Bridgewater Hallstead’s Podcast

It is the plot of endless stories, because we never tire of it. The situation is dark. All hope is lost... but then out of some impossible scenario, the hero shows up and wins the day. The tables are turned. That is the story of Esther 6-7. But how did it happen? Eventually, God always wins. But Esther shows us several tips of how to make sure we are on the Lord’s side. 
Passage: Esther 6-7
Speaker: Kevin Stiles

In our modern age of fear and anxiety we desperately need to have the courage of Esther. How was she able to confront the two most powerful men in the largest empire on earth – alone!? Esther 4-5 reveals four secrets to great courage that will embolden you to overcome the fears in your life today.
Passage: Esther 4-5
Speaker: Kevin Stiles

What do you do when it seems like God doesn’t show up and evil is winning? Don’t mistake God’s silence for His absence. Like Esther we must trust and obey God even when everything seems hopeless. Evil often takes the lead, but God’s side succeeds.
Passage: Esther 2:19–3:15
Speaker: David Wyman

God’s name is never mentioned in Esther, but His fingerprints are all over every unexpected twist and turn. Join us as we discover how God works to bring about an amazing story of courage, justice, purpose and hope through quiet coincidences, not obvious miracles. Esther’s story reflects our own: we may not always see God’s hand, but we can trust His heart. Often, God’s plan to transform the world is not through spectacular displays of power, but by invisibly working behind the scenes and using ordinary people like Esther and Mordecai. Like them, we need to personally love those God has put in front of us. Like an artist who can make beauty from discarded things, God’s plan is to use us. That doesn’t seem like a great plan, but it is! Let Him use you in His story of salvation and hope.

Passage: Esther 1:1-2:18

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

They say the hardest part of a journey is the first step, and that may be true. But the next hardest part is the next step. The first step onto the water for Peter must have been terrifying, but it’s when he notices the wind that he begins to sink. Peter’s first step of faith was strong, but we need to trust Jesus through every step of our journey. After catching Peter’s fall, Jesus says to him, “You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?”. It’s not a question of the amount of our faith - it’s the object of our faith that matters. What has your focus - the storms or the God of the storms?

Passage: Matthew 14:30-33

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Instead of merely being content to wait for Jesus to come to him, Peter asked Jesus to give him the power to walk on water toward Jesus. Peter didn’t know how it would turn out, but he trusted that Jesus could do what seemed impossible. He didn’t wait for an explanation - Peter asked for an invitation: “Tell me to come to you.”. Too often, when we say “tell me,” it’s “tell me all the information,” or “tell me what happens next,” but Jesus invites us to trust Him even when we don’t know what’s next. Where in your life do you need to stop merely waiting for Jesus to show up and take steps of faith towards Him?

Passage: Matthew 14:28-29

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

 

When Jesus came walking to them on the water, the disciples recognized Him. Whether it was what He said, the sound of His voice, or His presence alone, they knew immediately that they could trust this man walking on water to them. Yet we have so many voices, thoughts, and ideas swirling in our minds all the time. How do we listen to His voice when the world around us seems like it’s crashing in? How do we recognize Jesus in the storms of life? The disciples knew it was Jesus because they knew His voice, they could see Him, and they had spent time with Him, and we can know Jesus’ voice by doing the same things today.

Passage: Matthew 14:25-27

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Series Description: What do you do when you find yourself in the middle of a storm you never signed up for? A marriage that’s fallen apart, another job that fell through, nights and storms that seem like they’ll never end - and your kids are caught up in the middle of the crossfire. It can feel like you’re in the middle of the storm, wondering if anyone sees you - if anybody cares. That may just be how the disciples felt as they found themselves without Jesus in the middle of the lake, in the middle of the night, in the middle of a storm they never wanted to be in. But that’s exactly when Jesus shows up - not after the mess, but in the midst of it. And what looks like the perfect storm of disaster actually turns into the perfect storm to reveal a perfect God.

Sermon Description:

If you’ve ever felt like God just wasn’t there at the worst possible time, you’re not alone. The disciples were doing exactly what Jesus had told them to do, and they still ended up in the middle of a lake, alone at night in a massive storm - with no Jesus in sight. But what if God didn’t forget you in the midst of your storm? What if He is using the storm to redirect our focus - to put our trust fully in Him? Because even when God feels far away, He calls us to trust Him no matter what, and we’ll find that when we do trust God, He is always closer than we think. At the end of the day, Jesus is inviting us all to trust Him, saying, “Take courage. I am here!”.

Passage: Matthew 14:22-27; Romans 8:35-39

Speaker: David Wyman

As fathers, we often focus on directions and rules for our kids, but what if we could also learn to be their greatest encouragers? What kind of legacy could we leave for our kids if we became their #1 encourager?

Passage: Psalm 78:4-7, Psalm 127:3-5, Ephesians 6:4

Speaker: David Wyman

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident, and it was never meant to happen alone. While many people desire to grow in their relationship with Jesus, that pursuit often gets redirected by the pressures and pace of life. In Hebrews 10, we see that God’s design for growth is shared pursuit: people who help one another hold on, stay encouraged, and keep moving forward. Biblical community isn’t just about connection; it’s about transformation and mission. As we pursue Jesus together, we create space for others to do the same, multiplying disciples and advancing the mission of the church.

Passage: Hebrews 10:23-25

Speaker: Kevin Stiles