Topeka Bible Church EXTRA: Recent Episodes
Topeka Bible Church
Weekly sermons with staff commentary and a monthly "extra" EXTRA featuring teaching segments with members of our pastoral staff, inspiring stories of life change, and encouraging tips for growing your faith and dealing with life's challenges – through a scriptural lens.
The Bible talks a lot about walking in the right path, but how do we find it? And once we're on it, how can we stay on it? This week, Pastor Spencer continues our Summer in the Psalms with a look at Psalm 25. In it, King David is walking through danger, fear, guilt, and loneliness. But instead of asking for these things to be taken away, David confesses his sin and prays for God to teach him the right way to walk. Over and over, this Psalm shows us that God alone can set us on the proper path. So our proper path begins with submission to God's truth, and then we continue that submission by repenting when our ways are out of line with God's ways.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the last Psalm for 2026, specifically Psalm 25, some of the talking points were, submitting to God's direction, waiting on His timing, and what repentance looks like in a spiritual believers life. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about whats new in the children's and college age ministries.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
Have you ever been so excited to enter the presence of the Lord that you pounded on the door of the church for them to open up? This week, Pastor Connor continues our Summer in the Psalms with a look at Psalm 24, where King David does exactly that. He’s eager to worship the Lord, who created the earth and all it contains. But there’s a problem: only people with clean hands and pure hearts are allowed into God’s presence. The only way sinful people can stand before a holy God is by receiving the perfect righteousness of Jesus. He allows us to come before the King of Glory, and our proper response is wholehearted worship.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 24, some of the talking points were, how much control is too much control, why people don't get excited for church, and what wholehearted worship looks like. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about their favorite concerts they went to.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
King David was a shepherd king: A strong leader who was responsible for his people's well-being. But in one of his most famous songs, David described himself as the sheep in need of a shepherd's care! This week, Pastor Jim continues our Summer in the Psalms with a look at Psalm 23. This is a Psalm we often learn as children, and it remains with us throughout our lives. We can return to it over and over through life's trials, and it is often used to comfort those who are near the end of their lives. Psalm 23 helps us to find peace in the middle of difficult circumstances. Because the Lord is our shepherd, we have everything we need, we are never alone, and we know where we are going.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 23, some of the talking points were, the word Yahweh and the importance of numbers, how to form our prayers to ask for what we need but not what we want, and if its ok to pray for things that we want. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about Camp Catapult in the wild.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
Have you ever felt abandoned by God, right in the middle of your fiercest battle? King David certainly did. This week, Pastor Connor continues our Summer in the Psalms with Psalm 22, which Jesus quoted on the cross. In this song, David cries out for deliverance from his enemies. He asks why God has forsaken him, but he also remembers how God has cared for him and his ancestors. In the final part of the Psalm, David sees and celebrates God’s salvation. He had never actually been abandoned; God was there all along. We can trust God to save us. And when He does, we ought to declare what He has done, worship with others, strengthen others’ faith, follow through on our vows, and store up accounts of God’s goodness for the future.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 22, some of the talking points were, the greater fulfillment of Psalm 22, God creating a space in which we can safely express our anger towards Him, and how we can let go of that anger and being thankful of God. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the Chilean miners and some extra content you can watch/listen to when comes to their amazing story.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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. We discuss what it means to pray for others in need, pray for more than the basics, pray for a heart aligned with God’s, and pray with confidence.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 20, some of the talking points were, how to approach God when you don't have your best to offer, what we should do if we are half-heartedly giving/serving, and how does one live wholeheartedly for Christ. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the amazing time everyone had last week during Camp Catapult.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 Psalms, specifically Psalm 18, some of the talking points were, where else in the Bible there are similarities to Psalm 18, defining righteousness, and how does one quiet their mind during their prayer time. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about things they have taken for granted.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 week, our hosts would have had their final discussion on the trinity, but instead you will get a special episode where you get to listen/watch your questions being answered in our Q&A livestream with Dr. Malcolm Yarnell. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about Teresa's fun adventures and what's coming up.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 Connor continues our series on the Trinity with a message on the Holy Spirit and His roles in the world. He is the Convicter who shows us our need for a Savior, the Indwelling Presence of God who comforts and helps us, the Transformer who makes us more like Christ, the Advocate who makes our prayers acceptable to God, the Great Giver of spiritual gifts, and the Guarantee of our salvation. Every step of the way, He is a vital participant in how the gospel changes our lives.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the trinity, some of the talking points were, are we supposed to have all the fruits of the spirit, what will the Holy Spirit's role be after Christ returns, and so many more questions about the Holy Spirit. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about their close encounters with fire.
Got questions about the trinity? Follow the link below to share them.
https://discovertbc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1216130
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 Final Judge, and the Returning King. Because He’s fully God and fully human, He is uniquely positioned to be our advocate and our judge. He understands our weaknesses and our sufferings completely, so He can be both perfectly compassionate and perfectly just.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the trinity, some of the talking points were, if Jesus had a body in heaven, did Jesus's role in heaven change while he was on earth, what the word begotten really means. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about when they realized as kids that Jesus and God were one.
Got questions about the trinity? Follow the link below to share them.
https://discovertbc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1216130
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 wants the very best for all of creation, including us. He is deeply involved in our lives, and we can trust Him completely, just as Jesus did.
This week, our hosts have their first discussion on the trinity, some of the talking points were, where we hold the Athanasian/other creeds, if the father, son, and holy spirit have their own will, and if the father consults with the son and the holy spirit. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about different trinity analogies.
Got questions about the trinity? Follow the link below to share them.
https://discovertbc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1216130
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 look like. It must start with our hearts being moved in an overflow of gratitude to our Savior. We should establish principles, not scorekeeping, as we order our lives around generosity and give beyond what is convenient.
This week, our hosts continue their final discussion on the series, keeping score, some of the talking points were, giving until it hurts, giving changes your heart but what are the other reasons to give, and giving time instead of money and vice versa. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the drinks they grew up drinking.
Got questions about the trinity? Follow the link below to share them.
https://discovertbc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1216130
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 sons, not slaves; and that Christ set us free so we could leave behind the yoke of slavery. To live a happier, simpler life, we need to move away from ourselves toward Christ, away from duty toward love, and away from slavery toward freedom.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series, keeping score, some of the talking points were, living a restful life, totally exchanging our life and being like Jesus, and living by the indwelling Christ and what does that look like when we are facing temptations. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the hot fashion trend that they went full in on.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 us. We close with a list of eight practical principles from Paul’s letter to the Romans.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series, keeping score, some of the talking points were, what are all the ways God forgives us, what Christ is calling us to when He says forgive, and should we always restore the relationship when someone asks for forgiveness. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the silliest things that upset them.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 when we accept His gift of forgiveness. He forgives us completely and permanently, and being forgiven changes us.
This week, our hosts have their first discussion on the new series, keeping score, some of the talking points were, why do a series like this after easter, how obedience has its place but not for forgiveness, and feeling changed because of forgiveness. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the most embarrassing vehicles they ever drove.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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, reducing us all to mere objects or victims. Religion lacks all repentance. By breaking the mold of God’s design for human flourishing, we ultimately break our own society and souls. Redemption and restoration can only come through our great king, Jesus Christ.
This week, our hosts have their final discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, what was the Levite's motivation in doing what he did, how did the Benjamites win two times against the full might of Israel, and Israels constant need of of answers from God. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about some of the roughest stories that the Bible has to offer.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 freedom all in a single day. He was brought lower than he’d ever been, but God was still at work in unseen ways. From Samson’s life, we can learn to steward our strength for God, let rock bottom refocus us, and remember that God never stops caring for and working on us.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, how should we categorize Samson, what is the Nazarite vow, and how symbolic was Samsons hair. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about something hairy...
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 women instead of deliverance for his people. And God used Samson’s character flaws to spark a one-man war that would devastate the Philistine people. Pastor Jim leaves us with encouragement to obey God willingly, not in spite of ourselves, bringing the sweet honey of God’s truth with us everywhere we go.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, the jerks that God uses to fulfill His perfect plan, the lion and the bees, and ways we can grow spiritually. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about something that a lot of us have been wondering, is TBC still planning on going on their trip to Israel?
The wedding feast of Samson painted by Rembrandt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedding_Feast_of_Samson#/media/File:Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_146.jpg
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 deeply and sincerely devoted to God, but also be completely wrong about what He wants from us. Our emotions can mislead us if we don’t subject them to the truth God has revealed about Himself. Diving deeper into Scripture can help us love Him more deeply and follow Him more passionately.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, Jephthah's negotiations with the king of the Ammonites, why Jephthah didn't seek council concerning his vow, and what was Jephthah expecting to come out of his house. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about some instances in their parenting journey that they wish they could do-over.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 sees every evil, He will make all things right, but He does it in His timing and His way. When you're waiting for justice, remember—God is still in control.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, Gideon's judgeship, God sending the evil spirit, and how God uses something evil for good. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about freedom, the freedom they had to make some decisions in their younger years that sadly backfired.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 nation astray with a homemade religious relic. In the end, he failed the test of victory. To avoid repeating Gideon’s mistakes, we need to have devotion beyond emotion, give God all the glory, and beware of creeping confidence in our own strength.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, if all personal quests are bad, why the towns didn't help Gideon, and how to slow down when emotions are high. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the topic that was shared during Big Weekend, with our special guest Jeremy McGrath.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
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Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 our lives, and we ought to desire discernment, not delay.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, the other names Gideon used for God, the angel of the Lord, and if it's wise to test God like Gideon did. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about tests, tests, and more tests.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 personal consequences if we don’t follow the good plan God has for us.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, Judges chapter 5 that was left out due to time, Siseras mom, Jael offering false safety to Sisera, and how do we tell whether our delay/timing is due to our own selfish desires or if it is what God is telling us. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the snow storm that just went through Topeka.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, things that were left out of the message due to time, Eglons weight and palace, Ehud and Shamgar, and how to not feel discouraged when working on areas of our lives that aren't pleasing to God. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about those group projects that everyone was forced to do in school.
Extra resources mentioned: Thanks to Heidi Nelson for sharing this article with us: "The Assassination of Eglon: The First Locked-Room Murder Mystery" https://ben-tzion.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/halpern-the-assassination-of-eglon-llll-1.pdf
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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, remember we are stewards, not owners, and become experts in gratitude. In times of struggle, we need to examine our lives carefully, look for the lesson, and trust God’s timing.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, what was the role of punishment and how we should perceive that, if we need difficult times to appreciate God, and why it is important for us to study the old covenant. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about new years resolutions.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurch
Website: https://www.discovertbc.com/
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 land. We can fall into the very same pitfalls. To follow God well, we need to tear down strongholds we've normalized, focus on true repentance instead of mere emotions, and respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction now, before the cycle deepens and things get worse.
This week, our hosts have their first discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were, why there wasn't another leader appointed after Joshua, why God didn't just eliminate all the enemies before sending His people into the promise land, and what the job description for a Judge looked like. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share their experiences of buying a house that had been updated with some noticeable cut corners.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbc
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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 the gospel of peace, shield of faith, and sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. To prepare for combat, we need to wake up to the real world of spiritual struggle, keep our eyes open for subtle attacks, intentionally put on our spiritual armor, and stay alert in prayer. Christ has already won the battle against Satan's kingdom of darkness, but until Jesus returns, we are called to keep resisting the evil one and his schemes.
This week, our hosts have their final discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, Satans schemes, how powerful Satan is, and if pantheonic faiths were all demonic. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about some light show stats, and things that happened behind the scenes. If you happened to miss the light show, no worries! You can watch it right here: https://www.youtube.com/live/HeFZnVmEfbI
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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 follow our perfect Father in Heaven. That’s why it’s so important for parents, and especially fathers, to lead their families kindly and firmly, always aiming for their children’s good. Similarly, employers are called to create workplaces where their employees can thrive, always valuing people more than profits. On the flip side, children are called to obey and honor their parents in a way that shows they love God. Employees are called to do their very best to bring glory to God in their workplace.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, if the parent child relationship ever could be one of equals, the command of honoring our parents and up to what age it must be followed, and if there will be a child parent relationship in heaven. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about some of their parenting stories.
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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 wives sacrificially, like Christ loved the church and even laid down His life for us. Similarly, wives are to submit to their husbands’ leadership in the family, just as Christ submitted to His Father and the church ought to submit to Christ. For both husbands and wives, the goal is to follow Christ and become more like Him.
This weeks podcast is one you will not want to miss! Our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, this week Pastor Connor decided to have a one on one discussion on the sensitive topic of submission in marriage, with another of our pastoral staff Patty Diliberto and get her viewpoint on the subject.
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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 power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to reject sinful desires and embrace legging practices. When we follow Him, God replaces our lies with truth, our greed with generosity, our tearing down with building up, and more.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, how to be angry without sinning, grieving the Holy Spirit, and putting away your old self and putting on the new self. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about when would be the earliest they would put up their Christmas trees, if it had to be done before Thanksgiving.
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What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of our calling? This week, Pastor Connor looks at that question as we continue our series in Ephesians. Paul emphasizes the need to preserve the unity that we have in Christ, to use our gifts for building up the church, and to press on in maturity toward the fullness of Christ. We are no longer children, following our own whims and desires. Instead, each of us is a necessary part of Christ’s body, fitted and knit together by His love.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, Psalm 68:18, how to speak truth in love, and the different levels when it comes to issues in a church. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share about unity and maturity.
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When you pray for others, how should you do it? This week, Pastor Jim continues our sermon series in Ephesians with a look at one of Paul's prayers that we can use as an example. When we pray, we join in God's building project (people) right now. We should ask for God to give those people strength to endure trials, faith to believe in Christ's life within them, a grasp of Calvary love, knowledge of God's mysterious love toward us, and completeness, being filled with the fullness of God. These prayers may seem really big, but we serve a God who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or even imagine!
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, the Lords prayer and if it was supposed to be more prescriptive or descriptive, if the disciples prayed the Lords prayer, and God building a family of angels and arc angels. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share their favorite halloween memory.
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Our best-laid plans have a way of going sideways, leaving us disappointed and defeated. God’s plan, on the other hand, can never be defeated. Even better, He invites us to be part of it! This week, Pastor Connor continues our sermon series in Ephesians with a look at God’s undefeated plan that calls us not to worry, but to worship. In light of God’s plan, we ought to be bold, humble, and fearless, remembering that we shine brightest under persecution.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, Peter (did he always have a sword?, bad times to be bold and when he should of been bold), multifaceted wisdom of God, and Acts 5:40-42 that was cut from the sermon due to time. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share their favorite plot twists from movies/books.
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When division threatens to tear the church apart, what holds us together? This message from Ephesians 2:11-22 explores how Jesus creates unity among believers, why we all desperately need grace, and practical steps you can take to build peace in a church community today.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, how to interact, discuss, and show love to other Christ followers when our beliefs might not always align. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts play some Kansas trivia, join in and see how many you can guess correctly.
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Are you alive? Pastor Connor continues our series in Ephesians with a look at chapter 2, where Paul writes that we all start out dead in our sins. Before Christ, we are stuck in slavery to Satan, the world, and our own desires, spiritually dead and headed for wrath. That’s the bad news. The good news is that God’s merciful love made a way for us to be raised from spiritual death and transferred to His kingdom of light and life! Pastor Connor talks about how this is a result of God’s work, not our own. Once we’re in His kingdom, though, he does have good work for us to do: work that He prepared a long time ago specifically for each of us. Join us to learn more about death, life, and God’s good work in us.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, spiritual death and good ways to bring up the topic to people who need to hear it, and could people who don't follow Christ do good works?. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about what they prefer to hear first when receiving good/bad news.
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Jesus arose from the dead and has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. But what does that mean for the church today? This week, Pastor Connor continues our sermon series in Ephesians with a look at this question. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we don't fear physical death. We also have no need to pursue worldly power. God's power shines the brightest in our weakness, and He uses the small things of this world to accomplish great things for His kingdom. We can invite Christ to display His great strength in our weakness. We can also fight the darkness of the world by being faithful in the small things God has called us to do.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, how to avoid using the worlds yardstick to measure success for the church, the power of naming, and the righteous anger of God. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk omnipotence paradox questions that they have heard.
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How should we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ? In this week’s sermon, Pastor Jim continues our series in Ephesians with a look at how the Apostle Paul prayed. We can take lessons from Paul by praying constantly, thankfully, and telling people we’re praying for them. We should also pray that God will help them to know Him deeply and be able to see their burstingly full bank account in the heavenlies.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, the big talking point is prayer, they go over how we can have faith focused prayer, how to share that we are praying for someone without bosting about it, and if Paul knew his letters would be used as scripture one day. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about some prayer stories they had as kids.
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What does it mean to be “in Christ”? This week, Pastor Connor begins our new sermon series in Ephesians with a look at that question. Among other things, being in Christ means that we have access to many spiritual blessings. God the Father planned our journey with Christ before the beginning of the world, Jesus laid down His life to redeem us, and the Holy Spirit seals us as a down payment on the glory that we will inherit in eternity.
This week, our hosts have their first discussion on the book of Ephesians, the big talking point is inheritance, as heirs to the best inheritance ever, they talk about what we should be doing differently while on earth, and more importantly how we can make sure to share this inheritance with more people. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the big "what if" question! What if you won the lottery or got a big inheritance, what would you do first with your new wealth?
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For followers of Jesus, this world is not our home. We’re looking for a city not built with human hands, where Jesus has already prepared a place for us. In this week’s installment of our Onward series, Pastor Connor talks about our true heavenly home and what it looks like to live with our eyes set on things above instead of on earth. Because Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, we go into his presence when we die, and we can also confidently hope in our own resurrection from the dead.
This week, our hosts have their final discussion on the series Onward, the big talking point is heaven, they talk about, if we will have bodies there, if we will have jobs, and why we don't have many details about heaven. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share some road trip stories from when they were kids.
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Every successful space mission requires planning, people, and lots of preparation… but it won’t even get off the ground unless it has exactly the right kind of fuel. This week, Pastor Jason continues our Onward sermon series with a look at the importance of abiding in Christ. A close relationship to Jesus is the fuel we need accomplish the mission God has for us. We learn about bad fuel, which distracts us from our mission, and how to remove it from our lives. We also learn about good fuel: interacting with God each day through prayer and studying his word.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series Onward, they go over spiritual disciplines, the fuel for our faith and what it costs us, and how to make sure our time with God doesn't just become another activity that we check off our lists everyday. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about their favorite space movie that came out when they were younger.
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God’s kingdom isn’t grown by a small handful of elite Christians. Instead, it’s a team effort, empowered by the Holy Spirit’s gifts to each member of the church. This week, Pastor Connor continues our Onward sermon series with a look at the Apollo 11 moon landing. It couldn’t have happened without hard work from hundreds of thousands of people. Likewise, the Body of Christ has many members, and all of our gifts are needed in the work God wants to accomplish here on earth. Whether your gift is up front or behind the scenes, God gave it to you on purpose and wants you to use it for His glory and the good of your brothers and sisters.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series Onward, the big talking point is spiritual gifts, they go over how one might identify what theirs is, if it can change over time, and what the difference is between spiritual gifts and talents. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about what jobs they had taken on in the past but might not have been as gifted at doing.
