Center Grace Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Derek Baker
Center Grace Church seeks to Make, Mobilize, and Multiply disciples of Jesus. Subscribe to this podcast to hear our sermons, devotionals, and other broadcasts.
This week we welcome Associate Pastor Candidate Kevin Arevalo to the podcast. Kevin answers questions submitted by Center Grace, talking about his background, the influences that have shaped him, and his love for road biking and coffee. It's a chance to get to know him a little better.
As a reminder, Kevin will be preaching this coming Sunday 6/28/2026
Check us out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/UelWwDrxl8s
This week, Matt sits down with Pastor Derek to discuss the function of spiritual gifts. They also examine the suspension of Pastor Zachary Garris, exploring how presbyteries address disciplinary matters within their church polity. The conversation concludes with a practical discussion on relating to someone who is repeatedly disrespectful, including the important distinction between forgiveness and trust.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/uuHaYvFRV3E
This week, Matt asks Pastor Derek to dive deeper into the current sermon series. They discuss finding identity in worldly things versus belonging to Christ, and explore how belonging to Christ impacts both our work and the way we relate to others.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/gagyU7G-400
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek, and they start by digging into how dangerous gossip is to the unity of the church — why it does so much damage and how easily it creeps in. From there, the conversation turns to denominationalism, and Derek walks through both the good and the bad of it. They wrap up with a look at what spiritual gifts actually are, previewing the new sermon series.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/6Wgzqee0u8A
Check out the relating sermon:
https://youtube.com/live/O5V0KWG7InM
Text: Proverbs 24:16; Jude 24-25
Preacher: Gene Heacock, Pastor of First Congregational Church of Boxford
As the elders invite the church into a time of prayer and fasting this weekend (May 2nd), in light of potential Mission Work in Boxford with First Congregational Church, Matt sits down with Pastor Derek to discuss all things fasting—what it is, what it isn’t, and practical guidance for getting started. Together, they explore how to choose what to fast from and what makes Christian fasting distinct from other religions and cultural practices.
Check us out on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/W2ud_HooYrg
This week, Matt sits down with Pastor Derek to explore the question, “Did God really seek to kill Moses?” As they unpack this, they discuss the recurring theme of God’s provision throughout Scripture and how it ultimately points to Christ. The conversation also examines the distinction between God’s sovereign will and His revealed will. They conclude with a discussion on how to read Scripture, along with book recommendations in response to a follow-up question from the missions conference.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/OXlByN9o-4M?si=DZIXAhcqNcnGJsMu
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek to talk about some Catholic beliefs that differ from our theology — including purgatory — before Derek breaks down what he meant by "damnable good deeds" and the common pitfalls around works and salvation. They wrap up with a conversation about feeling uncomfortable in God's presence when asking for forgiveness.
Check us out on Youtube!
https://youtu.be/CJWwd7V1NHc
After a long hiatus, Matt rejoins Pastor Derek for a wide-ranging conversation about faith in the modern world. In today's episode, Matt brings some questions that many believers wrestle with — starting with the tension between staying and reforming versus leaving a denomination when it seems to drift theologically. From there, they tackle one of the most delicate balancing acts in ministry and everyday witness: how do you keep the gospel clear and accessible to people around you, without letting cultural pressures reshape it into something unrecognizable?
Finally, the conversation turns to the very practical challenge of holding onto your faith as you step into secular spaces — work, culture, friendships — where Christian convictions are increasingly under fire.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Ctb1dLrmqzE
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.
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: 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
This week Pastor Nathaniel expands upon his final sermon as Associate Pastor of Center Grace Church. He addresses the question, "How can we begin to practically live out the vision for unity and community that Jesus calls us to."
Check out the relating sermon, "I in Them and You in Me"
https://youtu.be/fEdPxSa2mlI?t=2376
Check us out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/8vlbxlAkyFM
This week, Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel sit down with Matt to discuss a variety of topics, including whether angels walk among us, the meaning of the 'fear of the Lord,' whether we should sing the Psalter, and if communion should only be taken during a Sunday service—plus much more!
