Center Grace Church Podcast

Text: Luke 7:36-50 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Luke 7:18-35 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Luke 7:11-17 Preacher: Derek Baker

This short episode offers a concise, pastoral overview of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), explaining who they are, where they came from, and why the denomination exists. Pastor Derek traces the PCA's formal founding in 1973 to concerns among orthodox Presbyterians in the former Presbyterian Church in the United States who believed core doctrines were being compromised—especially the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, the uniqueness of Christ, the reality of the resurrection, and the necessity of evangelism. He explains how theological liberalism and an emphasis on the social gospel, detached from gospel proclamation, led leaders to conclude that reform from within was no longer possible. The episode highlights the PCA's mission to be faithful to Scripture, true to the Reformed faith, and obedient to the Great Commission, and briefly describes the denomination's growth, global reach, and commitment to church planting and missions through the denomination-wide ministries of Mission to North America and Mission to the World.

Text: Luke 5:12-26 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Luke 5:1-11 Preacher: Derek Baker

Sermon Text: Luke 4: 14-30 Preacher: Derek Baker

In this episode of the Ask Us Anything podcast, Pastor Derek responds to three listener questions. First, he explores whether Satan's temptation of Jesus in the wilderness was a physical encounter or a more internal, spiritual assault, concluding that Scripture doesn't specify—but emphasizing that the key truth is Christ's victorious endurance of temptation on our behalf. Second, he addresses whether Christians can build physical “altars” or memorials (such as cairns or stones of remembrance) to mark God's faithfulness, affirming their biblical roots while warning against allowing such symbols to become idols that replace true worship of Christ, the ultimate cornerstone. Finally, he tackles the culturally charged issue of childhood vaccines, arguing that Scripture places this question in the category of wisdom rather than morality, calling believers to make informed decisions shaped by common grace, humility, love, and charity toward one another rather than judgment or cynicism. #AskUsAnything #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalWisdom #EncounteringJesus #TemptationOfJesus #Luke4 #SpiritualWarfare #Ebenezer #GodsFaithfulness #ChristianLiving #FaithAndWisdom #CommonGrace #ChurchQuestions #ChristianDiscipleship #GraceAndTruth #CenterGraceChurch #ReformedTheology #FaithInCulture

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

Text: Philippians 4:4-7 Preacher: Bryan Loney

Text: Matthew 2:1-12 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Zechariah 3:1-10 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Isaiah 55:1-3 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Isaiah 11:1-10 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Proverbs 3:34, 8:12-13, 11:2, 13:10, 15:25, 33, 16:5, 18-19, 18:12, 21:4, 24, 22:4, 25:6-7, 29:23 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Proverbs 5:15-23, 6:20-35, 11:22, 30:18-20, 31:10 Preacher: Derek Baker

Text: Proverbs 3:31-32; 14:30; 23:17; 24:1-2, 19-20; 27:4 Preacher: T.I. Atkins

This episode of the Ask Us Anything podcast explores several deep theological questions tied to the current Proverbs sermon series. Pastor Derek begins by unpacking the personification of wisdom in Proverbs, showing how Lady Wisdom ultimately points to Christ, the divine personification of wisdom. He then addresses the nature of joy, reminding listeners that God's gifts are to be received with gratitude, not avoided out of fear of idolatry—citing C.S. Lewis's “Meditation in a Tool Shed” and 1 Timothy 4. Next, he clarifies the personhood and role of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity, warning against reducing Him to a mere “manifestation” of the Father's will and cautioning against modalism. Finally, he explains why Christians are no longer under the Mosaic Law, emphasizing Paul's teaching in Galatians that the law was never a ladder to righteousness but a guide leading us to Christ and justification by faith alone. #ProverbsWisdom #ChristianPodcast #AskUsAnything #JesusIsWisdom #HolySpiritTeaching #JoyAndGratitude #SevenDeadlySins #FaithOverLaw #GraceNotWorks #BiblicalTeaching #SinnerGraceChurch #Galatians3 #CSPodcast #BibleStudy

Text: Proverbs 13:25; 16:26; 21:17; 23:1-5, 20-21, 29-35; 25:16; 28:7 Preacher: Derek Baker

After a brief discussion about the challenges of introversion, this episode examines Paul's authority to judge unrepentant sin in 1 Corinthians 5, highlighting that biblical discipline is restorative, not punitive. It then explores the doctrine of hell as self-chosen separation from God, using both Jesus's teaching on Gehenna and C.S. Lewis's imagery. Pastor Derek next clarifies the meaning of baptism and the Lord's Supper as tangible means of grace. A listener question about Neo-Calvinism prompts discussion of Kuyper's “every square inch” theology and how it calls believers to integrate faith into all of life, while maintaining a gospel-centered humility. The episode concludes with reflections on prayer, noting that unanswered petitions often reveal God's deeper work of shaping our trust and dependence on Him.

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