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When we work together, we’re able to go farther, faster, and deeper than we can alone. This week, Pastor Connor continues our “Onward” sermon series with a comparison between the International Space Station (ISS) and the local church. Like the builders of the ISS, we must be committed to cooperation, dedicate ourselves to the same mission, and desire to serve others with the work we do. Unlike the ISS, we require the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill our calling. We dig into Acts 2 to find out how that looked for the early church, as well as for us today.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series Onward, they go over the early church and the practice of selling all their belongings, what are role is as a church body vs Gods role, and what some churches are doing to draw in the next generation. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about what things might of looked like on a Sunday morning for the early church compared to church today.
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How do we recover when our faith encounters a severe crisis? Pastor Jim continues our Onward sermon series this week with “Houston, we have a problem.” He talks about what it looks like to have a mid-faith crisis and draws lessons from The life of Joseph for how we can keep moving through them. Like Joseph, we can seize opportunities to live out our faith, hang on despite mistreatment, and expect God to reward our endurance.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series Onward, they go over how we distinguish between when God is testing us or if we are just receiving natural consequences, what we should do when we see signs of a fellow believer drifting from the faith, and the one book in the bible that is entirely written to keep people from losing their faith. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear from... what is this? the student ministry has taken over!? that's right, tune into the beginning to hear from the interns/students and what they did on their missions trip to New York.
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Feeling lost after accepting Christ? You're like an astronaut in a new world. Discover what it means that you're dead to sin and alive to God. Learn how your past no longer defines you and explore the beautiful mission God has prepared specifically for you in this new life.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series Onward, Spencer goes over his physical representation of being born again, what he left out of the sermon due to time, and shares what ways we might be presenting our bodies to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear who's going to family camp, and some camping trip stories.
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What does it look like to move closer to God, one step at a time? Pastor Connor will explore that question in our new sermon series, “Onward.” This week’s message looks at the beginning of our journey, the launchpad we take off from. Like a 5,000-ton rocket under gravity’s pull, we are weighed down by the immense burden of our sin. We cannot overcome this weight on our own; we need the rocket booster of Christ’s power to overcome it for us. Pastor Connor talks about the gospel: how we need it ourselves and how we can share it with those around us, so they can also be free from sin’s burden.
This week, our hosts talk about our new sermon series Onward, they go over the weight that Christians have on their shoulders, the difficulties of captivating someone when sharing the Gospel, and at what point does one know enough to share the Gospel with others. Oh and tune into the beginning to get to know Jason's summer intern Alex, as he shares what he has been done so far this summer with the church.
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Where is God when the circumstances around us seem impossibly grim? King David addresses this question in Psalm 16. Even though deadly danger surrounds him, the Psalmist rests in God’s faithfulness, both in life and beyond the grave. In this final installment of this year’s Summer in the Psalms, Pastor Connor talks about running to God, letting Him define what is good, and anchoring our lives in resurrection hope.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 16, they go over the other time Psalm 16 was referenced in the bible, what are some other false refuges people seek out, and we get to hear a short story of when Connei crossed paths with Connor before he joined the church. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the women's ministry and when some their events start up again.
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As followers of Jesus, we are called to live righteously. But the Bible also teaches that no one is righteous; we all fall short of God’s perfect standard. How can we reconcile these teachings? This week, Pastor Connor continues our Summer in the Psalms with David’s questions in Psalm 15: who can go up God’s holy mountain and enter into His presence? Through Jesus, we receive the righteousness we need to approach God. We also receive the power and guidance we need to live righteously each day, as we grow more like our Savior.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 15, they talk about two things you should be working towards if you are new to the faith, how guilt in moderation could be a good thing, and how we should approach worship with proper posture. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the exclusive clubs they are apart of.
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Psalm 14 describes a special kind of fool: Someone who knows the truth about God and still decides to live like He doesn’t exist. This week, guest speaker Dr. Corey Schliep continues our Summer in the Psalms with a look at control and surrender. When we seek control over every aspect of life, we put ourselves on the throne and risk cycles of anxiety and disappointment. But when we honor God’s sovereignty, we find the peace that comes with godly surrender.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 14, they talk about the different times the word "fool" has shown up in the bible, and they go over the feeling of wanting to do your part while God is in control of the wheel. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the amazing week they just had at camp catapult.
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Our culture’s trust in institutions is eroding. Everyone from politicians to podcasters is playing fast and loose with facts. Even the egg cartons in the grocery store are plastered with questionable claims! How should we respond to a world where truth seems to be so disregarded? In this week’s installment of Summer in the Psalms, Pastor Connor takes us through Psalm 12. We can combat the falsehoods around us by praying for wisdom, living with integrity, and pursuing God’s truth.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 12, they talk about how christians handle subjective truth, how they help people through healthy skepticism and paranoia, and good recommendations on how to study the bible. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk products that were marketed very well but fell flat when it came to actual use.
Dr. James VanDine’s Bible Theme Studies: https://soniclight.com/vandine-bible-theme-studies/
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Where can we take refuge when life is overwhelming and the whole world seems broken and hopeless? This week, we continue our Summer in the Psalms with a message from guest speaker Dr. Dale Johnson. He guides us through Psalm 11, where King David responds to threats against his life by reminding himself of truths about God. David’s answer to his inner turmoil lies not in positive self-talk, but in teaching his troubled heart about God’s promises, providence, character, and favor. When we do the same, we can experience God’s peace even in times of trouble.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 11, they go over biblical counseling, how we can build a spiritual storm shelter, and how we should seek advice from others and God. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about camp catapult and their experiences with tornados.
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Is it OK to bring our frustrations to God? In Psalm 10, King David does exactly that. He asks where God is when the wicked are victimizing the afflicted people in the land. This week, Pastor Connor continues our Summer in the Psalms with a look at how we should live when we are surrounded by evil and injustice. We need to adjust our expectations, pray for justice, and seek justice now, but most importantly, we need to trust in God’s future justice.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 10, Pastor Connor shares with us what he had to cut from Sunday's sermon due to time, and our hosts talk about how does one seek justice without taking on the role of judge. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about what extreme stunt they would attempt if they had the opportunity.
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How is it possible to praise God with a whole heart, even in the midst of difficult circumstances? That’s the question Pastor Connor tackles in this year’s first installment of Summer in the Psalms. King David knew what it was like to be surrounded by enemies and to long for God’s justice. In Psalm 9, we see that the key is to focus on God’s character — His just, eternal, and caring nature — and to trust that He will make everything right in the end.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the Psalms, specifically Psalm 9, Pastor Connor shares his thoughts on, what real honest worship is when we are hurting, and how God answers prayers by using bad situations for good results. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about what their custom license plates would say if they had one.
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Bitterness and resentment deal deadly blows to our mental and physical health, our unity with other Christians, and our relationship with God. In this week's installment of our "Getting Over It" sermon series, Pastor Jeremy McGrath tackles this important topic. He walks us through the "1-2-3" of bitterness and resentment, leaving us with one definition, two types of bitterness, and three reasons to turn away from these things toward forgiveness. This message is full of Biblical wisdom and practical advice for folks of every age who want to seek freedom instead of being enslaved by bitterness.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series "Getting Over It", where they go over the emotion of bitterness, they talk about resentment towards God, God caring for our burdens, and how easy it is to forgive and then just be drawn back in again with even more bitterness. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about things they used to hate but now like, or maybe just tolerate better.
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We humans desperately want to know what the future holds. We also plan ahead so we’ll be ready for it. So when life catches us by surprise or our careful plans fall short, we often become frustrated and anxious. This week, we continue our series on “Getting Over It” with a look at anxiety. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talks about this topic and gives us the surprising command to be more like birds and wildflowers. Join Pastor Connor as he provides practical tips for seeking God’s kingdom first and trusting the Lord to provide everything else we need.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series "Getting Over It", where they go over the emotion of anxiety, they share tips, advice and important things to remember when dealing with anxiety, and they go over how anxiety has changed through the generations. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about you guessed it, more discussion about pasta salad but this time it was kept to a minimum, but do stick around to hear about Patty's trip to the Kentucky derby and the winning horses name.
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Grief is unavoidable in our fallen world. Sorrow, suffering, and death surround us, but so does the compassion of Christ. This week, Pastor Connor continues our series, Getting Over It, with a look at how Jesus shares the grief of Mary and Martha in John 11. Instead of dismissing their sorrow or rebuking them for it, Jesus joins them in weeping. Pastor Connor discusses how Christians can grieve well, not as those without hope, but as people who believe in the Resurrection and eternal life.
This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the series "Getting Over It", where they go over the emotion of grief, they talk about times Jesus wept, what David and Paul said about the resurrection, and tips on ways to help someone that is mourning. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about Connor's favorite thing to eat at a potluck, quick spoiler, it's pasta salad, we have added a bell sound effect to go off every time they say the phrase "pasta salad" have fun with counting them, cause it's said a lot.
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What enemy did King David describe as bone-rotting and strength-sapping? Unconfessed sin. In this first installment of “Getting Over It,” Pastor Connor talks about the importance of confessing our sins to God. We often shy away from confession, even though there is great joy in being forgiven. The challenge lies in coming to agreement with God about the destructiveness of our sin. Pastor Connor gives some practical tips for being attentive when God convicts us of our sins and calls us to turn away from them.
This week, our hosts go over our new series called "Getting Over It", where they go over the emotion of guilt, they talk about how we should be genuinely seeking God and His guidance, and the importance of confessing to God. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about Jasons Easter laundry story.
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The Passover crowds were looking for a deliverer, a son of David who would rise up and throw off the shackles of Roman oppression. So imagine their disappointment when Jesus entered Jerusalem peacefully on the back of a gentle donkey. They didn’t recognize Him as the king they’d been waiting for. We can have the same problem they did: We look to Jesus for help or comfort without also recognizing Him as our king or accepting that His way can be hard to follow. In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Connor talks about the importance of receiving Jesus as He actually is, as well as some practical ways we can do that.
This week, our hosts talk more about Palm Sunday, Jesus anger towards the merchants in the temple, if there are times where it's ok to have Godly anger, and if there is a benefit to practicing lent. Oh and tune into the beginning to enjoy our very first Easter themed cook-off.
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Like Moses, Joshua had reached the end of his journey with the people of God. And like Moses, Joshua left them with a life-defining choice. This week, Pastor Connor concludes our series on Joshua with the showdown at Shechem: Would the Israelites choose to serve Yahweh, or the false gods of Ur, Egypt, and Canaan? This choice had eternal consequences for the people of Joshua’s day, and it does for us, too.
This week, our hosts go deeper into Joshua, where we learn more about the three people who buried in the promised land, the different kind of idols, and how to avoid having "good idols" in our lives. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about some April fools pranks they have done.
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Last words are a big deal. This week, Pastor Connor looks at Joshua’s farewell address to the leaders of Israel. One particular message was so important that Joshua repeated it three times: God has kept His promises to you in amazing ways! But be careful; if you turn away from Him, you’ll experience the wrath He warned you of.
This week, our hosts go deeper into Joshua, where we learn more about maintaining gratitude and awareness of God's work in our lives, how fearing the Lord is more than just avoiding sin, and how our understanding of the book of Joshua has changed. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about some of the unwanted encounters they have had with animals in their homes.
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Discover the beautiful balance of trusting God's promises while embracing obedience. Through Caleb's inspiring example and Israel's missteps, we learn how following God's path leads to the rich, fulfilling life He lovingly designed for us.
This week, our hosts go deeper into Joshua where we talk more about Caleb, the Anakites, giants, and why the Israelites didn't always kill all their enemies. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about curfews and if they followed them or not.
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God promised the children of Israel that they would have peace and rest in the Promised Land. This week, Pastor Connor talks about what that rest looked like. He also discusses the rest that we can have in Christ today, as well as the dangers of seeking temporary rest instead of the eternal rest God wants us to have. If you’ve ever felt weary and heavy-burdened, this message is for you!
This week, our hosts go deeper into Joshua and the topic of Heaven, what heavenly rest will look like, having jobs in heaven and answering the question of how we can keep ourselves from falling into the traps of this world. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about about what they do to rest and decompress after a long day.
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Have you ever been in terrible trouble where escape seemed impossible? This week, Pastor Connor continues the story of the Gibeonites, the tricky tribe that scammed Joshua into forming an alliance. When the Gibeonites are attacked by their neighbors, God sends Joshua and the Israelites to rescue them. But don’t be fooled: God does most of the heavy lifting Himself. Join us for this message about killer hailstones, unusual solar behavior, and how the whole story points us to Christ.
This week, our hosts go deeper into Joshua chapter 10, we find out who spoke to the Sun and the Moon, we hear about different theories of what fell from the sky that day, and they go over verse 14 in more detail. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the biggest US hail storms on record and the largest hailstone ever discovered.
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Joshua and the Israelites have entered the promised land. They’re ready to embark on a military campaign through the southern part of Israel. So why do they take a detour to the north? And why do they fall for a scam afterwards? Join Pastor Jim as he takes a journey into archeology, ancient curses, and what happens when we lean on our own understanding.
This week, our hosts talk about how we all have been "Christian atheists" at some point in our lives, ways we can feel closer to God, and asked this question "Could other kingdoms have had a peace treaty with Israel instead of being destroyed? Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about a time Jason was winging a career choice.
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Sometimes our greatest triumphs are followed by great defeats. That’s one theme of this week’s sermon from Joshua, where Pastor Jim tackles the story of the Israelites’ defeat at Ai. After seeing God’s power on full display at the battle of Jericho, Joshua faces a terrible setback because of one person’s disobedience. Yet, God can turn even our valleys of trouble into doorways of hope when we repent of our sins and commit to doing things His way.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Joshua and go over how one persons mistake hurt a whole nation, what Israel did with the king of Ai and what the stolen items were worth at that time. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear from our special guest Micah Hawkinson.
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Through a study of the unconventional "battle" at Jericho, Connor explores the reality of spiritual warfare and why our daily struggles are often part of unseen forces at work in the spiritual realm around us. Learn how God has already secured victory over Satan and his forces and how you can fight life's battles with confidence, knowing the ultimate outcome is already determined.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Joshua and go over why Israel waited to do the circumcisions until adulthood, the archaeological discoveries in Jericho, and who was it that appeared to Joshua. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share what they have found in their own excavations from when they were kids.
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The crossing of the Jordan introduced a new era for the people of Israel. This week, Pastor Connor continues our series in Joshua, discussing how God accomplished this miracle and how He instructed His people to memorialize it. We learn about the importance of expecting God to do great things, as well as some practical suggestions for reminding ourselves how far He’s brought us.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Joshua and go over why the priests needed to enter the water with the ark of the covenant, why Joshua was placing rock memorials and the importance of passing on the the legacy of faith. Oh and tune into the beginning to find out a little more about our newest staff member Spencer Kovach our College Ministry Director.
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Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” This was written to Christians in the first century, but what if we find ourselves with similar struggles today? This week, Pastor Jeremy talks about our culture’s unhealthy relationship with smart phones and social media. Too often, we allow these technologies to consume our lives and drown out the silent moments that God uses to help us grow spiritually. What would it look like to resist that influence? How might our lives be different if we refused to be conformed to this world’s habits and rhythms? He concludes his message with a list of practical steps to take if you find yourself struggling in this area.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the subject of getting disconnected from technology, Pastor Jeremy shares more of what he found during his research for the sermon, he explains what outrageous content is, and the fact that ADHD people struggle with technology addiction the most. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share stories of technology that was addicting for them as children.
Additional content that was mentioned in the podcast:
- November 2023 TBC Extra episode featuring Jason Hildebrandt on kids and internet security: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1735921/episodes/13898688
- Ground News, Jeremy's recommendation for news coverage that covers multiple perspectives: https://ground.news/
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The story of Rahab isn't just about a quick-thinking woman who hid two spies on her rooftop. In Joshua 2, we meet a pagan prostitute living inside Jericho's walls who risked everything to protect God's people. But what's remarkable isn't just her bravery – her powerful declaration of faith that reminds both the spies – and us – that God goes before us, preparing the way. And he is with us always. Through this unlikely hero, whom society would have cast aside, God didn't just save a family – He established a link in the very lineage of Jesus Christ. God uses imperfect people like Rahab, and like us, to fulfill His perfect plan.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the book of Joshua, they go over how long it took the spies to get to Jericho and back, what Jewish historians believe Rahab's occupation was and discuss different views that people have when it comes to Rahab lying to the soldiers. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share what their most interesting job was.
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Have you ever felt like you were in an impossible situation? This week, we begin a new series on the book of Joshua, which starts with the people of Israel in the desert. They’ve just lost their great leader, Moses, and their promised land is full of strong, well-fortified enemies. But God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. Join Pastor Connor as he discusses God’s calling, Joshua’s response, and what it means for us today.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the book of Joshua and Joshua the person, they go over some earlier appearances in the bible and some of the important moments that he was around for. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts share stories of moments they had to be strong and courageous in their own lives.
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The cross was offensive in the world of the Galatians. It was a shameful tool of execution, so some people tried to replace the cross with an emphasis on following Jewish traditions. In this final week of our Galatians series, Pastor Connor discusses Paul’s response to those people. Without the cross, there is no Christianity. Christ’s work on the cross provides a way of salvation and transforms us into new creatures. Because of this, we should not be ashamed to tell about the cross and its power to change lives.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the final chapter of Galatians, what Paul meant by bearing the marks of Jesus, and the big takeaway from going through the book of Galatians. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts try NOT to talk about cookies and find out how many people saw the light show, and hear some funny stories of people who accidentally saw the light show.
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Ever wondered if your faith journey really matters? Pastor Connor Kraus offers an encouraging dive into how God sees and celebrates your everyday choices. Discover how living with purpose isn't about perfection but about walking closely with God and experiencing His incredible love and guidance.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the topic of what rewards will be received in heaven and the different passages in the bible that mentions them. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about oreos, cookies and more sugary goodness.
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Last week we talked about living by the Spirit. But what does that look like? Pastor Jim walks us through four signs of a spiritual person from Galatians 6. If we are living by the Spirit, we will gently restore sinners, relieve the burdened, review our own lives, and remember those who devote themselves to teaching us.
This week, our hosts share their personal experiences with keeping people accountable without broadcasting that persons sins to the world. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear about what Teresa has been up to for the month of November.
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Christ sets us free when we’re born into His family through faith. But that’s just the beginning! In this week’s message, Pastor Jim talks about how we can live free by walking in step with the Holy Spirit. When we walk by the Spirit, we avoid the trench of legalism on one side and the sewer of libertinism on the other. We are also free to grow the fruit of the Spirit instead of being enslaved by the deeds of the flesh.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Galatians, what you should remain focused on, spiritual battles that we may face, and living by the Spirit. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear the hosts talk about thanksgiving traditions, their favorite dish and which dish they would remove.
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Who makes us free, and why? Pastor Jeremy tackles those questions this week. We may be tempted to think we can set ourselves free from sin by doing everything just right, or that freedom means we can do anything we want, but both of these ideas are wrong. Instead, Christ is the one who sets us free, and He does it so that we can be free to love God and others.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Galatians, they discuss ways we should not use our freedom, and how we should be humble and intentional. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear the hosts debate on when it's ok to start using Christmas lingo and setting up decorations.