Check us out and subscribe on YouTube to be alerted to new episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8guvVdVAF8
This week, Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel sit down with Matt to discuss whether hating our sin should extend to hating flaws within ourselves. They then transition to a discussion on whether God hates, favors, or has preferences. Finally, they conclude with a recap of how they handled the Church gathering during the COVID pandemic and what they learned from the experience.
Check us out and subscribe on YouTube to get alerts when new episodes drop:
https://youtu.be/W7Bk_gg__iU
This week, Pastor Nathaniel sits down with Matt to discuss how our individualistic culture influences our understanding of Scripture and the church. They then explore the similarities and differences in God's presence when believers gather for worship versus when they pray or worship alone. The podcast concludes with a discussion on what Catholicism gets wrong about the Pope.
"Inventing the Individual" - Larry Siedentop
https://www.amazon.com/Inventing-Individual-Origins-Western-Liberalism/dp/0674417534
Check out the relating Sermon, "You (All) Are the Temple"
https://youtu.be/7pIakN8pH-o?t=2675
This week, Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel share their spiritual journeys—from growing up with doubts and experiencing spiritual warfare to ultimately becoming pastors.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/0TeyUMdcROg
Audio Issues: Apologies for the intermittent issues with Derek's mic!
This week, Pastor Derek sits down with Matt to discuss whether a Christian couple should commit to a future together despite having different desires. They follow up with a conversation about how the word "righteousness" is often used. The episode concludes with a discussion on how posture and raising hands impact worship. Derek also talks about the elements, forms, and circumstances of a worship service and how to think about them.
This week, Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel sit down with Matt to evaluate the theology of various Christmas carols. They discuss what it means for Christ to be fully man while also fully divine. They conclude with a conversation about how the inability to forgive oneself is often rooted in idolatry.
This week Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek sit down with Matt to discuss the following topics: What to think of Matthew 7 verses 21-23; The difference between the sufficiency vs. efficiency of Christ's atonement; Whether all uncontacted humans are destined for Hell; How to let go of idols (body image), and overcoming guilt.
Check us out on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCvOOnkamPs
This week Pastor Derek talks with Matt about minor prophets, non-canonical texts, baptisms by immersion, moral obligations relating to civil crimes, and the commercialization of Christmas. They conclude with a long discussion on biblical masculinity & femininity.
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel as they discuss the following:
1) How to find joy/hope in a broken world?
2) What are the questions Christians should be asking?
3) What is going on with the transfiguration?
4) Presidential Election
Overcoming Political Polarization - Anthony Bradley
https://anthonybbradley.substack.com/p/overcoming-political-polarization
Anthony Bradley Interview, "Why Are We So Divided?"
https://youtu.be/pj-fzEAThO4?t=1576
Check out the relating sermon, "How to Hew a Stone of Hope"
https://youtu.be/nQt2EUTPc4E?t=2349
Check out the relating podcast, "Election & Election"
https://youtu.be/vY6Wrh40YQA
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel as they dive deep into whether or not Christians should be cremated. They follow up with an explanation of how the doctrine of election is meant to lead us to humility rather than doubt.
Questions:
-
Burial? cremation? Does it matter?
-
"This question is not directly about the recent sermon but is certainly inspired by it. When I was a child growing up in generic evangelical churches, I prayed to receive salvation many times because I often felt convicted at alter calls and I was afraid the previous time "didn't count" for whatever reason (not for "fire insurance" but I think a genuine desire to follow Jesus, at least in those moments). Now that I am an adult attending a church in the Reformed tradition, that same fear/doubt has crept up with a new mask: what if I am not one of the elect? I now know that my salvation does not depend on me, but in some ways that is more terrifying because if God does not choose me, there is nothing I can do about it. I believe that God loves His children, I just question if I am actually one of them despite my desire to be, at least most of the time. I've called myself a Christian for many years, but is this level of consistent nagging doubt evidence that I am not? What wisdom/advice do you have for me or anyone else who may be plagued by similar fears?"
This week Pastor Derek, Pastor Nathaniel, and Producer Matt sit down to discuss Elisha and his cursing of those who mocked him. The conversation explores the nuances of blessings and curses.
(Recorded 9/26/24)
Check us out on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlVsGMHW9R8
This week Pastor Derek & Pastor Nathaniel sit down with Matt to discuss:
A) "Impeccability of Christ"
B) Does God save unborn babies who die?
