Advertise on podcast: Materialism on SermonAudio

What do Christians have to be thankful for, even when life is filled with uncertainty, disappointment, or hardship? While Thanksgiving often reminds us of family, traditions, and material blessings, Scripture points us to far greater reasons for gratitude that remain unchanged regardless of our circumstances. In this special Thanksgiving message, Pastor Robb Brunansky examines six biblical reasons believers should continually give thanks to God: His provision for our daily needs, the fellowship of the church, His saving and sanctifying work in other believers, our own salvation by grace, the incomparable gift of Jesus Christ, and His sovereign work in all things for our good and His glory. Drawing from passages throughout the New Testament, Pastor Robb explains how genuine gratitude combats anxiety, discouragement, pride, and discontentment while strengthening our confidence in God's faithfulness. Even amid suffering and uncertainty, Christians can give thanks because nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This message encourages believers to cultivate hearts of thanksgiving, remembering that our greatest blessings are not found in our circumstances but in our sovereign Savior, who has promised us eternal victory through Jesus Christ.

Was does it mean to be wealthy, to be rich? I Timothy 6 teaches us to make our lives about acquiring a godly character, not material wealth.

In Part 2 of The Seven Churches, we continue through Revelation 2–3 with Christ's letters to Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia. Thyatira worked hard but tolerated Jezebel's corrupting influence. Sardis had a name that it lived but was dead. Philadelphia, though it had little strength, kept God's word, didn't deny Christ's name, and God set before them an open door. Which church describes yours? THE BIBLE Baptist Church of DeLand, Florida Pastor James W. Knox Pastor David A. Brown https://biblebaptistdeland.com For more sermons and Bible study materials, please visit our web store at https://store.jameswknox.org/ DeLand School of THE BIBLE: https://dsbkjv.com

This sermon explores the theological question of why hell has enlarged itself, anchoring the discussion in Proverbs 27:20 and Isaiah 5. The message argues that humanity's insatiable desire for pleasure and material gain, coupled with a neglect of spiritual responsibilities, leads souls away from God. It highlights the critical role of biblical parenting and the danger of moral confusion in modern society, where sin is often normalized and shame is lost. By contrasting the temporary satisfaction of worldly pursuits with the eternal life offered by Jesus Christ, the sermon urges listeners to examine their personal trust in salvation. The tone is convicting yet pastoral, emphasizing that only through faith in Christ can one find true fulfillment and avoid the destiny of hell.

Are you resting in Christ—so that your security and hope are anchored to His work for you? "And coming to Him as to a living stone... choice and precious in the sight of God," 1 Peter 2:4 (LSB). Are you growing together with His people, your life increasingly shaped by obedience to His word and conformity to His likeness? "... You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood..." 1 Peter 2:5. Christ is the church's precious cornerstone, the sure foundation and defining reference point for His people. He is the measure of what His people are and are becoming collectively—the holy temple of the living God. The world does not find God by coming to a temple built with hands, but by coming to Christ. Unlike a material temple, God's temple today is alive and global—each stone a sinner saved by grace and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. All who trust in Christ will not be put to shame. By God's design, believers are individual stones, but not independent stones. We mature, together, as we're being renovated to reflect His holiness and serve Him. This Lord's Day, we'll continue our study of 1 Peter 2 and its description of Christian community. Join us as we consider, "Homeward Bound: Under Construction." Prepare for Sunday: Read 1 Peter 2:1-8, meditating on verses 4-8. What does Peter say about Christ's identity and His reception? What does it mean for a believer to be one who is "coming to Him"? How should the image of "being built up as a spiritual house" shape your relationship with other believers? How does being a "living stone" in change how you think of your role in the church?

Sermon Outline: 1. Superficial believers are zealous, but only for their material gain (vv. 16-27) 2. Superficial believers think they can manipulate God for material gain (v. 28) 3. Superficial believers are ignorant about their awful spiritual condition before God (vv. 28-35)

In this message from John 6:24-29, Pastor Rockhill opens the preliminaries of the Bread of Life discourse, pressing the crowd's question of why they sought Jesus after the feeding of the five thousand. He shows that the multitudes followed Christ not out of saving faith but out of fascination with His signs, and worse, out of a carnal craving to be fed without labor. Their hearts had reduced the Savior to a provider of perishable bread. The central burden is the difference between temporary fulfillment and eternal blessing. Pastor Rockhill warns that signs are given to point beyond themselves to the truth they signify, drawing a careful parallel to the sacraments, which are signs and seals of grace rather than the salvation they represent. To fix upon the sign while missing Christ is spiritually and eternally dangerous. The heart of the passage is Christ's call to labor not for food that perishes but for food that endures to everlasting life, a gift freely given by the Son of Man whom the Father has sealed. When the crowd seizes on works, Pastor Rockhill answers with the gospel: eternal life is received, not earned, and even faith itself is the gift of God, lest any man boast. The application is searching and tender. Pastor Rockhill urges hearers not to harden their hearts or view Christ through the eyes of this material world, but to humble themselves, repent, and believe, feasting by faith on the everlasting food that Christ alone supplies.

