The Preaching of the Cross
THE BIBLE Baptist Church of DeLand, FL
The Preaching of the Cross is the daily weekday radio ministry of Pastor James W. Knox, featuring in-depth, expository Bible teaching.
Episodes
Philippians (Lesson 38)
“For our conversation is in heaven” sounds simple until you realize the Bible isn’t talking about your vocabulary, it’s talking about your entire way of life. We take Philippians 3:20 and slow it down, defining “conversation” the New Testament way: your manner of living, your conduct, your habits, and the pattern people can actually see.From Ephesians, we draw a bright line between the former conversation and the new life that follows real conversion. If salvation is more than agreeing with facts, then it produces a changed direction, a different controlling influence, and a life that no longer looks like the old one. That leads to an honest look at why Christian hypocrisy has such a loud impact in the world and why a testimony without transformation loses credibility fast.We also walk through sobering phrases like “filthy conversation” and ask why anyone would choose what God calls unclean. Then we turn practical: letting our conduct “be as it becometh the gospel,” being an example, rejecting covetousness through contentment, and living with holiness and honest witness among unbelievers. We make room for the crucial balance the Bible demands: good works do not save, but a saved life will show evidence that Jesus Christ has truly made the difference.If you’ve ever wondered what genuine Christian living looks like when nobody is impressed by talk, press play. Subscribe for more Bible preaching, share this with a friend, and leave a review that tells us what challenged you most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 37)
“This one thing I do” sounds simple until you try to live it. We open Philippians 3 with a challenge that cuts through the noise: doing one God-given thing well can be better than attempting fifty things and finishing none. That focus is not about hustle or personality. It is about spiritual direction, a Christian walk that stops spinning and starts pressing toward a real mark.Then we tackle a line that confuses a lot of sincere believers: “forgetting those things which are behind.” You and I cannot erase our past from memory, but we can refuse to live under its weight. We talk about what it means to “forget” in a biblical sense, how to stop being bothered and bound by what you still remember, and why God’s grace aims at freedom rather than denial.The heart of the message lands in Philippians 3:18-19, where Paul warns with tears about “many” enemies of the cross of Christ. Not enemies of Jesus’ name, but enemies of the cross-shaped life: self-denial for the good of others. We connect that warning to modern false teachers, the prosperity gospel, and any preaching that centers on earthly things, personal glory, and feeding the “belly” while calling it Christianity. If you’ve ever wondered why some “Christian” messages feel uplifting but produce carnality, division, and self-worship, this passage explains the difference.Subscribe so you don’t miss the next broadcast, share this with a friend who needs discernment, and leave a review to help more listeners find clear Bible preaching. What part of Philippians 3 challenges you the most right now?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 36)
What if the most “spiritual” feeling you have right now is actually just your imagination and the real correction God wants to bring is sitting in plain sight in Scripture? We lean into Philippians 3 and talk about Christian maturity with zero fluff: God gives His people a secure, incorruptible inheritance, but He also calls us to a disciplined, Bible governed mindset that treats spiritual growth and sanctification as serious business.We walk through how God reveals what is lacking in our lives. Sometimes it starts as conviction in the conscience through the indwelling Holy Spirit. But we refuse to leave it there, because feelings are not a final authority. We explain why searching the Scriptures is the only trustworthy way to “try the spirit” and confirm whether a concern has real biblical support. We also talk about God using other Christians and preaching to correct us, and how to tell the difference between helpful rebuke and mere opinion.Then comes the hard line: God will not force you to obey. He can make you able, but He will not make you willing. That truth reshapes how we think about obedience, responsibility, and the excuse of “If God doesn’t want it, He’ll stop me.” We also warn against becoming a critical judge of others when you do not know how much light God has revealed to them, and we close with the call to follow faithful “ensamples” so we can keep pressing toward the mark together.Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review if it helped you, then tell us: what “known truth” do you need to start walking in today?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 35)
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re truly secure with God or whether you’re one failure away from losing everything, Philippians 3 brings a steadying answer. I open Paul’s words and follow his trail of confidence, not in self improvement, but in Jesus Christ Himself. Paul counts everything else as loss so he can “win Christ,” and that sets up a crucial truth: the righteousness that gets a sinner to heaven is not earned by living right, it is credited by God through faith.From that foundation, we talk about what comes next. Salvation happens in a moment, but knowing Christ grows across a lifetime. Paul presses forward toward a sure future, and I explain why that forward motion is not about trying to make heaven possible, but about laying hold of what God has already promised. Along the way, we draw a sharp line between inheritance and rewards. Scripture teaches that rewards can be gained or lost through faithfulness, but inheritance is granted freely because of relationship, promise, and grace.We also tackle a real tension in today’s churches: a culture drifting into self worship and a backlash that tries to frighten professing believers into holiness by threatening hell. Ephesians 1, Ephesians 5, Hebrews 9, and 1 Peter 1 help us keep both truths together: God will not break His promise, and saving grace does change a person. The blood of Christ secures eternal redemption, and God keeps His people for an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and reserved in heaven.Subscribe for more Bible preaching, share this with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a review to help others find the broadcast. What part of “inheritance versus rewards” do you want to dig into next?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 34)
If you’ve ever wondered why your faith feels shaky when your circumstances feel loud, this message goes straight to the heart of it: what does Jesus Christ see when He looks at a believer He has already taken hold of? Brother James opens Philippians 3 and focuses on one loaded word, “apprehended,” showing how Scripture uses it like an arrest or capture. The surprise is that the gospel is not you trying to grab hold of God, it is God laying hold of you, holding you, and refusing to let you be snatched away.From Romans 8, we talk about the Spirit of God dwelling in the saved, righteousness credited to us in Christ, and the promise of resurrection that is grounded in relationship rather than performance. That leads to a hard but freeing question: if Christ has been that good to us, why would we devote our lives to anything else? Adoption replaces bondage and fear, and even when feelings dip, the Word insists that God keeps His children.Then we zoom out to the scale of the inheritance. Colossians 1 and Ephesians 1 underline redemption through Christ’s blood, forgiveness of sins, being qualified by God, and being accepted in the beloved. Second Corinthians 5 brings it home with the great exchange, Christ made sin for us so we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, which reframes the Christian race as running from victory, not for victory. If this encourages you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs assurance, and leave a review with the line that challenged you most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 33)
Comfort can fake spirituality. Pressure reveals what’s real. We lean into Philippians 3 and Paul’s stunning honesty: his sins are forgiven, heaven is settled, and yet he says he hasn’t “attained.” What’s left to reach for when you already belong to Christ? We talk through the Bible’s idea of apprehending, laying hold, being seized by Jesus and then spending a lifetime trying to get that same grip back on him through real discipleship.From there we tackle a word many Christians misunderstand: perfection. In Scripture, “perfect” doesn’t mean sinless; it means complete, finished, wanting nothing. That shifts the whole conversation about Christian growth and sanctification. Salvation rescues us from hell and guarantees eternal life, but the Holy Spirit keeps working to shape us into Christlikeness day by day. The question isn’t “Am I flawless?” but “Am I being made more like Jesus?”Then we go where most people would rather not go: suffering. We connect Paul’s “fellowship of his sufferings” to the way God perfects strength through weakness and breaks self-confidence so grace can actually lead. Hebrews takes it even further, saying Jesus was “made perfect through sufferings” not made righteous, but made complete as our High Priest who truly knows pain, loss, tears, and obedience under pressure. If we quit fellowshipping with God when hardship hits, we don’t just hurt, we waste what God meant to use.Subscribe for more Bible preaching and teaching, share this with someone who needs steadiness, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of suffering has most challenged your faith lately?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 32)
