a Christian life is to know God and live for Him — how can we tell if we're actually doing this, though? As Kylen Perry reminds us through Colossians 1 - where Paul is reminding the believers in Colossae - when we walk with the Lord, our very identity changes and we should show some signs of new life.

What are you known for? This week we kicked off our new series "Above All," and Kylen Perry takes us through Colossians 1 to show us what it means to have a genuine faith that leaves a lasting impression.

We’re called to be holy and set apart from the world in all areas of life. This week, guest speaker and Lead Pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church Jonathan “J.P.” Pokluda reminded us through 1 Thessalonians 4 that when we act on sexual desires outside of God’s design we end up in places we never meant to go.

Do you want Jesus to be Lord over all your life, or just part of it? This week, Kylen Perry walks us through John 9 to show us that Jesus will meet us where we are, but He isn't just concerned with healing the areas of our lives we decide need fixing, He wants to make everything new.

What are you putting your confidence in? Whether it’s your literal resume or your spiritual one, when we treat Jesus like a sidenote in the story we come up empty-handed. This week, Josiah Jones takes us through Philippians 3 to remind us we don’t need to perform for Christ, we just need to pursue Him.

All of life is a drawing close or a drifting away from God — but what makes the difference? This week, Kylen Perry points to 1 John 1 and makes the case that confessing our sin and accepting the gift of forgiveness is the key to closeness to Christ.

Are you addicted to being busy? Finding satisfaction in an ever-growing to-do list? While it's easy to slip into achiever mode, this week Kylen Perry takes us through Luke 10 to show us that when we live distracted we risk missing out on the one thing we really need — to focus fully on Jesus.

Surrender by nature is uncomfortable, yet it's what God instructs us to do daily. When a rich young ruler in Mark 10 is told this it leads to disappointment, but this week Kylen Perry reminds us that the cost of following Jesus is nothing compared to what we get in return.