Westside Bible Studies

What kind of city was Corinth in the first century? How did the church in Corinth come about? What would it become known for? Join Ethan as we begin discussing what can be known about the church in Corinth. Churches of the New Testament | Corinth (Part 1)

How did the church in Thessalonica come to be and develop even in the midst of persecution? Join us as Ethan describes what we can know about the church in Thessalonica in Scripture. Churches of the New Testament | Thessalonica

Where do encouragers get their encouragement? Join Ethan as we discuss what can be known about the church in Philippi and their enduring relationship with the Apostle Paul. Churches of the New Testament | Philippi

We continue our conversation on the churches of Galatia. Why did Paul feel compelled to write to the Galatian churches? How can we characterize the churches of Galatia? Churches of the New Testament | Galatia (Part 2)

What can be known regarding the churches in Galatia? What difficulties attend to any ability to reconstruct the history of these congregations? Churches of the New Testament | Galatia (Part 1)

Antioch of Syria was a major trading center and a melting pot in the Eastern Mediterranean world. Join Ethan as we discuss what we can know about the church in Antioch, how they modeled joint participation in the faith which Paul would use as a model, and how all they did was centered in the Gospel. Churches of the New Testament | Antioch

What factors made Jerusalem unique as a city? What can be gained from the history of the church in Jerusalem from 30-70? Churches of the New Testament | Jerusalem

How are Christians able to live and glorify God together in the twenty-first century? What might the examples of the churches of the New Testament provide for modern Christians? Join Ethan as we begin discussing the premise of Churches of the New Testament. Churches of the New Testament | Introduction

What did the Hebrews author want God to do for those to whom he was writing? What do we think of this word of exhortation? The New and Living Way | Episode 47 | Hebrews 13:18-25 Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. And I exhort you the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now the God of peace,...

Why should Christians remember and honor those who have responsibility over them? What does it look like for Christians to share in Jesus' reproach "outside the camp"? The New and Living Way | Episode 46 | Hebrews 13:7-17 Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterda...

Why does the Hebrew author now make exhortations regarding conduct in the community? Why is such conduct crucial for the health of the community of God's people? The New and Living Way | Episode 45 | Hebrews 13:1-6 Let love of the brethren continue. Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them t...

Why should Christians hold firm to that which cannot be shaken? Why must we all get burned in order to grow in holiness? The New and Living Way | Episode 44 | Hebrews 12:25-29 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven: whose voice then shook the ear...

Why does it matter that we have come to the heavenly Mount Zion? What is so powerful and compelling about the Hebrews author's comparison and contrast between Sinai and Zion? The New and Living Way | Episode 43 | Hebrews 12:18-24 For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voic...

Why is it so important to heal properly, even though it may hurt? How can we make sure we do not fall short of God's grace? The New and Living Way | Episode 42 | Hebrews 12:12-17 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees; and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed. Follow after peace with all men, and th...

How can Jesus' example encourage us to persevere? How does God use our situations and conditions to train us toward holiness? The New and Living Way | Episode 41 | Hebrews 12:3-11 For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin: and ye have forgotten the exhortati...

What is the race we run, and how? How will we endure the race? The New and Living Way | Episode 40 | Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for t...

Why is it important for Christians to identify with their heritage as the people of God, and to consider their spiritual ancestors as heroic? What do Christians have that those who came before did not, and why? How important is our role in the story of God's purposes? The New and Living Way | Episode 39 | Hebrews 11:36-40 And others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and...

Who is the Hebrews author talking about with all of these activities? Does the story of the people of God end with Malachi? The New and Living Way | Episode 38 | Hebrews 11:32-35 And what shall I more say? For the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stoppe...

Why does the Hebrews author speak of two events and a Canaanite prostitute who lied as exemplars of faith? Why does he now shift from specific people and circumstances to more generalized exhortation? The New and Living Way | Episode 37 | Hebrews 11:29-32 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fel...

Why does the Hebrews author focus on Moses before Exodus 3? What significance does Passover have for the Christian? The New and Living Way | Episode 36 | Hebrews 11:24-28 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of...

How did Amram and Jochebed manifest their faith in God? What part of Moses' story does the Hebrews author emphasize, and why? The New and Living Way | Episode 35 | Hebrews 11:23-26 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be call...

How did Abraham display great faith in his reasoning about God's commands to him regarding Isaac? What faith stories would we tell about Jacob or Joseph? What stories does the Hebrews author tell? Why? The New and Living Way | Episode 34 | Hebrews 11:17-22 By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; even he t...

What are we to make of Abraham's faith in God's promises? How do the examples of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob relate to the Christian life? The New and Living Way | Episode 33 | Hebrews 11:11-16 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised: wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the...

Upon what details does the Hebrew author focus when speaking of Abraham? What was his audience to gain from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's experience? What can we learn from it as well? The New and Living Way | Episode 32 | Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By fa...

Why Enoch? Why is Hebrews 11:6 connected to his example? How did Noah condemn the world? How should we do likewise? The New and Living Way | Episode 31 | Hebrews 11:5-7 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: and without faith it...