The Preaching of the Cross

THE BIBLE Baptist Church of DeLand, FL
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Christianity

The Preaching of the Cross is the daily weekday radio ministry of Pastor James W. Knox, featuring in-depth, expository Bible teaching.

  1. 2d ago

    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.com Ministry Website — JamesWKnox.org  YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermons Sermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLand Web Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org

  2. 3d ago

    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.com Ministry Website — JamesWKnox.org  YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermons Sermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLand Web Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org

  3. 4d ago

    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.com Ministry Website — JamesWKnox.org  YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermons Sermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLand Web Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org

  4. 5d ago

    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.com Ministry Website — JamesWKnox.org  YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermons Sermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLand Web Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org

  5. 6d ago

    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.com Ministry Website — JamesWKnox.org  YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermons Sermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLand Web Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org

  6. Aug 21

    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.com Ministry Website — JamesWKnox.org  YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermons Sermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLand Web Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org

  7. Aug 20

    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.com Ministry Website — JamesWKnox.org  YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermons Sermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLand Web Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org

  8. Aug 19

    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.com Ministry Website — JamesWKnox.org  YouTube Channel — YouTube.com/JamesWKnoxSermons Sermon Audio — SermonAudio.com/BibleBaptistDeLand Web Store — Store.JamesWKnox.org

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About

The Preaching of the Cross is the daily weekday radio ministry of Pastor James W. Knox, featuring in-depth, expository Bible teaching.

Information

  • Creator
    THE BIBLE Baptist Church of DeLand, FL
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Preaching of the Cross
  • Show Website
    The Preaching of the Cross

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