Bridgewater Hallstead’s Podcast

Ground Rules: Be Honest

Wherever people come together, conflict is inevitable. Relationships can be a source of both deep joy and real pain. That’s why this series is here: to meet you right where you are—at home, at work, and in your community—and offer God’s wisdom for navigating relational challenges. We’re calling them Ground Rules: practical, biblical guidance to help you build healthier relationships marked by healing, hope, and lasting peace.

Relationships thrive on truth. This message kicks off a on “Ground Rules” for healthy relationships, starting with Ground Rule #1: Be Honest. Ephesians 4:25 reminds us that honesty isn’t just about not lying—it’s about speaking truth in love, avoiding gossip, and committing to integrity. When we build relationships on truth, we create space for trust, healing, and real transformation.

Speaker: David Wyman

Father’s Day: Built in the Boring

This Father’s Day message challenges the myth that great dads are made in big, unforgettable moments. Instead, it highlights the quiet power of ordinary, consistent, and faithful routines in everyday life. Grounded in Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6, the message calls dads to love God first, lead with presence, and use the time they have to shape their children’s hearts.

Passage: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:4

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Mountaintop Moments: Olives

Mountaintop experiences are beautiful and memorable, but our lives are shaped in the valleys. In fact, the view from the mountaintop is even more meaningful when you’ve spent time at the bottom. Jesus spent time in the valleys—weeping, praying, and trusting in God’s plan for Him—even knowing that He would ultimately conquer the mountain. He knows that the God of the mountain is also the God of the valley.

Passage: Zechariah 14, Luke 22

Speaker: Eric Powers

Mountaintop Moments: Moriah

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

Mountaintop Moments: Hermon

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

Mountaintop Moments: Sinai

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

Mother’s Day: He is Enough

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 

No Other King: The Sacrificial King

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

No Other King: Servant King

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

No Other King: Sovereign King

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