TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST

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Dortha Harvey
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1 TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST

Welcome to the Watermark Equipping Ministry REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE on your spiritual journey, we want to equip you to take the next step in your relationship with the Lord.

2 Welcome to the Watermark Equipping Ministry REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE on your spiritual journey, we want to equip you to take the next step in your relationship with the Lord. Whether you are exploring Christianity, beginning a relationship with Christ, or growing or maturing in your faith, we offer classes and resources designed just for you. Our classes cover a wide range of topics from Bible study, theology, and apologetics to biblical stewardship and leadership. Our goal is to help you grow in your knowledge and application of the truth. This booklet helps you choose the equipping opportunity that is best for you. We recommend that you consider where you are on your spiritual journey, determine the demands on your time during this season of life, and focus on the topics you are most interested in exploring. Then, because we believe life change happens best within the context of community, we encourage you to invite a few friends and join us! Please let us know how we can help you take the next step...

OUR TEAM BLAKE HOLMES (bholmes@watermark.org) Senior Equipping Director, Director of The Watermark Institute Oversees Equipping Ministry KENDALL ELLISON (kellison@watermark.

3 OUR TEAM BLAKE HOLMES Senior Equipping Director, Director of The Watermark Institute Oversees Equipping Ministry KENDALL ELLISON Join The Journey and Equipping Coordinator Join The Journey, Summit Men s Bible Study, The Watermark Institute BOBBY CROTTY (bcrotty@watermark.org) Men s Equipping Director Join The Journey, Summit Men s Bible Study, Training Day KAREN HENSON (khenson@watermark.org) Equipping Coordinator Women s Bible Study, Equipping Podcast GIGI HORNBERGER (ghornberger@watermark.org) Women s Equipping Director Women s Bible Study and Equipping KELSEY INMAN (kinman@watermark.org) Equipping Assistant Women s Bible Study, Training Day NATHAN WAGNON (nwagnon@watermark.org) Director of Equipping and Apologetics Great Questions, Equipped Disciple, Core Classes, Equipping Podcast KATE ROMERO (kromero@watermark.org) Equipping Assistant Moneywise, Equipping Courses, Great Questions, Equipped Disciple

Exploring You have questions or doubts about what the Bible says, tend to be skeptical of the church, and may seek God in times of need. Beginning You recently trusted in Jesus as your Savior.

4 Where am I now? Maturing Growing Your friends would describe you as someone who is fully surrendered to the Lord s will. You are consistently practicing the spiritual disciplines, actively sharing your faith, using your gifts, and routinely leading others. Exploring You have questions or doubts about what the Bible says, tend to be skeptical of the church, and may seek God in times of need. Beginning You recently trusted in Jesus as your Savior. You are beginning to understand and practice the spiritual disciplines, are seeking others to help you interpret Scripture, are hungry to learn and participate in ministry, and are enthusiastic to share your faith. You look to the Bible for direction for your life, are growing in your understanding of what it means to be fully devoted to Christ, participate in a community group, are developing your ability to share and defend your faith, and serve regularly. It is challenging to pinpoint where we are on our spiritual journey because we all go through different seasons. Sometimes we feel closer to the Lord than at other times. Where would you say you are now?

No question is off limits. Anyone is welcome to attend. No cost and no registration required. Meets weekly. greatquestions@watermark.

