Topeka Bible Church EXTRA

Sometimes, our prayers can be too timid or self-focused. As we continue our Summer in the Psalms, Pastor Connor guides us through Psalm 20, which models a way to avoid both of those pitfalls. In this psalm, the congregation intercedes for the king, asking God to help and sustain him for the sake of God’s name. Then, the king responds with confidence that God will fully deliver him from the enemy....

Psalm 18 reveals God as a faithful and delivering God. Through David's vivid account of God's rescue, we see how God responds to our cries for help. As we recognize God's faithfulness throughout our lives—and ultimately in Christ's salvation—we're moved to respond with heartfelt praise: "I love you, Lord, my strength." This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Ps...

Dr. Malcolm Yarnell III, noted author and speaker on the Trinity unpacks the Triune God by exploring who He is and what He does. Through Matthew 28:19-20 and Galatians 4:4-6, discover how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together in creation, redemption, and salvation. Learn why the Trinity is foundational to Christian faith and how understanding it deepens your relationship with God. This we...

Many of us might have misconceptions about the Holy Spirit. We may think of Him as an impersonal force, like something out of Star Wars. Or we might assume He is a mere projection of the Father’s work in the world. But Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is a person, like God the Father or Jesus Christ the Son. He can be grieved and lied to, and He cares deeply about us. This week, Pastor Conn...

Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” This is one of the most important questions any of us will ever answer. This week, Pastor Connor continues our series on the Trinity with a look at who the Son is. As almighty God, He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, but is also a distinct person with His own roles. He is Eternal God, the Incarnate Word, our High Priest, the Head of the Church,...

The Trinity is a great mystery, but a basic understanding of this doctrine gives us a clearer picture of what it means to belong to Christ. This week, Pastor Connor kicks off our new series on the Trinity with a look at God the Father. We look at five different roles that the Father has: Architect, Sender, Covenant Keeper, Judge, and King. In all of these roles, God the Father shows us that He wan...

When we come to Christ, we become eternally rich, regardless of our earthly circumstances. Then, God‘s grace prompts us to build His kingdom by generously sharing our time, talent, and treasure. This week, Pastor Connor concludes our Keeping Score series with a look at what it means to follow Christ’s example of generosity. From 2 Corinthians, we examine what giving is — and isn’t — intended to lo...

What does it look like to live a life that pleases God? For many of us, it may involve trying our hardest every day, only to fail in our best intentions. This week, Pastor Jim concludes our Keeping Score series by urging us to stop keeping count of our righteousness. He walks through Paul’s letter to the Galatians to remind us that we were made right with God by faith, not hard work; that we are s...

When we belong to the kingdom of God, forgiveness becomes part of who we are. This week, Pastor Connor continues our sermon series, Keeping Score, with a dive into Jesus’s parable about the unforgiving servant. This servant was forgiven an unimaginably huge debt, but then turned around and failed to forgive his fellow servant. When we don’t forgive others, we miss God’s enormous grace in forgiving...

Forgiveness is at the very heart of the good news of Jesus Christ. So when we don’t see forgiveness the way God does, that can be a real problem! This week, Pastor Connor kicks off our new series, Keeping Score, with a look at what the Bible tells us about forgiveness. The sacrifice of Jesus makes it possible for us to be forgiven, no matter how much we have rebelled against God. It delights Him w...

When a nation leaves God’s good way, the consequences are terrible. This week, Pastor Connor concludes our series in Judges with a look at three stories of heartbreaking wickedness. When people do whatever is right in their own eyes, the vulnerable are oppressed, especially women and children. Justice is all but ignored. Sexual depravity and predatory behavior become normal. Social bonds dissolve,...

Sometimes, the very lowest point of our life is a wake-up call. This week, Pastor Connor continues our series in Judges with the conclusion of Samson’s life. Samson was given great strength, but often treated this gift like it didn’t matter, or used it just for his own benefit. He also disobeyed God in significant ways. Finally, Samson lost his girl, his hair, his strength, his sight, and his free...