C) Advice for those who are single.
Check out the recent sermon, "A New Life"
• A New Life - 9/15/2024
In this episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel sit down with Matt to discuss how they are thinking about the upcoming presidential election. They conclude with a discussion on Calvinism & Reformed Theology.
In this episode, Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek as they discuss questions from Nathaniel's sermon on Judges 19.
Check out the relating sermon, "People without a King"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yhhMvB6coU&t=1795s
Technical issues: There was a brief period in the episode where Nathaniel's mic goes out. We are aware of the issue and decided to post the episode, "as is".
In this week's episode, Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek sit down with Matt to discuss whether images of Jesus are idols. They follow up discussing why it's good for Christians to read fiction. They conclude with a discussion on demon possession.
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel as they discuss why Jesus sometimes shrouded His divine nature in His ministry.
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek as they discuss what it means to be being born sinful. They discuss whether the Gospel is humanitarian, and conclude with the effectiveness of corporate prayer vs. individual prayer.
Check the episode out on YouTube and feel free to subscribe,
https://youtu.be/wbOBZd4aaQ0
The week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel as they explain the different interpretations of the Millennium. After discussing the End Times, they chat briefly about Ecclesiastes, and conclude with a conversation on devotionals.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xglh6FuqG7o
This week Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek join Matt to discuss modesty and to share biblical advice on navigating dating.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMKW7zz4jkU
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek as they discuss the need to have a, "long imagination" when it comes to the miracles we read about in scripture. They conclude with a discussion on the destruction of the Canaanites and whether or not the text should be taken as hyperbole/merism.
Check us out and subscribe on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wSIqHzk86U
This week Pastor Derek sits down with Matt as they discuss all things Hell related.
Feel free to like and subscribe on YouTube, and other platforms if you enjoyed the episode.
Check us out on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYgIsHNIhTw
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel as they discuss whether or not women should wear head coverings. Nathaniel then discusses what scripture means when it says women, "will be saved through childbearing," in 1st Timothy chapter 2.
Support Gospel City Fellowship
https://gospelcityfellowship.org/
PCA Paper
https://pcahistory.org/pca/digest/studies/2017_WIM.pdf
This week Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel sit down with Matt to provide more clarity on differences between the role of Men and Women within the Church and household. They follow up with a discussion on Christian Nationalism. The conclude by giving advice to a listener struggling with an eating disorder.
Check out the relating podcast, Episode 80, on Women in ministry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc30L9EUg10
This week Pastor Derek discusses the roots of antisemitism throughout history. Pastor Derek then gives a broad outline of the different gospels in terms of themes, audiences, and structures. He concludes by discussing how to talk with someone mourning the death of an unbeliever.
Check us out and subscribe on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su8OoPzmr2Q
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel as they discuss how we should think about roles of leadership within the Church. They explain Complementarianism vs. Egalitarianism, and how the distinctions between men and women are grounded in Genesis.
Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc30L9EUg10
PCA Paper:
https://www.pcahistory.org/pca/digest/studies/2017_WIM.pdf
See the relating sermon from Pastor Nathaniel, "The Shepherds & the Sheep"
https://youtu.be/mOZsP3LVLE8?t=2045
This week Pastor Derek and (Pastoral Apprentice) Sam DeVore sit down to interview Pastor Jeremy McKeen about church planting in Portsmouth, NH. In this episode, Jeremy talks about his story, and how he came to have a passion for evangelism and church planting. He shares advice about church planting and the challenges he currently faces planting in Portsmouth, NH.
You can learn more about Pastor Jeremy and his church plant at:
https://www.gospelcityfellowship.org/
Check us out on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nifzc3HprUA
This week Pastor Nathaniel talks about his I.M.P.A.C.T model as it relates to Paul's teachings in Acts 17. Pastor Nathaniel has expanded the ideas of Tim Keller, Lesslie Newbigin, and Augustin to create a model to be used in shaping our mode for witnessing to our neighbors.
