Bridgewater Hallstead's Podcast

What kind of God asks you to sacrifice your child? What kind of father would agree? Join us as we journey to Mount Moriah to explore one of the Bible's most perplexing stories—one that wrestles with the most important question we can ask God: “Can I trust you?” Passage: Genesis 22 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Glory is recognized greatness. Many people live for glory—for recognition. Actually, don't we all, at least a little? But what if you were made for glory—not your own, but God's? What if you could soak in and reflect His greatness and glory? How do we do that? Passage: Matthew 17:1-8 Speaker: David Wyman

Some of the greatest moments in human history have taken place on the legendary mountaintops of Egypt, Israel, and Syria. Journey with us to these sacred places of awe and beauty—not only to reflect on what God has done in the past, but to discover what He wants to do in your life during your own mountaintop moments. Fear can cripple us physically, causing everything from high blood pressure and heart attacks to insomnia and digestive issues. Even more damaging, fear isolates us and breaks down our relationships. Moses' life was deeply shaped by fear, and the solution God gave him might be the last thing you'd expect. But it could be the key to your freedom, too. Passage: Exodus 3:1-15; 4:1-5 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

No matter who you are—whether you're a mom, a man, or a woman—we all share something in common: we have expectations for life. We imagine who we'll become, what our lives will look like, and even how we'll handle the challenges that come our way. But when life falls short of those expectations, we experience disappointment. Sometimes that disappointment is small and easy to brush off. Other times, it feels overwhelming and causes us to question deeper truths—wondering if God is truly good, if He sees us, and if He is really who He claims to be in the Bible. Can we trust that He is a promise- keeping God who will never leave or forsake us? When all seems lost, can we really believe He is enough for us? We can if we look back in faith and step forward in obedience. Passage: 2 Kings 4:1-7; Genesis 22:1-2; 9-14 Speaker: Kevin Stiles 

Jesus sacrificed His life for the very people who spit in his face - even those who were his closest friends who vowed to stick with Him even unto death. Kings normally ask others to sacrifice their lives for them, but Jesus sacrificed His life for others. Passage: John 10:1-18 Speaker: David Wyman

Only Jesus uses His power and position to perfectly serve others. As the King of kings, He did tasks reserved for the lowest servant, because His mission was to serve, not to be served. Passage: John 13 Speaker: David Wyman

We are used to kings who use their power to their advantage, see their position as a way to get what is best for them, and whose power is limited. But Jesus is not like other kings. Jesus uses His power and position to serve and sacrifice, and even death cannot stop His reign. Jesus is more than just a savior, He is a king like no other. No other ruler has ever proven themselves to be sovereign over death. Plenty have tried, but no one is like King Jesus. His power over death is your hope, because His victory over death means death doesn't have to be the end of your story—if you will submit to Him as king. Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:21-26 Speaker: Kevin Stiles  

Jesus changes lives. Hopefully, you've experienced that firsthand, and if you have, it's time for you to go and tell! When we receive good news, we want to shout it from the mountaintops, but when it comes to the Good News of Jesus, it seems harder, doesn't it? What would happen if we all adopted the mindset of the man Jesus healed in Mark 5 and shared this good news with our friends and family? What's stopping you from sharing the Good News? You have a story to tell—go and share it! Passage: Mark 5:1-20; John 9:24-25 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Throughout the Gospel of John, we see the phrase "come and see" used to invite people into a relationship with Jesus. More often than not, those who spoke these words had little knowledge of Jesus, but they knew He was worth following. You don't need all the answers to know that Jesus is good. You may feel like you don't know enough about Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity as a whole, but you can still share what you do know and invite others to experience Him too.. Passage: John 1:35-46 Speaker: David Wyman

We all love sharing good news, and it's easy when it comes to your favorite sports team winning, getting a promotion at work, or acing that last test. So what makes it so difficult to share the good news about Jesus Christ with those around you and how can we do it better? In this series, we'll look at three different methods for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to help you invite your friends and family to trust in Him as leader and forgiver. You may have heard the old saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words,” but is there more to it than that? Are our actions alone enough to convince somebody of the hope that we have in trusting Jesus as leader and forgiver? Your good deeds may open a door for someone to hear the good news, but they'll need to hear the news in order to walk through that door. Passage: 1 Peter 3:10-17 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

If God can't stop evil and suffering, then He isn't all- powerful. If God doesn't want to stop evil, then He isn't all-good. Since evil exists, a good, all-powerful God cannot exist... but what if there's something missing in that calculation? Join us as we honestly explore the oldest of all doubts and the unexpected answer the Bible gives to the seemingly unsolvable problem of suffering. Passage: Romans 8 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