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This week, we look at the conclusion of Paul’s argument to the Galatians about what it means to be God’s children. Pastor Connor guides us through a tale of two sons: one enslaved and one free. When we belong to God’s family, we are children of promise, free and righteous because of God’s grace through Christ. He delivers us from the hopeless slavery of trying to justify ourselves through works of the Law.
This week, our hosts go over why Galatians 4:27 was left out of the sermon, why the story of Sarah and Hagar is a hard one to teach to children, and we find out what happened to Ishmael after he was sent away. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear Connor and Jason talk about mountains, nature, and hiking trips they've been on.
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We often talk about “God the Father” or being “a child of God,” but what does that actually mean? This week, Pastor Connor digs into Galatians to answer that question. He also talks about what it takes to become a child of God, as well as how it changes us to be part of God’s family.
This week, our hosts go deeper into Galatians, baptism, and what it means to be a child of God and having a heavenly father. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear about genealogy and Connors and Jasons family tree.
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If the Law of Moses can’t make us right with God, then what good is it? That’s the question in this week’s passage from Galatians. Pastor Connor discusses how the Law was designed to make God’s people aware of their many sins, prepare them for the Messiah, and put everyone on equal footing before God. Then, he digs into how the promise made to Abraham beats the Law in every way. And most surprising of all, he talks about how the same Law that multiplied sin made grace multiply even more!
This week, our hosts go deeper into Galatians, the Law of the old testament and why there are some laws that are not applicable to todays christians. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear what the TBC staff did yesterday.
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What can make us right with God? This week, Pastor Connor leads us through Paul’s scandalous answer to that question. Like most people today, the false teachers in Galatia said that righteousness comes from doing right things and avoiding wrong things. But in this week’s passage, Paul uses Old Testament scripture to show that only faith in Christ can justify us. When we trust in Jesus, we escape the Law’s curse and become children of Abraham’s promise.
This week, our hosts talk about what's good and right, if someone else could of fulfilled the law, how people in the old testament could be considered saved and why reading the old testament is so important. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear updates about Haiti Life Line and the work God is doing in the country of Haiti.
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Connor addresses the challenge of maintaining a strong and genuine faith and how we can unknowingly drift from our initial fervor, working for blessings already freely given through Christ. We must recognize God's role in sanctification and make sure our faith sprouts from conviction rather than convenience. Through self-reflection and a deepening relationship with Christ, we can avoid spiritual complacency and recapture the transformative power of the gospel.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Galatians, Paul's frustration with them and Spiritual disciplines. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear Jason and Jeremy compare a variety of candies.
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How can we get right with God? The world would tell us our best hope lies in doing better than average: Avoiding bad things, doing good things, and generally trying really hard. That path is full of complexity and pain, and even worse, it doesn't work! This week, Pastor Jim tells us about the simpler way God offers: Faith in Jesus Christ. God the Son is the answer to being made right with God, and also to living the way God wants us to once we belong to Him. Join us as we dig into Galatians 2 to find out how faith in Christ allows us to share His death and His life.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Galatians, letting Jesus take the wheel and stories shared by Jim talking about Louis Palao, why Galatians 2:20 is his favorite verse and many more. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear about where Jason was last week.
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Unity is one of the most important pursuits of the church. But sometimes, conflict is necessary in order to preserve the truth of the gospel. This week, Pastor Connor discusses Paul’s conflict with Peter at Antioch. To defend Christ’s church and its mission, Paul stood up to Peter, even when the cost was great. Join us as we consider when and how to engage in conflicts about truth.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Galatians, Paul rebuking Peter and Peter being influenced by the circumcision party. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear more about ancient Antioch, archeology and Dave's trip to Ephesus.
A street in Antioch: https://barelis.com/downloads/160518-a4k-tur-antiochofpisidia-dji-0268-01/
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Humans love to label and categorize things. It helps us to understand the world we live in. But sometimes those labels become a way to divide us from one another, even when we ought to be unified. This week, Pastor Connor walks us through how the labels “circumcised” and “uncircumcised” threatened to drive a wedge in the early church. He also discusses how the gospel of Christ should unify us, never divide us.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Galatians, talking about gospel partnerships and Pauls thoughts on circumcision. Oh and tune into the beginning for a fun game, where the hosts try to describe themselves with only 5 labels.
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What turning point in your life can only be explained by “It’s a God thing”? That’s the question Pastor Jim asks us to consider in this week’s message on Galatians. In that letter, Paul responds to his critics by saying that his gospel came from Jesus Christ, not from himself. Join us as we dig into what that meant for the Galatians, as well as for us today.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Arabia, why Paul was there, movies that were shot there, and how it feels to be stuck in our own Arabia or desert. Oh and tune into the beginning for some fun stories from Jason and Teresa as they talk about their adventures to deserts in the United States.
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Sometimes we're astonished by how wonderful something is. Other times, we're astonished by how bad things have gotten. In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he tells them they've filled him with astonishment by how far they've drifted from the truth of Christ. In this week's message, Pastor Connor talks about how false teachers came in, obscuring and twisting the truth that reconciliation with God is by faith in Christ's work alone. He discusses why their teaching was so dangerous, as well as how we can guard the truth in our own understanding of the gospel.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into Galatians, Revelation, what Paul meant about not trusting false gospel shared by angels and how teachers are under more scrutiny by God. Oh and tune into the beginning for some serious talk about adoption, the difficulties that comes with it and the fact that China isn't allowing international adoptions anymore.
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The Galatian churches had a problem. They were looking to become righteous through the Law instead of through Christ alone. So Paul was the perfect person to help them! He used to be a Pharisee who was zealous for the Law until he met Jesus and was completely changed. This week, Pastor Connor walks us through the introduction to Galatians, focusing on how the gospel is a message of God's grace and peace toward us. It reveals to us the path, purpose, and plan that God has for our lives.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into the early church, Galatians and Paul's thoughts on certain laws. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear about christian middle names and our hosts best impressions of Elmo.
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One of the things the gospel of Jesus shows us is God’s extravagant generosity. At the heart of it are extraordinary love and sacrifice. In this week’s message on The Good Life, Pastor Connor talks about how God calls us to join Him in being generous. When we pursue love and sacrifice in our giving, we store up eternal treasures and experience the abundant life God wants us to have.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into what it means to be a generous giver, not only from our funds but also our time. They also go over the subjects of stewardship and our rewards in heaven. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear about how people give/receive gifts in other countries.
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Does your life ever seem busy, overwhelming, or packed with anxiety? If so, you’re not alone. But God calls His people to live differently, for their own good and the good of those around them. This week, Pastor Connor guides us through Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians: live a quiet life, mind your own business, and work with your hands. By following that pattern, we can find the security and confidence that come from trusting God’s plans and promises.
This week, our hosts dive deeper into what it means to live a quiet life, having the right mindset at work, and being "busy" while managing our time wisely. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear about how people greet each other around the world.
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Pride is a serious problem in our spiritual lives. It puts our focus on looking good rather than pursuing true goodness. This week, Pastor Jeremy discusses the importance of resisting pride. He also gives specific strategies we can use to root out pride and cultivate humility in our lives.
This week, Teresa, Connor and special guest Jeremy dive deeper into ways we can identify our own pride, the difference between vain glory and healthy glory and how we can work to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And tune in before the sermon to hear some fun highlights from family camp.
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Americans are great at emphasizing our individuality. But in God’s plan for the church, that can sometimes be a problem. In this week’s message, Pastor Connor talks about community and why it’s so vital for followers of Christ. He also discusses what can go wrong when we try to be Lone Ranger Christians.
This week, Teresa and special guest Connie Hall discuss the importance of sharing life together, how Christ needs to be at the center of our community, and how God can use us when we put in the effort to introduce ourselves to someone new. Give this week’s episode a listen to hear about how we need the church and the church needs us! Oh, and hear about some quirky 19th century advertising we found for an extra laugh.
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Politics are important to many of us. But what happens when they become our top priority, even above the kingdom of Christ? This week, Pastor Connor talks about how things can go wrong when we put our hope in political solutions instead of the gospel of Jesus. He encourages us to vote and faithfully pray for our elected officials, but also reminds us that ultimately, Jesus is the only one who can save.
As controversy in our world heats up, sometimes we reach a boiling point. On this week’s podcast, our hosts discuss how we can make sure we’re putting Christianity first and have a Christ-like response to things we disagree with. Connor also gives us a little teaser for the next sermon series, ‘The Good Life’. Oh, and, tune in to the beginning to hear fun election facts!
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The world is full of wonders that tell of a mighty Creator. This enormous universe sometimes leaves us feeling insignificant, but this week’s message from Pastor Connor reminds us that God notices and cares for us. And that’s just the beginning! God has also appointed us to take good care of His creation. Join us as we unpack these truths from Psalm 8.
TBCer, Haiti Lifeline Director, and Aquatics Biologist Chris Mammoliti joins Connor and Teresa in the studio. When Chris began his career, he was an atheist who was often at odds with people who claimed to have dominion over creation. He studied the Bible to learn more about what it says about our obligation as stewards of Creation. And along the way, Chris discovered God and Jesus. Chris brings his unique vocational perspective to the sermon discussion. Oh, and Connor and Teresa share their favorite places to experience God's creation.
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What gave King David the confidence to approach God so boldly? This week, Spencer Kovach guides us through Psalm 7 to explore that question. He discusses righteousness, judgement, and how Jesus provides us with continual access to His Father’s presence.
Student Ministry intern Spencer joins Jason and Teresa in the studio to discuss the two places (on earth now and in the future at the White Throne) where God administers judgment. The group also explores David's birthing analogy in this psalm and the "praise sandwich" that bookends the crying out for judgment. Oh, and Teresa asks the guys to share something that has surprised them in this busy summer season of ministry.
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How long, O Lord? That’s the central question of Psalm 6, and also a question we might find ourselves asking in times of despair or hopelessness. In this week’s message, Pastor Connor walks through this Psalm and what it teaches us about praying through hard seasons of life. We can follow David’s example by focusing on the truth God has revealed and remembering His promises to us.
Connor and Teresa cover what a penitential Psalm is, talk about debate among commentators over this particular passage, and discuss possible reactions to experiencing evil in our lives and some dangers associated with taking even those perspectives that come from good intentions to an extreme. Oh, and we get to hear funny (or bad) sermon titles Teresa found.
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In times of great trial, we can take comfort in God’s character and the fact that He will execute justice. This week, our Summer in the Psalms continues as Pastor Connor takes us through Psalm 5. He talks about how, even when the wicked seem to be winning, God’s nature and His promises to His people remain unchanged. Ultimately, we can trust God to deliver us, to judge the unrighteous, and to provide refuge and joy to all who love Him.
In this week’s podcast, we dive into what it means to pray for your enemies and rejoice in the punishment of the wicked; and how we can find comfort in that. We also discuss what it means at the end of Psalm 5 when David is talking about the favor of God and how favor takes on a different context in the New Testament. Also, we get to hear a recap of Camp Catapult and how God worked through it once again!
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How should we relate to God when our whole world is falling apart? King David wrote Psalm 3 during an incredibly hard season of his life. In this week’s sermon, Pastor Connor walks us through that Psalm, discussing what it looks like to trust in God, rely on His protection, and praise Him even in the midst of turbulent storms.
This week, dive with us into the backstory of the family drama and resulting civil war leading up to the events of Psalm 3, as they are recorded in 2 Samuel. And, unlike many other Psalms, this one doesn’t end in the kind of resolution we’d like to see, but instead shows us how we can still praise God even when his deliverance doesn’t look the way we want it to. Oh and, Jason and Teresa get excited as they count down the days to Camp Catapult!
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Forever is a l-o-n-g time. It's eternal, after all! Our look at Psalm 2 shows us the forever-ness of God's promises in the prophetic lyrics that told of a Christ who was yet to come, as well as His triumphant return in our future. We say that we understand the concept of eternity and we long for the day when Christ returns – forever. But why do we still find ourselves (more often than we might care to admit) rebelling against God?
This week, Jason and Connor discuss how Psalm 1 talks about what it looks like to worship God and follow him while Psalm 2 talks about those plotting to overthrow and destroy God. They also go over what it means to ‘kiss the Son’ and how different translations treat the phrase. Oh, and we get to hear about Jason and Connor’s favorite birthday cakes.
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Would you rather be a fruitful tree or dry, windblown chaff? In this first installment of “Summer in the Psalms,” Pastor Connor guides us through Psalm 1. He discusses how to avoid the path of the wicked, how to pursue the path of God’s truth, and the eternal consequences of the paths we choose.
Connor shares some things that, for the sake of time, had to be cut from the sermon, and the group talks about the speed with which Jesus followers should pivot back to God when they realize they've strayed from the "path of the righteous." Oh, and Executive Pastor Doug Will stops by for a visit!
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Connor Kraus wraps up our Deuteronomy series with a look at the end of Moses' life. We get a glimpse into the unique and spiritually intimate relationship between God and Moses. Despite Moses' status, we learn that even he had to endure the consequences of his sin and only peer over, rather than enter into, the Promised Land. And Connor challenges us with the notion that our reaction to this scene says much about our faith.
Connor elaborates on the circumstances around Moses' sin, helping us to understand that it wasn't a "small sin" at all. The team also discusses whether God physically buried Moses single-handedly, looking at the original language to shed light on this often-debated point. Oh, and as the team celebrates the newly renovated podcast studio, Jason and Teresa welcome Children's Ministry Summer Intern Josie Mehl!
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Songs communicate with us at a deep level, so it’s no surprise that God inspired Moses to include one at the very end of Deuteronomy. This week, Pastor Jim walks us through the famous Song of Moses, which some have called the Israelites’ national anthem. He discusses the song’s structure, its poetry, and what it teaches us about God’s plan to redeem the world.
Jason, Teresa, and special guest Pastor Jim discuss a variety of topics, from the song they remember earliest in life, to other songs contained in the Pentateuch, an update from Pastor Jim on what’s happen in Israel today, and a reminder to focus on the right things as we pray for Israel. Oh, and we’re treated to an air hockey battle between Pastor Jim and one of our hosts.
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When the Israelites entered the promised land, they were thrown into the middle of an ancient war. Today, we continue fighting that same war. In this week’s sermon, Pastor Connor looks at the battle instructions God provided to his people in Deuteronomy, as well as how those instructions apply to our toughest battles today. (Spoiler alert: Our side has already won!)
This week, Connor addresses a misconception about certain ‘rulers and authorities’, covers practical application for how parents can lead their families in a healthier relationship with social media, and talks about the importance of recognizing spiritual warfareand realizing we may not win every battle in our lifetime but they’re still worth fighting. Oh, and, watch to see if Jason or Teresa is better at pop-a-shot.
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When the Israelites heard God’s voice and saw the great fire of His glory in Horeb, they cried out for someone who could survive God’s presence and deliver his messages to them. For a while, that person was Moses. But who would bring God’s word to His people after Moses died? In this message from Deuteronomy 18, Pastor Connor looks at the guidelines God gave for recognizing prophets. He also talks about the promise that God made to raise up a perfect prophet after Moses’s death, and what all this means for us today.
This week, our hosts discuss false prophets, what scripture says about testing prophets, an observation that prophesy is more than simply delivering a message, a comparison of the intimate connection prophets like Jeremiah had with the Lord and Moses’s relationship with God, the unique role Samuel played as a prophet serving during the time of the judges and the beginning of the kingdom under Saul and David, and how all of this applies to the way we approach the interpretation and teaching of God’s word by spiritual leaders in our own lives. Oh, and Jason and Teresa discuss various life changes happening in each of their lives.
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Throughout human history, slavery has taken a terrible toll on human dignity and flourishing. So why does Scripture use it to describe our relationship with both God and sin? As he continues our series on Deuteronomy, Pastor Connor discusses the instructions that God gave his people around slavery. He also talks about slavery in the New Testament, as well as the wisdom in Bob Dylan’s observation, “You’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
In this week’s episode, our hosts discuss Connor’s preparation to teach on the sensitive topic of slavery, some additional Biblical references including Paul’s letter to Philemon, the importance of having a Christ-first perspective on difficult subjects, and the fact that thoroughly understanding the master/slave relationship informs our understanding of the language God uses when he says he’s redeemed his people and purchased us with a price. Knowing that we are automatically either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness should make us ask ourselves, “does my behavior indicate that I’m a slave to righteousness or sin?” Oh, and you’ll have to listen to the end to find out who looks forward to deviled eggs and pasta salad at church potlucks.
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God cared deeply about where and how His chosen people worshipped Him. This week, Pastor Jim continues our series on Deuteronomy. He talks about the life and final words of Moses, as well as why the Promised Land was such an important place to God. He also discusses what it means for us today to worship God in the place where He dwells.
After the sermon, Jim, Jason and Teresa discuss how God uses brokenness to heal us and the “holy ground” within us and wherever we gather to worship and pray. Oh, and Jim talked about his role as pastor of missions and leader development, and talks about some changes he’s seen in mission vocations over the years.
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God commands His people to be tenderhearted toward the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor in their midst. In this message on Deuteronomy, Pastor Connor discusses God’s justice and how the Law provided for the needy in Israel. Ultimately, God calls us all to have hearts that care for vulnerable people. He also expects our actions to reflect that care.
This week, Jason and Teresa talk about how God sees the vulnerable, the punishments Israel suffered as a result of its disregard for the poor and fatherless, the position our hearts should be in as we respond to those in need, and the discernment it takes to know when and how to provide help. Oh, and our hosts also share some personal ways each of them has been blessed by others and encourage listeners to be that blessing to people in their own lives.
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During their 40-year journey through the desert, God’s people earned judgement over and over. But God continued showing them mercy, often because Moses advocated for them. In this discussion of Deuteronomy 9, Pastor Connor talks about Moses as a mediator between God and Israel. He also examines how Moses foreshadowed our great mediator, Jesus Christ. As our sacrifice and our advocate before God’s throne, Jesus is our sole source of salvation, past, present, and future.
This week, Jason, Teresa, and Connor discuss a section of Deuteronomy 9 that had to be cut from the sermon, the parallel of Moses’s intercession on behalf of Israel and Christ’s intercession before the Father for us, Satan’s conversations with God where he is our accuser, and the distinction between the various intercessors that are part of the Catholic faith and the concept of Jesus as the only holy, innocent, undefiled High Priest and intercessor. Oh, and Teresa tries to stump Jason with an eclipse-themed question.
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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 goodness of God’s unchanging love.
This week, Jason, Teresa and Jeremy discuss a variety of topics, including, the 4th takeaway that was cut from the sermon, how being perfected by the flesh and not the spirit can be a slippery slope, and how it’s important to focus on what God could be teaching us through hardships rather than asking God, “why are you doing this to me.” We also get a sneak peak into the exciting events happening this summer in our student and children’s ministries. Oh and we’ve got a list of the top 12 uses for windex.
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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 own hearts might be trying to compromise the way the Israelites did.
This week Connor, Teresa and Jason discuss topics such as the context around God’s commands for Israel on marriage, the difference between temptation and testing, and when compromise is appropriate. Also, Teresa and Jason start us off with some memories surrounding tornado safety.
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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 continue to keep our soul, heart, and mind on God?
What age does the law become applicable? Is it a waste of time for us to try to figure out why we’re experiencing suffering? How can we be tested even while we’re experiencing blessings? This week, Connor, Teresa, and Jason dig into answers to these and other questions. Oh, and Jason and Teresa share a laugh over first world problems.