(I)dentify idols
(M)oved with compassion
(P)resent with people in strategic context & places
(A)ffirming agreements or common grace elements we have with our non-Christian neighbors
(C)hallenge those narratives based on their own inconsistencies
(T)ell them of the good news of the resurrection in Christ
"Dare to Make a Daniel" https://blog.ayjay.org/dare-to-make-a...
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJk34kewYbQ
Check out the recent sermon, "Speaking the Common Language"
• Speaking the Common Language - 5/19/2024
This week Matt asks Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel how we can reconcile David's prayer in Psalm 109 with Jesus' teaching of, "Turning the other cheek."
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek as they discuss what to do when Jesus' yoke feels heavy. They also cover what Mark 9 means when it says, "Elijah must come first to restore all things." They briefly address Peter's transformation, and then conclude with an explanation of why every church needs external accountability.
This week Matt, Pastor Derek, and Pastor Nathaniel discuss how we should go about sharing our suffering. They discus how Christians should be realistic instead of pessimistic. They then conclude with a quick chat on social media and the Impassibility of God.
This week Matt asks Pastor Nathaniel to explain his philosophy of ministry. They discuss church accessibility, and how a region may benefit from having multiple churches with different philosophies. They explain why we use juice for communion, and conclude with a question sent in from the kid's Sunday School class!
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek as they discuss: What is pluralism and what are the advantages of the gospel in a pluralistic society? What do you think about Trump Bibles? Can we explain the differences between Gospels?
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek as they discuss: Why don't we celebrate Jewish festivals? What is a biblical defense for the doctrine of common grace? Should we use preferred pronouns? How can we love those outside the church? Should we use preferred pronouns? Should we attend LGBTQ weddings?
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek as they discuss: What does it mean that Philip was "carried away"? Does Filioque actually matter? What does procession even mean? Can you clarify definitions relating to Evangelism?
Check out the relating sermon, "What Witnesses Do"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiIeu76YBwQ
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek as they discuss why Christians in Samaria did not immediately receive the Holy Spirit. They continue by discussing the difference between magic & stewardship, followed by an explanation of how God can justly take a life. They conclude by explaining how the Trinity is unbreakable.
"How the Doctrine of Inseparable Operations Unlocks the Gospel"
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/doctrine-inseparable-operations/
Check out the recent sermon, "What Witnesses Should Expect"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHR25DoLSXw&t=1836s
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel as he dives into all things relating to death. Why do Christian's still experience death? How can conversations around death be evangelistic? Does death make all my investments (Family, Career) meaningless?
Check us out on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWnaI89YgI4
This week Matt asks Pastor Nathaniel to explain why the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ was necessary for salvation. "If God is omnipotent, could He have done things in a different way to spare suffering?" They continue with a discussion on the types of death that exist, and the relationship with sin. They conclude by suggesting some resources for studying scripture.
This week Matt, Pastor Derek, and Pastor Nathaniel sit down to discuss the different types of Old Testament Laws. They finish with a discussion on why every Christian needs to belong to a church.
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Derek and Pastor Nathaniel as they discuss how God addresses slavery in scripture. They continue with a discussion on whether or not Christians should support reparations. They wrap up with a quick chat regarding Christians who do not celebrate Easter.
Check us out on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLBciKt0LaE
Tim Keller's Sermon touching upon Slavery:
https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/work-and-family/
PCA Report on Racial and Ethnic Reconciliation:
https://resources.pcamna.org/resource/report-on-racial-and-ethnic-reconciliation/
"For a Continuing Church: The Roots of the Presbyterian Church in America"
https://www.wtsbooks.com/products/for-a-continuing-church-the-roots-of-the-presbyterian-church-in-america-sean-michael-lucas-9781629951065?variant=9784617107503
"Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair"
https://www.amazon.com/Reparations-Christian-Call-Repentance-Repair/dp/1587435985
Check out the most recent sermon, "Of Human or Divine Origins?"
https://youtu.be/3Zhw7IeSM_o?t=1759
This week Matt sits down with Pastor Nathaniel and Pastor Derek to discuss where the proclivity for us to compare ourselves with others comes from, and how we can break away from it.
Check out the relating sermon, "Making a Community of Substance"
https://youtu.be/8_ypo_L0mSo?t=1646
This week Matt asks Nathaniel and Derek: Why does Center Grace not have any blue collar or poor elders? When is it wise to flee opposition? What does biblical generosity look like in our current context?