God sometimes uses the unlikeliest people and situations to accomplish His purposes. This week, Pastor Jim continues our journey through Judges with a look at the rise of Samson, a judge chosen by God before birth. He was set apart and given great strength. But from the very beginning of his story, Samson proved himself to be unspiritual, disrespectful, and impetuous. He chased pretty foreign wome...

It’s important to have knowledge about God and also have a love-centered relationship with Him. This week, we continue our series in Judges with a look at someone who obeyed God’s commands but had a tragic misunderstanding of God’s character. Jephthah was a mighty warrior and accomplished amazing things, but his bad theology had terrible consequences for him and his family. It is possible to be de...

When evil seems to win, and God feels silent, where is justice? In Judges 9, Abimelech murders his 69 brothers, gets crowned king, and rules for three years while his one surviving brother waits in exile. But God was working the entire time—through unexpected people, mysterious methods, and even the mess itself. This dark story reveals crucial truths about God's sovereignty and justice: He se...

Scripture gives us many examples of trusting God in times of struggle. But what does it mean to continue trusting Him in times of victory? This week, Pastor Connor continues our series in Judges with the end of Gideon’s story. The Lord used Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, but then Gideon wanted more. He pursued personal vengeance, lived a questionable moral life, and even led the nat...

When God gives us clear instructions, how should we respond? This week, we continue our series on Judges with a look at how God called Gideon. God provided him with everything he needed in order to obey, but Gideon kept asking for evidence his eyes could see. Pastor Connor encourages us to respond differently. We shouldn’t wait to obey until we feel “ready,” we must tear down any false idols in ou...

When God calls upon us, our response matters. Delay always costs us something. This week, Pastor Connor continues our series in Judges with a look at Barak. Barak was called to fight the enemies of Israel. When he hesitated, God worked through someone else, and Barak missed out on part of his calling. Delayed faith can have eternal consequences if we don’t trust Jesus. It can also have serious per...

Is "good enough" really good enough? Discover why Israel's 80-year deliverance under Ehud couldn't break the cycle, the danger of valuing results over faithfulness, and how to avoid settling for temporary relief. You'll learn three critical lessons about God's mercy versus approval and what true transformation requires. This week, our hosts continue their discussion o...

Falling into sin often doesn’t look like one single event. Instead, it’s likely to be a cycle of failure, suffering, regret, and efforts to do better, followed by more failure. This week, as we continue our series on Judges, Pastor Connor discusses the way the Israelites fell into that cycle, as well as what it takes to break out of it. In times of victory, we need to recognize God publicly, remem...

At long last, the Israelites have made it to the promised land of Canaan! But they still have a lot of work to do. And sadly, they will fail in accomplishing that work. This week, Pastor Connor launches our series in Judges with a look at how the Israelites set themselves up for failure. They stopped short of obedience, coexisted with the enemies of God, and allowed idol worship to remain in the l...

God has called each one of us to do battle in a vast war that our eyes can't see. This week, Pastor Connor concludes our series in Ephesians with a look at our struggle against the evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. Christ equips us to resist the devil and his kingdom of darkness by putting on the full armor of God: The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes ready for t...

How should a follower of Jesus exercise authority and also submit to it? And why does it matter? Pastor Connor tackles these questions as we continue our series in Ephesians with a look at Paul’s instructions to children, fathers, slaves, and masters. Our relationship with our early father is one of the first places we learn what it means to respect and obey authority. It prepares us to love and f...

Our culture’s ideas about marriage are often broken or corrupted, with stereotypes of bitter wives and cruel or unfaithful husbands. So how should a Christian marriage be different? This week, Pastor Connor continues our series in Ephesians with a look at chapter 5. God intends for marriage to reflect the mysterious relationship between Christ and the church, so He calls husbands to love their wiv...

When we belong to Jesus, God calls us to take off our old way of life like we would remove a filthy old set of clothes. But it doesn’t stop there. We are also called to put on a new way of living, one that replaces darkness with light. This week, Pastor Connor continues our series in Ephesians with a look at taking off our former manner of life and putting on a life that pleases God. Through the p...