Topeka Bible Church Audio Archive

God made Himself knowable so we would come to know Him. He wants us to love and serve Him, but He also gives us specific instructions about the proper way to worship. This week, we continue our series in Judges with a message from Aaron Abramson, Executive Director and CEO of Jews for Jesus, on the danger of worship without God. In our passage, we meet a man named Micah who is very enthusiastic about spirituality. He makes his own religious artifacts and even hires his own private priest, hoping that all his efforts will earn him divine approval. We look at three dangers that this story warns us about: Approaching God our own way, allowing culture to shape our faith, and seeking God for our own gain.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Can we trust the resurrection account? Discover the minimal facts most scholars accept about Jesus's death and resurrection, why alternative theories fail to explain the evidence, and how extraordinary claims require additional—not impossible—evidence. You'll see why the resurrection is the best explanation for what happened 2,000 years ago.

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. 

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.