Bridgewater Hallstead’s Podcast

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: Kevin Stiles

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 ov...

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? W...

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 s...

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 friend...

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:...

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 requ...

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 sto...

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...

“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 heartbr...

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...

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. Ou...

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 t...

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 ca...

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 emotio...

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 o...

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 momen...

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 faithfuln...

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 circu...

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...

“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