Bridgewater Hallstead’s Podcast

God has uniquely gifted every follower of Jesus, not randomly, but on purpose, to serve others and make a difference. In 1 Peter 4:10–11, we see that these gifts come in many forms, but all are meant to be used, not just held. When we step in and serve, relying on God’s strength and pointing to His glory, we begin to find where we truly fit and experience the joy of being used by Him. So our next move is simple: discover how God has gifted us, take a step to try it, and faithfully use it because what God has placed in us was never meant to stay in us, but to make a difference through us.

Passage: 1 Peter 4:10-11

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

 

Worship is our response to who God is and what He has done. This message invites people to step into God’s presence and respond— not as a performance to observe, but as a response to participate in. As we understand who we are worshiping, we are freed to respond authentically and to carry that response into our daily lives, not just our Sunday experience.

Passage: Psalm 100; Romans 12:1

Speaker: David Wyman

This message moves beyond the act of giving to the formation of the heart, showing that generosity is not driven by obligation but by the grace of God. As we recognize that God is the one who provides and shapes a harvest of generosity in us, giving becomes a joyful response rather than a reluctant duty. This week reinforces the 90-day tithe challenge and calls our church to take a shared step of obedience, trusting God to shape our hearts, our habits, and our lives through generosity.

Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 & 9; 9:1-2 & 6-14

Speaker: David Wyman

Following Jesus always leads us forward. There’s always a next step. But growth doesn’t happen when we just understand something, it happens when we step into something. In this series, we’re exploring what it looks like to take intentional steps forward in practicing the values that shape us into people who look more like Jesus.

Throughout Scripture, giving a tenth was a consistent way God’s people honored Him, trusted Him, and put Him first. This message focuses on the step of obedience, challenging people to move beyond understanding and step into putting God first in their finances. Rather than starting with feelings or motivation, it calls people into a 90-day tithing challenge as a practical way to grow in trust, obedience, and spiritual formation.

Passage: Genesis 14:19-20, Deuteronomy 14:22-23, Malachi 3:7-8 & 10, 6:21 & 24, Matthew 23:23

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Today, we’re celebrating how God uses moms and women to shape faith in ways that last far beyond what we can see. In the story of Lois, Eunice, and Timothy, we’re reminded that faith is usually passed on through everyday life—through prayers, conversations, reading the Bible, and simply showing up again and again. It’s a lot like packing lunches and taking care of the daily stuff that never feels very big, but ends up meaning everything. God takes those small, faithful moments and turns them into something that can impact generations. So today we honor moms, grandmas, and spiritual moms, and as a church we commit to walking with them, encouraging them, and supporting them as they help pass on a faith that lasts.

Passage: 2 Timothy 1:5, Deuteronomy 6:7, Psalm 145:4

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

This message centers on the reality that while following Jesus brings new life, it doesn’t remove life’s hardships, but it does change how we carry them. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4 and 1 Thessalonians 4, it shows that the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our hope: because He rose, our suffering is temporary, our future is secure, and even death is not the end of our story.

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, 14 & 16-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we are not invited to simply improve our old way of living, but to live a completely new life that often runs counter to our natural instincts. In Philippians 2, Paul shows that this new life flows from what we’ve already received in Christ and is modeled by Jesus Himself, who chose not to cling to His rights but humbly obeyed the Father, even to the cross. What looked like loss became victory through the resurrection, and that same pattern now shapes how we live. As followers of Jesus, we learn to “catch” our instinctive responses, “reverse” them by choosing His way, and “repeat” those choices over time.

Passage: Philippians 2:1-11

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Week 3 of Life 2.0 answers the question: How do we live the new life Jesus gives us? While many people try to follow Jesus through sheer willpower, the Christian life was never meant to be lived that way. Through resurrection, God gives believers His Holy Spirit, whose power raised Jesus from the dead and now lives within His followers. The Spirit convicts us of sin, guides us into truth, and produces new character in our lives as we walk with Him. Rather than trying harder, we learn to keep in step with the Spirit by inviting His leadership, noticing His guidance, and following His promptings in everyday moments. Because of the resurrection, new life is not only forgiven—it is powered and led by the Holy Spirit.

Passage: Romans 8:11-14; John 16:8-9, 13-14; Galatians 5:16-17

Speaker: David Wyman

Many people think Christianity is about becoming a better version of themselves, but the resurrection offers something far greater than self-improvement. In Romans 6 and Colossians 3, Paul explains that when we trust Jesus, we are united with Him in His death and resurrection: the old life defined by sin dies, and a new life begins. Because of this new identity, we no longer have to hide or manage the mistakes of the past; we can lay them down and begin living differently. New life begins when the old life ends, and that new life starts when we trust Jesus as our Forgiver and Leader.

Passage: Romans 6:1-4, 6-7 & Colossians 2: 20, 3:1 & 5-11

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Life 2.0 isn’t about an upgraded or better version of the old life. It’s about a brand-new life made possible by the resurrection of Jesus. When we make Jesus our Forgiver and Leader, we’re not invited into self- improvement, we’re invited into resurrection. The old life is laid down, and a new life begins. And while that new life carries a future promise of heaven, it also reshapes how we live here and now. In this five-week series, we’ll look at how the resurrection transforms our identity, empowers us through the Holy Spirit, reorients our values in God’s upside-down kingdom, and grounds us in a lasting hope for the future.

Easter celebrates the historical event of Jesus’ resurrection, which guarantees new life for those who trust in Him. Because Jesus lives, three things are guaranteed for those who belong to Him: forgiveness for the past, new life and transformation in the present, and a living hope for the future. The resurrection isn’t just a story to believe, it’s a promise to receive by trusting Jesus as Forgiver and Leader.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 17, 20

Speaker: Kevin Stiles