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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 our families with reminders of this greatest commandment.
Our hosts this week discuss the sermon with a special focus on details Connor had to cut Sunday and whether it’s ever too late to start teaching your kids about these principles. Oh, and Jason shares the answer he got to last week’s podcast question about talking on the phone while driving.
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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 implications for us today.
Following the message, our hosts explore some of the big questions about the law and its place in our lives today, addressing topics like the law’s unchanging nature and purpose, its fulfillment and restatement by Christ, and the idea that God is always calling us to something deeper. Oh, and Jason and Teresa share relatable reactions they’ve had to seeing a police car in the rearview mirror.
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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 in our past, present, and future. No matter how grim the obstacles look, He will help us through them.
This week, among other things, our hosts discuss Biblical history relating to giants, specifically in the context of Israel’s conquest of the promised land and the connection to Goliath who was confronted by the shepherd David generations later. Oh, and we find out if Jason and Teresa would rather travel to the past, present or future.
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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, soul, and strength. And it’s a call that echoes down to our generation, especially those not raised in homes where God was at the center.
Connor and Jason dive into a variety of topics, from Biblical authorship, to demonstrating faithfulness through obedience, to the importance of being a faithful generation. Oh, and Connor and Jason discuss trips that took far longer than they expected.
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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 our gifts to serve one another.
Jeremy, Teresa and Jason discuss how everyone has at least one spiritual gift, that they should be used to serve the church out of love, and we should always be building towards unity. They also discuss the difference between spiritual gifts and talents. Oh, and, we learned about Teresa’s special gift… wrapping skill.
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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 and a cup of coffee. Are we worshipping the creation, rather than the Creator? God is everywhere. The best way to feel closer to God is by going to Him with a heart that recognizes our place in our relationship with Him and with an earnest desire to be transformed by Him.
Connor, Jason, and Teresa dive deep into the difference between using objects or nature as an aid in worship versus relying on or worshipping the creation itself. Connor points out that worshiping nature instead of God devalues God and gives Him the same worth as something He spoke into existence. Oh, and Jason and Teresa share distraction-free places they go to worship.
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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, and the burden of being "good enough" on us. Scripture tells us over and over that God is in control, he has his own timeline, and we can never be good enough. That's why we have Jesus, and why all we have to do is accept him as our Savior to receive the place in Heaven that we don't deserve.
Connor, Jason and special guest Jeremiah Devine take a deeper dive into what the Bible has to say about karma and how we need to be careful not to let it creep into our spiritual lives. Also, Jason and Jeremiah talk about fun Chiefs game day traditions.
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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 guest Connie Hall do a deeper dive into the topics of spirituality and trust, using the example of Israel under King Saul to demonstrate the dangers associated with choosing our own path in rejection of God’s word. Oh, and, Jason and Connie discuss fun ways to memorize.
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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 share about TBC's history of serving in that nation, their experiences worshipping alongside the Haitians, and some unexpected delays at the end of their trip that made them wonder whether they'd make it home in time for Christmas.
In the third and final segment, we share a discussion about protecting your child’s mental health. You will hear from social worker and counselor Troy Fay and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner and school counselor Melissa Gossard. The speakers touch on timely topics ranging from social media, to cyber bullying, sexual identity, and trauma.
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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 practicing accountability with others. We must be patient, humble, personal, challenging, encouraging, and prayerful.
Connor, Jason and Teresa talk more about the pain of discipline and how to find good accountability partners from the people around you. Oh and the team welcomed a special long time listener first time guest.
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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 with the things Satan throws our way. We can walk that line through evangelism, being a good neighbor, and being truthful.
Connor, Jason and Teresa go into detail about other faiths that claim to be based on the Bible but don't follow the Gospel, and much more. Oh and the team talked about their likes and dislikes of new years resolutions.
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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 talks about his friend who won "Best Legs" in High School.
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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, and, Jason and Teresa talk about how well the Light Show went this past weekend.
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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 found. There is some content that you may not want your kids to hear, so listen at your own discretion.
Third, and final, Jason has a conversation with Leanna Clark, who leads Griefshare here at TBC. Jason and Leanna talk about the topic of grief and how a ministry like Griefshare can help, especially during the Holidays.
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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 Alan retell times others have been exceedingly generous to them.
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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 about giving grief in the right contexts. Oh, and, Teresa and Alan discuss moments when they have had to learn from a tough lesson.
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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 perspective. And in our newfound perspective, we are compelled to tell others the good news. Every day is the "day of salvation" for those who do not believe.
The pastors are out of the building for this podcast, but we have brought on the always entertaining Connie Hall to compensate. Oh, and, Teresa and Connie discuss their Thanksgiving opinions and hot takes.
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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 some of the content that couldn't be covered in the sermon. Oh, and, we go over times our expectations were either met or left us disappointed.
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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 hear from the mother, Norma Burton. If you missed the first part of the Expresso, that can be found in the October edition of Extra-Extra.
Third, and final, Jason talks with TBC elder, Jason Hildebrandt, about raising kids with technology and how to prevent the dangers that can come of it.
Full Expresso Recording:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1734782/13585585-september-12-2023-expresso-norma-burton-lynne-hargraves.mp3?download=true
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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.
Jason and Teresa come with their questions for Connor about his sermon. Oh, and, Jason and Teresa recall a time they accidentally broke something important.
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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 deceit.
Do not be ashamed of Jesus. Tell people about him. The Holy Spirit has given you everything you need... you just need to do it. Do not be scared. The outcome is not up to you. It's up to God.
A return to normalcy! Alan returns from his honeymoon to impact the production of the podcast. Connor, as usual, talks more deeply about his message such as the power Satan has on earth. Oh, and, Alan discusses his trip to Japan for awhile to let you know what he was up to while he was gone.
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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. The Holy Spirit continues to work in us throughout our journey as followers of Christ, becoming more and more like Him as we draw deeper into the New Covenant with Him.
Special guest and TBC Worship Pastor Jeremiah Devine stops by to chat about the season and the semon.
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Special guest Scott DeSanders (former TBC youth pastor, currently pastor of discipleship at Parkway Bible Church, Pflugerville, TX) continues our 2 Corinthians series with a look at 2:14-17, Paul's exhortation to the Corinthians to find joy in sharing the Gospel.
Before the message, Connor shares about the latest developments in Israel and how followers of Jesus can best be praying about the mounting conflict there.
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October's bonus episode begins with TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus talking about the ways to dive into the Bible. He goes into about how it is not enough to just get "devotional" style verses and techniques to get the most out of your reading.
Second, Teresa has chosen a testimony from Expresso. This talk is unique in that it is the first part of a mother/daughter duo. This month we hear from the daughter, Lynne Hargraves, and next month we will hear from the mother, Norma Burton.
Third, and final, Jason has chosen a Men of Success talk from 2018. This talk specifically is about the being proactive. These talks came from the book by Stephen R. Covey: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change.
Full Expresso Recording:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1734782/13585585-september-12-2023-expresso-norma-burton-lynne-hargraves.mp3?download=true
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Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
What do you do when someone who has caused immense pain says "sorry." Forgiveness is something we all think is good, but to actually forgive is incredibly difficult. Practicing forgiveness does not even make sense without Jesus. If we fail to forgive someone who has truly repented, we cause excess grief to them. Not forgiving can feel satisfying in the moment, but it causes much more harm than good. So, who is in need of your forgiveness?
The crew gets into the topic of forgiveness as well as who Paul is referring to in these verses. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason discuss times they desired forgiveness for their actions.
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When possible, people tend to use the path with the least amount of pain. Paul reveals he avoided Corinth to spare them and himself unnecessary pain. Paul does not walk away from the problem though. Instead, he sent the letter we read now and promises a future visit. It is important to have the right amount of pain in life as it can lead to true joy.
Connor comes back to the podcast after a bit of a hiatus to talk about his sermon from this past Sunday. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason talk about their pain tolerances.
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TBC's Student Ministries Pastor Jeremy McGrath walks us through the end of the first chapter of 2 Corinthians. Paul addresses him having to skip over Corinth during his journey as the Corinthian church were angered by this and felt that Paul didn't think they were important. Paul defends himself by saying that it's okay to doubt him, but to not doubt the Gospel because of it. Paul tries to remind the Corinthians of three core things: Christ reveals God's faithfulness, Christ confirms our unity, Christ assures our salvation.
Jeremy joins the crew for the podcast to go over his sermon. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason talk about Jeremy's fun use of photoshop in his slides.
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This fall we continue our journey through Paul's writings to the church in Corinth. They have not taken to Paul's disciplines well up to this point and even have issues with Paul himself. Paul planted the church at Corinth, the large scale sea side city, but now they are ashamed of him. As a response, Paul uses his life as an example and correlates it to Christ's. Being a Christian is not about experiencing comfort but rather to have peace through hardship and in that suffering Christ can be found. True comfort is able to be found through suffering as Christ did.
Connor is not able to join us for this week's podcast but he has given us some topics to think about and discuss. Oh, and, Teresa, Jason, and Alan discuss shared suffering that has occurred in their own lives.
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David Brickner, Executive Director of Jews For Jesus, speaks here at TBC to give information at the current work going on in Jews For Jesus as well as the significance of the ministries 50th anniversary, or "Jubilee". David not only gives glory to God for the people being saved through Jews For Jesus, but also delivers a poignant sermon on the beautiful reality of how we have been redeemed through Jesus.
The crew gets together to discuss David's message as well as the importance of partnering with an organization like Jews For Jesus. Oh, and, Jason and Teresa talk about milestones they do not want to celebrate.
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September's bonus episode starts with TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus talking with our very own Pastor Jim Congdon. They discuss the ministry Jews For Jesus (of which Jim is Chairman of the Board) in preparation for the Executive Director, David Brickner, speaking to the church this upcoming Sunday about the "Jubilee Year".
Next, Teresa interviews Amanda Devine, who may be most well known at TBC for her beautiful voice during worship on Sunday mornings. Amanda is also the wife of TBC's Worship Pastor Jeremiah, and mother of their 3 children. Amanda talks about motherhood and the Intentional Mom group that meets at TBC.
Finally, Jason talks with Desmond Henry, a TBCer and licensed investment advisor representative with Cambridge Research Advisors Inc. Jason and Desmond talk about money through a biblical lens. All opinions expressed by Desmond are solely of his own and do not reflect the opinions of Cambridge Research Advisors Inc or Topeka Bible Church. Consult your financial, tax, and legal professional prior to making any investment decision.
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The Bible talks a lot about money but we do not seem to talk about finances very often in church. However, the Bible doesn't talk about what to do with your money very often, but rather how we think or feel about money. Being wealthy is certainly a blessing from God, but the Bibles definition of riches is very different from. our American perspective. Wealth in the Bible is when you are simply about the basic means of survival. Riches are also commonly used in the Bible to describe the attributes of your character, heart, and relationship with God. Our expectation should really be what the Lord promises: our daily bread.
A special guest, Megan Hawkinson, joins us this week with some poignant questions about finances and the prosperity gospel that is so prevalent these days. Oh, and, we critique our spending splurges.
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Choosing who we are around is not always easy. We are to keep away bad influences while also witnessing to those who need to heard the Gospel. Your closest friends should be Christian and your main goal when being friends with non-Christians should be evangelism. The greatest thing you can do as a friend, is to lead people to life in Christ. If your friends have never heard you talk about Jesus before, that needs to change. Share truth with those in your life and be a true friend. Be vulnerable, show love, and be wise in who you spend your time with.
The crew discuss times they have had to unfriend someone and much more. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason remember their earliest childhood friends.
tbc #topekabiblechurch #guardrails #sermonseries #churchservice #christiansermon #worshipservice #sundaymorning #friends #sundayservice #evangelism #wisdom
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Work in its original state was to be good and filled with joy. Everybody is supposed to be working and carrying out God's will in our own unique way. However, rest is equally important. Even Jesus needed to rest. God also rested after creation to appreciate His work. Resting or working too much is not good, it all needs to be balanced. So if you have a job, paid or not, do it with joy finding time for rest when needed.
The whole crew returns with almost an entire discussion on The Sabbath. Oh, and, Jason and Teresa catch up on the end of their Summer.
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For this Sunday we start a new series called Guardrails. The name is to demonstrate the idea of not going too far to either side of a part of life and instead striking a balance in perspective. The first guardrail we will be looking at is how we use and think about time. God is both with us in our time as well as outside of it. Our time is quickly over compared to God's everlasting presence. We trust in the plan God has set, but also have a sense of urgency for how we can help further God's Kingdom during our fleeting lives.
Sadly, Teresa and Jason could not join us for the podcast this week, but to compensate we got the regular, but still special, guest: Dave Corley. Dave and Connor go through Dave's many intriguing questions he thought of from the sermon all about time. Oh, and, Producer Alan and Dave go through life experiences they had that incorporated a ticking clock deadline.
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In this month's bonus episode, we start with TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus talking about a fairly polarizing issue: do pets go to Heaven? The answer is not clear but Connor does his best to dive into the details of the topic.
Next we travel back to an Expresso presentation from November 2020 when Chef Alli Winter shares her unique food-themed perspective on marriage and some gleanings from the book Love and Respect by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs.
Finally, Jason has featured a men's talk from 2016 all about which of the twelve disciples you are most similar to.
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Why would I be a Christian when they are so judgmental? Many people leaving the church are asking questions like this.
Many do not have a problem with what we believe, but rather have a problem with out behavior. The core message we are meant to proclaim is the Gospel. While the Gospel is "offensive" to the way many choose to live their lives, it does bring about life change. As Christians, we tend to argue over other things, like morality, with people who do not yet know or care for the Gospel. When we disagree and do not present the Gospel first and foremost, people outside of Christianity only see judgment. Our duty becomes then to express the Gospel in a way that it can be well received. We need to treat those outside the faith as Jesus did: with grace and mercy. At one point, we were ignorant of the truth too. We are commanded to be kind to a world that is resistant to what we believe. Our priority should be for evangelism, not condemnation.
In this episode of the podcast, Connor, Jason, and Teresa wrap up the Reconstructing Faith series about how important it is to lead with the hope of the Gospel rather than judging others. Oh, and, Jason shares the bizarre things that are needed for TBC's Family Camp.
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Why can't Christians just all get along? Christians do seem to get in a lot of fights with others and each other which can be off-putting to people looking from the outside. We are supposed to have unity in Christ but there are discrepancies in theology that diversify the Christian faith. Some of the reasons for division has been around since the very beginning of the church. Honestly, some of these theological differences can be worth splitting over and others not. In the end, we value unity in Christ, not division. However, division may be necessary if it interferes with truth.
The whole crew is back together to talk more about Christian in-fighting. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason talk about some the strangest reasons there have been wars.
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Why go to church when you can just worship on your own? Reality is that church is not a perfect place and through Jesus's sacrifice, we have been given the ability to worship on our own. So why go to a physical church at all? The Christian life is meant to contain love, good works, and gathering together according to God's Word. So how do we build these good habits? We have to see that the goal is worth it. So, if going to church is a "good" habit, then we have to see the value in it. It is important for us to exert each other to be more loving and do good works. When we don't neglect to gather together, we are given the opportunity to comfort, provoke love, and encourage one another. We worship together, not alone.
Spencer joins Connor and Teresa in the studio to dive deeper into the importance of going to church. Oh, and, Teresa and Alan play a silly game about the importance of communication.
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A growing number of Christians are believing the Bible is overall irrelevant. 1/5 Christians now say they believe in God and Jesus but not what the Bible says about it. Criticisms aimed at the Bible are typically biased in their own way. It is good to ask questions and have criticisms towards the Bible, but don't throw it all out as a result. Paul makes it clear in his writings to Timothy that he needs to be firm in his faith. the Bible is not irrelevant when it comes to understanding humanity and the world. Paul says all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching. Jesus even affirms this after his resurrection. When you begin to take things out of the Bible that you don't think is true, you are redesigning the Bible in your own image.
Dr. Constable's Bible Commentaries:
https://planobiblechapel.org/soniclight/
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In this month's bonus episode, we start with TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus wrapping up his series on Numbers. He mostly goes over details that had to be skipped over or things that don't have as much application in chapters 27 through 36.
Next we have an interview with two of the Summer Interns for TBC's student ministry: Olivia Day and Spencer Kovach. This interview led by Teresa took place quickly after Summer Sizzle, so enjoy hearing Olivia and Spencer's first reactions to how it is to be a Summer Intern.
Finally, Jason has featured a Men of Success talk all about Leadership, specifically about respect. Enjoy!
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Deconstruction is a critical dismantling of tradition and traditional modes of thought. Deconstruction of someone's faith is not inherently a bad thing, but it can be taken too far. After all, there are an abundant amount of criticisms that are completely valid towards the christian church. In this new sermon series, we will look at these various criticisms and break them down. For this week, out question is: why would I be a Christian when all the leaders have moral failures? Media loves to highlight the scandals that take place within churches and that is because scandals happen far too often. Certain Christian leaders have become idolized and put on a pedestal, and when they falter or fall, it can shake our own faith. We are not meant to follow these people who have become false idols. Instead, we are to follow God directly. Trust in the Lord. We worship God, not man.
Connor, Teresa, and Jason go over more things that could be considered idolatry and more. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason talk about their favorite kind of pies.
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TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus wraps up his sermon series on the book of Numbers with Chapter 35. The chapter focuses on the divine instructions given to Moses regarding the allocation of cities to specific tribes and their purpose as places of refuge for individuals who unintentionally caused the death of another person. The chapter highlights the principle of ensuring fairness and protection for both the accused and the victim's family, emphasizing the value placed on human life and the importance of upholding justice in society. We serve a righteous God who continually works with sinful people like us.
This week is pretty crazy with Camp Catapult going on, but we still managed to do the podcast with Connor, Teresa, and Alan. Oh, and, Teresa and Alan share what Camp Catapult has been like so far.
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A select few tribes of Israel want to separate and stay in a different land. Moses becomes furious at this idea since it undermines Israel's unity, fractures their military, discourages the other tribes, and angers God. By staying in the land east of the Jordan River, which needed to be protected, these tribes could not fully commit to God's plan in the Promised Land. As a result, they faced constant warfare to defend the land. They committed a great error: desiring to abandon their fellow believers in carrying out Gods critical mission. God's current critical mission is the great commission we have all been called to. The great ruth we can follow is to participate in God's kingdom, and by faith we trust that what is coming is better than what is here now.
TBC Lead Pastor Connor dives into some things that needed to be cutout of his Sunday sermon. Oh, and, Teresa, Jason, and Alan discuss the hot topic of whether or not buffets are good.
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We are fighting a spiritual battle, but our weapon is the Gospel instead of the sword.
God command Moses to wage war against the Midianites in this chapter, but what is God's purpose for this? Previously, the Midianites successfully turned many of the Israelites to worship Baal (demons) instead of God. What God is commanding them to do in these battles is not for land, but for the spiritual battle between God and Satan. The battle is intense and severe as a result. Everyone is supposed to be destroyed, for this is not a normal war. This is a situation where it is as simple as good versus evil. This spiritual battle continues today but has transitioned from the desert of the Middle East to our homes, jobs, and other places where we are influenced by evil. Our battle tactics have also changed. We have gone from violence to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. We are to love a world without God and teach them how they can have salvation.