Respectable religion can be harder to throw away than obvious sin, because it feels like proof we’re doing fine. From Philippians 3:8–14, we walk through Paul’s shocking claim that everything he once trusted, even his “good” life, belongs in the garbage compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ. That single idea exposes how easily we trade the gospel for self-confidence, and why righteousness by faith is not just doctrine but the only ground firm enough to stand on. We also push the passage into daily life. Paul is already saved, yet he still says, “that I may know him.” We talk about imputed righteousness, the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification, and what it means to seek “the power of his resurrection” as victory over sin, self-love, and self-interest. Instead of treating Christianity as a ticket to heaven or a tool for comfort, Paul aims to live now the life he will live then, a life shaped by Christ’s humility, service, and willingness to suffer for others. Along the way, we offer a direct warning about modern preaching that markets faith as prosperity, self-exaltation, or escape from hardship. Biblical Christianity calls us to deny ourselves gladly, not to use God to promote ourselves. The passage ends with a clear target: forgetting what’s behind, reaching forward, and pressing toward the mark of Christlikeness as the prize. If this message challenged you, share it with a friend, subscribe so you don’t miss the next broadcast, and leave a review so more listeners can find faithful Bible teaching. What part of Philippians 3 hits closest to home for you?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 31)
You can be deeply religious, fiercely disciplined, and “blameless” in the eyes of people and still be headed the wrong direction. That’s the uncomfortable edge of Paul’s testimony in Philippians 3, and we sit with it long enough for it to land: law keeping, moral effort, and spiritual credentials cannot replace the righteousness found only in Jesus Christ. If you’ve ever wondered why Christianity insists on grace, faith, and the cross, this message draws the line with clarity. From there, we zoom in on a word many Christians misunderstand: blameless. The Bible never calls us to pretend we’re sinless, but it does call saved people to live above reproach where others can see. We connect Philippians with James 5:16, unpacking “Confess your faults one to another,” and we talk honestly about why public credibility matters for the gospel. Then we walk through Scripture’s examples Zechariah and Elizabeth, Abraham, and Lot to show the difference between being right with God and being trusted by people. Philippians 2 brings it home with “work out your own salvation” not working for salvation, but letting God’s work inside you show up in your words, choices, and relationships. We also touch 1 Timothy and 1 Thessalonians on having “a good report” with outsiders, abstaining from the appearance of evil, and what it means to “shine as lights” in a crooked world. If you want a Bible study on salvation by grace, Christian sanctification, and practical holiness that actually meets real life, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the broadcast and grow in the Word.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 30)
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m trying my best, surely that counts,” Paul answers with a shocking testimony: his best didn’t count at all. We open Philippians 3 and let Paul lay out his unmatched religious credentials, then watch him call it loss compared to “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” The point is not that discipline is worthless, but that it is powerless to save.We also tackle a sobering idea: Satan’s most effective weapon isn’t always open rebellion, it’s religion that borrows the name of Jesus while replacing faith with works. We talk about how rituals, sacraments, and moral striving can become a counterfeit refuge, and why Scripture warns about spiritual leaders who shift people away from simple trust in Christ’s blood.From there we follow Paul into Romans 9 and Romans 10, where zeal without knowledge stumbles over Christ Himself. Then Galatians 3 lands the final blow to self-confidence: the law brings a curse because it demands perfect obedience, and none of us measure up. The good news is just as clear, Christ redeems us by taking the curse and offering His righteousness to everyone who believes.If you’re weighing your record against God’s standard, listen closely and decide where you’ll place your trust. Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with a friend who’s trying to “be good enough,” and leave a review so more people can find the message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 29)
“Beware of dogs” is one of the sharpest warnings in Philippians 3, and it forces a question most of us would rather avoid: who or what keeps pulling me back toward the old life? We dig into Paul’s urgent cautions about carnal Christianity, evil workers, and religious people who love the outward symbol but resist an inward relationship with God. If you have ever wondered why you can know the right verses and still feel the tug of sin, this teaching puts honest words to that struggle.From there, we connect Philippians 3 with 2 Peter 2 and Colossians 2 to separate mere ritual from real spiritual transformation. The issue is not whether someone carries a religious label, but whether Christ has done the “circumcision made without hands” that shows up in day-to-day choices. We talk about sanctification in plain terms: Jesus does not only save us from sin’s penalty, he gives liberty from sin’s grip, so we can actually live differently.The turning point is Philippians 3:3 and its three anchors for Christian living: worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. We explain why trying harder often fails, why self-trust is a quiet setup for a fall, and why joy in Jesus is not sentimental fluff but a practical strategy for lasting obedience. If you want Bible study that is direct, pastoral, and focused on real life, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 28)
If you’ve ever wondered why joy feels fragile even when you’re trying to do the right things, Philippians 2 gives an answer that cuts deeper than circumstances: joy grows when our minds and choices start matching Jesus Christ. We open with the central theme of rejoicing in the Christian life, not as wishful thinking, but as the fruit of directed thoughts, obedience to Scripture, and a willingness to deny self for the good of others.From there, we look at two vivid case studies that make the teaching concrete. Timothy stands out because he genuinely cares for the church instead of seeking his own welfare, and his “proof” is seen in steady service alongside Paul in the work of the gospel. Then Epaphroditus steps forward as a brother, companion in labor, and fellow soldier whose love runs so deep that he grieves, not over his sickness, but over the fact that others had to worry about him.We also address a question many listeners carry quietly: does sickness always mean God is judging you? Philippians 2 answers with clarity. Epaphroditus lives an exemplary Christian life and is still “sick nigh unto death,” and his recovery is described as God’s mercy, not a badge of personal merit. The episode closes with a needed challenge about giving honor to faithful servants, respecting those who labor in ministry, and refusing to let the work of Christ fall on the shoulders of a few.Subscribe for more verse-by-verse Bible teaching, share this with a friend who needs steady joy, and leave a review to help others find the show.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 27)
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Philippians (Lesson 26)
Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 25)
Every day we’re trained to build our own name, defend our own pride, and demand our own due. Philippians 2 cuts straight through that instinct and puts a different mindset in front of us: the mind that was also in Christ Jesus, a life of humility for the good of others. We walk carefully through how strife and vainglory start in the thought life, and how lowliness of mind becomes the practical path to unity, joy, and a Christian life that actually pleases God.Then we face the question most people won’t say out loud but almost everyone feels: what’s the benefit of living that way? The passage answers with Jesus Himself. Because He humbled Himself unto death, God highly exalted Him. That is not only theology, it’s a loud reminder that God rewards faithful service, even though He owes us nothing. The Christian life is not a gamble on empty sacrifice; it is trust in a God who keeps His promises.From there, we focus on one line with eternal weight: “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” We talk about what it means to confess the full name Jesus, Christ, and Lord, why there will be no competing loyalties in eternity, and why some will confess with rejoicing while others confess in regret. Finally, we land on Romans 10:9 and the urgency of responding now: confess with your mouth and believe in your heart. If this message challenged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find this Bible teaching on Philippians 2, Christian humility, and the lordship of Jesus Christ.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 24)