Check out last weeks sermon, "Living as if Jesus is Alive"
https://youtu.be/k08ZN79is_o?t=1543
This week Matt, Pastor Derek, and Pastor Nathaniel sit down to discuss: What are some book recommendations? What is a leviathan? How do we combat idolatry?How can we trust the bible? How should we think about voting?
Did Derek single-handedly win the World Series for Boston? Did Jews baptize before Jesus? Is Intinction Biblical? Why would God command those who might live in rebellion against him to be circumcised? What's the difference between uncleanliness and sin? Find out this week as Matt sits down with Pastor Derek.
By Oath Consigned - by Meredith G Kline
https://www.amazon.com/oath-consigned-reinterpretation-covenant-circumcision/dp/0802816215
Today Matt, Derek and Nathaniel sit down to discuss three questions:
-
Is there a hierarchy in the Trinity?
-
Was the Holy Spirit absent from humanity in the OT pre-Pentecost? What was the function of the Holy Spirit in that period and how was it different than in the NT?
-
How do more charismatic traditions such as Pentecostals interpret Acts 2 to support their beliefs around prophesying and speaking in tongues?
This week Matt and Derek discuss the details of The Apostles Creed and whether Jesus, "descended into Hell." They talk in detail about what happened on the cross and whether Jesus was forsaken. They finish with a discussion on how we, "...see through a mirror dimly."
Know the Creeds and Councils - Justin S. Holcomb
https://www.amazon.com/Know-Creeds-Councils-Justin-Holcomb/dp/0310515092
Today Matt, Derek and Nathaniel unpack the theme of the subtle presence of God that we see in each of these advent sermons. They explore the ironic difficulty that the societal rhythms of Christmas present in distorting our awareness of God’s presence and practical ways we can ask the Lord to make us more aware of His presence.
Today we sit down to discuss how Scripture gives us a covenantal framework and shows us that the people of God are one people under different ages. One age points toward Christ, and the other age is the fulfillment and points back and toward to his second coming. We then unpack the differences between dispensational and covenant theology and why we believe a covenantal framework is biblical and gives us a richer understanding of Scripture and following Jesus.
Seeing Christ in all of Scripture:
http://files1.wts.edu/uploads/images/files/Seeing%20Christ%20ebook(1).pdf
Further Questions about Israel in Scripture:
https://opc.org/qa.html?question_id=480
Book; The unfolding Mystery:
https://www.amazon.com/Unfolding-Mystery-2d-ed-Discovering-ebook/dp/B00EVCALZM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DHDAE9SES2MA&keywords=the+unfolding+mystery&qid=1702484133&sprefix=The+unfolding+my%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1
Clowney's Triangle; A Framework for understanding and applying Christ in the OT:
https://frame-poythress.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2021ClowneysTriangle.pdf
This week Matt and Nathaniel sit down to discuss how we can begin to discern with God’s wisdom what to do when when we face difficult or confusing decisions. They then discuss how everyone (believers and unbelievers) makes decisions primarily based on what they want (affections), not just what they believe (reason). They tease out implications for believers, unbelievers and evangelism. They then respond to a question about whether or not the three men in Genesis 18 were angels or a metaphor for the Trinity.
Today we discuss a variety of questions including:
-
Does God love Satan?
-
Is ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’ biblical?
-
Do our souls pre-exist our conception?
-
How can we be justified by Jesus’ work and also our own work on judgement day?
-
What does 1 Corinthians 6 mean by ‘revilers’?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This week Pastor Derek & Pastor Nathaniel sit down with Matt to give some personal examples of "J-Curves" in their lives. They then discuss what Paul likely meant when he said he was trying to "attain resurrection". They end with a discussion on whether or not Christians should sue one another or those outside the church.
This week Pastor Derek joins Matt to discuss how the "J curve" stands opposed to the Prosperity Gospel. Pastor Derek also explains how to interpret scriptures relating to generational blessings or curses and how we sometimes need to "Kill the Grandpa in our bones"
This week Nathaniel and Matt discuss the following:
Did Jesus have long hair?