The whole crew is back together to talk about Connor's latest message in the Numbers series. Oh, and, Teresa quizzes Jason on Trivial Pursuit for the upcoming Trivia Night to help fundraise the Student Ministry mission trip.
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Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our Numbers series with a bit more of a humorous story found in chapters 22 through 24. We live in a spiritual world and people who are either devious or ignorant can tap into the darker powers of that spiritual world. This is not magic like in works of fiction, but a king, scared of the Israelites campaign of taking the Promised Land, hires a man named Balaam to curse the Israelites. God however uses Balaam to bless the Israelites instead. Balaam recounts the plans and promises God has for His people. This story clearly shows that God blesses those who follow His will while those who go against Him will be cursed. We are blessed through our faith in Jesus Christ while those who reject Him are sadly cursed.
The podcast goes over interesting topics like how to pronounce Balaam, who the good and bad guys of the story are, and much more. Oh, and, Dave Corley joins the podcast again due to the absence of Teresa.
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In this month's bonus episode, TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus discusses the end of the Numbers series: chapters 25 and 26. These chapters talk about the last generation to die off in the wilderness. There is adult content in these chapters to if you have little ones present, you might want to listen to this section another time.
Next we feature an Expresso talk from Kyann Eslick that she gave earlier this year. She has overcome serious challenges but God has been using her in amazing ways. She has a heart for youth as she has been serving the students here at TBC for awhile and will even be a Student Ministries Intern this Summer.
Finally, Jason has a conversation with Chris Stewart, founder and executive director of The Bridge (https://www.bridgeoftopeka.org). The Bridge is a christian mentoring program in Topeka for the youth to teach them servant leadership. TBC has partnered with The Bridge in a program called Lunch Buddies. Learn more about The Bridge and Chris in this wonderful interview.
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What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.
TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus returns to continue in Numbers 21 as the Israelites still are being impatient and grumbling about their circumstance. In response to this, God sends fiery poisonous snakes that bit and killed many of Israelites. Rebellion continually results in judgement. The people actually repent after this which is atypical. God doesn't remove the snakes but does provide a way to be healed in the form of a bronze snake on a pole. So what does it mean to look upon the cross just as the Israelites had to look upon the bronze serpent? What do you see when you look at the cross?
Connor returns to the podcast to go deeper into the symbolism of the cross and other important subjects. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason recount significant memories from holidays.
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TBC's Missions and Leader Development Pastor, Jim Congdon, takes to the pulpit to teach on Numbers 20. Moses is struggling to control his temper as he leads the Israelites who continually disobey God. Jim has come up with distinct lessons to take away from Moses' challenges as a leader.
Jim sadly could not join the podcast to go over his sermon but Teresa, Jason, and Alan go over their takeaways from the sermon. Oh, and, they go over some of their worst moments they have had unrighteous anger.
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Student Ministries Pastor Jeremy McGrath takes to the pulpit to talk about Numbers 19 which is full of symbolism. Rebellion leads to death. Failure to cleanse yourself results in death. But what if it did not have to? Purification is simple and available to everyone. This includes the Israelite's then, and us now through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Jeremy joins the podcast to talk more about the intricacies of the Israelite sacrifices and their connection to Jesus. Oh, and, Teresa introduces a new friend on to the podcast.
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Two rebellions begin arming the Israelites in opposition to the authority of Moses and Aaron given by God. A task is then given to Korah, the leader of one of the rebellions, and his followers. They are to put incense before the Lord and then God will choose who is to be set apart as a leader. God becomes angry and plans to wipe the rebels out, but Moses and Aaron plead for mercy towards them. However, God deals with them with his wrath and consumes with fire those that Brough incense and opened a put from the ground to swallow up others who refused to offer the incense. Some of the greatest lessons are taught through pain. This story should impress upon us that death is the outcome when we sin against God. Thankfully, God created a way out through the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Jason and Teresa ask some great questions for Connor to answer to dive even deeper into the message. Oh, and, Teresa quizzes Jason and Alan on biblical mothers in celebration of Mother's Day coming up.
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In this month's bonus episode, TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus discusses a chapter that will not be covered in the current sermon series on Numbers. Chapter 12 informs us about Moses' elder brother Aaron as well as Miriam who take issue with the way God is doing things through Moses. God becomes angry at this and Miriam is struck with leprosy. Connor talks about the significance of this chapter and what we can take from it.
Next we feature an Expresso talk from Cathy Ramshaw. Her story is highly emotional but shows how everything from adoption to cancer can give glory to God. Hope you feel encouraged from her story.
Finally, we conclude this month's Extra Extra with a Men Of Success talk from back in 2018. The talk is on a book from the infamous Bobby Knight called The Power of Negative Thinking. Seems counterintuitive but Pastor Jim and Derek see if there is anything to be gained for use in a Christian perspective.
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The Israelites finally approach the Promised Land but are afraid of who they see occupying it: Giants. Rather than trusting God, they cry out in fear and doubt. The Israelites even think they should go back to Egypt instead. God is angered by this and curses the current Israelite generation to death in the wilderness over the next 40 years. This judgement from God can make many who hear it uncomfortable, but it is important to understand that this judgement is an appropriate response to the severity of our sin. Some Israelites then decided to try to go into the Promised Land, but it was against the Lord's wishes as judgement had already been passed. So align your desires with God's will, and you will find success. And do not abuse the Lord's patience with your countless opportunities to follow Him. It's time to put your trust in God now.
Teresa returns for this episode of TBC Extra as Connor dives deeper into the people who are occupying the Promised Land in these chapters of Numbers. Oh, and, Jason and Teresa talk about Kansas and its canyon lands.
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The Israelite faith in God is getting weaker as they are hungry, afraid, and desire what little they had as slaves in Egypt. Even Moses is struggling to understand how God will be able to take care of everyone. God responds to these doubts by sending an incredible amount of quail to feed everyone and the Israelites begin to lust over it. God responds to this with a plague for they continued to reject Him even though He provided for their needs. So remember to look to God for your daily needs and be thankful for what He provides.
TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus fills us in on more of the details from chapter 11 of Numbers. Oh, and, Connie Hall returns once again to talk with Jason about food they have indulged in too much.
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The Israelite's preparation is about to come to a close and the journey is going to begin. God then takes the form of a cloud in order to lead them through the wilderness. God's guidance was not straight forward however. He instead used the journey as a way to prepare the Israelites for the Promised Land. The Israelites were supposed to learn to completely rely on God through this process. They were to become safe, well fed, and prosperous through God's plan. When we become comfortable though, we often forget to rely on God or even actively go against Him. Our destination of Heaven will come, but we are not there yet. We need to rely on God during the hard parts of the journey through this life so we can learn to become more and more like Jesus.
For this podcast, Connor give us more details on the fiery cloud/pillar that the Israelites followed. Oh, and, Connie Hall joins the studio to talk about Easter, Good Friday, and Baptism.
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This month's bonus episode, TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus discusses some chapters that will not be covered in the current sermon series on Numbers. Chapters 7 and 8 go into more detail about the Levites, their sacrifices, and more.
Next, Teresa interviews TBC Student Ministries Assistant Lori Tennyson to talk about a wonderful but difficult experience she had from the mission trip to New York that happened last Summer. In order to not give away any spoilers, we will keep the details from you, but just know God worked in incredible ways.
Finally, we conclude this month's Extra Extra with an interview with Jeff Masterson. Jason follows along with Jeff through his life story involving drugs, loneliness, and dark habits. It is important to say that some of the content is not child friendly, so parental discretion advised.
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What does it take to live a Holy Life?
Continuing our sermon series in Numbers with chapter 5 & 6 with 4 key lessons. The chapter starts with people needing to leave the main Israelite camp due to a lack of purity. Everything unclean must be removed from the camp. What is "the camp" now? Our life. The passage is also very clear that when you commit a sin against another it is as if you did it to the Lord. Sins against others become sins against God. From there, the chapter gets pretty weird. The overall third lesson we can take is this: God is the ultimate judge of your life. Moving on to chapter 6, we get a view of the Nazarites who take a special vow. The Nazarites had to make a large amount of sacrifices in order to make the vow. It goes to show that even our best efforts fall short of God's standards. Thankfully, we have Jesus to bridge that vast gap.
Connor talks more in depth on some strange verses in chapter 5. Oh, and, we have another special guest this week: Dave Corley. We get to know Dave a little better as well as discuss the hardest things we have ever had to give up.
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There were a lot of do's and do not's when it came to respecting the holiness of God while the Israelites were wandering the wilderness. The consequences for not handling the Ark Of The Covenant correctly were so severe that it would result in death. But why? These rules show that following God brings life, but rejecting God brings death. It seems intense but God's holiness is part of his nature and we are not to forget that. There are many Christians today who have forgotten what it is like to worship a holy God and the severity of our sin. Thankfully, because of Jesus dying for our sins, we have protection from such devastating holiness due to the sinful people we are. Never forget that God is holy.
Connor talks more on the skin that covered the Ark as well as the death of Uzzah. Oh, and, we talk about our favorite action movies with special guest Kenna Brantingham.
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TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus starts a new sermon series this week on the book of Numbers. The book of Numbers is worth caring about because it shows God's love to his people, the simple fact that it is part of the Bible, and that knowing the Old Testament is important for a better understanding of the New Testament. The book starts with a census as the Israelites are wandering through the wilderness. Connor details everything from how God is at the center of the Israelite camp, the importance of the tribe of Judah, and the Israelite's dependence on God's commands. Is God at the center of your camp? And like Judah leading the Israelites through the wilderness, is Jesus leading your life?
The whole podcast crew gets together at the start of this new sermon series to go in-depth on the amount of Israelites who were traveling in the wilderness. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason talk about their experiences with numbers and math.
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When life becomes hard, it is easy to take the road of burnout and bitterness. Pastor Connor takes us to the book of Ruth to look at the experience of Naomi. Naomi loses everything and urges her two daughter-in-laws to leave her as well so they can live their own lives. She returns to her home in the Promised Land after many years and she is questioning why God is doing all of this to her. However, Naomi is blinded to the blessings God is setting up for her through her daughter-in-law Ruth and the generosity of Boaz. Thankfully, women in Naomi's life remind her in the end that God did work on her behalf and that she has much to be thankful for.
There are three reminders to be taken from Naomi's story:
1. God is providing for you. Look around for God's blessing, even if it is not where you were hoping to find it.
2. God did not forget you. Practice patience when speaking to God. He knows your situation and is acting with perfect timing.
3. God has a plan. Pray that your situation would glorify God. How could your story help someone else?
Connor returns to the podcast to go deeper into his final message in the Beating Burnout series. Oh, and, Teresa shares with Jason what the most bitter thing in the world is.
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"Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"
The past two weeks on burnout have been focusing on the Old Testament, but Pastor Jim is taking us this week to John the Baptist in the New Testament. It is hard to imagine John the Baptist doubting Jesus after all of the preaching and preparing he did, but after he experienced massive burnout, it caused him to doubt things that he used to be so sure about. This happens to even the greatest of Christ followers. Our expectations of God not happening can lead to a crash and burnout in our faith. But John took his doubt and questions right to the source: Jesus. If we do this ourselves, He will take us seriously, answer us sufficiently, and treat us sensitively.
Pastor Jim joins us in the studio again to go over not just his sermon, but the sermon that he ended up scrapping shortly before preaching on Sunday. Oh, and, Teresa talks with Jason and Jim about the times they had experienced extreme heat.
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This month's bonus episode, TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus talks about the trending topic of revivals due to the recently ended 2 week long Asbury Revival that took place at Asbury University. A lot of people bring praise to the movement while others bring criticism. Connor talks about what is the most important things to come from revivals like this and what we can learn from it.
Next, we include another segment from the Women's Ministry Expresso talks. This testimony comes from Debbie Whelan who spoke back in November of 2022.
We conclude this month's Extra-Extra with a Men's Breakfast talk from back in 2017 all about what makes an ideal team player.
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Burnout comes from a life situation with a long term problem. You cannot just sit back and relax to hope it all goes away.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus returns to the pulpit to bring the example of Moses directly after God rescued Israel from the bondage of Egypt. Many of the Israelites complained about the lack of food and even said they should go back to Egypt. Moses' Father-In-Law, Jethro, warned Moses about burnout and suggested he place other people in specific positions of power so he is not overwhelmed by doing I all. There were four problems leading to Moses' impending burnout. First, the task was too heavy for him to do on his own indefinitely. Second, the people were frustrated and dissatisfied. Third, Moses was wearing out during a crucial time of leadership. Fourth, the plan was based on Moses' self-reliance with no one else to lean on. One of the easiest paths to burnout is by trying to do it all ourselves, and the best way to beat burnout is to rely on God instead.
Connor joins us again to go a bit more in depth on Moses' Father-In-Law: Jethro. Oh, and, Teresa quizzes Jason and Alan again to see who knows more about historical fires.
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Burnout can be classified as when the flame of your life is sputtering out. This can include anything from faith to marriage to work life.
Pastor Jim kicks off this new short series by relating this problem of burnout out to one of the greatest heroes in the Bible: Elijah. After Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal, he felt that there would be a resurgence of people following after the true god Yahweh. Instead however, Jezebel, the queen, doubled down and threatened Elijah's life. The text indicates Elijah was afraid, but why would he be afraid now and not earlier? Was Elijah really just broken down by having everything he has worked so hard for result in nothing? When Elijah fled south, God met him where he was at. First, he provided for his physical needs, then spiritual, and soon would provide him companion to share his burden with.
If you're close to burnout yourself, look after yourself and get rest. Then, look to the Lord get a new refreshed vision of Him. Finally, look around for companions in your life who have fought through the same struggles.
Jim joins the podcast crew to talk about his sermon and good ways to rest in order to decrease the chance of burnout. Oh, and, Teresa challenges Jason and Alan to some Bible trivia.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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We have finally hit the last chapter of 1 Corinthians. Paul has finished his main points but we still have a few more takeaways about being a part of God's Kingdom. The first is that we are to be good stewards and give generously. The second is to follow God's timing and being willing to adapt to it. The third is to do everything in love. The fourth is to serve others first. The fifth is that we are to be living in unity with one another. The final point is to trust in Christ. Connor goes over each of these points in depth as we wrap up the 1 Corinthians series.
Connor sadly cannot join us for the wrap up of the series, but we do have Jason, Teresa, and Producer Alan to talk about some of their favorite lessons from 1 Corinthians. Oh, and, Teresa came up with a game involving love letters for Valentine's Day.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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How can two things which should never be connected be bridged somehow? Just look at the size and complexity of bridges going over large rivers and chasms. Just as hard to grasp is our transformation from this body to the next. Our body is to go from corrupted, dishonored, and weak to without corruption, glorified, and strong. Paul explains that for now our body is from dust and will go back to dust, but when Jesus returns, we will transform and have a body like His. This is necessary because corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Thankfully, Jesus has defeated the sting of death and makes all of this possible. Be confident in your hope. Work hard for the Lord. Find comfort in His victory.
Connor, Teresa, and Jason come together again to talk about a variety of topics dealing with resurrection including cremation. Oh, and, Teresa reveals a new favorite animal of hers which can survive intense environments.
Tardigrade aka Water Bear:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/tardigrades-water-bears
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This month's bonus episode brings back TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus to talk about an interesting thing Paul says in 1 Corinthians. What does Paul mean when he calls himself the "least of the apostles?"
Next, we include another segment from the Women's Ministry Expresso talks. This testimony comes from Madeline Key who spoke back in January.
We conclude this month's Extra-Extra with a Men's Breakfast talk from November 2017 on Bob Buford's book- Halftime. The book is all about finding purpose in the second half of your life.
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TBC Student Ministries Pastor Jeremy McGrath takes to the pulpit this week after an exciting weekend event with the students. He continues the series he went through with the students which is on friendship.
Loneliness is a big problem and continually growing in the world. Maybe to combat this we need to rethink our friendships. An overlooked aspect of friendship is to have a shared goal. The obvious goal for Christians is that we all should be bringing glory to God through our actions. Secondly, we need to share our life. This includes both emotions and experiences. In the end, to actually share life with one another and deepen our friendships, we need to share Christ.
Jeremy joins Teresa and Jason to discuss his sermon even further and what true friendship looks like. Oh, and, we get to hear a nice recap of how the student event Big Weekend went.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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A lot can be gained from understanding the resurrection better, especially when our culture is filled with the imagery of zombies and ghouls. The people in Corinth had a tough time understanding this part of the Gospel too. The resurrection of Christ and our own future resurrection is essential to the Christian faith however. This knowledge should affect us day to day since it should change our entire perspective in this life. The difference of the resurrection of Christ is that its power persists today and affects what has yet to come. It is up to us now to make sure other people are changed by this wonderful news.
We have a special guest join in for this episode: Connie Hall! Oh, and, Teresa prepares some difficult Kansas trivia for Jason and Connie.
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There is a big difference between people who use their gifts to build themselves up versus those who build up the church. So what does it mean for the church to be "built up?" First, the foundation of the church must be Jesus Christ. So, to build upon the church, you must be building up the name of Jesus. Those in Corinth however wanted to make their own name great instead by using their God given gifts in amazing ways. So how does Paul plan on correcting them? Paul came up with three rules to create order. These rules include everything from the method to speaking in tongues to women being silent in the church. Controversial topics, but Lead Pastor Connor Kraus bring clarifying context to what Paul is saying. He also gives three familiar ideas for how we in Topeka can be building up the church.
The crew dive deep on all sorts of questions that come from this week's sermon. Oh, and, Jason and Teresa discuss recommended apps and digital resources on growing your faith this New Year.
YouVersion Bible Apphttps://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/
The Bible Recaphttp://www.thebiblerecap.com/
Bible Memory Apphttps://biblememory.com
Blue Letter Bible - powerful tools to break down original Greek and Hebrew text
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.blueletterbible.blb
iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/blue-letter-bible/id365547505
Angel Studios Chosen App
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vidangel.thechosen
iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/angel-studios/id1473663873
Hooplahttps://www.hoopladigital.com/
Craig Groeschel books on Hooplahttps://www.hoopladigital.com/artist/21381485
Get Your Life Back Audiobook free on Hooplahttps://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12618029
One minute Pause Apphttps://www.pauseapp.com
The Bible in a Yearhttps://bibleinoneyear.org/en/
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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Faith, Hope, and Love - but the Greatest of these is Love.
Pauls take a quick detour in his letter to Corinth immediately following his words on Spiritual Gifts. His first main point is this: No matter what position, gifts, or skills you possess, you need to have love, or it will be for nothing. So how can we take love and apply it to ourselves? Paul describes what love is in action: patient, kind, and does not hold grudges. However, the list Paul gives is not exhaustive. It is a list that directly applies to what he has seen in the church at Corinth. Loving well is seemingly impossible but we have seen one who has perfectly embodied love: Jesus. Thankfully, we look forward to when that perfect love will come and never end.
The whole crew is back together talking about the challenges of loving others and how to do it better. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason go over the strangest dating traditions in other cultures. Spoiler: Apples
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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This month's bonus episode brings back TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus to talk about a divisive topic in Christian culture: Divorce. His lengthy talk includes many aspects including reasons for divorce, remarriage, and more.
