Center Grace Church Podcast

Text: Proverbs  14:17, 29-30; 15:1, 18; 16:32; 19:11, 19; 25:21-22, 28; 29:8, 11, 22 Preacher: Derek Baker

In this episode, Pastor Derek explores key theological questions about wisdom, morality, and the power of speech through the lens of Solomon's life, Jesus's teachings, and the Psalms. He explains that biblical wisdom is dynamic—not a permanent status—and that Solomon, though wise, lacked consistent moral integrity. Integrity, he notes, is about wholeness and honesty before God rather than sinlessness. The discussion then turns to the power of words: while words can be violent when used to harm, speaking truth in love is central to Christian character. Jesus modeled this balance perfectly, combining truth and grace even when confronting sin. The episode concludes with reflections on imprecatory psalms, emphasizing that believers must entrust judgment to God, praying either for their enemies' repentance or for divine justice—always with love rather than vengeance.

Text: Proverbs 10:8, 11, 18-21; 11:9; 12:18, 22; 13:3; 15:1, 2, 4, 28, 30; 16:3, 23-24, 27-28; 18:4, 6-7, 21 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Proverbs 6:6-9, 10:4-5, 12:27, 13:4, 19:24, 20:4, 21:25, 24:30-34, 26:13-16 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Proverbs 3:5-6; 11:3; 12:5, 15; 15:22; 16:1-4, 9, 25, 33; 19:21;  21:5; 27:1 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text:Proverbs 9 :1-6, 10-11, 13-18 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Proverbs 8:10-17, 22-36 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Proverbs 1:20-23; 8:5; 9:6 Preacher: Derek Baker

This week, Matt sits down with Pastor Derek to explore how Jesus could have been "forsaken" on the cross while remaining united with God the Father in the Trinity. They follow up with a discussion on Center Grace's mission of making, mobilizing, and multiplying disciples.   Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IhSDrlh2o9M    

Text: Proverbs 1:1-7 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Luke 11:1-13 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Psalm 13 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Psalm 65 Preacher: T.I. Atkins

Text: John 17:1-2 Preacher: Benjamin Bae

Text: Ephesians 1:15-21 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Luke 18:1-17 Preacher: Jason Lawrenz

Text: Galatians 4:19; Colossians 4:12-13 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Psalm 32 Preacher Dr. Rick Lints

Text: Psalm 23 Preacher: T.I. Atkins

Text: Exodus 17: 1-16 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Matthew 6:5-15 Preacher: Derek Baker

We wrap up this season of the podcast with a final episode on the topic of prayer before taking a summer break. Pastor Derek offers a preview of what we'll be exploring in our upcoming series on prayer. The conversation then shifts to how Christians navigate life in a culture that often pulls us toward either isolation or assimilation—without a healthy balance of truth and grace.   Check us out on YouTube https://youtu.be/dF19uGKt1tg

Text: Hebrews 11:13-16;  13:12-16 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Hebrews 13:1-6 Preacher: Derek Baker

This week, Matt asks Pastor Derek whether it's okay to participate in cultural traditions like teaching our kids about Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. Does this count as lying? Could it potentially harm their faith in the long run? They follow up with a conversation about what it means that Jesus was "subject to God."

This week, Matt invites Pastor Derek to explore how we can balance personal study of Scripture with the insights of pastors and scholars—using biblical scholarship as a helpful tool without perceiving it as a barrier.   Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33zzTKTd3gk

Text: Hebrews 12:18-29 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Hebrews 12:1-11 Preacher: Derek Baker

This week, Matt asks Pastor Derek about Daniel's absence during the events involving Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In a separate discussion, Matt raises a question about the Apostles' Creed: What does it mean when it says, “He descended into hell”? Pastor Derek explores the historical and biblical meaning behind the phrase, which leads to a discussion about whether Jesus needed to be raised from the dead for us to be justified. In his response, Pastor Derek emphasizes that the imputation of Christ's righteousness is a crucial—yet often overlooked—element of the Gospel.   Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HU6dumpnetQ

This week, Matt asks Pastor Derek to share his thoughts on who Melchizedek was. They conclude by discussing a question from the kids' Sunday School about speaking animals and heaven?   Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFEXg77KYwM

Text: Hebrews 11:32-40 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Hebrews 11:1-12 Preacher: Derek Baker

This week, Matt asks Pastor Derek whether 1 Corinthians' description of Jesus as a rock is meant to be taken literally or figuratively. They go on to discuss how to find motivation to seek Christ during seasons of spiritual dryness, and how to balance peace and pressure when making decisions. The episode wraps up with a conversation about why we take communion twice a month, followed by a lighthearted discussion about music.   Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NXgo1PKVeZU  

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25 Preacher: Derek Baker

This week Pastor Derek sits down with Matt to answer the following questions: How does membership differ from a cult? Do you feel like we'll ever leave the current age of Christian mediocrity? Why don't pastors have higher standards for whether or not they'll marry a couple?   Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqpDq3r_-hA  

Text: Hebrews 9:11-15; 10:1-14 Preacher: Derek Baker

Preacher: Derek Baker Text: Hebrews 2:5-18

Preacher: Derek Baker Text: John 13:1-17

Text: Hebrews 8:1-13 Preacher: T.I. Atkins

In this week's episode, Matt and Pastor Derek tackle the challenging question: “Can God actively cause harm to His people?” They explore God's sovereignty in relation to suffering, harm, and evil. The conversation also touches on natural disasters—are they a form of judgment? Pastor Derek emphasizes the importance of using Scripture to interpret our experiences, rather than allowing our experiences to shape our understanding of God. He explains why only a biblical lens can truly address these difficult questions, and how the atheistic alternative ultimately falls short.   Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ma2qcWX4G14

Text: Hebrews 7:11-28 Preacher: Derek Baker

This week, Matt sits down with Pastor Derek to explore his thoughts on interpreting creation in Genesis. They also dive into a brief discussion on salvation for those who lived before Jesus' death and resurrection.   Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CIVAIct6GVQ  

Preacher: Derek Baker Text: Hebrews 5:11-6:12

This week, Matt sits down with Pastor Derek to discuss the difficult decisions parents face when choosing their children's education. They explore the pros and cons of various options and offer insights on how to avoid the pitfall of making education an idol. This is followed by a conversation about the use of altar calls.   Check us out on Youtube: https://youtu.be/EdwFDJYU9Xg  

Preacher: Matthew Ellison Text: Genesis 1:28

Preacher: Derek Baker Text: Hebrews 4:14 - 5:10

This week Pastor Derek explains his dissertation in layman's terms, followed by a discussion on slavery in the bible.   Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aveHYqOe0do  

Preacher: Derek Baker Text: Hebrews 4:1-13

This week, Matt sits down with Pastor Derek to preview the new sermon series on the book of Hebrews. They start by exploring the likely audience and author before unpacking what it means to "go back to our old ways." They discuss how this concept applies to our modern lives and how we can guard against falling into the same temptations.   Check out the relating Sermon, "Jesus and the Definitive Word" https://youtu.be/YjoBSM6GZvY?t=2109   Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ttoONkzy0R8  

Preacher: Derek Baker Text: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:1-4; 3:1-6

This week, Pastor Derek sits down with Matt to explore how the Holy Spirit interacted with humanity before and after Pentecost. They then dive into the parable of the 10 Minas, unpacking its meaning and the key takeaways we should apply. Finally, they discuss the Sabbath, offering practical advice on how college students can honor it.   Check us out on Youtube: https://youtu.be/dcYy5raJ8Rk