Bridgewater Hallstead’s Podcast

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

Everyone spends their life serving someone or something. Over 3,000 years ago Joshua asks Israel a question that is still relevant today. Who will you serve? Our gods today are not of wood and metal, they are things like popularity, achievement, pleasure and safety. But there is only one who is worthy of your service. Will you be a servant of the Living God?

Passage: Joshua 24:14-25

Speaker: David Wyman

God describes our relationship with Him in many ways like servant or child. But perhaps the most gracious and undeserved title he bestows is friend. If you have made Jesus your forgiver and leader, you are God’s friend. That friendship means the love, knowledge, joy, purpose and generosity of the Creator of the Universe is yours! These are not treasures you work toward – you have them now! Will you ignore them or embrace the friendship He offers?

Passage: John 15:9-17

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

Many people define themselves by their careers, relationships, appearance, or abilities, but these aspects of identity are fundamentally unstable because they can change or be lost. Real identity is not determined by what we do or what others say about us. The Bible teaches that our true identity is grounded in what God has done and what He says about us. Join us as we explore what God declares about our identity to discover our truest selves.

Sermon Description: Who are you? You are not defined by what others say about you, or even by what you think about yourself. You are who God says you are. For those who made Jesus their forgiver and leader, God says you are not a slave to your desires, you are free, and you are His child. Join us as we discover what that means and how you can step into who you really are.

Passage: Romans 8:12-17

Speaker: Kevin Stiles

 

The Bible is a rather large and at times confusing book - so how am I supposed to understand it? How can I build a habit of being in the Bible consistently? This week in DIY, we focus on HOW to study the Bible. We will give a step-by-step guide to follow to read and ask questions of God’s Word so that we can actually open up our lives to the power of God’s Word to change us.

Passage: James 1:21, 22-25

Speaker: David Wyman