Westside Unscripted

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

Are human bodies more than mere clumps of cells? Do they have any value? Do they have any purpose? Do they have any meaning? Our culture increasingly answers these questions with a resounding no, treating human bodies as blank canvases, raw pieces  of clay to be modified or preserved, celebrated or terminated, just as we see fit.  

Pastor Peter introduces his summer series, "Un-virtual Reality: Why We Can't Escape Our Bodies (and Why We Shouldn't Try)" by talking us through the need for a focus on the human body. 

If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.