5 EXPLORING GREAT QUESTIONS If you are exploring the Christian faith, we encourage you to attend Great Questions. This class offers a safe place to ask questions about who Jesus is and what it means to start a relationship with Him, express your doubts, and discover what the Bible teaches. No question is off limits. Anyone is welcome to attend. No cost and no registration required. Meets weekly. greatquestions@watermark.org BEGINNING & GROWING EQUIPPED DISCIPLE 1-3 Equipped Disciple will help you grow in faith through the spiritual disciplines of daily Bible study, prayer, and evangelism. Think of spiritual disciplines as training that promotes godliness. They can be compared to spiritual exercises just as physical disciplines promote strength, so spiritual disciplines promote godliness. Three levels of classes that meet weekly for 11 weeks each in the spring, summer, and fall. equippeddisciple@watermark.org SUMMIT MEN S BIBLE STUDY Learn... Live... Lead. Join us as we learn how God uses imperfect people to carry out His plan, live out the truths of Scripture in our daily lives, and lead others by sharing those truths in a way that transforms lives. Meets weekly for eight weeks during the spring and fall. Contact: Kendall Ellison kellison@watermark.org WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY We have two Bible studies, one on Wednesday morning and one on Thursday evening. You will encounter women of all ages and stages of life who are dedicated to becoming more fully devoted followers of Christ as they study the powerful, life-changing Word of God together. Meets weekly during the spring and fall. Contact: Kelsey Inman kinman@watermark.org TRAINING DAY Training Day offers a unique, one-day opportunity to learn about various topics, including, but not limited to, apologetics, Bible interpretation, theology, spiritual growth, and evangelism. In addition, many of our Training Day classes focus on equipping you with a biblical perspective on current events and contemporary issues. Join us for the next opportunity to grow in knowledge and wisdom! Typically meets on a Saturday in the spring and fall. Contact: Kelsey Inman kinman@watermark.org MONEYWISE This class focuses on teaching the basics of financial management and stewardship in accordance with biblical principles. Topics include expense tracking, budgeting, debt reduction, giving, and saving. Meets weekly for six weeks in the spring and fall. kromero@watermark.org JOIN THE JOURNEY Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, we invite everyone to participate in Join The Journey. Join The Journey is an online devotional that seeks to encourage people to make reading the Bible and applying its truths in our lives a daily habit. Sign up for free at jointhejourney.com to receive the daily s or download The Journey app available for ios and Android users. No class to attend. Start today! Contact: Kendall Ellison kellison@watermark.org WATERMARK.ORG/DALLAS/EQUIPPING

6 EQUIPPING COURSES These courses help you understand the essentials of biblical Christianity. The selection of courses will equip you to study the Bible effectively; understand, deepen, and defend your faith; and gain a deeper appreciation for Jesus as the centerpiece of Scripture. Each class meets weekly for five to six weeks throughout the year. kromero@watermark.org COVER TO COVER: Understanding the Story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation This course guides you through the entire Bible so that you have an understanding of the structure, timeline, and themes of God s Word. THE LIFE OF CHRIST: The Mission and Message of Jesus This course gives you a deeper appreciation for Jesus as you examine the context, claims, works, message, death, and resurrection of the greatest life ever lived. FOLLOWING JESUS: Foundations of Christian Discipleship What does it mean to follow Jesus? How can you grow in spiritual maturity? What are practical steps you can take to cultivate a deeper relationship with Christ? This class answers these questions and others as you learn the foundations of Christian discipleship. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of the Christian life and a clear way forward to grow in your relationship with Jesus. KEYS TO EFFECTIVE BIBLE STUDY: How to Read, Interpret, and Apply the Bible Do you ever wonder if your understanding of Scripture is accurate? Do you find it challenging to interpret the Bible? Are you looking to gain skills to enhance your study of God s Word? This class equips you with the tools you need to effectively read, interpret, and apply Scripture. KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE: Understanding the Essentials of Christianity and How They Shape Our Worldview This class covers the basic beliefs of the Christian faith and how they impact our everyday life. It offers a systematic look at Bible doctrine and what it means to have a biblical worldview. ANSWERING THE TOUGH ONES: How to Respond to Skeptics How confident are you at answering commonly asked questions about the Christian faith? This class equips you to give an accurate, biblical response to issues like the problem of evil, the reliability of Scripture, and various social issues. DISCOVERING SCRIPTURE: Discover the Origin, Reliability, and Relevance of Scripture Where did Scripture come from? How was it compiled? Is it reliable? What relevance does an ancient book have for your life today? Have you ever been asked these questions or wondered them yourself? This class will help you answer these questions as you discover the origin, reliability, and relevance of God s Word. WATERMARK.ORG/DALLAS/EQUIPPING

MATURING WATERMARK INSTITUTE The Watermark Institute was created to invest in, develop, and deploy the next generation of church leaders.