In just 50 years, biblical Christianity faced serious decline in early local churches. In Part 1 of The Seven Churches, we study Christ's letters to Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos in Revelation 2. Ephesus was sound in doctrine but had left its first love. Smyrna stayed faithful through poverty and persecution. Pergamos stood firm where Satan's seat was but tolerated immorality. The answer for every church: love Jesus more. THE BIBLE Baptist Church of DeLand, Florida Pastor James W. Knox Pastor David A. Brown https://biblebaptistdeland.com For more sermons and Bible study materials, please visit our web store at https://store.jameswknox.org/ DeLand School of THE BIBLE: https://dsbkjv.com

This sermon examines the life of Lot as a case study for spiritual warning signs among believers, emphasizing that direction is more critical than current location. By tracing Lot's gradual decline from a righteous man to a resident of Sodom, the message highlights how ignoring the consequences of sin, fostering strife, and prioritizing material gain over eternal values leads to spiritual ruin. The preacher warns that sin is progressive and will take individuals farther than they intend, citing Lot's loss of influence, family, and self-respect as evidence. The central call to action is for the congregation to self-examine their spiritual trajectory and repent before it is too late, recognizing that even saved individuals can drift into serious trouble if they do not heed God's warnings.

Tomi presents the new creation not primarily as a place of material splendour but as the consummation of God's covenant purpose: the permanent dwelling of God with His people. The absence of the sea signifies the final removal of all chaos, sin and opposition to God's rule, while the descent of the New Jerusalem as a pure bride underscores the church's complete sanctification and presentation without spot or wrinkle through Christ's work alone. The certainty of this future rests on the sovereign declaration of the One seated on the throne: "Behold, I make all things new… It is done." Because God is the Alpha and Omega, faithful and true, the promises are as sure as the finished work of the cross. Those who thirst for Christ and overcome by faith—the elect who trust in Him—will inherit this inheritance and know unbroken communion with God. By contrast, the unbelieving and impenitent are reserved for the second death, a solemn reminder of God's just judgment. The free offer of the water of life is therefore pressed home: turn from sin and believe in the Son for everlasting life in the presence of God.

The sermon centers on the exhortation to fight the good fight of faith, urging believers to move beyond passive Christianity and actively share the gospel with others. Drawing from 1 Timothy 6, the message contrasts the world's pursuit of material wealth with the spiritual gain found in godliness and contentment, warning against the love of money as a root of evil. The text emphasizes that Christians are called to be witnesses before many, rejecting excuses for silence in favor of urgent evangelism, as illustrated by Jesus' confession before Pilate. The preacher challenges the congregation to pursue righteousness, godliness, and meekness while enduring hardships as good soldiers of Christ. Ultimately, the message calls for a renewed commitment to disciple-making and spiritual vigilance until the appearing of Jesus Christ.

This sermon explores the conditional promises found in Proverbs chapter two, emphasizing that spiritual growth requires active engagement with God's Word. The speaker outlines a four-step process: receiving God's words, hiding them in the heart to protect them from the enemy, inclining the ear to wisdom, and applying the heart to understanding. Through vivid analogies and personal testimony, the message challenges believers to move beyond passive faith and pursue a deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ. The tone is convicting yet encouraging, urging the congregation to seek wisdom with the same intensity they pursue material needs. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a reverent fear of the Lord and a commitment to investing in eternal things, promising that those who diligently seek understanding will find the knowledge of God.

What is the church's role in government and society? In this message from our series on the doctrine and practice of the New Testament church, Pastor David A. Brown explains from Romans 13, 1 Timothy 2, Matthew 5, and more that believers are called to obey, pray, preserve, and witness. The church's mission isn't temporal affairs. It's eternal affairs: the gospel of Jesus Christ. THE BIBLE Baptist Church of DeLand, Florida Pastor James W. Knox Pastor David A. Brown https://biblebaptistdeland.com For more sermons and Bible study materials, please visit our web store at https://store.jameswknox.org/ DeLand School of THE BIBLE: https://dsbkjv.com

The sermon centers on the absolute supremacy of God, using the account of the Ark of the Covenant and the fall of the idol Dagon in 1 Samuel to demonstrate that God will not be placed second to any other power or deity. It argues that attempting to serve both God and the world is impossible, likening such a life to a tug-of-war where the world will eventually pull the believer away from divine protection. The message warns against idolizing creation, such as material comforts or cultural trends, over the Creator, and emphasizes the urgency of making a definitive decision to follow God before it is too late. Through references to Solomon's wisdom and the fragility of life, the preacher urges listeners to rely on Scripture as their navigational star and to ensure their spiritual foundations are built upon the straight line of God's commandments rather than the shifting sands of worldly approval.

Romans 1:27 "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." King James Version (