Westside Unscripted

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.

No, we're not talking about the Levitical prohibition against eating pork. We're talking about Noah's son and the curse he received in Genesis 9. Pastor Peter breaks down what he thinks is going on in that text and how it can be applicable to us today. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

The King James translation includes the phrase "without cause" into Matthew 5:22 but most newer translations exclude the phrase. Which is correct? Pastor Peter answers this question and helps us think through how we should approach sticky textual questions like this one. Recommended Reading from this Episode: Skins, Strongholds, and the Limits of a Culture War Mindset Social Media and the Lack of Boundaries (with some reference to Tim Keller...) If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Taking a seat at the Lord's table is an essential part of the Christian life. The bread and wine signify the body and blood of the risen Christ whom we follow. Does the way we distribute and partake of the elements have special significance as well? Recommended from this Episode: American Underdog Begotten or Made? by Oliver O'Donovan If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Pastor Peter and myself recently recorded a forthcoming podcast series with the Textual Confidence Collective. On today's episode, he explains what the Textual Confidence Collective is and how we hope this podcast bolsters Christian's confidence in the Scriptures we hold in our hands today.  Recommended Reading from this Episode: Eve in Exile - Rebekah Merkle If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Pastor Peter is unavailable to be with us for this week's episode, so we are playing part two of the sessions from last year's men's retreat entitled, "Feed the Light." If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Pastor Peter is unavailable to be with us for this week's episode, so we are playing part one of the sessions from last year's men's retreat entitled, "Feed the Light." If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

What's going on with the avenger of blood and the cities of refuge in the Old Testament? That's the question Pastor Peter thinks through on this week's episode of Westside Unscripted. He and Josh talk through the principles of justice that undergird this practice and extend to all human societies.  Recommended Reading from this Episode: Becoming C.S. Lewis - Harry Lee Poe Civilization and Control - Jonathan Pageau & Paul Kingsnorth If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

The church has been given the keys of the kingdom. What we bind on earth is bound in heaven and what we loose on earth is loosed in heaven. What happens when we get it wrong? Pastor Peter talks through how we should think about the relationship between God's action and man's action on today's episode of Westside Unscripted. Recommended Reading from this Episode: Church Discipline - Jonathan Leeman Don't Fire Your Church Members - Jonathan Leeman If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

We take a detour this week from answering listener questions to riff off the idea found in an article by Aaron Renn (linked below). He proposes that since conservatives often do not invest time and resources in original research, they find themselves working within the framework established by the left. Pastor Peter explains how this tendency shows up in the broader church community and how churches like ours can cultivate a love of excellence in academia and in every day life.  Conservitives Don't Do Research If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Time for a speed round. Pastor Peter answers questions from "Are dragons real?" to "What is the symbolism of trees in the Bible?" Recommended Reading from this Episode: The Biggest Story Bible Story Book If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

This week, we are publishing the live Q&A from our quarterly members meeting in which our members ask Pastor Peter questions about the Bible, theology, and culture. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Did you know that the names of people given in the Gospels bolster the Gospels' reliability? Today on Westside Unscripted, Pastor Peter walks us through a fascinating study of how the names used in the gospels match up exactly with the names found elsewhere in antiquity.  Recommended Reading from this Episode: Can We Trust the Gospels? by Peter J. Williams If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Life is busy. In the hustle and bustle of the average day, we can begin to wonder how in the world we will get everything done. The good news is that we don't to do "everything" and that God provides the strength we need for the tasks He has given us. This week, Pastor Peter offers some suggestions for how to get more done in the time we have been given without burning ourselves out.  If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

James mentions that we are to confess our sins to one another. But what does that mean and how does confession of sin to each other relate to the command to repent? Pastor Peter explores this question and explains how our impulse toward confession can go sideways. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

What is an angel? The biblical descriptions of them are vague and varied, so who exactly are they and what do they do? Pastor Peter walks us through some of the characteristics of angels and how the Scriptures describe their function in the world. Here's the link to Alistair Robert's Podcasts: https://adversariapodcast.com  If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

We are commonly taught to say the magical words, “I'm sorry” when we sin against someone else, but what does the Bible teach us to do? Does the Bible even talk about saying that you're sorry? Today, Pastor Peter explains how we should make things right when we sin against someone else. There are no magic words that can right a wrong, but the Scriptures offer us clear direction for how to confess and repent of our sin. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

How should believers balance Bible reading with Bible study? On the one hand, Christians should be familiar with the entire text, which requires frequent readings. On the other hand, we should have a deep grasp of the specific passages of the Bible, a grasp we only get through study and meditation on a particular portion of the text. So how do we balance those two without being full-time Bible students? If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

What to do with polygamy and polyandry? If a polygamist comes to follow Christ, how should he deal with his multiple wives? If a polyandrist comes to follow Christ, how should she deal with her multiple husbands? Today on the podcast, Pastor Peter untangles some of the ethical dilemmas involved in these situations. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

As practicing Baptists, we recognize two ordinances in the church: baptism and the Lord's supper. In other denominations and at other times in church history, the church has named seven sacraments—sometimes even more. How did we wind up recognizing only two? Today, Pastor Peter walks us through the winding path that eventually brought us to our day and our church. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

The fourth commandment states, "Remember the sabbath to keep it holy." What does that commandment demand of Christians today? Should we avoid working or playing games on the Lord's day? Pastor Peter explains how Christians should relate to the old covenant in general and to this commandment in particular on today's episode of Westside Unscripted. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Since Pastor Peter is out of commission again this week, we are playing a sermon clip from our 2021 Men's Retreat about how we can build resilient households. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Since Pastor Peter is out of commission this week, we are playing a snippet from a recent sermon about some practical principles for prioritizing the Scriptures. If you'd like to listen to sermon in its entirety, follow the link below: "How You Structure Your Day Shapes Your Heart" If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

What does repentance look like in the case of a habitual sin? Should we expect the habit to be broken when we confess it to Christ? If we continue to sin after confessing, was our repentance sincere?  Pastor Peter offers some practical suggestions for how we can fight the habitual sins the Spirit of God illuminates in our life. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

What was the gift of tonuges meant to do? Was it a sign for unbelievers or for believeres? In this episode, Pastor Peter explains how we can reconcile an apparent contradiction in the letter to the Corinthians and offers practical advice for approaching the gift of tongues today. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

How should a Christian approach extra-canonical books like those found in the Apocrypha? Pastor Peter explains how these books were lumped in with the Biblical canon and offers his thoughts about how a Christian should read them today. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

Who wrote the book of Hebrews? Pastor Peter gives his answer and explains how we should approach questions of authorship more generally. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

When God commanded the Israelites not to cut the corners of their beard (Leviticus 19:27), what was He trying to teach them? Pastor Peter explains how examining odd rules like this one from the Pentateuch provides relevant instruction for daily Christian living. If you have a question that you would like Pastor Peter to address on Westside Unscripted, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

What happens when we take the Lord's Supper? This question might not seem all that complicated on the surface, but Pastor Peter walks us through how this question sparked vigorous debates during the Reformation and offers guidance for how we should think through the question today. If you have a question for Pastor Peter Montoro, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

How many birthday candles should we put on creation's cake this year? In this episode, Pastor Peter explains the need for theological triage when approaching these kinds of questions and offers his perspective on the creation debate. If you have a question for Pastor Peter, please email it to josh@bibledirectionforlife.com.

How should the church relate to the nation-state of Israel? On our inaugural episode, Pastor Peter explains how dispensationalism together with broader social and political forces helped create the nation-state of Israel in the middle of the twentieth century. He then walks us through what he thinks makes up a biblical posture toward Israel today.