Westside Unscripted

Church: Organism or Organization?

Should we view our church as an organism or as an organization? How you define the church will decide how you participate in it. So, let's give some careful thought to how the church should function.

We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions. You can reach me at josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Guilt at Christmas

Christians believe that Jesus is worth more than every good thing in their lives combined. He is the source of every good thing! So what do we are found guilty of leaving Jesus in the attic during our Christmas celebrations? Of course, Jesus should be front and center, but sometimes our attempts to rectify this problem reveal a serious lack of faith. Let's consider how to enjoy both the Giver and His gifts.

On Being Thankful

Saying "thank you" is more than a polite gesture. Gratitude rearranges our hearts and sets us on the path of life. 

How To Listen To Preaching

Christians listen to a ton of preaching. Every Sunday, we gather with the people of God to hear His Word proclaimed. So are we good at listening to it? Let's think together about how we should listen to the preached Word.

Humility

Few people set out to be proud, but no person escapes pride's grasp. We are sinners. By definition, pride is our road block to obedience to God. What is humility and what does it look like in practice?

In Defense of Having Fun

Should Christians have fun? The answer would seem obvious. “Yes, they should!” But why do we sometimes feel a tinge of guilt when having fun? From where does that guilt come and is it justified? These are the questions that I attempt to answer on this episode of Westside Unscripted.

Christian Liberty

In this episode, we build on last week’s discussion of theological triage to define what Christian liberty really means in practice. Using Romans 14 as our anchor, we explore how believers navigate the many gray areas of life—music, schooling, holidays, entertainment, modesty, and more—where Scripture does not give explicit commands. We also look at the dynamic between the strong and weak brother, unpacking how conscience, love, and humility must guide our choices. Along the way, we discuss how genuine liberty aims for unity that glorifies God with one voice.

Theological Triage

In this episode, we explore how understanding theological triage is essential to knowing what truly belongs in the realm of Christian liberty. Before we can discern what believers are free to do, we must first know which truths are non-negotiable. Drawing from Albert Mohler’s framework, we discuss the distinctions between first-order gospel essentials, second-order church-defining doctrines, and third-order issues where believers can disagree while remaining in fellowship. The goal is to cultivate wisdom in sorting our convictions—so that our liberty flows from sound doctrine, not from confusion about what matters most.

Pride in Bremerton

In this episode of Westside Unscripted, Pastor Josh Bartels and Nate Axtell review and comment on a recent visit to a Bremerton City Council Meeting in which they both called the Council members to revoke support of LGBTQ+ lifestyles in Bremerton.

If you'd like to watch the Council Meeting in its entirety, you can find it here: https://bremerton.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=00664609-755d-4ad1-bfbe-bce1a7fae0b8&nav=recent

Weekly Communion

In this episode Pastor Josh and Pastor Peter discuss Westside's decision to begin practicing communion on a weekly basis. Why do we do it? And what do we think it will do to us?