A lot of people speak confidently about God until they get even a glimpse of His holiness. We’re continuing our Philippians study in 2:10-11, where Scripture says every knee will bow at the name of Jesus and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we’re asking what that means for real life right now, not just someday.I walk through the Bible’s repeated pattern of human collapse in the presence of God: Job goes silent, Isaiah cries out about his own uncleanness, and Daniel loses all strength when he sees the glorious Christ of Daniel 10. Then we move into the New Testament where Peter, the seasoned fisherman, tries to reason with Jesus until one miracle shatters his pride and he falls at Jesus’ knees, calling Him “Lord.” That change from seeing Jesus as a helpful teacher to confessing Him as Lord is the dividing line between religious talk and genuine faith.Along the way we connect Moses, Sinai, Manoah, and other passages that underline the fear of the Lord, God’s justice, and God’s mercy. We also speak plainly about the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, the reality of judgment, and the invitation to bow now in repentance and trust rather than later in terror. If you care about biblical preaching, Philippians 2, the holiness of God, and salvation through the name of Jesus, this message is for you.Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a review that tells us what line or passage challenged you most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 23)
Every knee will bow. Not as a metaphor, not as a tradition, but as a certainty. We open Philippians 2:10-11 and slow down long enough to feel the weight of what God says about Jesus Christ: universal submission, universal confession, and a glory that leaves no room for casual religion.We also talk honestly about why this lands so hard in modern life. Our culture has trained us to treat authority as optional and reverence as outdated, so it is easy to slide into questioning God as if He owes us explanations. Using Romans 14, we trace the coming reversal: the day of judgment is not God answering to man, but man giving account to God. Then we walk through Job 38, where the Lord answers out of the whirlwind and Job finally realizes what most of us resist admitting until we are confronted by holiness.From there, we challenge a style of preaching that encourages people to order God around, “name it and claim it,” and turn Bible verses into leverage. Isaiah 45 brings the focus back to the center: God alone receives the bowing of every knee, and if Philippians says every knee bows at the name of Jesus, then Jesus Christ is God. Finally, Isaiah 6 shows what happens when someone really sees the King: pride collapses, excuses die, and worship becomes unavoidable.Listen, share this with a friend, and if it helped you, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the message. What line or passage hit you the hardest?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 22)
One name outlasts every headline, every legacy, and every empire. We walk through Philippians 2:9-11 and slow down on the moment where the text turns from Christ’s suffering to His exaltation: God the Father highly exalts Jesus Christ and gives Him a name above every name, a name that will not fade when our bodies return to dust.From there, we trace the Bible’s sharp contrast between humility and pride. Jesus goes down in obedient sacrifice and is lifted up in eternal honor, while self-exaltation is exposed as a trap that ends in ruin. We connect that to everyday life, where people chase recognition, status, and a reputation, and we ask the question Scripture keeps asking: whose glory are we really living for?We also unpack what the Bible says about the name of Jesus: a saving name (Matthew 1:21), a powerful name (Luke 10), a hated name (Luke 21), and the only name of salvation (Acts 4:12). That leads to the sobering reality of final accountability, including the Great White Throne judgment of Revelation 20, and the simple call to bow now in faith rather than later in condemnation.If you’ve ever wondered what truly matters at the end of life, this message lands with clarity and urgency. Subscribe for more Bible preaching, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review that helps others find the gospel centered teaching.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 21)
Pride has a way of disguising itself as “discernment,” “standards,” or even “self respect,” and then it quietly drains the joy out of our homes, our churches, and our friendships. We open Philippians 2 and follow Paul’s call to one mind, one love, and lowliness of mind, then we let the spotlight land where the passage puts it: on Jesus Christ, who chose the downward path on purpose. We talk about why Christ’s humility is not just something to admire, but a mindset to adopt. Using Psalm 8 and Psalm 113, we zoom out to the scale of creation and then zoom in to the astonishing claim that God sets His attention on man, even humbling Himself to behold what He made. That makes the incarnation and the cross feel even more staggering, and it also exposes our excuses. If the worthy One served the unworthy, what does that say about the pride behind our refusal to sacrifice for others? Then we get painfully practical. If I serve for my benefit, bitterness will find me sooner or later. If I serve for someone else’s good, joy becomes possible every day because there is always someone to help. We connect that to church life, family conflict, and the temptation to quit, and we walk through John 15 and 1 John 3 to show that biblical love is not a feeling but obedience that acts, sacrifices, and stays faithful. If you want Christian joy that lasts, this message aims straight at the heart. Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one area where you need to replace pride with service this week?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 20)
God didn’t “almost” save you. Philippians 2 shows Jesus Christ stepping down, on purpose, from eternal glory to the brutal shame of the cross and it forces a question we can’t dodge: what does real humility actually look like?We open up Philippians 2:5–11 and trace the downward steps Scripture describes. Christ exists in the form of God, equal with God, and He is worshiped without stealing honor that isn’t His. Then He does the unthinkable: He makes Himself of no reputation, takes the form of a servant, and is made in the likeness of men. We talk through the reality of the incarnation, the cost of being rejected and despised, and the wonder of “God with man’s clothes on,” walking among ordinary people.From there, we slow down at the heart of the passage: Jesus “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” This message argues clearly that the crucifixion is not simply the outcome of human politics or a violent plot. It is willing obedience to the Father’s will, the planned work of redemption, and the center point of Christianity.We then turn back to Philippians 2:1–4 and bring it home: like-minded love, no strife, lowliness of mind, esteeming others, and looking out for someone else’s good. If you want practical Christian living, servant leadership, and a real blueprint for unity in the church, it starts here. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review telling us what challenged you most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 19)
Self-centered faith promises happiness but it can’t deliver joy. We open Philippians 2 and follow the Bible’s logic all the way down to the places it stings: full joy grows out of self-denial, self-sacrifice, and a mind governed by Jesus Christ rather than by ego, preference, or pride.We talk plainly about what happens when church becomes a shopping trip. If our first question is “What does your church have for me?” we’re already aimed at disappointment, offense, and constant friction. Philippians 2 pushes us toward a different posture: being like minded through shared love, refusing strife and vain glory, esteeming others better than ourselves, and learning to look on the things of others. That isn’t soft language, it’s a direct call to spiritual maturity that transforms marriages, friendships, and local church life.Then we center everything on the example that settles the argument: Jesus Christ. He was equal with God, yet He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and obeyed unto death, even the death of the cross. That’s not a slogan, it’s the model. If we want real Christian joy and real biblical Christianity, we have to stop demanding to be served and start living to bless.Subscribe for more Bible preaching, share this with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a review with the line that challenged you most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 18)
Philippians 2:1-11 hits like a mountain peak because it refuses to let the gospel stay theoretical. We read the passage, then slow down to ask what it demands of us in real relationships: how we speak, how we serve, and what we do when pride starts steering the wheel. If you’ve ever wondered why joy can feel out of reach even when you “know the right truths,” this message ties joy to humility, unity, and the mind of Christ in a way that lands on Monday morning, not just Sunday. We talk about consolation in Christ and the comfort of love for people who are suffering in mortal bodies in a troubled world. Then we unpack fellowship of the Spirit, not as a path to self-advancement, but as the Holy Spirit working through believers to comfort, minister, and bless others. When we choose self-centered living, we grieve the Spirit and miss the opportunities God puts right in front of us. When we yield our lives to serve, we experience deeper fellowship with God and become part of his mercy to someone else. From there, the passage presses on unity: being like minded, having the same love, being of one accord. We apply it to marriage, church life, and everyday conflicts, and we challenge the modern pull toward self-focus that promises happiness but can’t deliver lasting Christian joy. Finally, we hold up Jesus Christ as the supreme example of self-denial, obedience, and the cross, and we connect his downward path and exaltation to our call to reject strife and vain glory and to esteem the other person as more important. Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review telling us what line from Philippians 2 convicted you most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 17)