Next, we include another segment from the Women's Ministry Expresso talks. This testimony comes from Amber Littell and does feature heavy topics such as sexual abuse. So, discretion advised if you would rather avoid sensitive topics.
We conclude this month's Extra-Extra with a Men's Breakfast talk from 2017 about getting to truly know the people around you. It is easy to assume we know those we work with, but it is important to get to know them on a more personal level so that you can be a "bucket filler", not a "bucket dipper."
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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What are spiritual gifts and how are they to be used?
There are many types of gifts and services but they all come from the same Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in Christians and grants these powers to be used to help others. Gifts are diverse but every Christian has one and often times more. The diversity of gifts and people under Christ makes the church body of Christians strong. There are many parts, but one body. So don't neglect to use the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you.
Connor joins Teresa and Alan to dive deeper into spiritual gifts especially ones that have some different views towards them. Oh, and, Teresa and Alan talk about their favorite gifts they received for Christmas.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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Does it matter how we approach the Lord's Supper? TBC Student Ministries Pastor Jeremy McGrath seeks to answer this question by looking at what Paul says about it in 1 Corinthians.
Jeremy replaces Connor this week to talk more in depth about his message on Sunday. Oh, and, Jason and Teresa bring up some new listener feedback.
🍪 Cookie Recipes 🍪
Cookies and Cream Cookies: https://flavormosaic.com/cookies-and-cream-cookies/
Red Hot Cookies: https://laurenslatest.com/red-hots-crinkle-cookies/
Peppermint Crush Cookies: https://www.relish.com/recipes/86893/peppermint-crush-cookies
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Connor dives into one of the most controversial passages in the New Testament to bring light to its contents. The relationship and order between men and women is a tricky topic in today's culture. Should a woman's head be covered or else have her hair cut off? Well, it might not be as literal as you think, but rather a specific cultural instance that was taking place in Corinth. There is still a look into cultural modesty and the eternal message of God's glory to be found in the passage. In reality, there is a beautiful picture, of equality, not the other way around. We shown what it can look like to bring the attention of others to the cross and God, rather than ourselves.
Connor and crew jump in to talk more about what exactly Paul is referring to when it comes to hair and head coverings. Oh, and, Teresa has Jason and Producer Alan play a game about chocolate chip cookies.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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It is important to learn from past mistakes from others and yourself. We Christians today, and those Paul is writing to in Corinth, can learn a lot from the Israelites in the wilderness from the Old Testament. Just as God saved them from physical slavery in Egypt, so have we been saved from slavery: sin. The Israelites responded by rejecting God's blessing and attempting to go their own path. We can make the same mistakes and get too comfortable with sin if we are not careful, so we should embrace God's blessing instead.
Connor joins the podcast to dive deeper into some of the odd situations discussed in the Old Testament. Oh, and, Jason and Teresa talk about the wonderful dessert Dip'n Dots.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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This month's bonus episode starts off with an Expresso talk by Sarah Robare from this last month. In it, she details a life changing car accident she was in and the medical procedures that followed.
Next, TBC's Children's Pastor Jason Brent interviews artist Gypsy George about his life. Gypsy explains many hardships he faced as a growing artist and his continual "disillusion" with organized religion. Eventually, Gypsy found his way to join the congregation of Topeka Bible Church where he now puts his talents to work regularly.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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We are given an abundance of freedom when we are saved from death by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We can love this freedom and enjoy it. However, there are times in this life where we should not indulge in freedom when we can instead show love to others. There is a tension between being truly free and choosing to curb that freedom for the sake of love, but by sacrificing that freedom, we can potentially win others to the same saving power and freedom of Jesus Christ.
Connor joins the podcast to go deeper into Jim Congdon's sermon. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason talk about times they indulged too much into their freedoms.
Sermon that has the "Only God Can Judge Me" hat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32QwXzOa6Yc
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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The relationship between ministry and money has always been a tricky subject. Even Paul had practical needs in order to survive and argues that he has a right to compensation through such work. However, Paul also says he doesn't not make use of this right so that in asking it does not hinder the Gospel. So how is Paul able to provide the Gospel free of charge? He was provided for by generous and mature Christians. So reasonably, money does help further the Gospel because of practical needs, but we cannot "hinder the Gospel" in asking for support.
The whole gang is back together for the first time in awhile. Connor goes into the financial situation of TBC as well as what Pastor's do in a week. Oh, and, Jason met an interesting character on a recent conference trip.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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It is very tempting to still partake in the way you used to live after you have freedom in Christ. You might have the knowledge that it doesn’t matter, but that freedom still has weight. Think of the weaker people around you who might fall as a result of your actions. To harm someone's faith is no small thing. Therefore, do not do the actions of your past because the well being of your fellow Christians is that important. It is worth the sacrifice. Do everything you do for the glory of God so that others might be saved.
Connie Hall, one of TBC's Women's Ministry Leaders, joins us on the podcast due to the absence of Lead Pastor Connor Kraus. Oh, and, we discuss our must-haves for our upcoming Thanksgiving feast.
If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:
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God has called and redeemed us from a life of sin. Paul reminds us that the world is passing away and lifts us up to a higher standard. We then must evaluate our relationships from an eternal perspective. This is why Paul says that it can be considered preferable to stay single, but that marriage is the best option for most people. Unmarried people are able to better focus on the things of the Lord. A married person must devote a lot of energy to their spouse or kids. Marriage is then a distraction in some ways compared to the possibilities of an unmarried life. He calls us to understand the hard truth that our significant relationship will last until death, but after that, it will be as if we didn’t have a spouse. That is our future whether we like it or not. However, we can still have these deep emotions in this life for another regardless. Singleness has its own advantage: to be devoted to the Lord without distraction.
Connor returns to the podcast after a couple weeks to dive deeper into the advantages of singleness as a christian. Oh, and, Rachel Gardner, TBC's Worship Administrative Assistant, joins the podcast as a special guest to give us her perspective as a single christian woman.
This month's bonus episode, TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus talks about separation of Church and State. Specifically, his personal feelings on the topic and acknowledgement that we spread the Gospel best when evangelizing, not forcing our ideologies into law.
Next, Teresa conducted a special interview with World War 2 Veteran and TBC Member Jim Freel. We get to hear the wisdom he has gained and the interesting events that have taken place during the war.
Finally, Jason interviews another TBC Member, David Reynolds. David has been working with children as a therapist for a long time and has a wonderful story of what he has been doing and what got him there.
We have become a society obsessed with sexuality. At the time, Corinth was just like now when it comes to its fixation on the pleasures of the body. But God decided to start His church in such a place of wickedness. Many Christians decided to combat sexual immorality by forgoing sex altogether and throughout history have gone to extreme measures to do so. However, Paul assures Corinth that sexual relations with one's spouse is a marital duty and good. A prudish view of sex is as ungodly as the pagan view of it. In the right context, sex is a gift from God, but it is extremely dangerous otherwise.
Teresa has returned from vacation to join Jason in talking about Pastor Jim's message. Oh, and, we gets a news report from Jason on how Trunk or Treat went at the church.
"Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial.
As Christians, we have been set free from the slavery of sin. However, we have the freedom to go back to sinful things even though we shouldn't. It is easy to convince ourselves that we are saved so it does not matter if we sin. But our body is more than a tool to do things for earthly pleasure. God values our body as more than that. So have a higher view and purpose for your body. One of the most difficult sins to fight is sexual immorality. Sexual acts with a spouse is a blessing, but otherwise is a curse. The damage is not noticeable immediately, but eventually it will be excruciating. Our body is a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit, so glorify God with your body. Flee sexual immorality.
Connor and Teresa sadly could not be apart of this episode of the podcast, but we brought a special guest: Kenna Brantingham! Oh, and, her son Simon makes a quick appearance at the beginning.
TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our sermon series on 1 Corinthians. In this section of Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, he talks of how we are coheirs in Christ and should cooperate with one another to work out any disputes. When we don't do this, it sends a message to the world that goes against the Gospel. So, when faced with slander or adversity, humble yourself and respond in kindness. Our knowledge of an eternal future changes our current actions. Knowing we are saved and sanctified means we no longer pursue acts of unrighteousness. For an unrighteous life does not lead to a righteous kingdom. Live with the future in mind.
On this podcast episode, Connor goes into a bit more detail on what it will mean when Paul says we will eventually judge angels. Oh, and, we get more insight on what chewing gum in Singapore looks like.
What does church discipline look like?
We know it is necessary, a sort of tough love, but that doesn't make it easy. Like how leaven affects the whole loaf of bread, so does immorality affect the whole church. It is impossible to avoid unrepentant immoral people until we enter heaven. However, we must do our best to separate ourselves from such immorality and deal with it properly. Good church discipline keeps the church healthy, honors God, and gives those who reject God's commands the best opportunity to realize their mistakes and return to the community.
Connor returns to the podcast to go into how TBC goes through the process of church discipline. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason talk about weird laws around the world.
This month's bonus episode, TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus talks more about his series on 1 Corinthians. Specifically, about how important it is for the foundation of a church to be about the Gospel.
Next, Teresa has chosen a story from Expresso, one of TBC's Women Ministries events where women share life experiences. This specific testimony comes from Leoti Masterson as she talks about how even in terrible circumstances, God's work can be seen.
Finally, Jason interviews TBC's new Digital Media Specialist Alan Hardee. Alan talks about how he grew up in TBC, his college experience, previous job, and more.
Pride comes before the fall.
The Corinthians who Paul is writing to see themselves as superior. They are wealthy and living like kings. They are part of the world. Paul seeks to remind them that it is impossible to live for the world and God at the same time. He contrasts their life with his own as an apostle: someone who is suffering for his faith just as Jesus did. So what does it mean for us to have humility? Seek out our weakness and discover God's power.
Connor returns to the podcast to talk a bit about A.W. Tozer. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason admit to times they have been humbled.
TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our series on 1 Corinthians. Chapter 3 goes into how we are all laborer’s in God’s field the foundation of which is Jesus Christ. Each person has their own distinct role, but in the end they are all equal. These roles are not to compete, but work together for the glory of God. Then, when Jesus returns, we will be judged accordingly to our role. We shouldn’t be afraid of this judgement by fire, but have a healthy anticipation of it. So, build a lasting life by spending your time on things that matter most to God’s kingdom and will stand for eternity.
This episode of TBC Extra is "extra" special as it is our first episode to also be shot on video. You can now watch the TBC Extra podcast on the Topeka Bible Church YouTube page. Oh, and, Teresa brought special gifts for Connor and Jason to commemorate the event.
What does real wisdom look like and feel like? TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus teaches from Paul's letter to Corinth that true wisdom comes from God not the world. These two types of wisdom will forever be in contrast with each other. But how can we instead learn the wisdom of God? Thankfully, the Spirit of God knows His mind and we are imbued with that spirit when we are saved. So, understand God's perspective by continually relying on the Holy Spirit. It will look foolish to the world, but you will be filled with true wisdom.
In this episode, Connor dives in a little deeper on other topics that couldn't quite fit in such as how Jesus' cruxifixction is a major hangup for a lot of people. Oh, and, Teresa, Jason, and Alan play 2 truths and a lie to learn some fun facts about each other.
TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus starts our new sermon series today on 1 Corinthians, aptly named, 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Corinth and begins by asking that there be no division among them. But what was this division about? They were picking favorite teachers from Paul to Apollos to Cephas to Jesus, which in turn was separating the church into subgroups and not focusing on the Gospel itself. The truth is that there is no reason to be divided if we are all following Christ.
What kind of things do you hold onto that makes you think that you are a "better" Christian than someone else? Those types of things are what most quickly divides us. The church is to be a place where anyone can come to learn of the saving power of Jesus Christ. So, how do you bring unity to the body of Christ?
Connor joins the podcast again after a couple weeks of paternity leave. He sheds some light on the various teachers people were following as well as the amount of people Paul baptized. Oh, and, Teresa and Jason go into their newborn struggle stories in honor of Connor's new baby boy.
Former Young Adults Pastor Alex Wolfe continues his two week series on building cities versus building altars. Last week, Alex showed that when people are distancing themselves from God, they seek to gain power for themselves. In the biblical narrative, that usually meant they built cities. This week however, Alex dives in to how when people revere God and trust their livelihood to Him, they build altars instead.
Alex was sadly not able to join us for this episode since he needed to get back to Texas, but Teresa, Jason, and Alan do their best to do Alex's wonderful points justice. Oh, and, Jason gives details on the great Lunch Buddies program we have at TBC.
This month's bonus episode, TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus gives a sneak peak into his upcoming sermon series by talking about the port city of Corinth. To do this, he gives 7 quick facts about the city.
Next, Teresa has chosen a story from Expresso, one of TBC's Women Ministries events where women share life experiences. This specific testimony comes from Nicole Wells where she goes deep into her family history.
Finally, Jason looks back at a Men's Breakfast in 2018 that included a talk on the Entrepreneur Myth. The concept comes from a book called The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber which is generally about how and why small businesses fail.
Previous Young Adults Pastor, Alex Wolfe, returns for a special two week sermon series titled Cities and Altars. In this series, Alex traces the steps that the different seeds from Genesis take after the Garden of Eden. The seed of The Serpent is our focus for the first week. Alex points to how they try to make a name for themselves and restore the blessings God originally had for them by their own power. This comes to a physical manifestation of cities. Examples in the Bible include Babel, Enoch, Babylon, and Egypt. However, God's power proves these cities to be weak time and time again. Where in our own lives are we trying to build up a name for ourselves rather than raising the name of God.
Alex actually joins the crew to sit down and talk more in depth on his sermon as well as a sneak peak into new Sunday's. Oh, and, Jason brings some trivia about the largest cities in the world.
Everyone knows the story of Jesus walking on water. Taking place immediately after he fed the five thousand, Jesus withdrew from everyone to the mountains. From there, he prayed and watched over his disciples who had taken to the sea. The sea became rough and the winds raged against them. Jesus then walks out onto the stormy waters and calls out to them with the powerful phrase: "I Am. Do not be afraid." Pastor Jim Congdon brings this story into new light and assures us that Jesus Christ comes to us in the times when we feel the most deserted and alone.
As a special treat for this episode, Jim Congdon himself appears in both our pre-sermon and post-sermon discussion. Oh, and, Jason brings up the incredible rescue that happened in Thailand only a few years ago.
We are going to party like it's 23AD!
In the continuation of our Retold series, TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus looks at the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana. The story told is that the wine at the wedding Jesus and his followers were invited to began to run out of wine. Mary, Jesus' mother, comes to him with a petition to do something about it. Jesus then proceeds to discreetly turn fresh water into wine for the wedding party. In a classic Retold fashion, Connor leads us through the significant themes and ideas that come from Jesus' first miracle.
Connor goes into more on Mary's petition to Jesus and whether or not the wine Jesus made was alcoholic. Oh, and, Teresa quizzes Jason about some other culture's wedding traditions.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our “Retold” series with a grown-up retelling of the story of Zacchaeus, the Tax Man. Many of us know all the details of the story in Luke 19 - Zacchaeus climbed up a tree to see Jesus. Jesus asked to join Zacchaeus at his house that evening. Zacchaeus pledged to give to the poor and any of those he had extorted. Then Jesus announced to the crowd that Zacchaeus was a child of Abraham. The plot is fairly simple, but the lesson for us today captures why having a faith like Zacchaeus’ can change our lives forever.
The crew talks a little more about what "climbing your own tree" means for your life. Oh, and, Jason and Teresa discuss the Champion Trees that are here in Kansas. Links provided below:
https://www.kansasforests.org/kansas_forest_services/championtrees.html
https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/champion-trees-registry/
This month's bonus episode, Teresa Jenkins interviews TBC supported workers, Dave and Amanda, to learn about their efforts in Eurasia. They have been doing work there for the past 10 years and are back in the states for the first time in 3 years.
Next, TBC Lead Pastor, Connor Kraus, dives into the topic of abortion. His goal is to debunk any abortion myths/misinformation all while giving thoughts on how ProLife Christians can engage in a Christ-like way with those who are ProChoice.
Finally, Jason Brent talks with TBC Student Ministries Pastor, Jeremy McGrath, about his Summer with the middle and high schoolers. The highlight of the Summer was their mission trip to New York where they practiced street evangelism. Jeremy details some of the best strategies when doing that type of work.
The story of Samson is more than a story about a man who lost his strength and power with the snip of his long, flowing locks. It’s a story about a man who God gifted with so much potential but who blew it with a series of bad choices that led to losing his physical strength and diplomatic influence. Ultimately, he lost his vision – first figuratively, then literally. But the story doesn’t end there. We can learn some essential takeaways from Samson’s story. First, the power God gives us is intended to be used for His Kingdom. Second, God’s holy nature and our sinful nature don’t mix. But third, and most importantly, no matter how far away our sin carries us from God, it’s never too far for us to return to Him. There’s never been anyone who has gone so far outside God’s bounds that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross can’t bring them back into God’s presence.
Connor joins us in the podcast studio to talk even more about Samson's fall from grace. Oh, and, Kenna Brantingham is a special guest along with her son Simon.
As we think about the first time we heard this story, we might recall that it’s a story about a man who ran from God’s call, threw himself into the sea, was swallowed by a whale, prayed to God, and was spit out because God spared him and gave him a second chance. But a look at the deeper truths reveals that this story is about Jonah’s will vs. God’s will. God’s will was merciful and good. Jonah’s was not. When they came into conflict, Jonah knew he wouldn’t win, but he could not see that it was good that he would not win. For him, it was better for him to die than to surrender to God’s plan for him. Jonah failed to see God’s compassion for him, and he became angry with God. God doesn’t deserve our anger. He wants us to act with compassion as we have been given compassion.
Connor sits down to talk about even more of the fascinating details of Jonah's story. Oh, and, Jason tells Teresa what he calls the "whale" to his kids instead.
We often think that the story of David and Goliath is about an underdog who, with God’s help, overcame the odds to do the impossible. But when we look back through all the Scripture that preceded this story and realize that David understood and had faith in God’s plans and power, we get a different perspective on this narrative. It’s still an underdog story, but giant Goliath is the underdog who doesn’t stand a chance against the King (God). If we overlook this lesson, we might miss something crucial as we face the future. Because someday, the ultimate giant, Satan, will be defeated by the ultimate King, Jesus. The King is coming, and Satan is doomed. And we need not be afraid. We can have the faith of David, knowing that the King will be victorious.
Student Ministries Pastor Jeremy sits down with Connor Kraus to discuss Alex's message further as well as understanding what kids are capable of learning. Oh, and, Connor and Alan list off the 5 tallest people ever.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our Retold series with the story of the walls of Jericho. If you think this story is about how God helped Joshua and the Israelites destroy the walls of this mighty fortress city, think again. It’s really about an epic battle between God and Satan and the faithful obedience of Joshua and the people he led. Joshua surrendered to God and allowed God to accomplish something through him. When we are aligned with God in our own righteous battles, we can discover that His plans can defy human wisdom.
Connor joins the podcast table to discuss the story of Jericho falling even more. Oh, and, we talk about the crazy facts of typical castle sieges.
John was the man Jesus proclaimed the greatest of all men who had ever been born. But what do we know about this man who was associated with eating insects and living in the desert? His missions were important: to point people to Jesus, acknowledge God’s sovereignty, and warn people that judgment is coming.
