The Westside Podcast—featuring Jonathan Hansen

Topics addressed: How do I make important decisions? How do you know if you are hearing from God? Are Catholics Christians? What about tattoos? How should a Christian handle relationships with non-believers? How do you talk with someone who is dug-in in their misconceptions of God? How would you summarize the Gospel in the simplest way? Cain and Abel: Why was Cain's sacrifice unacceptable? Submit...

What is Spiritual Warfare?   For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10...

So What's the Big Deal About Baptism?    All Christians throughout history have agreed, on the basis of Scripture, that baptism is important. Historically, baptism has not been understood to be an optional practice. It is commanded by God. But there has often been disagreement about whom baptism is for, how it should be done, and why it is significant.   The issue most debated is whether baptism s...

Are the Charismatic Gifts of the Spirit for today?    What are the Charismatic Gifts?   All evangelicals believe the Holy Spirit is at work in the world. All believe the Holy Spirit supernaturally works in human hearts to bring people to the point of faith in Christ. All believe the Holy Spirit gives certain gifts to people to carry out ministry, such as teaching, preaching, administration and hos...

Eschatology - Study of last things   27% of the Bible is prophetic. 1 out of 30 verses refers to the Second Coming of Jesus or the End Times. 300 verses prophecy Jesus first coming. 600 verse prophecy Jesus second coming. What will happen when Christ returns?   Jesus tells us: “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3)   Jesus also says: “the Son o...

What Happens After You Die: A Biblical Guide to Paradise, Hell, and Life After Death by Randy Frazee How can you be sure that you go to heaven/ be reconciled with God? “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Rom...

Questions from some listeners: “Loving the new podcasts. I think it would be super helpful if you gave some ideas on how to discuss these issues with your kids. As a mom of 4 teenagers my kids are co scantly faced with issues related to transgender, sex before marriage, socialism, other religions. I think preparing them to be able to defend their faith while have a rational response to these issue...

Concern for the poor is woven throughout the entirety of the biblical narrative. It is absolutely unavoidable from the Old testament to the New.     OT Lev 19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.   Deuteronomy 15:7 “If among you, one of your brothe...

Marriage is woven throughout the entirety of scripture. It’s always more than a man and wife. It’s a picture of God’s covenant love for His people: Christ and the Church. A picture of the gospel.   God’s original design for human flourishing: Genesis 1:27-28: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God sai...

The problem: Racism is real. People have real experiences with it in 2020.   Two foundational truths: 1. That we are all made in the image of God. 2. That the church should reflect the reality that all nations will be gathered together in heaven.   SOLUTION for the Christ Follower: It’s about having the unity of Spirit in the name of Jesus. Unity is God’s idea and can only be achieved by the Holy...

Sanctity of Life There are four major issues facing the church today. Two of them are owned by the political left, and two of them are typically owned by the political right.  The sanctity of life The sanctity of marriage Justice for the poor Racial justice As Christ followers, we are called to own all of them. It’s not about partisanship or any political agenda. It’s about following Jesus and all...

Allie Beth Stuckey interview with Neil Shenvi on Critical Theory .   Neil Shenvi - from a Christian perspective.   James Lindsay - secular academic.   Christopher Rufo - secular cultural researcher whose research prompted the federal ban on teaching critical theory in government institutions and organizations contracted by the government.   Book - secular perspective, “Cynical Theories: How Activi...

  There has been some controversy stirring around the practices of a few highly influential churches in contemporary worship. What are the issues? Are there truly some biblical conflicts with them? And if so, should other churches continue to utilize their music in corporate worship services?   So what are the issues with these churches and how much should we be concerned?   What unites Christians...