Time is slipping by faster than we like to admit, and that reality raises a blunt question: what are we doing with the days we have? Brother James turns to Philippians 1:27 and presses the issue where it gets personal. “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” is not about sounding religious. It is about a gospel-worthy life, a daily manner of living that fits the message we say we believe, so our Christian testimony does not collapse under the weight of inconsistency.We also talk about the difference between behaving when we are being watched and living with integrity when we feel alone. Paul wants believers to stand firm whether he is present or absent, and the reason still matters today: we are never outside the presence of Jesus Christ. That truth reshapes private decisions, online conduct, and the ordinary moments where character is formed. From there, the passage calls the church to stand fast in one spirit, to hold “one mind” that is governed by Scripture as the final authority, and to strive together for the faith of the gospel rather than competing with each other.The final section faces persecution head-on. Adversaries try to terrify believers into silence, but Philippians 1:28–29 reframes suffering for Christ as something God can use to advance the gospel. Paul’s own story in Philippi shows how hardship can become a doorway for salvation and spiritual strength.If you want practical biblical teaching on Christian living, church unity, and courage under pressure, listen through to the end. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the broadcast.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 16)
One line in Philippians 1:19 stops us in our tracks: Paul asks for “the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” a title for the Holy Spirit that appears only once in the entire Bible. We take that phrase seriously and follow it wherever it leads, because it forces a bigger question than most of us like to admit. If the Lord Jesus Christ chose to live and minister in dependence on the Holy Ghost, what does that say about how we plan, preach, teach, and try to help people today?We walk through key Scriptures that trace the Holy Spirit’s work across the whole life of Christ. From the Holy Ghost overshadowing Mary at the virgin birth, to the Spirit’s anointing in Luke 4 that empowers preaching and sets captives free, we see a pattern of humble submission rather than self-driven ministry. Along the way we talk plainly about the Trinity and why believers can’t afford to overemphasize one Person of the Godhead while neglecting another, especially when so much confusion and false teaching surrounds the Holy Spirit.Then we press into the hardest and most practical implications. John 3:34 shows the Spirit given to Jesus without measure, Luke 4:1 shows Jesus led by the Spirit, Matthew 12 warns about speaking against the Holy Ghost, and Hebrews 9 and Romans 8 connect the Spirit to the cross and the resurrection. The result is both sobering and hopeful: spiritual deliverance is not something we can manufacture, but God truly supplies what we need when we depend on Him.Subscribe, share this with a friend who wants to serve God faithfully, and leave a review so more listeners can find this Bible study. What part of Scripture most challenges you to rely on the Holy Spirit instead of yourself?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 15)
Some days your body feels fine, the bills are paid, and life is calm and yet something inside you still aches. We dig into that tension with Brother James on the Preaching of the Cross Radio Broadcast, following the Bible’s plain answer: the saved person can “groan within” because the inner man is awake to how broken this world really is, and because our hearts are built to long for what is holy, clean, and eternal.We start with Philippians 1 and the blunt claim that it is far better to depart and be with Christ. From Romans 8, we talk about the kind of suffering that doesn’t show up on a doctor’s chart: spiritual grief over sin, filthy speech, temptation, violence, and a culture that hates Jesus Christ and His people. If you have ever wanted your ears sanctified, wanted your kids protected, or just felt worn out by what you see everywhere, you are not alone and you are not crazy.Then we move to 2 Corinthians 4 and 5 for a steady framework for Christian hope. The outward man perishes, but the inward man is renewed day by day. Paul calls it “light affliction” not because pain is small, but because it is temporary. Our body is a tabernacle, a temporary house, and God promises a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Colossians 3 lifts our aim higher, and Revelation 21 lands the promise: God with His people, no more tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain.If this message helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find this Bible teaching on heaven, salvation, and eternal life. What part of the “far better” promise do you need to hold onto today?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 14)
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” isn’t a slogan for a poster, it’s a line that forces a decision about what we love most. We’re deep in a verse-by-verse Bible study of Philippians 1, where Paul stands in a tight place between two real desires: to depart and be with Christ, or to remain and keep helping other believers. That tension turns into a practical question for all of us: do we measure life by comfort, or by service, joy, and faith in Jesus?We also clear away the fog that often surrounds Christian teaching on death and the afterlife. Departing isn’t a leap into the dark, and it isn’t a vague trip to “somewhere.” The hope of the believer is personal and direct: to be with Christ. Along the way we talk about why the “trappings” of heaven can distract us, and why the real treasure is the Savior himself. If Jesus is there, that’s what makes heaven heaven.To anchor that hope, we connect Philippians to key passages like Titus 2:13, Colossians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 4, and Romans 8, where suffering, longing, and future glory all come together. We end with a call to live the kind of Christian life that strengthens others, not just ourselves. Subscribe for more preaching and Bible teaching, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 13)
A man sits in jail and asks for prayer, but not the kind most of us would request first. We walk through Philippians 1:20 and hear Paul’s aim with startling clarity: “that in nothing I shall be ashamed… so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.” That single line reframes everything about suffering, fear, and what a faithful Christian life is meant to display. If the gospel is true, then even pressure becomes a platform.We dig into Paul’s “earnest expectation and hope,” connecting it to the Bible’s language of redemption and the believer’s future with Jesus Christ. Then we tackle a pointed warning: trying to lock down dates, whether for the rapture or for our own lifespan, can backfire spiritually. Living like the Lord could come today is not hype, it’s a steady fuel for perseverance, holiness, and finishing well without shame.From there, we get uncomfortably practical about what it means for Christ to be magnified. Does my style, my speech, and my everyday conduct make Jesus easier to see, or does it make people focus on me? We also turn to Daniel 3 and the “but if not” courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, then land on the heart exposing test from Philippians 1:21: “For me to live is __ and to die is __.” Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 12)
Paul is sitting in jail, and he still refuses to make life about himself. We walk verse by verse through Philippians 1:19-26 and listen to the apostle weigh two realities: departing to be with Christ is “far better,” yet remaining in the flesh is “more needful” for other believers. That single tension exposes a core Christian question: do we measure our life by comfort, or by whether Christ is magnified in our body, “whether by life or by death”? From there, we slow down on Paul’s surprising claim that his deliverance is tied to the prayers of the church. Using Scripture cross-references, we connect Philippians to Acts 12 and Peter’s prison deliverance, then trace Paul’s repeated requests for prayer across 2 Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. The theme is clear: prayer is meant to change things, not just soothe feelings. Paul asks for rescue from enemies, for open doors to speak, and for boldness to open his mouth when fear would be easier. We also touch a controversial detail in Acts 12:4 where the King James Bible uses the word “Easter,” and we explain how that fits the setting of Herod’s persecution. Whether you come for the Philippians Bible study, Christian prayer teaching, or encouragement for gospel preaching, you’ll leave with a direct challenge: stop assuming courage will “just happen” and start praying for it. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs strength to speak up, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 11)
