Center Grace Church Podcast

The Beauty of the J-Curve - 11/19/2023 sermon

Text: Philippians 2:1-11
Preacher: Derek Baker

When to forgive, Deciding whether to have kids, and Scripture memorization - Ask Us Anything

This week Matt asks Derek and Nathaniel to delve deeper into some of the nuances of forgiveness and how to know when to overlook an offense and when to go to the person. They also discuss when we should just repent privately to God and when we should also go to the other person. They then discuss some factors to consider when struggling to decide whether to have children. They conclude with a discussion on the importance of and tips for Scripture memorization.

The Forgiveness of the Forgiven - 11/12/2023 sermon

Text: Matthew 18:15-17, 21-35Preacher: Derek Baker

Cessationism? Spiritual Gifts? - Ask Us Anything

In this episode, we discuss what we mean and don’t mean by Cessationism, the necessity, purpose and potential dangers of spiritual gifts, and whether or not God speaks to us today.

A Community that’s All In - 11/5/2023 sermon

Text: Philippians 2:12-30
Preacher: Nathaniel Lee

How to Rest in God’s Love, the Reality of Demons, Kids in Church - Ask Us Anything

Description: Today Matt sits down with Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel to discuss how we can practically rest in God’s love daily. They then unpack the reality of the demonic world and how Christians should live with sober minds, and yet comforted hearts in light of God’s reign. Lastly, they discuss how parents can encourage and equip their kids to participate in worship.

Global Missions Conference - 10/29/2023 sermon

Text: Nehemiah 1
Preacher: Greg Hills

Global Missions - Ask Us Anything

Today Matt, Derek, and Nathaniel explore why our church devotes a special focus to global missions, even when the north shore has so few Christians. They explore the issue of gospel access and how many areas around the world simply do not have many, if any, Christians or churches. They then unpack Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations” and the extent of that command. They then dive into our church’s missions “epicenter” strategy and why we primarily focus on certain areas of the world. They then conclude with a discussion on colonization v. contextualization and the role of technology in missions.

Following Love - 10/22/2023 sermon

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

Why do churches disagree over LGBTQ issues? How do we love our gay and trans neighbors? - Ask Us Anything

Matt, Nathaniel and Derek discuss the complexity of applying the biblical teaching of sex to our cultural moments. They explore how Scripture gives us clarity around this issue, but how Christians need to apply this teaching in a nuanced and comprehensive way due to all of the different presuppositions others may have. They then discuss why some churches have abandoned biblical teaching and how we can intentionally love our gay and trans neighbors even if we have disagreements.