7 Equipping Online Courses exist to make the content and experience of the Equipping Courses available anywhere, anytime. This is a great option for people who can t attend in person the Equipping Courses at Watermark. MATURING WATERMARK INSTITUTE The Watermark Institute was created to invest in, develop, and deploy the next generation of church leaders. We have two distinct tracks within The Watermark Institute: The Fellowship and The Residency. Our Fellowship and Residency opportunities combine biblical training, discipleship, and hands-on ministry experience to fully equip gifted leaders who desire to serve in vocational ministry. Contact: Kendall Ellison institute@watermark.org EQUIPPING PODCAST Our Equipping Podcast exists to sharpen your thinking on issues that matter. With new epidsodes each week, the Equipping Podcast examines the intersection of current events with discipleship, theology, and apologetics. Subscribe, share, and your questions or topics you would like covered to equippingpodcast@watermark.org. Also available on itunes! kromero@watermark.org RESOURCES REAL TRUTH. REAL QUICK. Real Truth. Real Quick. is a podcast that answers your questions about life, leadership, the world we live in, the Bible, God, faith, and other important topics on your mind. Tweet us, Facebook us, or us your questions, and we may answer it on an upcoming episode of Real Truth. Real Quick. Find us at realtruthrealquick.com. MEDIA You may find the audio for many Equipping classes, sermons, and other events by visiting watermark.org/media. TODD WAGNER S BLOG Looking for resources on life, leadership, and Christianity? Subscribe to Todd Wagner s blog at wordsfromwags.com. SUNDAY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS For every Sunday message, we provide thought-provoking questions for you to discuss within your community group. Visit watermark.org/blog to find out more. We hope you will join us this year to get equipped! For details and to register, visit watermark.org/dallas/equipping.

SERVING Our team is always looking for godly, gifted, and passionate leaders. There are several ways you can begin using your gifts and leading others within our church by serving on our team.

You may also serve as a ministry host, greeter, or audio/visual volunteer. The qualifications, responsibilities, and level of time commitment vary depending on each ministry area.

8 SERVING Our team is always looking for godly, gifted, and passionate leaders. There are several ways you can begin using your gifts and leading others within our church by serving on our team. Specifically, if you are a faithful member of Watermark, you may have the opportunity to serve as a teacher, editor, small-group facilitator, and/or stewardship coach. You may also serve as a ministry host, greeter, or audio/visual volunteer. The qualifications, responsibilities, and level of time commitment vary depending on each ministry area. To learn more about how you can serve, please visit the Equipping page of the Watermark website for the Dallas campus (watermark.org/dallas/equipping) and contact the appropriate ministry leader. GUIDING PRINCIPLES 1. DEPENDENCE OVER INDEPENDENCE: We recognize that apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in someone s life, nothing we offer is going to be of any eternal value. (John 15:5) 2. TRUTH OVER TRADITION: We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Therefore, it serves as our final conscience, guide and authority before tradition, reason, experience, or feelings. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 3. TRAINING OVER TRYING: Spiritual growth is not a matter of trying harder, but of training wisely. It does not happen by accident. There are no shortcuts or simple formulas. The spiritual disciplines are the primary means by which we grow in our faith. (1 Timothy 4:7-8) 4. TRANSFORMATION OVER INFORMATION: Our goal is life transformation, not merely mastering information. We are not interested in making smarter sinners. Therefore, our ministry addresses the whole person head, heart, and hands for the purpose of life change. (Galatians 2:20) 5. PERSONALIZED OVER PROGRAMMATIC: We want to help people take the next step in their relationship with Christ. We do not assume a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, we provide training to facilitate spiritual growth along each point of the faith journey. (Colossians 1:28-29) Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. - COLOSSIANS 1:28 6. COMMUNITY OVER ISOLATION: We believe life change happens best within the context of community. Through community, we are better able to understand and rightly apply Scripture to our lives. (Hebrews 10:24-25) 7. THROUGH OVER TO: We seek to do ministry through people, not to people. Our goal is to equip others to do the work of the ministry. (Ephesians 4:12)

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

ONLINE CLASSES. Duration: 7 sessions Location: Online Teacher: Dr. Ron Jones Go here to register and access Starting Point.

ONLINE CLASSES. Duration: 7 sessions Location: Online Teacher: Dr. Ron Jones Go here to register and access Starting Point. The Shores Bible Institute integrates the Christian faith into everyday life by equipping followers of Jesus to think theologically, develop a biblical worldview, and put truth into practice. ONLINE CLASSES