Somebody can say the right things about Jesus and still be driven by the wrong reasons and Philippians 1:15-18 refuses to pretend otherwise. We walk line by line through Paul’s startling observation: some preach Christ out of envy, strife, and selfish contention, while others preach out of love. That one paragraph explains so much of what listeners see in Christian ministry, church conflict, and online “discernment” culture, and it forces a gut check about our own hearts too.We talk about why preaching Jesus Christ and the true gospel still matters even when the messenger is flawed, and why Paul can honestly rejoice that Christ is preached. We also draw a bright line between contending for truth and enjoying a fight. Error and heresy must be resisted, but envy cannot be the fuel. Then we slow down on a hard wisdom point: you often cannot tell who is sincerely contending and who is contending without sincerity, which is why Paul refuses to play heart judge and instead keeps his focus on truth and on Christ being magnified.The broadcast closes with a sober example from Jonah: God can honor true preaching even when the preacher’s motives are a mess. That doesn’t excuse bad hearts, but it does reshape how we respond when we see mixed motives around us. If you want a clearer, more biblical way to handle ministry jealousy, bitterness, and factional pressure while staying anchored in salvation by grace through faith, press play.Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the Philippians study. What helps you keep your motives clean when you need to contend for the faith?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 10)
Trouble shows up without an invitation, and when it does, the question behind the question is always the same: “What is God doing with this?” We walk through Philippians 1:12-14 with Paul writing from prison and claiming something most of us would never say naturally. The things that happened to him did not stop the work, they pushed it forward “unto the furtherance of the gospel.” That single sentence can reset how a Christian thinks about suffering, disappointment, setbacks, and the loss of comfort.We also slow down on a verse that gets quoted everywhere: Romans 8:28. The promise is real, but it is not universal, and the Bible actually tells you who can rest in it. We talk plainly about why saved people can have spiritual certainty in trial, while empty religious talk offers no lasting footing. Not every hardship is a targeted punishment or a secret plot; sometimes trouble simply happens in a fallen world, and the real issue becomes how the Holy Spirit teaches us to respond.Then we get practical. We share how illness, hospital stays, and financial strain may bring no material “benefit,” yet still become a powerful platform for evangelism, gospel conversations, and a clearer Christian witness. Paul’s chains spread the message into places it would not have reached, and his endurance makes other believers bold to speak without fear.Listen, share it with someone walking through hardship, and if it helped you, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find this teaching on Philippians, Christian suffering, and the furtherance of the gospel.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 9)
God started something in you, and He is not walking away from it. We open Philippians 1:6 and sit with its weighty promise: the Lord who began a good work in the believer will keep working until the day of Jesus Christ. Along the way, we sort out several New Testament “days” that people often blur together, and we show how each one points to a specific moment in God’s plan, from judgment to reward to eternity.From Paul’s words to the church at Philippi, we also talk about what real Christian fellowship looks like when believers are not just names in our head but people held in our heart. That unity shows up when we stand together for the defense and confirmation of the gospel, sharing grace and strengthening one another instead of drifting into shallow connections.Then we slow down over Paul’s prayer: love that abounds more and more, fueled by knowledge of Jesus and Scripture, and guided by discernment that can “approve things that are excellent.” We address why judgment, in the biblical sense of wise evaluation, is necessary for everyday life and essential for spiritual maturity. We also call for sincerity and a life that aims to be without offense. Finally, we dig into the fruits of righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5, and Jesus’ picture in John 15 of abiding in the vine so fruit can bless others. The closing challenge is simple and sharp: thank the servant, but give God the glory.Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with a friend who needs steady confidence, and leave a review telling us what helped you most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 8)
A single word in Philippians 1:1 can overturn a whole lot of modern church assumptions: bishops plural, deacons plural. That’s where we start, and it quickly turns into a candid, Bible-forward look at church structure, church government, and why so many congregations end up feeling like power struggles instead of spiritual families.We talk through the most common models people experience, including deacon boards that function like bosses, systems where a distant bishop governs multiple churches, and the “one man ministry” approach where one leader answers to no one. Then we measure every model against the New Testament pattern: believers on equal footing in the body of Christ, gifted men serving rather than ruling, and a plurality of biblically qualified elders providing real oversight without lordship. Along the way we trace the thread through Acts 14, Acts 15, and Acts 20, showing how “elders” and “overseers” connect, and why shared leadership can make a local church steadier when personalities change or fail.The conversation gets personal when we address why churches fight about who’s in charge. Pride produces contention, and Jesus flips the script in Matthew 20: greatness is ministry, and leadership is service. We also walk through Hebrews 13 and spell out what we should actually look for in spiritual leaders: men who speak the Word of God, live a faith worth following, show a life that holds up over time, and watch for souls like they’ll give account.If you care about biblical church leadership, plurality of elders, and servant leadership that prepares people for the judgment seat of Christ, listen through to the end. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us: what kind of leadership culture have you seen help a church thrive?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 7)
A lot of people can quote Philippians 1:6, but we wanted to slow down and ask what it actually means in real life: if God begins the work of salvation, who is responsible to finish it? Brother James argues that the “good work” is God’s work, not our self-improvement plan, and that the plain sense of the verse is meant to produce confidence, not anxiety. Eternal security is not presented as a slogan, but as the natural result of grace, eternal life, and a Savior who doesn’t hand you a contract and hope you don’t mess it up.From there we trace the logic through Romans 5:8–10, where God proves His love at the cross “while we were yet sinners,” then says “much more” now that we’re justified. That phrase matters. If Christ reconciles His enemies by His death, why would He abandon His children after saving them? We also push back on the common habit of reading the words correctly but then teaching the opposite, as if we are saved from wrath through our works or finally kept by our performance instead of “through Him” and “by His life.”Then we go where the objections always go: what about serious sin? We look at extreme biblical case studies on purpose. 1 Corinthians 5 shows shocking immorality, real discipline, and real consequences in the flesh, yet it still speaks of the spirit being saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Genesis 19 and 2 Peter 2 show Lot as “just” and “righteous” while his life collapses under compromise, a warning that sin can cost you dearly without becoming the basis of your justification.If you want clearer assurance, sharper biblical reasoning, and a Christ-centered answer to “Can I lose my salvation?”, listen all the way through. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the question you’re still wrestling with.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 6)
A lot of people say they believe Jesus saves, then live like heaven still depends on how well they behave next week. We get why that fear sticks, and we also think the Bible speaks with surprising clarity about it. We open Philippians 1:6 and ask a simple question with huge consequences: if God begins the saving work, does He actually finish it, or do we have to keep it alive with good works?From there we walk straight into some of the strongest assurance passages in Scripture. Romans 8:38-39 lays out a no-exceptions list of what cannot separate a believer from the love of God in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 11:6 press the point that grace and works are not a team effort, because the moment works become the condition for keeping salvation, grace stops being grace. We also tackle the pushback we hear all the time: “If I can’t lose salvation, what keeps me from living any way I want?” The answer is honest, practical, and aimed at the heart, not just the argument.We then zoom in on the Holy Spirit’s seal “unto the day of redemption” in Ephesians 4:30, plus Jesus’ own promises in John 5 and John 10 about everlasting life, no condemnation, never perishing, and being held in the Father’s hand. If you’ve been stuck in doubt, measuring your standing with God by your latest win or failure, this teaching points you back to the finished work of Christ and the security it provides. Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the verse that most strengthened your assurance.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 5)