Connor fills the roll as a co-host while filling us in with more details on the life of John the Baptist. Oh, and, Jason puts Connor's firework knowledge to the test.
This month's bonus episode includes TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus sitting down with TBC Young Adults Pastor Alex Wolfe to talk about what it means to be a lifelong learner. Alex is sadly stepping away from TBC to further his eduction at Dallas Theological Seminary and earn his doctorate.
Afterwards, we have two discussions with TBC supported workers. For the first, Teresa Jenkins interviews Kelly Crandall who has been doing amazing work in the Philippines. For the second, Jason Brent discusses with Leah Mahner her years spent in Hungary and how she has returned to The States. Leah now works as an intern for Haiti Lifeline while being able to stay in Kansas.
Jim Congdon continues our "Retold" series with a look at an epic battle from the book of 1 Kings. We've got a front-row seat to one of the most explosive confrontations in the Bible. On one side, the prophet Elijah and the God of Israel (Yahweh). On the other side, King Ahab, about 850 prophets, and their gods Baal and Asherah. Don't let the numbers fool you – this battle is going to be decisive. We'll learn that what sets apart Yahweh from the false gods is that he doesn't require your blood. He'll sacrifice his for you instead.
Connor stops by after the message to go a little deeper into the story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. Oh, and, Teresa brings on some special guests.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our “Retold” summer message series with the story of the Tower of Babel. The narrative opens just after a series of genealogies that show that once again (despite God saving them from total destruction in the flood), humanity has turned away from the Creator. The people decided to build a tall tower to elevate their own greatness and, in their words, “make a name for ourselves.” The tower planners and builders rejected God and worshipped something false, not part of his plan. God stepped in to wipe out his beloved children’s hard-hearted and self-centered plans as he did with the flood. When we look at this story, we can take stock of the towers we’ve built in our own life. Whether rebellion is just in our hearts or whether we’re living it out, there’s no rebellion too fierce for God’s forgiveness. He desires relationship with us. He doesn’t want us to be far from him. But he wants the decision for obedience to be ours.
Connor stops by after the message to go a little deeper into the story of the Tower of Babel. Oh, and, Teresa has Jason guess the meaning of words in other languages.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our “Retold” summer message series, giving us a better understanding of what God is trying to tell us through the narrative of Noah’s Ark. This essential story connects to the rest of the Bible and it has applications for us today. In the time between creation and the time of the flood, human wickedness had become widespread across the earth. God was deeply grieved and decided to destroy all his creation – people, plans, and animals. But Noah was a righteous man, “blameless among men,” and walking with the Lord. And for the first time, we see God invite someone into his presence to be saved from eternal judgment. For people who understand God and his character, the surprise shouldn’t be that God decided to wipe out mankind. He detests sin and because of our sin nature, we can’t enjoy relationship with God without a savior. The surprise should be that God offered mercy to Noah and his family. Judgment will come again to this world. It will look different and it will not destroy every living thing. God promises that those who follow his son, Jesus Christ, will be spared from that judgment.
Connor stops by after the message to go a little deeper into the story of Noah. Oh, and, Teresa tricks Jason with some fake animal news.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our Retold series with a grown-up retelling of the story of Daniel and the Lions’ Den. Many of us know the basic story – Daniel’s peers grew jealous. They influenced the ruler, Darius, to enact a law that played to Darius’ vanity but, unbeknownst to him, would also mean the death of his trusted appointee and friend of more than 60 years, Daniel. Darius reluctantly had Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. Miraculously, Daniel emerged the following morning unharmed. As kids, we may have learned from this story that if we’re faithful, God will deliver us. But the lesson for us today is that whether or not God rescues us, we should be faithful to Him.
Connor stops by after the message to go a little deeper into the sermon. Oh, and our new digital media specialist Alan joins in with Jason and Teresa for a little word game.
TBC Pastor of Missions and Leader Development Jim Congdon kicks off our summer message series with a grown-up look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar demanded his people kneel in worship of a 90-foot statue he’d had created to honor himself. As followers of God, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to kneel to this golden false idol. The penalty? The king had them thrown into a blazing hot oven. What happens next is something that the one and only God of the universe could do. Could this happen today? Of course! It happens all the time. We all worship something. It may be power, money, comfort, the status quo, technology, travel, sports, or celebrities. Sooner or later, the things to which we devote our time and energy will demand our worship. God is looking for fully-committed followers who will stand and say “no.” What does it take to stand among them?
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus stops by after the message to go a little deeper and give us a behind-the-scenes view of how the TBC teaching team selects sermon series topics and content.
Oh, and Teresa quizzes Jason about record high temps in some of our favorite places
This month's bonus episode includes a great segment from TBC Lead Pastor Connor Kraus on false teaching and end times predictions. It's important to learn and understand the signs of end times, but when we try to extrapolate how they line up with current events, it can lead to unproductive and, frankly, unhealthy behaviors.
We'll also hear from Jennifer Hummell, who shared her story at one of our Women's Expresso events earlier in 2022. And we wrap it up with a 2019 Men of Success presentation from Jim Congdon and Rodney Kenner on John Maxwell's 21 Laws of Irrefutable Leadership. Rodney shares his unique experience as a former player under Coach Bill Snyder on the K-State football team.
Connor Kraus wraps up our series on emotions with a look at Weariness. It's more than being tired. It’s a level of exhaustion that reaches beyond our physicality into the depths of our soul. We can look to several things to find relief, but the effect is temporary and superficial. The only true, permanent restoration is an eternity with God. That means we have to accept Jesus as our savior. Becoming a follower of Christ doesn’t mean we won’t experience weariness, but it means we have a Father who has promised us permanent, infinite rest in eternity. For those who feel they are at the end of their rope, know that there isn’t a battle on Earth where Jesus is not with you. But we must shift our thinking to accept that we might feel weariness for a long time. Jesus is telling us to keep going. In those moments, we might see grace and understanding as we see a patient God who has endured (with his own sense of weariness) our disobedience as we turned away from Him.
Jason and Teresa hang around after the sermon to share some further thoughts. Oh, and they play a little game we call "Blue Idioms." We hope it doesn't leave you feeling blue!
Connor Kraus continues our series on emotions with a look at one of the most isolating feelings – loneliness. He studies three people from the Bible who experienced deep, painful loneliness – Moses, David, and Jesus. Their truths about loneliness – and their response to it – can teach us how to deal with isolation in our own lives. Moses came to understand that God never leaves us. David teaches us that God can always be found, and through his own suffering, Jesus shows us that God knows our pain. When we draw near to God, experience His grace, and fully commit to our relationship with Christ – we can have comfort knowing that loneliness is temporary. Even if it lasts the rest of our lives, we won’t be lonely in eternity if we have made a decision to follow Christ.
Pastor Jim Congdon continues our series on emotions with a special "Church on the Lawn" message! Of all the emotions, happiness is the one we humans tend to chase the most. But in order to experience true, satisfying happiness, we might have to undergo some attitude adjustments, as Pastor Jim Congdon outlines in this message drawn from the writings of the apostle Paul. First, we have to change our perspective on the importance of self. It's not all about us – it's all about God. Second, we have to acknowledge that God's got this. Third, we need to take on an attitude of gratitude. We can't be the victim. And finally, we need Jesus for happiness. Happiness is more than a feeling. It's a way of life.
Pastor Jason's daughter Henley is our very special guest this week. She and her dad talk about things that make them happy. And Pastor Jim stops by after the message to talk a little more about happiness.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues this series with a look at a very destructive emotion – envy. It’s based on desire – a desire for the things outside of God’s blessing. Desire can take a twisted form, looking beyond God's boundaries for us, and we wander into dangerous territory. Consider Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God had provided for their every need, but Eve desired something (fruit from the Tree of Knowledge) beyond what God allowed. This is Satan’s scheme for us – he’s whispering that God has not provided us with enough – and it’s a scheme that leads to sin and death. When we pray that God gives us the things He thinks we need – His will and not ours – God will answer our prayers. If you seek after God and His kingdom, you will find true satisfaction and fulfillment.
Parents, we recommend previewing this episode before sharing it with children.This month's bonus episode features content from Lead Pastor Connor Kraus on how we interact with and speak about politics can impact our Christian witness. Teresa sits down with TBC worship team volunteer Phil Witzke, who was called to start a worship band during his deployment in Afghanistan. And Jason presents the second half of a candid two-part conversation with Mark Fiedler about pornography addiction.
The theme of anger permeates our culture – It’s at the root of the plot of some of our favorite films. It’s the motivation behind the stories that dominate today’s headlines. And it’s what even the most devoted followers of Jesus struggle with at our highest and lowest points. But what if we examine what the apostle Paul said in Romans (Chapter 12, verses 17-21)? What if we acknowledge that God is in control and he’s got your back? It’s what Jesus did. He didn’t retaliate when he was insulted or even tortured. In fact, he asked God to forgive those who harmed him. So the next time someone “wrongs” you, why not do the unexpected thing and surprise them with forgiveness beyond all understanding? It might just be the “miracle” that leads them to Christ.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus shares an Easter message that clearly lays out the fact that we're all sinners and in need of a savior. For those who follow Jesus, it's a reminder of the price he paid for us, to earn us a salvation we don't deserve. For those who haven't yet made the decision to follow Christ, there's a compelling message for you, too!
Oh, and Jason and Teresa talk about Peeps and a few other silly "Extra" things.
Connor wraps up our Leviticus series with a look at the “jubilee year.” At the end of seven sets of seven-year cycles on the Israelite calendar (every 50 years), it was a time to return home, feast, and rest. Even though our sin in the Garden of Eden sentenced us to a lifetime of toiling on the cursed earth, God still wants us to rest occasionally and enjoy the fruits of our labor. These periods of rest are a preview of the “eternal Sabbath” we’ll enjoy when Jesus returns, and we return to Eden to experience it the way it should have been all along. In the meantime, we must continue to work, leading people to life in Christ so more can enjoy the eternal Sabbath.
Connor stops by the studio to talk a little more about the jubilee year and the Leviticus series. Oh, and Kenna and Jason invent a spectacular new candy creation...Skittle Middles! (aka jellybeans)
Parents, we recommend previewing this episode before sharing it with children.This month's bonus episode features content from Lead Pastor Connor Kraus on Easter origins – biblical and otherwise. Teresa sits down with Hannah McGurk to learn how Trans World Radio Motion is using digital technology to reach new places with the gospel. And Jason presents the first part of a candid two-part conversation with Mark Fiedler about pornography addiction.Mentioned links:
Trans World Radio - https://twr.org/
TWR Motion Documentary - https://vimeo.com/twrmotion/documentary
Perspectives Class - https://www.perspectives.org/
Connor continues our Leviticus series with a study of the holy feasts of Israel. These seven annual events are more than cultural traditions. They reveal God’s plan for the present and even the future – a plan that he has been shepherding and guarding since before creation. It’s a plan that includes the salvation of everyone, and we have a part to play. God is laying a foundation for something in your life that is bigger than your plans. It probably won’t involve money or fame but something even greater. Because it’s part of God’s plan. If we can trust that his plans have never failed, we can lean into God when we encounter setbacks and hurdles along the way.
Connor stops by after the sermon segment to talk about something that he didn't get to cover in the series – the curses and blessings.
Oh, and Connor, Jason, and Teresa celebrate a year of podcasting with a sugar coma-inducing feast of their own!
Connor continues our Leviticus message series with a frank conversation about some sensitive topics from Leviticus 18 and 20 – incest, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality, and bestiality. The penalty for these sins was death. It’s easy for us to look back at the Old Testament times, contemplate the kinds of sins God’s people were committing, and say that those were life-or-death circumstances. But we still live with life-or-death circumstances. We deserve death but are given life when we acknowledge our sin and trust in Jesus Christ. We can’t look back at the Canaanites with superiority. Nor can we look to our peers who have committed “worse sins” than we have. We are all deserving of death. But because of Jesus, we can have a spirit of life beyond the grave.
Connor drops by the podcast studio to go in-depth on how God uses the church to discipline people who have committed these kinds of sins.
Oh, and inspired by Connor’s story about a downhill cheese race, Teresa shares some unique Kansas road trip ideas for family getaways.
Our Leviticus series continues with a look at the blood laws of Leviticus (and the New Testament scriptures that showed that Jesus was the new law). In Leviticus, once again, God was taking what the Israelites were using for pagan practices (animal sacrifice) and turned it around for His glory. He outlined specific laws forbidding eating animals that still had their blood (life force) in them. And the blood of living things wasn’t to be touched. So centuries later, when Jesus told the crowd of 5000 that they had to eat his flesh and drink his blood, it had to be confusing and even upsetting to his followers. We have the benefit of hindsight. We know that Jesus knew he would soon die for the entire world and our sins. That didn’t mean his followers had to consume his flesh and blood literally. To enjoy eternal life in Heaven, he meant we have to accept and take in his sacrifice for our sins. Jesus gave his life for us, and his blood makes us clean.
Connor stops by the podcast studio after the sermon to go in-depth on the blood laws.
Oh, and Teresa tries to stump Jason with some bloody ridiculous trivia.
Parents, this episode includes a bit of content about God's beautiful design for our bodies. We recommend previewing the post-sermon segment before sharing it with children.
Our Leviticus series continues as lead pastor Connor Kraus takes a closer look at skin disease – at least how it’s addressed in the Bible! Disease and death are reminders of our living in a fallen world where we should expect these weapons of the enemy. If we don’t completely grasp this, we can’t fully understand and appreciate what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus won the war against the enemy (and disease and death), so someday we can be restored to eternal life with God in Heaven. But the spiritual battle continues here on Earth as the enemy continues his fight. When we are followers of Christ, we can leverage this knowledge against Satan by standing firm in our faith and sharing the Gospel with others. Yes, there is disease and death in this world. But beyond that is God, and He is eternal.
Connor stops by the Extra studio to talk a bit about the laws regarding bodily functions. These laws further show that God cares about every single aspect of our lives.
Oh, and Jason tries to stump teresa with Latin terms for skin diseases and mold. You might want to avoid eating while listening to this one, folks.
This month's bonus episode is bursting with great content!
- Connor and Jim talk about former Disney CEO Robert Iger's book The Ride of a Lifetime and examine his leadership gleanings through a biblical lens.
- Teresa interviews TBC-supported mission worker Teri, who uses her creativity to help trauma victims in Southeast Asia.
- Student Ministry Assistant Lori Tennyson stops by to share about this summer's Student Ministry street evangelism trip to New York City.
Connor continues our series on Leviticus with a look at the purification offering. This offering covered accidental violations (out of negligence or carelessness) and life events that required purification (childbirth, skin disease, etc.). These latter things weren’t sins, but they required cleansing. Thanks to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross for our sins, we no longer need to spill the blood of animals on an altar to pay for our sins. But we do need to be aware of our sin, because all sin is detestable to God. It’s futile to judge our sin against the sin of others; it’s only valid to judge against God’s standard. Trusting in Christ means that we are clean, forever. But we are still susceptible to sin and must be vigilant against it. Find it, end it, and give it to God.
Oh, and Teresa and Jason play a round of cleaning products trivia.
Connor continues our study of Leviticus with a look at the “grain offering.” Sacrifices and offerings were long-held cultural traditions in the time of Leviticus. God co-opted these pagan practices, turning them into something He could use for His glory. Every time God asks for an offering, He asks for the very best. Whether it was the uncooked offerings of fine flour, cooked flour with no yeast (which brought impurity to the offering), or the firstfruits offering (the first and best of the crop), offerings were a recognition that every good thing we have comes from God. We are merely the stewards of the things He gives us. Today, our sacrifice is shown in how we live our lives. When we reflect on the love of God, it will motivate us to offer the best of our lives and what we have to Him. This can include how we spend our time, how we handle our relationships, how we fill our calendar, and how we manage our finances. God deserves your best. In order to give Him your best, what in your life must change?
Connor stops by after the message to challenge us to be honest with ourselves about our sacrifices, our firstfruits offerings to God. Are they truly out of an overflow of our hearts in gratitude for what GOd has done for us?
Oh, and Jason and Teresa talk about barriers they've faced in giving their best to God.
This month's bonus episode is mission-focused!
- Connor and Jim talk about TBC's investment and heart for missions, both here in our community and around the world.
- Teresa interviews Dave Clark, whose mission is to use his hands to serve others in a number of ways, especially in our men's Chore Corps ministry.
- Jason brings us a recording from a Men of Success session where participants discussed the book Right Away and All At Once.Be inspired to develop your own mission personal mission statement!
Connor continues our Leviticus series with a closer look at the offerings – the burnt offering, in particular. Although sacrifices may seem odd to our culture, they were integral to the people of the Old Testament. From as early as the third chapter of Genesis, when God used animal skins to clothe Adam and Eve after the fall, through Cain and Abel, Noah, Jacob, and Moses – sacrifice was how people communicated with God. The burnt offering was different from other offerings because everything brought to the altar was burned up. Not a portion. All of it. And Scripture tells us that the aroma of the sacrifice was pleasing to Him. When we go to the cross (the new altar) to accept the blood of Jesus, all of our sins are burned away. They’re no longer there. And it pleases God. The burnt offering is an eternal reminder of our relationship with God and our desperate need for Jesus.
Connor stops by after the sermon to talk go a little deeper on the practice and role of burnt offerings.
Oh, and Jason, Teresa, Connor offer up something else that’s been burned when they share their personal cooking fails.
Here's the link to the tabernacle map that we referenced during this episode: https://tomtrinidad.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/tabernacle-floorplan.png
Connor Kraus begins our study of Leviticus with an overview of what this third book of the Bible says and why we should study it. Understanding this book improves our biblical literacy. It also enriches our biblical worldview. How? Leviticus helps us recognize God’s authority over us, the breadth and depth of his holiness, and his desire for us to be in relationship with him. But it also reminds us that because of our sinful nature, we can’t be holy. Therefore, we can’t enjoy a relationship with Him – without divine intervention, that is. We’ll be holy in Heaven, but we shouldn’t wait until then to pursue holiness. It’s what God wants for us and the book of Leviticus helps us understand what that looks like.
Young Adults Pastor Alex Wolfe concludes our “Better Together” series with a message about unity within the church. He examines Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1-15), when the apostle was writing to a church that had broken into micro-communities that were pro-this, and anti-that. All the “this” and “that” were things that were apart from doctrine. Sound familiar? When we divide over social or political issues and put up walls around the people we choose to spend time with, we’re getting away from unity. When we learn the doctrines of the church and submit to those doctrines, we can keep our eyes fixed on Christ and unify under him. It may mean we have to spend some time in fellowship with people with whom we don’t agree, but those are beautiful opportunities to reap the fruits of the spirit!
Alex stops by the podcast studio after the sermon to go in-depth on a couple of points.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa talk about their childhood memories of being in a club.
Young Adults Pastor Alex Wolfe continues our "Better Together" series with a look at how families are better when they're together. He's addressing three kinds of families in this message – your biological/home family, your church family, and your spiritual family relationship with your heavenly father. Alex says we're better when we're physically present with these families (in most cases). And when we're walking in agreement in the same character system. Our three types of families work better when they're together. And someday, we can experience full, physical togetherness with God as we complete our adoption as sons and daughters of Christ in Heaven. The takeaway? Live your home family life in the midst of your church family life for the sake of your spiritual family life. After the sermon, Alex stops by the podcast studio to talk more about the message, including the family "split" that occurred in Genesis and sometimes hard-to-see blessings of being a single person in the context of family.