Does Jesus sleep now that He is in Heaven?
Is “accepting Jesus into your heart” biblical? A reaction to David Platt
Thoughts on altar calls.
How do you shepherd a new believer?
David Platt video can be found on youtube:
https://youtu.be/JPhEEzjU8xQ?feature=shared
Today Matt, Derek and Nathaniel discuss three topics: 1. How we can live out Paul’s teaching on boasting when we are required to highlight our work during performance reviews. 2. What is our history and relationship with FPC Ipswich? 3. Who should take the Lords Supper?
This week Matt & Derek discuss whether or not we should be striving for shorter sermons. They then discuss what it means to live a life of self denial. They finish with a discussion on how pride may be keeping you from asking for help.
Today Matt asks Nathaniel and Derek about challenges put forward regarding the Doctrine of Election. They finish the discussion debating whether or not aliens exist.
This week Matt asks Pastor Derek questions about the following:
1) Is the "Let Us make man in Our image" of Gen 1:26 referencing the Trinity or a divine counsel?
2) Do we go straight to heaven when we die or is there "soul sleep"?
3) What is Hell?
4) How could a good God punish people with Hell?
4) Nathaniel then joins the podcast to bring clarity to a comment made in the podcast about the cultural mandate.
This week Matt & Pastor Derek discuss whether or not the death penalty should be supported by Christians; appropriate means of disciplining children; and details surrounding the flood timeline.
This week Matt & Derek discuss the following topics:
1) Is Yoga or Acupuncture Unbiblical?
2) Should Christian landlords discriminate?
3) The logistics surrounding the animals on the Ark.
4) What questions were Rabbis in ancient times asking?
5) Recap on the Nephilim.
Today Pastor Derek returns from his Sabbatical! In this episode Matt and Derek discuss:
1) What is a Sabbatical, and is it commanded?
2) Derek's Sabbatical recap
3) Best book Derek read
4) Romans 8
5) Advice for those about to take a sabbatical
Description: Today Matt and Nathaniel discuss the nature and destiny of fallen angels and why they will never be saved, nor do they think they need to be saved. They then return to questions about the age of the earth and whether we descended from apes.
In this weeks special intern edition, Lily and Sam tackle three questions:
-
Did people really live to be 900 years old?
-
Who is Cain's wife? Where did she come from? Who was Cain afraid of?
-
When did the human species divide into different cultures and races?
Today Matt and Nathaniel tackle four questions:
-
What is reductionism (ie., what does it mean that a take is reductionistic?);
-
They respond to the statement “I don't agree that there is a seed of evil inside everyone. I believe evil people are out there but that most people are mostly good."
-
Can you dialogue with objections to the doctrine of original sin?
-
Does the fact that miscarriages are an effect of the fall justify abortion?
Today Matt and Nathaniel discuss two questions: 1. We saw in the sermon last week that we need to stop the spiral of sin by being on guard against the attacks of the enemy, understanding God’s word, worshiping God, and preventing the action. But what does this practically look like? 2. How is the covenant made with Adam different from the one made with Abraham? How does it differ from the covenant made on Mt. Sinai?
Today Matt and Nathaniel discuss the purpose(s) of marriage:
-
Companionship and mutual benefit;
-
Having children and “making” disciples;
-
Prevention of sexual immorality.
They then return to the question of whether a couple should be permanently closed off to the possibility of having kids. They conclude by addressing the apparent difficulty of animal death before the fall and how this could coincide with the claims of evolutionary biology.
Today Matt and Nathaniel discuss the different ways that we can believe in a historical Adam without completely jettisoning modern scientific claims. They discuss the theological implications of a historical Adam. They also discuss how secular scientist have their own difficulty of explaining human rights and other justice issues with a naturalistic worldview. They then briefly address what a “soul” is and the issue of sports gambling.
Text: Genesis 2: 4-17 Preacher: Nathaniel Lee Submit questions here: https://centergrace.church/q-a
This week Nathaniel and Matt talk about several questions about practicing Sabbath: -Is work subjective based on the person? Are there right & wrong ways of specifically doing sabbath? -Why is Sabbath not a common topic in many churches? -What if your delight on the sabbath causes others to break sabbath? ie. going out to eat, to the movies, to the spa? Is that considered causing others to stumble? They then respond to several questions about topics from last week's podcast on having children and contraception. The topics include overpopulation, clarity on the motives around choosing to not have kids, the relationship of contraceptives toward transactional sex, and clarifications on how the Catholic Church predicted contraception would engender cultural dispositions toward sex.
