Topeka Bible Church EXTRA

In Deuteronomy 9, God reminds the Israelites that their entrance into the promised land isn’t because of their own righteousness. Rather, they’re entering because of His purposes and through His power. This week, Pastor Jeremy discusses how the gospel of Jesus Christ is similar to God’s plan to bring the Israelites into Canaan. He also talks about how pride in our own works can blind us to the goo...

There’s room for compromise in many areas of life, but never in our relationship with God. In Deuteronomy 7, God commands his people to be totally uncompromising as they conquer the land He’s giving them.  By disobeying this command, they sowed the seeds for a broken relationship with God and their nation’s ultimate downfall. In this week’s sermon, Pastor Connor urges us to consider whether our ow...

As the Israelites are poised to enter the Promised Land, Moses is concerned that they will become too comfortable with their new, abundant blessings and forget the God who provided them. He warns them against complacency with creature comforts and that their praise and adoration should increase as they begin to have every need fulfilled. In a culture that draws us toward comfort and wealth, do we...

This week, we dig into one of the most famous commandments in the Bible. In fact, Jesus called it the greatest one. This commandment is so important that etching it in stone wasn’t enough; God wanted it written on His people’s hearts! Pastor Connor Kraus discusses what it means to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength. He also talks about how we can surround ourselves and ou...

It’s easy to think of God’s Law as a series of complicated rules. This week’s message explores how the Law is so much more than that: God gave it to His people as a way to show His character to the world. Through their obedience, they demonstrated that God was righteous and close to His people. But what if they chose disobedience instead? Pastor Connor Kraus discusses that question, along with its...

What obstacles have you faced on the road to obedience? For the people of Israel, it was a promised land full of fierce giants! God had just delivered them from the Egyptian army, and His presence continued dwelling with them, but they didn’t trust Him to defeat an overwhelming enemy. That mistake cost them 40 years of wandering and death. In this sermon, Pastor Connor discusses God’s involvement...

After 40 years of wandering through the wilderness, Moses and the Israelites are standing at the proverbial gates to the promised land. Moses tries to draw the younger Israelites into who they are and whose they are. It’s a call to faithfulness, Moses’ last appeal to God’s chosen ones, as he presents God’s laws in a way that’s relatable to them. It’s a call to love the Lord with all their heart, s...

Are flashy, impressive spiritual gifts a sign of spiritual maturity? The early church at Corinth certainly thought so… but they were missing the most important ingredient! In this discussion of 1 Corinthians 13:1-7, Student Ministry Pastor Jeremy McGrath explores the critical importance of love as a measure of spiritual maturity. He also talks about ways to cultivate greater love as we exercise ou...

It’s easy to understand how those who are seeking closeness with the Creator will turn to creation to do so. Some of the earliest religions thought that God was a being that was constrained to places or objects. Even some of us who consider ourselves followers of Christ say that we feel closer to God in certain places – the mountains, the beach, or a comfy chair in our home with our favorite Bible...

Some Eastern faiths are centered around the concept of karma, the belief that good input results in good output and bad input results in bad output. This line of reasoning isn't biblical, but has karma crept into what we believe about God? Connor uses Scripture to help us separate karma from God's retribution. Karma puts the control on us, the timeline for retribution on our timeline, an...

In light of the fascination with spiritual things in our culture we are kicking off a new sermon series entitled, Enchanted, Exploring Spirituality. With Proverbs 3:5-6 as our guiding scripture, Jason talks about how to make sure our ultimate trust is in God and his word, as well as, what happens if we give up our ultimate Trust in God for more untrustworthy practices. Connor, Jason, and special g...

This month’s bonus episode starts with a fascinating segment by TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus where he dives into questions like, “What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh?” and, “Why was Paul thankful for it?” In the second segment, Teresa sits down with Women's Ministry Director Patty Diliberto and Women's Council Member Connie Hall, who took a mission trip to Haiti in December 2023. They sha...