How can Christianity be true when some Christians are hateful and hypocritical? It's actually worse than that. All Christians are hypocrites because hypocrisy is inconsistency and no one is perfectly, morally consistent. We as Christians need to follow Christ better, but does the truth of Christianity rest on who we are, or on who Christ is? 1 Peter 2 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

A belief that has never been questioned is a belief that has never been tested. God isn't afraid of our doubts, and neither should we be. Your doubts don't make you a bad Christian; they make you human. Let's explore the questions we've been afraid to ask and discover how doubt can actually strengthen our faith. Does science disprove the Bible, or does it complement it? Does being a Christian require intellectual surrender, or does it provide a stronger intellectual foundation? Passage: Romans 1 Speaker: David Wyman   

We all love a good redemption story—seeing someone whois broken find hope and restoration. The story of Ruth is a perfect example of this. She lost everything, but God was working behind the scenes, and through Boaz, her kinsman redeemer, He gave her a future beyond what she could have imagined. This mirrors what Jesus does for us—He pays the price to redeem us and brings us into God's greater story. So the question is: Are you trusting with your story? And are you living as though you're already redeemed—using what you have to help restore others? Because redemption always leads to something greater. Passage: Ruth 4 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

In Ruth 3, we see Ruth take a bold step to define her relationship with Boaz and move their story forward. Similarly, we all reach a point in our relationship with Jesus where we must define where we stand and take the next step of faith. Whether it's trusting God's timing, taking a courageous action, or stepping into a relationship with Him for the first time, the call is clear: God invites us to define our relationship with Him and move forward in faith. Passage: Ruth 3 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

“It just so happened” that Ruth worked in the field that belonged to Boaz. “It just so happened” that Boaz noticed Ruth. “It just so happened” that Boaz was a close relative of Naomi, a family redeemer-type relative. God works through natural circumstances to bring about His will. Ruth's role was to work hard, wait on God, and serve Naomi. Ruth 2 Speaker: Kevin Stiles 

We often define our lives by the big moments. But most of our lives consist of ordinary chapters. They may not feel significant but ultimately end up changing everything. In our new series, The Book of Ruth, we'll discover the hidden beauty of how God is involved in the day-to-day joys and hardships of our lives. The story of Ruth opens with heartbreak and the pain of loss, just as there's heartbreak and pain in our lives and in the lives of so many people that know and love. What do you do when times get tough? Will you obey and trust God as the leader of your life or choose to do what is right in your own eyes? One decision can change the trajectory of your life. Passage: Ruth 1 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

2024: From 115 people trusting Jesus to the launch of our Conklin and Vestal campuses out to be a brand new multisite church, it's been a year of growth and transformation. But as we look ahead, we're focusing on one powerful word: Invest. Inspired by Paul's mission in Acts 20:24, we challenge each everyone following Jesus to consider their life as an eternal investment. We'll also share specific goals for 2025, from seeing more people come to faith to expanding our ministry and outreach. Join us as we talk about how we can make this year count by investing in lives, growing in generosity, and expecting big things from God. You won't want to miss the exciting opportunities ahead at Bridgewater! Speaker: Kevin Stiles

If you're not dead, you're not done—God has more for you. You can overcome challenges, pursue your goals, and live a remarkable life that honors God. You've just got to keep moving forward, one step at a time. When you feel tired or discouraged, you need to remember Who you're running for and take the next step. You don't have to finish the race all at once; you only need to take the next step. Our ultimate example and source of motivation to keep going is Jesus, who fixed His eyes on us. Now, we fix our eyes on Him. Passage: Hebrews 12:1-3; John 19:28-30 Speaker: Josh Jones

The Bible makes it clear that Satan is a spiritual enemy intent on destroying us. His methods often involve disguising harmful temptations as things that feel appealing or right. Relying solely on willpower to resist temptation can only take you so far. However, God offers a more effective approach: pre-deciding. Instead of struggling to resist temptation when it arises, you can take steps today to eliminate its power over you. Learn how God equips us to say no to sin in advance, trusting that His way is not only right but also the most fulfilling path for our lives. Passage: Genesis 39:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15-16 Speaker: David Wyman

Consistency is the key to lasting change and spiritual growth. While many struggle with inconsistency in various aspects of life, the writers of Scripture highlight examples like Daniel, whose unwavering devotion to God demonstrated the power of steady habits. By starting with a compelling “why,” planning for imperfection, embracing the process, and leaning on God and a supportive community, we can develop the consistency needed to honor God and experience transformation in our lives. Passage: Romans 7:15; Daniel 6:1-4, 10, 23 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