Today Matt and Nathaniel address a variety of issues relating to the cultural mandate (Gen 1:26-31).1. Why we need a purpose to be given to us (because our internal sources are unreliable); by someone powerful (it needs to matter) and all loving (it needs to be doable and for the flourishing); it needs to account for the way things are (goodness of the created order & fallenness); it needs to have a a deep perspective of evils and an ultimate hope. The Bible gives us this, secularism can't. 2. For those who are able to, is it okay to not want to have kids?3. Are contraceptives wrong?4. How would our lives look differently if we lived in light of the cultural mandate?5. Why are churches and Christians in America so up in arms about (for and against) social justice? How does the cultural mandate shed light on this topic?
Today Matt and Nathaniel discuss questions on how modern western culture has shifted from viewing nature as a given design to an oppressive obstacle, what Jesus would say to someone with gender dysphoria, and why Genesis 1 is likely talking about heavenly (as opposed to earthly) chronology.
Today Matt and Nathaniel sit down to discuss the authorship, transmission and reliability of Genesis (and the rest of the Bible). They then discuss practical ways to approach wrestling with reliability and deepening trust in God's Word.
Today Pastor Nathaniel gives a five step argument for infant baptism and five things we should all agree on about baptism, even if we disagree on whether we should administer it to infants.
Here are the five steps to the argument:
1. The church of the Old Testament and the church of the New Testament are, in essence, the same church
2. God includes the children of believers as members of this church
3. In the Old Testament era, children of believers, because they were church members, were given the sign of circumcision
4. In the New Testament era, God has taken the sign of circumcision and changed it to baptism
5. Therefore, in the New Testament era, children of believers, because they are church members, are to be given the sign of baptism.
Here are the five things we should all agree on:
1. Everyone is only baptized once. "Re-baptism" is an oxymoron since there is only "one baptism". Do not get re-baptized and discourage others (including churches) from doing so.
2. Churches should not require people who were baptized in the Triune name to be re-baptized ads adults in order to be members and take the Lord's Supper.
3. Baptism is primarily God's sign to you, and your reception of it--not your proclamation of faith
4. Baptism is effectual--it is the means by which God gives his salvific grace, even if it is not tied to the moment of administration, and one can still be saved without it.
5. Children of believers are a part of the covenant community, so teach them the faith as disciples (do not see them as pagans to be evangelized).
Other resources: https://opc.org/cce/tracts/WhyInfantBaptism.html#:~:text=God%20has%20initiated%2C%20God%20has,you%20and%20for%20your%20children
Pastors Derek and Nathaniel discuss the following questions: what is the point of prayer if God has already determined everything? Why does he answer some prayers and not others? Why did God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Eden? Why create Satan? And how does A.I. affect pastoral ministry?
Today Pastor Nathaniel discusses two questions about the sermon on Matthew 7:1-12. Nathaniel first responds to the question about what to do when someone is resistant to our attempts to remove the speck from their eye. The second question deals with whether or not we would really pray God's plan to happen if we knew everything he knew.
Today Pastors Derek and Nathaniel discuss three questions: 1. how the gospel writers organized events (e.g., when did Jesus judge the temple?), 2. how to understand starvation in light of Jesus' promise to provide for us, and 3. how Scripture gives us a robust sexual ethic, especially around the topic of consent.
This week we discuss four questions: 1. Will there be animals in heaven? 2. What was Adam and Eve's ethnicity?; and two questions about how to tease out Jesus' teaching on being anxious with global threats and concerns and when to stay in anxiety-inducing jobs.
Today, pastors Derek and Nathaniel talk about the bringers and potential excesses of Lent, how we can lean into the discomfort of fasting, how to approach those who ask us about fasting, and other laws of concession.
In today's episode we respond to a question about how to understand James and Paul's perspectives on faith, good works and justification and then questions about whether or not we should do the right thing even with wrong motives, and hopefully--how to engage in some helpful and healthy ways on social media and not just jump into "virtue signaling."