Can you actually be confident you have eternal life, or do you have to wait until the end to find out if you “measured up”? We take Philippians 1:6 head-on and follow the Bible where it leads: the God who begins a good work in a believer is the same God who performs it until the day of Jesus Christ. That puts the spotlight on a debated doctrine often called eternal security or once saved always saved, and it forces a clear question: is heaven earned by works, or given by grace?We walk through why assurance of salvation can’t survive if it depends on self-confidence. If salvation is partly grace and partly merit, then nobody can truly know where they stand, because none of us can perfectly track the sins we see today, let alone the ones we missed. From Hebrews 12 we look at believers who still carry weights and struggle with besetting sin, yet are told to look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. Then Hebrews 13:5 raises the stakes with God’s promise: He will never leave nor forsake His people.We also tackle the hard objection about people who claim Christ and live like a mess, using Corinth as a sober example of Christians who are unfaithful while God remains faithful. The garden “weeds” illustration makes the point plain: you can’t weed sin out of the flesh forever, which is exactly why grace has to be grace. If you want the full Philippians study, you can find it at jamenox.com. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review telling us what Scripture most shapes your view of assurance.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 4)
Joy sounds easy to talk about until you put it in a prison cell. We’re studying Philippians, a letter built around joy and rejoicing, yet written by the apostle Paul while he’s bound. That tension forces a real question: what kind of faith produces peace and grace strong enough to share with others when life hurts? We trace Paul’s confidence in God’s promises and why “pressing toward the mark” keeps a believer steady when trials, trouble, and hard circumstances pile up. We also slow down in Philippians 2 to talk about the mindset that makes joy possible. The “mind of Christ” is a complete reset from the natural way we think, where everything turns into “what’s in it for me.” We challenge self-centered prayers, strife, and vainglory, and we talk about what a healthy church looks like when leaders take the servant’s place and when believers learn to esteem others. Real Christian fellowship does not form around personalities, programs, or preferences, but around a shared commitment to further the gospel of Jesus Christ together. Then we go back to Acts 16 to relive the “from the first day until now” story: Lydia by the riverside, the beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas, and the midnight singing that leads to an earthquake and a terrified jailer asking, “What must I do to be saved?” The answer is clear and life-changing: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” If you want biblical encouragement, practical Christian living, and a gospel-centered picture of unity across differences, listen through and share it with a friend. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what part of the message challenged your mindset most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 3)
The word “servant” can sound like loss until you listen to how Paul uses it and how Jesus lives it. Brother James continues a verse-by-verse Philippians Bible study by camping on Philippians 1:1, where Paul and Timothy introduce themselves as “servants of Jesus Christ” and then address “all the saints” before mentioning bishops and deacons. That one sentence becomes a mirror for modern church culture, exposing how easily we copy the world’s obsession with rank, offices, and control instead of practicing humble Christian leadership and practical service. We unpack what a servant really means: belonging fully to Christ, obeying Him without negotiation, and surrendering the stubborn independence that comes naturally to fallen human hearts. Along the way, Brother James connects the dots across Scripture, from God calling prophets His servants, to Exodus 21’s picture of love choosing lifelong service, to Luke 22 where Jesus ends the greatness contest by saying He is “among you as he that serveth.” The result is a clear, biblical definition of ministry that is less about being over people and more about bearing burdens for people. The conversation gets painfully practical, too. If you want joy, stop chasing “uplifting experiences” and start helping someone who needs help. If you want real freedom, compare life under Christ to the “liberty” promised by sin and see which one actually enslaves. Subscribe for more Philippians teaching, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review telling us: where is God calling you to take the lowest place and serve?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 2)
Joy that can’t survive pressure isn’t joy that can lead you very far. We open our study through Philippians by staring straight at the uncomfortable contrast that defines the whole book: Paul writes about rejoicing while he sits in bonds, facing execution. That single fact forces a better question than “How do I feel today?” It pushes us toward “What is my joy actually built on?” We talk about why Philippians puts such weight on the mind and thought life, including the active choice to forget what is behind and reach for what is ahead. Controlling your thoughts is not only about choosing good things to think on; it’s also about dismissing what you should not replay. Then we ask the searching question: what are you striving for? If Christ is the aim, it reshapes prayer, Bible reading, fellowship, and the way we deal with sin, conflict, and temptation. We also slow down and put Philippians 4:13 back in its context. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” is not a promise of superhero living; it’s strength for contentment, whether you are abased or abounding, full or hungry, in need or supplied. From there we step into Philippians 1:1 and notice Paul’s humility, calling himself a servant and addressing the saints with the bishops and deacons, a picture of servant leadership that cuts against pulpit ego. Subscribe for the rest of the Philippians study, share this broadcast with a friend, and leave a review that tells us what line challenged your thought life the most.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Philippians (Lesson 1)
Joy that lasts is not the same thing as optimism, and confidence in God is not the same thing as confidence in yourself. We open a brand new Bible study through the book of Philippians and start with the big idea that holds the whole letter together: believers can rejoice because God is trustworthy. Philippians 1:6 anchors our assurance, reminding us that the Lord who began the good work in us will keep working until the day of Jesus Christ.We also get honest about why so many Christians live on edge. When salvation is treated like something we must maintain by performance, the result is predictable: worry, fear, and doubt. Philippians points us to a steadier foundation, where our certainty rests in God’s promise and power. Then we take it one step further with a practical challenge: you will not experience deep Christian joy until God becomes your confidant. If it is easier to pour out your heart to friends than to pray plainly to the Lord, Philippians calls you back to a real, confiding relationship with God.From there, we trace Philippians as a book of gain and forward motion. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” reframes suffering, setbacks, and even death. Philippians 3 pictures the Christian life as pressing toward the mark, gaining ground on heaven, while Philippians 4:19 steadies everyday anxieties with God’s promise to supply every need. We also preview the letter’s powerful portraits of Jesus Christ, Timothy, Epaphroditus, and Paul, showing what joyful, confident Christianity looks like on the ground. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find this Philippians Bible study.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Heroes of the Faith: William Bagby
You can buy a Bible for less than ten dollars and still miss the weight of that privilege. We live with preaching on demand, churches within driving distance, and Scripture in our hands, yet whole communities across history and around the world have had little to no access to clear gospel teaching. That’s where missions stops being a slogan and becomes a calling, and that’s why the life of William Bagby deserves your attention.We trace the surprising, specific story of William and Anne Bagby, a couple shaped by prayer, personal conversion, and a growing burden to take Jesus Christ to Brazil. From early providential open doors in Rio de Janeiro to the first fragile Baptist work in Bahia, we talk about language learning, the importance of faithful native coworkers like Antonio de Albuquerque, and what real church planting looks like when you start with almost nothing. Along the way, we keep the gospel front and center: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, and each person must personally receive Him.Then the story widens. As Brazil shifts politically toward religious freedom and the separation of church and state, new opportunities emerge for public preaching and wider evangelistic campaigns. We follow the growth from small meetings to lasting institutions: cooperative Baptist associations, publishing, training, and Anne’s girls’ school in Sao Paulo that influences generations. The final challenge is simple and searching: one surrendered life can still make a difference.If this challenged you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can hear these mission stories and the unchanging gospel.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Heroes of the Faith: William Nicholson
