Topeka Bible Church Audio Archive

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.