Today Pastors Derek and Nathaniel answer questions about 1. the Bible's wisdom for dating; 2. how we should think about temptation and Jesus' ability to sympathize with us; 3. The varying levels of sexual sin and how they relate to divorce; and 4. How the oath sign relates to people who are not married.
Jesus teaches us to not return evil for evil and to love our enemies. Some churches and Christian leaders, however, have twisted this truth to silence victims of abuse and to equate forgiveness with lack of accountability and Justice. How should we reconcile Jesus' teaching on loving our enemies with a desire for justice?
Text: Matthew 5:38-48Preacher: Nathaniel LeeSubmit questions here: https://centergrace.church/q-a
In today’s episode Derek responds to questions about how we should think about the polygamy of guys like Abraham, Jacob and David, why some sins (like anger) persist so long and how we should still fight against them by grace and the Holy Spirit, and how to respond to people who criticize Christianity and reject Jesus for the failures of famous Christians.
In this bonus episode we answer a question about sex and a Biblical perspective on sex before marriage.
In today’s episode we talk about how the longing for anything is in essence a longing for righteousness and also how we should think about contextualizing for the sake of the Gospel.
In this bonus episode we discuss some theological positions we have moved on over the years and also how the practice of Bible reading was done before the printing press.
In today's episode we explore some similarities and differences between Jesus' teachings in Matthew 5-7 and Moses giving the Law in Exodus as well as discuss how disciples of Jesus can still be salt and light to those who are rejecting the faith as well as dialogue about how to make sure our political preferences don’t become overly important to our identities.
Today Nathaniel responds to the question: After God restores creation, will it be possible for humans to sin and fall again? Is this almost inevitable considering our free will?
In today’s episode we discuss how we wrestle to obey in the moments that we desire things more than God, how we might benefit from but be wary of some cultural commentators and also respond to a question about other podcasts that we recommend.
In this episode we discuss how online church services were effected by COVID and how we can think about them going forward, as well as what specific things need to be expressed in a community gathering in order for it to be considered a church.
In today’s episode we discuss the use of antidepressants and how they can relate to the larger framework of the story of God’s redemption and our struggles within a broken world as well as how true, Biblical hope is not sentimentality or wishful thinking but rather is something that as Paul says in Romans 5, “will not disappoint.”
This week, we talk about more practical ways to enter into God’s rest for when we feel restless and we talk about predominant heresies affecting American evangelicalism. Bonus: we (briefly) state why MJ is better than Lebron.
In today’s episode Nathaniel and Derek discuss more of what “deconstruction” is and suggest a more helpful replacement term, followed by some practical thoughts on how to develop a confident humility in the Gospel.
In this week’s episode we look more at the Parable of the Talents and talk some about how this applies to our own lives to the daily moments of everything we do—including our parenting—and how we might help our kids develop their talents but place some limits on activities so we don’t burn them out.
In today’s episode we discuss some practical ways to develop an attitude of contentment and also how followers of Jesus should think about owning nice things (If at all!) or if being poor is more spiritual than being rich.
This week we discuss how to know the difference between real peace and fake peace and which we might tend toward. We also discuss the differences between accountability and accusation and we get asked “who should we vote for?”
Today we talk some about what Scripture has to say about the line between serving others in love versus running into codependency and also how the theology of the Trinity helps us hold the uniqueness of personhood and the community together rather than emphasizing one at the expense of the other.
In this episode we respond to a number of questions about our emotions and desires and how to practically think about them and process them in prayer and through Scripture. We also answer a couple other questions on a starting place for spiritual disciplines and how we ended up in the PCA.
Today we discuss some practical examples of self-denial in answering some questions we received. We also address a question about God’s use of hard experiences in our lives.
In this bonus episode, Derek and Nathaniel encourage us to broaden our perspectives on a few things.
In today’s episode we respond to questions about applying Christian truth to our thinking and living as we make our way in an age of relativism.
Pastors Derek and Nathaniel answer questions about last Sunday's sermon. To submit questions on sermons or any topic to the pastors, use this link: https://centergrace.church/q-a