Accountability can be difficult because the places we need to change most may be deeply painful and personal. As Paul wrapped up his fourth letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:1-10), he implored them to consider their relationship with Christ and make changes before Paul's return visit. Connor used this section of Paul's letter to outline six qualities we must embrace when practi...

Paul encourages the Corinthians to follow Jesus' example of engaging with the culture without succumbing to it. Christ didn't behave in a culturally superior way or desire cultural acceptance. He transformed the world through the spirit of God in the Gospel message and finding life in his sacrifice. He walked a perfect middle line that shows us how to walk as Christians and not flirt wit...

Bragging is often looked at as a bad thing, but what if you are bragging about what God has done? Pastor Connor Kraus continues our sermon series through 2 Corinthians and goes over the fine line between boasting ones own efforts, bragging on others, and giving the glory to God. Connor and Teresa go into detail on accepting compliments, boasting on the right things, and much more. Oh, and, Connor...

Meekness is a term that we often assume the definition of. Paul uses the word multiple times when talking to the church in Corinth about his disposition. So what does being meek mean, and is it something we want to be? Pastor Connor Kraus answers these questions in this weeks message. The crew is all back together to talk through meekness and what Paul's personality may have been like. Oh, an...

December's bonus episode begins with TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus taking with TBC Executive Pastor Doug Will. In their talk, they take a deep dive into how TBC handles budgets, finances, and money in general. Second, Teresa has chosen another wonderful testimony from Expresso: Karina Soto. Karina shared her story in November and a key take away from her is that you are never too lost to be fo...

The topic of giving is a tough one, but Pastor Connor Kraus correlates Paul's plea to the church in Corinth to our own giving habits. We are to give what we can, with grateful hearts, to those in need in order to spread the truth of the Gospel. Connor joins Jason and Alan to discuss what it looks like to give generously as well as ask for funds without any manipulation. Oh, and, Jason and Ala...

Grief is not a good thing to go through or bring to people. However, sometimes it is important in order to bring people back on track towards God. Knowing when and how to bring grief to someone is something to be careful with, so Pastor Connor Kraus walks us through based on Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Jason sadly could not join this session, but we have Connor, Teresa, and Alan to talk...

Sometimes we hear about God's love so many times that we become numb to it. Paul's mission is compelled by Christ's love , which is to reach unbelievers with the Gospel. Jesus died for everyone but not everyone has accepted the gift that brings. Accepting this gift compels us to no longer live for ourselves, but for Jesus. It shifts your perspective of the world into God's pers...

As Christians, we are not concerned with what this life has to offer. This life we have is temporary  but we have hope in a new dwelling. We live for heaven, not for the present. Anticipation for tomorrow, banishes fear of today. That being said, Christians do no long for death, but they do long for their true life to begin. Think about what comes next. Jeremy joins us in the studio to talk about...

November's bonus episode begins with TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus talking briefly on the conflict going on in the Middle East. Afterwards, Connor goes over a passage that did not quite make the cut into the sermon series: chapter 6 verses 3-13. Second, Teresa continues the testimony chosen from Expresso. This talk is unique in that it is the second part of a mother/daughter duo. This month we...

We are like clay jars and we carry inside us the treasure of the Gospel. Clay jars are not extravagant and they are easy to crack and break. We as well are persecuted and afflicted but not destroyed. Through these hardships, we display Jesus to the fullest but only if we go through them in a God honoring way. So, do not give up when pain and hardship find you, for we have hope in things unseen. Ja...

How is everyone not moved by the Gospel and what do we do about it? Paul says the Gospel is veiled and that Satan has blinded unbelievers. God is far more powerful than Satan, but Satan is still present and at work to deceive people. This knowledge changes the way we think and pray. We don't give up trying to convert people however, as the Gospel is full of power to shine through Satan's...

Having the Holy Spirit means that we have the God within us. This is something the people in the Old Testament didn't have. We have the privilege to be under the ministry of Jesus Christ. To let that Holy Spirit do amazing things within us and through us. We don't have to be in bondage to sin. We are changed, now adopted into God's kingdom. But the transformation isn't over. Th...