Bridgewater Vestal's Podcast

In this message kicking off our series in Ephesians, we explore the question: Who are you, really? Drawing from Ephesians 1, we uncover how our identity isn't found in appearance, performance, or approval—but in Jesus.  Text: Ephesians 1:1-23 Speaker: Aaron Patton

Nothing hinders us like shame and disgrace. Text: Genesis 3 Speaker: Aaron Patton 

Lament is ultimately a journey that leads to trust. Even when we do not yet see the answers, we choose to believe in God's goodness and steadfast love. Text: Psalm 13 Speaker: Joel Garrison

Lament is ultimately a journey that leads to trust. Even when we do not yet see the answers, we choose to believe in God's goodness and steadfast love. Text: Psalm 13 Speaker: Joel Garrison

God invites us to bring our complaints before Him—not in a spirit of rebellion but in faith. The psalmist shows us how lament is not about grumbling but about bringing our pain to the only One who can truly act.  Text: Psalm 10 Speaker: Aaron Patton

In times of suffering and hardship, our first response should be to turn to God in prayer. Psalm 77 guides us in how to bring our pain, questions, and struggles before the Lord.  Text: Psalm 77 Speaker: Aaron Patton

Does science disprove the Bible or does it actually complement it? Does being a Christian require that we stop thinking? What do we do when the Bible and scientific theory don't seem to match up? Text: Romans 1:19-23 Speaker: Aaron Patton

One of the biggest objections to Christianity is the hypocrisy that shows up often amongst people who claim to be Christians. If you've ever been let down by Christians, it's easy to consider walking away from the Church. What do we do when Christians let us down? Text: Matthew 23:27-28, 33; Titus 1:16; Hebrews 5:13-14; 1 John 1:8-10, 2:1-2 Speaker: Aaron Patton

If people really knew me, I doubt they would want anything to do with me. Actually, if God knows, I doubt He'll really accept me. What do I do if I feel like I'm not enough? Text: Romans 3:9-26; Luke 7:36-50 Speaker: Aaron Patton 

After the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to several of the disciples. In fact there are 13 post-resurrection appearances of Jesus in the N.T. When the disciples told Thomas about seeing Jesus, his response was “Unless I see the nail wounds and put my fingers into them, I won't believe.” Thomas has unfortunately been given a bad rap, but in reality, most of us have similar questions and doubts. Text: John 20:19-30; Matt 28:16-20 Speaker: Aaron Patton

This week we close out our series by looking at some very practical steps that we can take beyond our words in order to demonstrate meekness and gentleness. Text: James 1:19-27; Matthew 6:14-15 Speaker: Aaron Patton 

We live in a very tribalistic society that has created an “Us vs. Them” approach to life.  If someone doesn't agree with you - they are them.  When we choose gentleness, we create room for reconciliation and restoration in our relationships.  Maybe we can break the cycle of “Us vs. Them”.   Text: 2 Timothy 2:14-15, 22-26 Speaker: Aaron Patton

Jesus embodied Gentleness over and over, including with people who opposed Him.  We have the opportunity to follow His example and reflect this gentleness in our own lives, especially as we face contentious situations.  Text: John 8:1-11; Luke 23:32-36; Matthew 26:50-54; Matthew 5: 38-39 Speaker: Tim Sullivan 

Gentleness is not weakness.  In fact, gentleness is a powerful, Christ-like response that disarms hostility and helps to build better relationships.  What if we didn't have to respond to opposition with aggression and defensiveness?  Text: Proverbs 15:1, 4; 19:11, 18; 29:11; 14:1, 3 Speaker: Aaron Patton

God actively calls his people to holy living - no matter where or when they live. When we only obey partially, it results in full disobedience. However, if we will obey the Lord and follow Him, he promises to bring blessings. Text: Haggai 2:10-24 Speaker: Aaron Patton

Have you ever been discouraged? Ever felt like everything you're doing isn't amounting to anything compared to others? When we give God the priority in our lives, he demonstrates that we can resist discouragement and trust that His work is bigger, greater, and more long-term than we can currently see. Text: Haggai 2:1-9 Speaker: Tim Sullivan

The Israelite people had been through a lot! Years of captivity under the Babylonian and Media/Persian empires had cost them dearly. When they were finally released to return home and restore things, the daily challenges that they faced surely caused them to reorient their priorities. Sadly, the new priorities led to some major problems. What happens when God's people shift their priorities from God's instructions to their own comforts? Haggai 1 shows us and calls us to examine our priorities and act promptly on what God has commanded.   Text: Haggai 1 Speaker: Aaron Patton

In the chaos of our urban, digital age, it's easier than ever to “gain the whole world and yet lose your soul.” But how can we have a relationship with a God we cannot see? The answer lies in intentionally setting aside time to be alone with God. Silence and solitude allow us to break free from the noise and distractions of everyday life, enabling us to be fully present in the presence of God. Text: Luke 5:15-16 Speaker: Aaron Patton

Fasting is often misunderstood and underutilized in today's indulgent culture, despite being a vital practice in the teachings of Jesus. If we desire a genuine relationship with God, we must engage in fasting. In a society characterized by excess and indulgence, many have become enslaved to their bodily desires. Fasting provides a path to regain control over those desires and achieve mastery over ourselves. Text: Matthew 6:16-18 Speaker: Aaron Patton

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Jesus says, come to me. Get away with me, and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. If you want to have a relationship with a God you can't see, you will have to slow down and sabbath. If you don't take the Sabbath, the Sabbath will take you.  Text: Matthew 11:28-12:1; Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11 Speaker: Aaron Patton

Following Jesus involves more than just attending church or believing the right things; it requires practicing a Way of life. To build a relationship with a God we cannot see, we need to invest time in following Jesus and reading Scripture. Our posture while engaging with the Bible is more important than just the technique we use. It's less about information and more about transformation. When read with the right heart posture, that of openness and yieldedness to God, Scripture becomes one of the primary means by which the Spirit of Jesus forms us into the people we were always meant to be. Passage: Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19; 8:34-37; Matthew 5:17-19 Speaker: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Dallas Seamans

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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

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

“Experiencing God's best.” Passage: Acts 19-20; 1 Corinthians 16 Speaker: Aaron Patton

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

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

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Joel Garrison 

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Dallas Seamans

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton 

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton

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: Aaron Patton