What happens between our good intentions and our choices at the moment? If only we could make decisions ahead of time rather than when we're stressed, overwhelmed, or swayed by fear or emotion. This teaching series teaches us how to do just that and live the life God wants for us. The quality of our lives depends on the quality of our decisions, which can be weakened by decision fatigue and emotional impulses. So we're going to explore the concept of “pre-deciding,” a proactive approach rooted in Jesus' teaching to prioritize God above all else. By establishing intentional practices and strategies, we can remain devoted to Him, reduce distractions, and align our lives with our faith and values. Matthew 6:33 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Over the past weeks, we've explored stories about God's power and asked if He still works in the same way today. The Christmas story, especially the miraculous conception of Jesus, shows that God is still in the business of doing the impossible and keeping His promises. Just as God chose Mary, an ordinary young woman, to bring His Son into the world, He continues to pay attention to those others overlook and offers grace, mercy, and help when we believe, even in situations that seem impossible. Luke 1 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

In this message, we explore how David, despite being wronged by King Saul, chooses integrity over vengeance when given the chance to kill Saul in a vulnerable moment. Instead of seizing power by taking matters into his own hands, David trusts God's plan and refrains from harming Saul, even though it seems like a perfect opportunity. The message emphasizes that in life's random or challenging moments, choosing integrity and trusting God's plan shapes the story of our lives in ways that honor Him and lead to growth. Passage: 1 Samuel 24 Speaker: David Wyman

In Exodus 14, the Israelites find themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's advancing army, leading to fear and panic. Moses reassures them that God will fight for and deliver them, instructing them to "be still" and trust in God's plan. Despite their doubts, God parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape, and then destroys Pharaoh's army, demonstrating His power and faithfulness to deliver His people in times of chaos. Speaker: Kevin Stiles

The Bible portrays God in remarkable and awe-inspiring ways. Its pages are filled with powerful stories that can inspire us, but they can also leave us questioning whether God still moves in the same mighty ways today. This series is meant to explore who God is and what we can expect from Him, reminding us that He is the SAME GOD—unchanging and just as powerful as ever Despite how people and circumstances change over time, God remains the same, always faithful to His promises. By examining the stories of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, we are reminded that God is a promise-maker and promise-keeper, and we are encouraged to trust Him and obey, knowing that He provides and fulfills His word. Passage: Genesis 12, 18 & 22 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

This year at Bridgewater Church, we've witnessed God's incredible work, both in individual lives and our collective church community, as we pursued our mission to make more and better disciples of Jesus. From chasing our goals for faith commitments, baptisms, and attendance to launching new campuses and seeing remarkable generosity, we have much to celebrate. And we've got a story to tell! Passage: Psalm 145 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

“Growing up in church while living for yourself.” Passage: Matthew 5:6; Ecclesiastes 12; 1 Timothy 4:12 Speaker: Kurt Goglin

“Perseverance—God does His best work over time as you stick with it.” Passage: 2 Timothy 4: 1-8 Speaker: Bob Kadlecik

“The power of a boring story.” Passage: Luke 15 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

"You can find complete forgiveness in God." Passage: Psalm 130 Speaker: Tim Sullivan

Every single person has a story—a path that they traveled to arrive where they currently are! The same is true of every follower of Jesus. Some stories are filled with twists and turns, some are more straightforward. Each story is powerful and teaches us something about God. The question is—What is your story? Acts 19-20; 1 Corinthians 16 “Experiencing God's best.” Speaker: Aaron Patton

When you drive a vehicle, where you look determines where you go. The same is true for life. This raises a big question—What has your attention? Maybe it's time to build some guardrails into your life to keep you from going where you don't want to go! Proverbs 7 Speaker: David Wyman

If you grew up in an age before the internet, you remember a time when maps were a thing. The map would chart out the way to get where you were going. Someone did the work to figure out how to get from A to B. But here's the thing—the map was only as helpful and reliable as the maker of the map. The same is true in life. We ask all sorts of people for advice, but the answers you get are only as trustworthy as the people you choose to trust. 1 Kings 12 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

We are pretty good at getting ourselves into trouble. And once we are in trouble, it's a little hard to change the situation. But what if we could learn to look down the path first?  Wouldn't that be a helpful tool?  Proverbs 27:12 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Life is filled with all sorts of twists, turns, and construction zones—similar to the open road! When you get in your car, you know exactly how to navigate from point A to point B, but how do you do that in life? How do you avoid crashing? How do you make sure you end up where you want to end up without doing major damage to yourself and others? If we stop and Ask For Directions, maybe we can get there quicker and safer! Have you ever noticed something going on in someone else's life and thought to yourself, “That's not going to end well!”? Just about all of us have the ability to see that in other people, but amazingly we often times can't seem to see when we are personally heading toward a crash! What if there were a way to get some directions that would help us avoid crashing all together? Matthew 7:24-29 Speaker: David Wyman