A raging storm at sea can make anyone pray, but what happens when the danger passes and you still have to face yourself? We share the gripping story of William P. Nicholson, an Irish evangelist whose life Pastor James W. Knox sums up in one line: from sea fever to soul winning. Nicholson survives the Roaring Forties and watches men cry out for mercy, only to forget God the moment they reach safety, a haunting picture of how close you can come to death without coming to real repentance.Then the story gets uncomfortably personal. Nicholson is “snatched” again, this time at home by the fireside, when a voice presses him with a decision: now or never to accept or reject Christ. He describes a conscious, settled salvation and a new hatred for sin, yet he also admits the frustrating battle that follows, with fear, jealousy, malice, and defeat that won’t yield to willpower. That tension opens the door to the episode’s core teaching: the victorious Christian life comes through the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit, received by faith, not achieved by self-effort or religious performance.The turning point isn’t a platform, it’s a sidewalk. Two Salvation Army girls, a banner, and “Daft Jimmy” with the words “Saved from public opinion” force Nicholson to choose between reputation and obedience, and that public surrender becomes the spark for fearless evangelism that circles the globe and changes countless lives. If you’ve ever wondered why your faith feels private, hesitant, or stuck, this message will press you to ask the hard questions and take the next step. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review letting us know: where do you most feel the fear of public opinion?Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
The Spirit-Filled Life: Part 6
Speed, scale, and nonstop activity can feel spiritual, but they can also be a substitute for the one thing God keeps calling us back to: simple, steady belief. We talk candidly about why the Holy Spirit does not hurry, why many modern pressures are self-made, and why “looking busy” can distract us from true Christian service that brings honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.From there, we dig into what Jesus means by “greater works.” We argue that the focus is not on flashy signs and wonders, but on everyday gospel ministry the Spirit empowers through ordinary believers: good news proclaimed, broken hearts helped, captives finding deliverance, and sinners coming to salvation. We also walk through John 16 to show that conviction is not our job to manufacture. The Holy Spirit reproves the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and He does that superhuman work through human witnesses who trust Christ to work.We then turn practical and personal: how do we stay filled? Not as a one-time moment, but as a daily posture of quiet trust under Christ’s lordship. We connect being filled with the Spirit to letting the Word of Christ dwell richly, maintaining worship and thanksgiving, and keeping short accounts with God through immediate confession when sin is revealed. We also warn about grieving the Spirit through corrupt communication, bitterness, and hidden sins, and about quenching the Spirit when praise and gratitude fade.If you want a clearer, simpler framework for Spirit-filled living, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
The Spirit-Filled Life: Part 5
Spectacular signs get all the attention, but what if the clearest evidence of the Holy Spirit’s filling is something steadier, quieter, and harder to fake? Pastor James W. Knox walks through Acts, Galatians, John, and Ephesians to reset our expectations of the Spirit-filled life and to challenge the pressure many Christians feel to “prove” spirituality through dramatic experiences.We start at Pentecost and ask what actually happens there, and what cannot be repeated. From Acts 1 and Acts 4 we connect “power” to bold gospel witness, not to a personality type or a public speaking style. Then we tackle speaking in tongues with careful biblical context: the miracle of languages in Acts 2 for a multinational audience, and the sign in Acts 10 that confirms Gentiles receive the same gift of the Holy Spirit. Along the way we weigh 1 Corinthians 14:22 and warn against using any single gift as a test for other believers.From there we turn to the lasting marks that abide: the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 that others can see and benefit from, and the private heart-level evidence of John 16:14, where the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus until Christ becomes personally real and deeply satisfying. We close with the practical call of Ephesians 5:18, learning to be filled by faith rather than chasing feelings, and growing in worship and surrender under the lordship of Jesus Christ.Subscribe, share this message with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find clear, Bible-based teaching on the Holy Spirit and the Spirit-filled life.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
The Spirit-Filled Life: Part 4
Waiting for a “tarrying breakthrough” can feel spiritual, but what if it’s actually keeping you from the simple, biblical Spirit-filled life God wants for you right now? We open Acts and follow the timeline carefully, showing why Pentecost happens on God’s appointed day and why the Spirit’s fullness is not something we earn through agony, fasting, or emotional build-up. We also tackle a common question: is the laying on of hands required to receive the Holy Spirit? By looking at Samaria in Acts 8 and Ephesus in Acts 19, we explain the unique Jewish context and why God used apostolic confirmation and signs in those moments. Then we turn to Cornelius in Acts 10 and Acts 11, where Gentiles receive the Holy Ghost while the Word is preached, with no waiting and no intermediary. That becomes a clear pattern for believers today: hear the gospel, believe, and God gives abundantly. From there, we move into the purpose of being filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5 connects Spirit-filled living to worship, gratitude, relationships in the church and home, and spiritual warfare. Jesus’ picture in John 7 brings it home: the one qualification He names is thirst, and the invitation is to come and drink, meaning to believe. If you’re tired of dryness and ready for real surrender, Romans 12 frames the next step as giving Christ the throne of your life. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels stuck, and leave a review with the question you want us to answer next.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
The Spirit-Filled Life: Part 3
Chasing a sign can feel spiritual, but it can also leave you restless and unsure. We sit down with Pastor James W. Knox for a clear, Bible-first look at what many Christians mix up: the gifts of the Holy Spirit versus the filling of the Holy Spirit. If you have ever been told that a specific manifestation, especially speaking in tongues, is the required “evidence” of Spirit-filling, this teaching presses you back into the text and asks a better question: what does Scripture actually say?We walk through 1 Corinthians 12 to show how the Spirit gives gifts to every believer, dividing to each as He wills, for the building up of the body of Christ. Then we look at the sobering example of the Corinthians, a church rich in spiritual gifts yet still called carnal, proving that gifting and maturity are not the same thing. We also talk about how even gifted leaders can operate without living a Holy Spirit controlled life, and why gratitude and surrender matter more than chasing experiences.Next, we tackle “the witness of the Spirit” by going to the few passages that name it directly: Romans 8:16, Acts 5:30–32, 1 John 5, and Hebrews 10. The result is steady assurance of salvation rooted in God’s Word, confidence in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and peace that God remembers our sins no more, without confusing any of that with Spirit-filling.If you want a simple, Scripture-grounded path toward the Spirit-filled life and real Christian assurance, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
The Spirit-Filled Life: Part 2
