Christ Centered Growth

What is the Great Commission and is it for every Christian?

The Great Commission is one of the most well-known instructions Jesus gave. But for many believers, it still feels like it belongs to someone else... pastors, missionaries, evangelists. In this episode, we tackle that assumption directly. 
We talk about what Jesus actually meant when He said go and make disciples, who this instruction is really for, what holds ordinary believers back from living it out, and what practical steps you can take to grow in boldness and effectiveness right where you are.
This conversation is honest, grounded in Scripture, and full of practical wisdom for anyone who wants to take the Great Commission seriously but is not sure where to start.

Why should Christians pray?

Why should Christians pray?
It seems like a simple question but the answers run deeper than most believers realize. In this episode, Merrilyn is joined by Pastor Emmanuel and Stephanie Oladipupo to explore what prayer truly is and why it is essential for every believer.
We discuss why God still asks us to pray even though He already knows our needs, whether all believers have equal access to God in prayer, the proper place of asking others to pray for us, the power of communal prayer in the life of the church, and practical ways to grow in a consistent and confident prayer life.
This is a conversation that will challenge how you think about prayer and encourage you to take it more seriously.

How do I study the Bible properly? Part 2.

The conversation continues.
In Part 1 we laid the foundation for what it means to study the Bible with intention. In this episode, Merrilyn is joined again by Pastor Kwasi and Pastor Emmanuel to go deeper into what proper Bible study actually looks like.
We discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in helping believers as they study Scripture, why Bible study must be approached with humility and meekness, and why diligence is not optional for the believer who wants to grow.

How do I study the Bible properly? Part 1.

How do you actually study the Bible?
Many believers read the Bible but have never been taught how to truly study and interpret it. In this episode, Merrilyn is joined by Pastor Kwasi and Pastor Emmanuel to explore what it means to engage the Word of God with intention and understanding. We discuss why understanding must come before application, how to study and interpret Scripture well, and why a casual approach to the Bible will limit your growth.

Why does the Christian life require community?

In this episode, Merrilyn sits down with Tosin Ishola, a social impact leader and founder of Together for Needs Initiative, and Kehinde Akinbaleye, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and founder of Reign with Purpose Health Services. Both women are deeply rooted in Godly community and bring a wealth of insight to this conversation.
We explore what makes Christian relationships different from ordinary friendships, the role other believers play in spiritual growth and accountability, and how to practically build and maintain meaningful relationships. We also address something many believers struggle with, how to open yourself to Godly community again after hurt, broken trust, or a season of independence.

What does it mean to be truly discipled?

Many Christians are saved but not growing, and the reason is often the absence of intentional discipleship. In this episode, Merrilyn sits down with Pastor Bode Owoeye to explore what healthy discipleship actually looks like in the life of a believer. With over 30 years of ministry experience, Pastor Bode brings clarity and conviction to a topic the church cannot afford to overlook. We discuss the importance of being plugged into a local church, what intentional investment in discipleship requires, and the meaningful relationships that make spiritual growth possible.

I’ve received Christ. Now, what?

Many new believers take that first step of faith and then find themselves unsure of what comes next. In this episode, Merrilyn sits down with Pastor Emmanuel, a youth pastor based in Michigan, to walk through the early steps of the Christian life. What should a new believer begin focusing on? What does intentional growth actually look like? This conversation brings clarity to the questions many are asking but do not always know how to voice. Whether you are newly saved or have been walking with God for years and want to reflect on your own journey, this episode is for you.

Are you really a Christian?

How can you know if you are truly a Christian? In this episode, we examine what Scripture says about salvation, address common misconceptions, and look at what genuine faith in Christ actually looks like.

Season 2 Introduction

A fresh start for the podcast. This episode introduces the new direction, what to expect this season, and how we will explore foundational questions of the Christian life together.

Racism: Should we just pray?

There is so much to discuss on this topic but this episode just focuses on what we can do as Christians to combat racial oppression. Some people believe all we can do is pray and keep the peace but there is more...