Everyone knows what a car does. But what does a church do? Like cars, Christians are made to move—to follow and become more like Jesus and help others follow Him too. In Acts 8 we find that the people God calls us to go to may not be the ones we expect.  Acts 8  Speaker: Kevin Stiles

If you don't expect people to give their lives to Jesus, why talk to them about Jesus? If you don't expect God to move, why pray? Peter and John lived in expectation and courage. God is changing lives! Put your foot on the accelerator that motivated the first church – live in expectation and courage. Acts 3-4 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Even the most perfectly balanced engine won't do anything without fuel.  What is the fuel of a revival?  It is the obedience of a Christian in several key areas.  Acts 2 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

The movement of the pistons is what gives an engine its power.  The movement and secret to the power and exponential growth of the church is something the apostle Peter called “the gospel.”  What is the gospel?  It means “good news” but it starts with really bad news: the murder of the Lord Jesus.  But God raised Jesus from the dead and if you repent you can be forgiven through Him.  Acts 2 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

A church or a Christian can look impressive, but without the Holy Spirit they will never do anything except sit and rust.  The sparkplug creates the fire that starts the engine.  What is the “spark” that all of us need in our church and life? Acts 2 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

When most people think about change, they think about surface issues. Most New Year's resolutions are about fitness or finance. I want to lose weight, eat better, exercise, and save money – exterior things. If life were a car, we'd spend all our time on the paint job. We can even parent this way – focusing only on the outward behavior of our kids. But God wants change to go deeper. Let's go “under the hood” and examine the first Christians to learn how God can really change us, not just on the outside but on the inside as well. When a car sits, the tires warp and go flat. The battery dies, the breaks rust, the fuel pump breaks down and animals move in. Cars are made to move. As we go “under the hood” in Acts to look at the early church we find the same thing. Christians aren't just saved to believe something; we are created to do something. Move! What is God calling you to do? Acts 1 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

In the book of 3rd John, John calls out a man named Diotrephes, the leader of a house Church, for acting like a jerk. Diotrephes is a consumer, and life has become all about him. How do we stop being consumers and start being contributors when it comes to our walk with Jesus? 3 John 1-15 Speaker: David Wyman

Thoreau said: “Rather than love, money or fame – give me truth.” It sounds quite noble. Many today feel the opposite: “I'd rather be accused of being too loving than being too truthful.” But what if both are wrong? That's what 2 John is about – not balancing truth and love but putting them together. 2 John 1-11 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Remember the days of recording over cassettes or burning CDs? Having a mixtape was the perfect way to have all of your favorite songs in the same place. For the next three Sundays, we're splicing together three short, all-time great letters in the New Testament that are just as relevant & needed today as when they were first cut. Jude, the brother of Jesus, points out in his book that we become like whoever we listen to the most. Listening to the bad advice that is everywhere today leads to bad beliefs. And our bad beliefs always result in bad behavior. In fact, while many deny it, your behavior is the best indicator of what you really believe. Jude 1:3-25 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

There are two things you are never supposed to talk about in “polite” company: politics and religion. Many believe there should be a wall between them. "Jesus, stay out of my politics!" It's better that way... or is it? What if we opened the door and asked God into our politics? Romans 13:1-7 Speaker: David Wyman

Food is a significant part of our lives! It is such a regular part of our daily lives that it is very easy to give lots of thought or very little thought to our food habits. Regardless of which camp you might be in—food is important, but your heart is more important! Matthew 15:8-11 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

For many, money is the most private and personal area of our life. We are willing to proclaim who we voted for, what we ate last night and our favorite entertainment. But my money is my business—stay out! But is it just my business? Are you willing to let Jesus into this bolted-shut room of your life? Proverbs 6:6-11 Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Anyone who is a Christian has invited God to rule their life. But let's be honest, there are certain areas in our lives that we'd rather not let God see, let alone change. In our day of modern entertainment where we have handheld computers and entertainment devices with us 24/7, entertainment has become one of those areas that we would rather God stay out. So what do we do? Keep going like we are free to do whatever we want? Or is there a better way? 1 Corinthians 10:23-31 Speaker: Luke Thomas

We have already seen how God, the shepherd, is out front leading and how He comes alongside to provide and protect. Now we get a shepherd who is following. To be in His flock is to hear footsteps behind you, but not the footsteps of disappointment, anger, or judgment. These are the footsteps of goodness and love. This sermon reveals God's heart for His people, and His desire to give us abundant life. Psalm 23:6 Speaker: Josh Jones

We could not possibly account or prepare for every danger we will face in our lives. Life is mysteriously unpredictable. Yet this psalm teaches us that God, our shepherd, has already gone before us and both accounted and prepared for each danger. He leads us on in safety, providing for us and protecting us even when we're not aware that He's doing so. This sermon confronts us with our great need for God's provision and protection. Psalm 23:5 Speaker: Kevin Stiles