Ask the Pastors S7 E4: "Why do we corporately worship the way that we do?”
The pastors discuss the biblical and theological rationale behind the structure of their Sunday corporate worship service.
Ask the Pastors S7 E3: "How about those KPop Demon Hunters?"
Pastors Thad and Will, hosted by Austin Gooch, discussed the popular Netflix movie "K-Pop Demon Hunters." They analyzed the film's plot, which involved a trio of K-pop stars who fought demons using music and spiritual weapons. The central question revolved around whether Christian parents should allow their children to dress up as characters from the movie for Halloween. The pastors dissected the movie's themes, such as shame, acceptance, spiritual warfare, and community, identifying both "half-truths" that aligned with Christian concepts and problematic messages, particularly the idea of self-acceptance without redemption. They debated the pros and cons of the Halloween costumes, weighing the potential for evangelistic conversations against the tacit approval of the movie's jumbled spiritual message. The conversation concluded with an exhortation for the church to be a place where people could bring their brokenness and find true acceptance and transformation in the gospel.
Ask the Pastors S7 E2: "What's your response to Charlie Kirk's assassination?"
This conversation covers the pastors’ reflections on their personal and pastoral responses to the assassination of public figure Charlie Kirk. They discussed their initial reactions of shock, sadness, and anger, and explored themes of prayer for the victim's family, the perpetrator, and the nation. The conversation also covered the desensitization of culture to violence, the spiritual nature of the conflict, and the hope that the tragedy might serve as a "wake-up call" for Christians to become more bold in their faith and evangelism, all while emphasizing the ultimate hope of the gospel and eternal life.
Ask the Pastors S7 E1: “How is faith not itself a work?"
This conversation explores why responding to the gospel in faith is not considered a "work" that earns salvation. The pastors explain from a Reformed theological perspective that faith is not a meritorious human action but rather a gift from God.
Ask the Pastors S6 E19: “Did God Change the Way He Punishes Sin?"
This is a discussion among several pastors about the biblical perspective on God's judgment and punishment of sin, particularly in the context of natural disasters and calamities. The pastors examine the differences between how God dealt with sin and disobedience in the Old Testament, especially in the book of Numbers, versus how God deals with sin in the New Testament era after the coming of Jesus. [05:36] They also analyze the problems with making direct connections between specific disasters and God's judgment, as some high-profile Christian figures have done. [04:04]
Ask the Pastors S6 E18: “What do Catholics actually believe about the Pope?”
The conversation discusses the Catholic Church's beliefs about the role and authority of the Pope. The pastors explore topics such as apostolic succession, papal infallibility, and the Pope's title as the "Vicar of Christ". [30:06] They compare and contrast the Catholic perspective with a Protestant/evangelical view on these issues. [36:56]
Ask the Pastors S6 E17: “Are some spiritual gifts given to all God’s people?”
The conversation discusses the relationship between spiritual gifts and common gifts, specifically focusing on the gift of wisdom. [14:28] The pastors explain that spiritual gifts are not meant to suggest that some Christians lack certain attributes, but rather that God distributes gifts in varying degrees. [03:48] They emphasize that all believers are called to pursue and develop these gifts, regardless of their natural inclinations. [07:45]
Ask the Pastors S6 E16: "West Hills: A History (Part 2)"
The conversation covers the history of West Hills Church, formerly known as Bethany Baptist Church, over the past 35 years. It discusses the church's growth, challenges, and key ministries during this period, as well as the transitions in pastoral leadership.
Ask the Pastors S6 E15: "West Hills: A History (Part 1)"
This is part one of the history of West Hills Church (formerly Bethany Baptist Church). [00:16] The interview features several long-time members of the church sharing their memories and perspectives on the founding and early years of the church.
Ask the Pastors S6 E14: "How can the desire to make money be Godly?"
How can the desire to make money be Godly? Our pastors discuss that in this episode!
Ask the Pastors S6 E13: “Why is Jesus interceding for us if all our sins have been paid for?”
The main topic discussed is the ongoing intercessory work of Christ at the right hand of the Father, and how this impacts our understanding of God's disposition toward believers. [06:48]
Ask the Pastors S6 E12: “Can Christians believe in aliens?”
The pastors discussed various topics related to the possibility of life on other planets from a Christian theological perspective. [02:55] They explored whether scripture allows for belief in life on other planets, whether Christ's substitutionary atonement would apply to intelligent life on other planets, and the implications of finding human life on other planets. They also briefly discussed the concept of a multiverse and their views on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). [37:33]
Ask the Pastors S6 E9: “Should Christians obey the law when it conflicts with our “care for the sojourner”?”
This conversation covers a range of perspectives on how Christians should respond when faced with situations involving undocumented immigrants, particularly in the context of employment and housing. [03:16] The pastors discuss the tension between caring for the needy and following the laws of the land, as well as the potential implications of hypothetical laws that could require citizens to report undocumented immigrants. [05:18]
Ask the Pastors S6 E8: “Why did Abraham have to negotiate with God if he is all-knowing?”
In this episode, the pastors discuss a question about God's omniscience and why God would get angry at Sodom and Gomorrah if he already knew they would be sinful. [08:25] The pastors explore different interpretations of this biblical story, including the concepts of God's immutability, anthropomorphism, and divine accommodation. [31:17] They also discuss the tension between God's unchanging nature and the language used in scripture about God "changing his mind" or "relenting" of disaster.
Ask the Pastors S6 E7: “Do non-Christians have spiritual experiences?”
In this episode, the pastors discuss how to respond to someone who compares Christian spiritual experiences with those of other religions. They discuss different ways to approach this, including acknowledging the reality of spiritual experiences, differentiating Christian experiences from those of other faiths, and warning about the dangers of engaging with the occult or unverified spiritual claims.
Ask the Pastors S6 E6: "Are we waiting on a Third Temple before Christ’s Return?”
The pastors discussed the question of whether the Jewish nation will have to build a new temple in order for the end times to start. They provided a detailed analysis of this topic, covering the historical context of the previous temples, the various interpretations of Ezekiel's vision of a future temple, and the theological implications of a potential third temple.
Ask the Pastors S6 E5: "Should we ever quit sharing the gospel with those who reject it?"
The pastors discuss biblical principles and examples related to evangelism and perseverance in sharing the gospel, even with those who are resistant.
Ask the Pastors S6 E4: "What should we sacrifice as a church to win more souls to Christ?"
What is our church willing to sacrifice in order to more effectively reach the lost and win souls to Christ? The pastors discuss various aspects of their current ministry approach and culture, and explore potential changes they could make to become more outward-focused and evangelistic.