Oh, and Jason, Teresa, and Alex share their favorite family memories.
Jim Congdon continues our "Better Together" series with a look at the "Together Places" God has shared with His people throughout the Bible. These were places where people could enjoy fellowship with God here on Earth. From the Garden of Eden (the first Together Place), through the Oak of Moreh (Abram), Mount Sinai (Moses), the tabernacle, and then the temple. Then came a new kind of Together Place – Jesus – God in flesh among us. Now we don't have to seek out a place to have together time with God! It's inside us as when we believe in His son, Jesus.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa have a chat about climbing trees.
Description
In this month's bonus episode, Connor talks about approaching the new year with a biblical mindset. Next, we listen in on a recent Women's Expresso presentation, when Debby Sowers from Project 2 Restore shares her story. And Jason brings us an excerpt from last summer's Mental Wellness Series event for men featuring Dr. Jim Walsh.
Pastor of Missions and Leader Development Jim Congdon kicked off the four-week series "Better Together" with a look at surrounding one's ourselves with people who will help us up when we fall, keep us stoked with encouragement, and defend us when we need it. He draws on several passages of Scripture and some anecdotal stories to make the point that we're truly better...together!
Oh, and Jason and Teresa talk about new year's goals and resolutions. And the "Liver King."
Here's the podcast Jason mentioned (Jon Acuff's "All It Takes is a Goal"): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-it-takes-is-a-goal/id1547078080
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our "Hark" Christmas message series with the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Joseph to tell him that his betrothed, Mary, would give birth to the son of God and later. Joseph had other encounters with angels, first warning him to take Mary and flee to Egypt, then again a few years later telling Joseph to return to Israel. The angels' messages were always that it isn't about Joseph. It's about the child, Jesus. And Joseph obeyed, following God's plan, despite the cost. Joseph's story tells us that our greatest joy is found in obedience to God
After the message, Connor stops by the Extra studio to talk a little more about Joseph and his faithful obedience.
Oh, and Jason and special guests Kenna Brantingham and her 11-month-old son Simon chat about Christmas movies!
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus continues our "Hark" Christmas message series with the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary with the news that she will give birth to the Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah that Mary's people had been expecting for centuries. Gabriel also relayed God's promise to Mary – that He would be with Mary as He set his perfect plan into motion. Her humble, submissive response is a model for the Christian walk.
After the message, Connor stops by the Extra studio to go a little deeper on having faith in God.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa chat about the "magic" of Santa. Parents might want to preview this episode before sharing it with young children!
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus began our "Hark" Christmas message series with the story of the angel Gabriel visiting someone and surprising them with the news that they would soon become a parent. It's not the Christmas story you might have expected, though. This time, Gabriel was appearing to the elderly Zechariah to tell him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, who were childless, would soon become parents. Their son would grow up to become the man we know as John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus. Connor illustrates a beautiful story of how God used angels to not only send a message, but to remind us that he is faithful, he keeps his promises, and we can trust in him.
After the message, Connor stops by the Extra studio to go a little deeper on trusting God.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa chat about their own "Hark" moments – when they received an announcement of great news.
In this month's bonus episode, Connor and Jim talk about their trip to the Evangelical Theological Society and the importance of lifelong learning. Next, we listen in on a recent Women's Expresso presentation, when Darlene Morgan shared how God has revealed himself through what she calls "Oh, I see what you're doing there" moments. And Jason sits down with Rick Palmateer to talk about serving and being good financial stewards.
Connor wraps up our "Bad Religion" series with a look at action. Many Christians know from Ephesians 2 that salvation comes only by grace through faith. But the next verse in that chapter says that we were created in Christ Jesus to do the good works that God prepared us to do. Our works aren't related to our salvation. Action is a natural, appropriate response to salvation. Inaction is the opposite.
After the sermon, Connor stops by the studio to talk about something he didn't have time to cover in this series – the bad religion of favoritism and partiality. When we give priority to interacting with or serving those who are popular, have wealth, or possess other superficial qualities we'd like to see in ourselves.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa do a rapid-fire chat on bad things related to Christmas.
Lead Pastor Connor Kraus is joined by Worship Arts Pastor Jeremiah Devine and his wife Amanda for a very special, interactive Thanksgiving service. We walk through Psalms 43 and 100 and sing songs of thanksgiving. Connor stops by the podcasting studio after the service to talk more about how we can show gratitude, even when we're in the depths of despair.
Oh, and Connor, Jason, and Teresa share what the five-year-old versions of themselves would give thanks for.
Connor Kraus continues our Bad Religionseries with a look at pride. Our relationship with God is initiated through our humility. We understand the depravity of our spiritual condition and we ask for His forgiveness because we can’t make things right on our own. But too often, we forget the humility that once characterized our relationship with God, and we begin to cultivate a prideful heart. That's bad religion, for sure. Connor shares some pieces of Scripture with us that point to the downside of exalting ourselves, and how to maintain a posture of humility.
Oh, and student ministry assistant Lori Tennyson stops by to share with Teresa "five bad things" that have happened on student ministry trips over her 15-year tenure!
Connor Kraus continues off our Bad Religion series with a message on biblical truth. The Bible warns us about false prophets, but how do we discern whether a teacher or prophet is handling Scripture correctly? And should we hold ourselves back from sharing the Gospel if we're not absolutely confident in what we say?
Connor stops by the Extra studio after the sermon to talk more about false teaching, especially those who profess the prosperity gospel.
Oh, and Teresa tries to avoid planting an ear worm (or ear wig?) when sharing about "bad" songs she likes to avoid on her playlist.
Connor Kraus kicks off our Bad Religion series with a message on spiritual attitudes. God’s people should not be characterized by apathy but by the passionate pursuit of righting wrongs and fighting injustice—individually and corporately.
Connor stops by the Extra studio after the sermon to talk more about how easy it is to slip into a position of apathy, what it feels like, and how to pull yourself out of it.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa talk about "Bad" Halloween treats.
This month's bonus episode includes:
- Lead Pastor Connor Kraus and Pastor of Missions and Leader Development Jim Congdon talk about our upcoming Sunday sermon series "Bad Religion: When Good Christianity Goes Wrong..."
- Women's Expresso speaker Vickie Meck shares her story. She and her husband have fostered 11 children and adopted three. She's endured loss and grief, but Vickie continues to see God at work through all of it.
- Jason sits down with Haiti Lifeline Director and TBC Elder Board Member Chris Mammoliti. An ecologist and an atheist, Chris decided to read the Bible to help convince Christians (who wanted to build in undeveloped lands) that our God-given dominion over the earth didn't mean we could destroy it. God had different plans!
Connor wraps up the "Church Words" series with an examination of "discipleship." If trusting Christ as your Savior is the "party," then discipleship is the "after party" – the imperative of the Great Commission. Discipleship can begin much sooner than some Christians think – as soon as you understand the Gospel, you're ready to share it with others. And it doesn't take a long time – as soon as the person you're discipling understands the Gospel, then they're ready to spin off and make disciples themself!
THE EXTRA: Connor stops by our podcasting studio to talk a little more about that hard teaching when Jesus said we must hate our family members and our own lives to follow Him. We're not going to soften the word "hate," but we're going to give it some perspective.
Oh, and Doug and Teresa face off in our final round of Church Passwords!
Connor continues the "Church Words" series with an examination of "sanctification," defined as "being set apart and devoted to a higher purpose." He looks at Old and New Testament examples of this being “set apart” and explains the concept of progressive sanctification. Even though we are sanctified by Christ’s death on the cross (we being saved by grace through faith), there’s more sanctification (not to be confused with salvation) to come as we continue our journey on earth. It’s a work in progress. We’re on a holy mission for God to act like daughters and sons of the King. But our mission must be motivated by our love for God, rooted in the Word, and full of grace for others.
THE EXTRA: Connor stops by our podcasting studio to share a little more about legalism and how we as Christians can set boundaries to advance our faith journey without creating roadblocks for others.
Oh, and Connor and Jim face off in another round of Church Passwords!
Connor Kraus continues our "Church Words" series with a close look at the word "Justification." He defines the word in biblical terms and walks us through how justification should feel to those of us who have trusted Christ as our savior.
Oh, and Jason and Connor face off in another round of Church Passwords.
In Connor Kraus' first sermon series as lead pastor, he continues with a five-week series called "Church Words". These are words that may be used in church, but might not be easily understood.
Also, this week you can play "Church Passwords" by trying to guess more words with our clues!!
In this month's extended "extra" episode, Connor and Jim talk about the current "Church Words" series and some additional words outside the series that Christians should know and understand more fully. We share Erin Dykes' Expresso presentation, in which she shares about God's provision and direction in her life and how she and her family value the church for much more than what they experience on Sundays. And Jason sits down to visit with Worship Pastor Jeremiah Devine.
In Connor Kraus' first sermon as lead pastor, he begins a new five-week series called "Church Words." Oftentimes, people who have been in church awhile use language unfamiliar to new believers and unbelievers. Sometimes, even the Christians who use those words don’t understand their significance. In this five-week series, Connor uses the book of Romans to help us better understand some commonly used “church words” and their application for believers.
Oh, and speaking of words, Teresa challenges Jason and Patty to a game of "Church Passwords."
This service marks the official transition from Jim Congdon to Connor Kraus as lead pastor of TBC. They examine the message in 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, which emphasizes that the church must keep the Gospel in the forefront above all else.
Oh, and speaking of transitions, Jason and Teresa chat about the changing season. It's pretty autumnal!
Jim Congdon delivers his compelling final Sunday sermon as lead pastor of TBC. It's a message that gives a glimpse into the things that are important to Jim and TBC: God, the Bible, the Gospel, Israel, and Life Change.
Oh, and Teresa and Jason share their perspectives on this historic week in the life of our church.
Connor examines different schools of thought on miracles and whether God is still performing them in our times. Learn more about the purpose of miracles and what things we need to consider when thinking about miracles.
Oh, and Jason shares a story from his childhood about a miraculous answer to prayer – God's hand at work with an Upper Deck baseball card!
Jim uses several great illustrations to show how we, as followers of Christ, can use what we have – our own unique gifts and giftings – to share the Gospel. A large part of evangelization is building relationships with friends – ones you want to be your Forever Friends in Heaven.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa talk about sharing – perhaps not the Gospel, but some funny memories from their younger years.
In this month's extended "extra" episode, Connor and Jim talk about the upcoming lead pastor transition and events marking that historic moment in TBC's history. Teresa visits with Stop Trafficking Project founder Russ Tuttle about what trafficking is and the need to increase awareness. And our new Student Ministry Pastor Jeremy McGrath phones in to tell us a little more about himself and what's drawn him to Topeka and TBC.
Alex Wolfe helps us look at three dimensions of our relationship with God – the status, the nature, and the state of the relationship. By understanding the context of each of these elements, we can enter and/or improve our relationship with God and enrich our walk with Him.
Oh, and Jason shares about relationships from his life that have had a profound impact on his faith.
Young Adults Pastor Alex Wolfe presents several stories from Scripture about loss and the lost, and he presents an interesting perspective on whether God leaves the flock to hunt down the lost sheep.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa talk about losing things that were once dear to them.
Lead Pastor Jim Congdon examines a question he and others in pastoral ministry hear frequently. When tough times come, we may ask whether God is doing something to us, to punish us for a past transgression. The answer is more complex than you may imagine!
Oh, and Executive Pastor Doug Will fills in as co-host and shares a discipline story from his experience as the father of four boys!
In this month's extended "extra" episode, Connor shares a biblical perspective on addiction. You'll hear an excerpt from our Mental Wellness Series presentation for women, featuring Rochelle Walsh, LSCSW (see the links below for audio for the entire series). And Jason visits with Young Adults Pastor Alex Wolfe about God's will for our lives.
Mental Wellness Series audio recordings:
Women's session: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1734782/8751620
Men's session: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1734782/8901616
Parents' session: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1734782/8975741
As we prepared to baptize about 40 people on the evening of this sermon, Jim shares biblical perspectives on baptism. When's the right age to get baptized? Sprinkling or immersion? And so on.
Oh, and special guest Justin Jenkins (Teresa's husband) stops by and proves that Teresa really has no idea about his favorite movies.
Jim examines the reasons why people who've heard the Gospel message (or who at least have heard of Jesus) don't believe in Him. Reasons why they WILL NOT or even CAN NOT believe. He also shares the three serious forces that fight belief (the world, the flesh, the devil) and what we can and must do (pray) for our loved ones and others who haven't yet come to Christ.
Oh, and Jason asks Teresa about some of the most amazing things she's witnessed. You can bet that at least one National Park will be on her list!
Alex Wolfe is in the pulpit this week with answers to an important question, and a challenge to us as evangelicals. Are we telling the WHOLE story of the Gospel when we share? It's not just about Christ's death and resurrection for our sins. It's about the entire story of the Bible – stretching back to when man separated himself from God through sin. The plotline runs through the Old and New Testaments clear through Revelation when God creates returns in glory. It's a message of encouragement!
Oh, and Teresa asks Jason about favorite stories from his childhood.
In our July "extra" episode of TBC Extra, pastor Connor Kraus shares about making Bible reading a lifelong habit. Teresa visits with student ministry summer interns Drew Will and Anna Dexter, and Jason chats with Les Steinlage, who, at age 77, stepped forward for the first time to lead a group of kids during Camp Catapult!
Connor's in the pulpit this week with a message about the afterlife. He turns to Scripture to explain that we will immediately be in God’s presence, with no waiting period. The brokenness that has characterized this life will be no more. And our ability to connect with and to see our savior will be complete. There's more in store in this encouraging message. Give it a listen!
Oh, and Teresa quizzes Jason on who he'd like to meet when he gets to Heaven!
Pastor Jim examines why celebrity (and non-famous) Christians are leaving the church and telling everyone about it. More importantly, he offers biblical encouragement to those of us whose dear friends and loved ones have turned away from the church.
Oh, and Teresa asks guest host Doug Will about the worst job he's ever held.
Connor Kraus continues our summer message series with a very timely question. It's in Scripture that he finds the answers for people grappling with the question of whether it's okay to be spiritual, but not religious.
Oh, and Teresa asks Jason and special guest Paul Shafer when and where they would go if time travel were possible.
Alex Wolfe continues our summer series with a common question among followers of Christ, and helps us focus on the only thing that spells out God's will for us – the Bible.
Oh, and Teresa gets Jason hoppin' as he talks about unpleasant past employment experiences.
Jim kicks off our summer message series with a valid question ... Didn't Jesus Say Not to Judge? He shares the three "stories" of judgment, which stories we should seek, and which one we should avoid.
Oh, and special guest Alex Wolfe stops by to not talk about soccer. It was a bad week for Manchester City, his favorite team.
In our second extra episode of TBC Extra, pastors Jim Congdon and Connor Kraus discuss our upcoming summer message series (Good Question! Let's Talk About It). Teresa visits with KAIROS prison ministry volunteer Gill Gabelmann about this little known-ministry, and Jason chats with Student Ministry Assistant Lori Tennyson about mentoring.
This week, Student Ministry Pastor Connor Kraus shares important lessons about anger – more importantly, how to determine if your anger is over the same things that anger God. And if so, how to avoid expressing it in an ungodly way.
Oh, and Jason amuses Teresa with a story about Mr. Potato Head and the Toy Story movie.
This week, Lead Pastor Jim Congdon shares big lessons we can learn from four small creatures mentioned in the book of Proverbs.
Oh, and Teresa and Jason talk about a little-known Kansas travel attraction that capitalizes on the world's smallest versions of the world's largest things.
Lead Pastor Jim Congdon's message draws on several passages from the book of Proverbs to teach us what true friendship looks and feels like, and how we can deepen and solidify our friendships through loyalty, empathy, and honesty.
Oh, and Jason tries to stump Worship Pastor Jeremiah Devine with questions about the top 25 Christian hymns of all time. Oh, Amazing Grace!
Lead Pastor Jim Congdon presents a Mother's Day message that gives us a fresh perspective on the 31st proverb. He states that every wise husband loves his wife and lets her know that he loves her. He also trusts and empowers his wife, listens to her, and seeks her wisdom.
Oh, and Teresa quizzes Jason on some of his mother's favorites. Including her favorite child. He's unimpeachably honest!
Young Adults Pastor Alex Wolfe begins the Uncommon Sense series during our Church on the Lawn event. His message centers on Proverb 25:17, which Alex says is about adding value to the lives of others. Not so that we get ahead in life, but so they get ahead.
Oh, and after surprising Teresa with a movie quote quiz, Jason proves he is equally adept at movie trivia when Teresa returns with a pop quiz of her own.
In our first extra episode of TBC Extra, pastors Jim Congdon and Connor Kraus discuss our most recent message series on the Resurrection. Teresa visits with Intentional Mom volunteer Vicki Haverkamp about her unique story of becoming a mom, and Jason chats with author Derek Rowe about conversations to have with your teen.
Young Adults Pastor Alex Wolfe wraps up our True Story series with a deep look into Acts 1 and the apostles' great expectations for answers – right now! We, like the apostles, often have a timing issue. Alex uses Deuteronomy 32 to illustrate how God offers help in managing our expectations for the "how" and "when" He will answer our prayers.
Oh, and Teresa gets a perfect score when Jason quizzes her with movie quotes related to expectations.
Jim Congdon uses his own fishing stories to connect with a message Jesus shared with His "fishers of men." In short – apart from Christ, we can do nothing. Only with Christ can we catch "large fish." Without him, we're just catching "minnows." Jason shares in the commentary about a fishing trip with a special friend and how that impacted him.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa once again fail to keep the podcast "evergreen" as they mention a freak late-April snowstorm that blanketed the area.
Connor Kraus continues our TRUE STORY series with an interesting facet of the "Doubting Thomas" story and the power of doubting faithfully. Jason and Teresa reflect on a historic evening in TBC's history – when Connor was approved as the future lead pastor of TBC.
Oh, and Jason and Teresa make the first of what will surely be several references to Craig Groeschel.
In a time when we're bombarded with fake news, we can cling to the TRUE STORY of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior! Teresa and Jason share their Easter weekend experiences, and Pastor Jim Congdon shares stories of some unlikely, true, conversion stories that show there's no sin too great to be covered by the blood of Christ, nor anyone so good they don't need God's grace.
Oh, and Teresa tries to find out where Jason's hiding the leftover Easter egg hunt candy.
TBC Children's Pastor Jason Brent and Communications Director Teresa Jenkins are teaming up to share our weekly Sunday sermons with you in a podcast format – with a little EXTRA! Each Friday, they'll share the previous Sunday's message, along with their own thoughts and takeaways. They'll bring their own unique perspectives and personalities to the mic, so it promises to be – well, we'll let you decide! And once a month, they'll drop a BONUS episode featuring interviews with pastors Jim Congdon and Connor Kraus, inspiring conversations with volunteers and others who have experienced life change at TBC, and encouraging tips to help address everyday challenges through a Scriptural lens. The first episode drops on April 9. Subscribe now!