You can know all the right Bible verses about the Holy Spirit and still live like He is not there. That gap between “I believe it” and “I know it” is where many Christians get stuck, and it is exactly where we start as we continue our teaching series on the simplicity of the Spirit-filled life. We walk through the Bible’s own vocabulary for the believer’s relationship to the Holy Spirit: gift, indwelling, seal, earnest, anointing, baptism, and filling. Along the way, we challenge the common habit of chasing dramatic experiences while ignoring the quiet, daily reality that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. We talk about how gratitude and conscious faith reshape obedience, why the Holy Spirit’s sealing means security “unto the day of redemption,” and how the earnest of our inheritance gives a true foretaste of the peace, rest, and joy still ahead. We also address two words that are often misunderstood in modern Christian teaching: anointing and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We show why Scripture presents anointing as God’s official act for His people, and why Spirit baptism is not something we are told to seek again and again, but something every believer can thank God for. Then we end where the command actually lands: “be filled with the Spirit,” God’s will for a steady, continual Christian life. Subscribe, share this message with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find clear Bible teaching on the Spirit-filled life.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
The Spirit-Filled Life: Part 1
If you’ve ever prayed for God to “send the Holy Spirit” and walked away feeling like nothing changed, there’s a good chance you’ve been starting in the wrong place. We make a straightforward biblical case that the Spirit is not a reward you earn or an experience you chase. He is God’s gift to every true believer, and the first step toward a Spirit-filled life is believing what God already says is true, even when your emotions argue back. We walk through core passages like 1 Corinthians 6:19 and Romans 8:9 to show why you cannot belong to Jesus Christ without the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then we push the practical implication: stop treating feelings as the final authority. Instead, recognize the Spirit’s presence daily with gratitude, and watch how that faith changes your confidence, your prayers, and your ability to yield your life to Christ. We also clear up two common confusions: the idea that Christians must later “seek” the Holy Spirit as if He is missing, and the idea that being filled with the Spirit is a mysterious level reserved for a special few. Using Acts 10–11, we connect the gift of the Holy Spirit to the moment of belief, and we explain why a gift is received, not achieved. Along the way, we highlight the Spirit’s main purpose: glorifying Jesus Christ and strengthening your inner life so Christ rules as Lord, not just as helper. If you want a clearer, calmer, more Bible-rooted approach to spiritual growth, press play and listen closely. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels stuck, and leave a review so more people can find this teaching.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Calvinism's Roman Catholic Origin: Part 7
People can win arguments by quoting the right names, but they cannot build truth that way. We take a hard look at how end times doctrine gets defended through selective history and selective quotations, and why that approach collapses the moment you insist on full context and plain Scripture.We continue drawing from Paul Bailey’s work “The Supreme Irony,” focusing on the claim that later amillennial Calvinism traces key instincts back through Roman Catholic theology and earlier writers, rather than being a clean, original biblical discovery. From there we confront a pattern that shows up across Christian controversies: trying to strengthen a position by recruiting respected figures after the fact. We talk about the fight over C. H. Spurgeon’s prophetic views, how quote-mining works, and why “a great man believed it” is never a substitute for “the Bible says it.”Then we zoom out to the bigger eschatology questions: the early church fathers and the widespread expectation of premillennialism, the difference between the pre-tribulation rapture and the second coming, and the internal disagreements that emerge when Revelation 20 is treated as flexible symbolism instead of a concrete sequence. Along the way, we also challenge listeners to be careful with labels like Calvinism, especially when modern followers often reject some of John Calvin’s own teachings while still wearing his name.If you care about Bible interpretation, prophecy, Revelation, the millennium, dispensationalism, and church history, this is a thoughtful reset back to sources, context, and Scripture. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who loves end times debates, and leave a review with your biggest question about the rapture and the millennium.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Calvinism's Roman Catholic Origin: Part 6
If you have ever wondered why Christians fight so hard over the rapture, it is usually because two very different Bible events get treated like they are the same. We walk through the passages that separate the catching away of the church from the visible return of Jesus Christ to the earth, and we do it with open Bibles, not speculation. The goal is simple: let Scripture say what it says, even when the topic is weighty.We connect the Great Tribulation to Daniel's seventieth week and explain why the Bible presents that coming period as God's judgment and wrath on an unbelieving world and on Israel in particular, not as God's program for the New Testament church. From Isaiah and Joel to Matthew 24 and Revelation 6, we trace the cosmic signs that mark the end of that time and argue they have not yet happened in history, pointing to a future climax that ends with Christ returning in power.Then we compare the details: 1 Thessalonians 4 describes believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air, while Revelation 19 shows Christ returning to smite the nations and defeat the beast and false prophet. We also highlight the repeated "thousand years" of Revelation 20 as the foundation for a literal premillennial kingdom, and we show how the structure of Revelation places the church in heaven during the tribulation narrative before returning with Christ.If you want a clearer, more biblical way to think about prophecy, the rapture, the second coming, and the difference between Israel and the church, listen through and check every reference for yourself. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves Bible prophecy, and leave a review with the verse you think is most decisive.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Calvinism's Roman Catholic Origin: Part 5
You can’t schedule repentance like an appointment, and you can’t bargain with death for “a few more minutes.” We start with the Bible’s blunt urgency: God says now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. If you’ve ever told yourself you’ll get right with God later, we challenge that delay head-on and point you back to what Christ finished at Calvary and what it means to be saved and born again. Then we pivot into a focused teaching from our ongoing series on the Roman Catholic roots of amillennial Calvinism. A common accusation says the pre-tribulation rapture and futurism were invented as a Jesuit strategy to move the spotlight off the Pope as Antichrist. We explain why we’ve never taught “the Pope is the Antichrist,” and we read quotes from respected Reformed writers who also reject that identification, exposing the irony at the heart of the conspiracy claim. Finally, we open the Scriptures for a practical Bible study on the Antichrist. From 1 John 4 we distinguish the spirit of Antichrist already at work in the world from the future Antichrist. From 2 Thessalonians 2 we emphasize the plain language about the man of sin, a single individual who exalts himself and is destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming. Listen through to the end, share this with a friend who needs clarity, and then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find straight Bible preaching.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org
Calvinism's Roman Catholic Origin: Part 4
Somebody, somewhere, is always claiming the pre-tribulation rapture is a late invention cooked up by Rome, a Jesuit plot designed to distract believers from “real” prophecy. We put that claim under a bright light and ask a basic question: if the origin story is true, why do the critics keep contradicting each other, and why do the primary-source details not line up?We walk through the most common accusations tied to the Council of Trent, Francisco Ribera, and later attempts to credit Manuel de Lacunza or other figures as the “inventor” of a pre-trib rapture. Along the way, we address how anti-rapture writers disagree on their own timelines, what scholars have said about the lack of supporting evidence, and why sensational theories can spread even when they are historically implausible. If you care about church history, Bible doctrine, and honest research, this is a reality check worth hearing.Then we move to the central issue: what does the Bible actually teach? We argue that the pre-tribulation rapture is discoverable from Scripture itself when you take a literal approach to Bible prophecy and keep the biblical distinctions in view, especially Israel and the Church. We connect key passages on the future Great Tribulation, the focus on Jerusalem and Judah, and the seven-year prophetic framework in Daniel, showing why that period is repeatedly presented as Jacob’s trouble rather than the Church’s appointed wrath.If you’ve ever searched “pre-trib rapture Bible verses,” “Great Tribulation Israel,” or “Jesuit rapture theory,” you’ll find this conversation direct and text-driven. Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with a friend who loves prophecy studies, and leave a review telling us what question you still have about the rapture and end times.Church Website — BibleBaptistDeLand.comMinistry Website — JamesWKnox.org YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermonsSermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLandWeb Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org