Reverberate: A Berean Bible Church Podcast | Knoxville, TN

Title: Righteous Anger, Redeemed Sorrow
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00:35 - Does Anger or Sadness Always Reveal a Problem?
06:42 - Righteous Versus Destructive Anger
11:44 - How Can Believers Lament Without Drifting into Despair?
18:48 - What's Next?
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Primary Verses from Proverbs
- Proverbs 15:13 – By sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
Other Biblical References
- John 11:35 – Jesus wept.
- Isaiah 53:3 – A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
- Romans 12:19 – Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.
- Psalm 42:5 – Why are you cast down, O my soul? … Hope in God.
- Jonah 4:1-2 – Jonah’s anger when God shows mercy to Nineveh.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8-10; 16-18 – Afflicted in every way, but not crushed… we do not lose heart.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10 – Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
- John 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you, that your joy may be full.
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In this episode of *Reverberate*, Jason, Jed, and Isaias unpack emotions that often carry a negative reputation, like sadness and anger, and explore how Scripture helps us interpret them with wisdom. Are these feelings always signs of sin? Or could they be pointing to something deeper going on in your soul?
Drawing from the Psalms, the life of Jesus, and practical experience, they consider emotions like dashboard lights. They're not necessarily problems to fix, but indicators that invite deeper reflection.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title: For You: Undeserved Grace
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00:00 - Theological Words Can Become Problematic Insulation
03:22 - Reading Galatians 1:1-5
03:57 - Paul's Message Isn't Human
05:05 - Paul's Message is True Peace vs. Counterfeit Peace
06:09 - Grace to You, and Peace
06:43 - What is Grace?
07:59 - Grace is Unmerited Favor
12:03 - Peace From God's Grace
17:11 - How Do We Know His Grace and Peace are Real?
23:18 - Why Is It Hard to Feel God's Grace and Peace?
26:50 - Does Your Life Reflect God's Grace?
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Galatians 1:1–5
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)
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In this sermon on Galatians 1:1–5, Jed Gillis urges believers to move beyond treating theological words like “grace” as distant, fuzzy terms. Paul’s opening greeting is more than formality. It is a declaration that God’s grace is His active, undeserved favor toward those who trust in Him, not mere forgiveness or reluctant tolerance. This grace flows from the will of God the Father, demonstrated in Jesus giving Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age. True peace comes only from receiving this grace, which frees us from anxiety, performance-driven living, and the weight of failure. Paul reminds his readers that the gospel is not human in origin and cannot be replaced by self-help or moral effort. God’s favor is present now, not just in the past at the cross or in the future in heaven. When grasped, this grace leads to soul-rest and overflows in worship, shaping the believer’s life, growth, service, and fight against sin through ongoing reliance on God’s favor in Christ.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title: The Snare of Success: Keeping Wealth in Its Place
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00:37 - Does God Want Us to Be Rich, Poor, or In Between?
05:54 - Is It Okay to Desire Success?
10:05 - How Should We View Taxes & Social Programs
17:39 - What's Next?
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Primary Verses from Proverbs
- Proverbs 3:9–10 – Honor the Lord with your wealth… then your barns will be filled with plenty.
- Proverbs 11:4 – Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
- Proverbs 11:24 – One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
- Proverbs 13:4 – The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
- Proverbs 30:8–9 – Give me neither poverty nor riches… lest I be full and deny you or poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
- Proverbs 15:16–17 – Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
- Proverbs 29:4 – By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.
Other Biblical References
- 1 Timothy 6:9–10 – Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation… the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.
- 1 Timothy 6:17 – As for the rich… set their hopes on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
- Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
- Romans 13:1–7 – Government’s role in rewarding good and punishing evil.
- Leviticus 19:9–10 – Leave some of your harvest for the poor and the sojourner.
- Luke 2:24 – A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons as a sacrifice for the poor.
- Matthew 22:21 – Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
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In this episode, Pastor Jed, Pastor Isaias, and Jason explore what Proverbs teaches about wealth, success, and justice. The conversation begins by addressing the seeming tension between verses that celebrate abundance and those that warn against the love of money. 
The speakers clarify that Scripture does not condemn wealth outright, but rather warns against making it ultimate. God calls his people to seek Him first and receive wealth as a secondary blessing, not a life goal. The conversation emphasizes that motives matter, whether you are rich or poor. The real question is whether money pulls your heart away from God. They also discuss how diligence and generosity reflect God’s character and how Christians should view success through a lens of stewardship, not self-reliance.
Shifting to civic responsibility, the pastors reflect on Proverbs 29:4 and the role of justice in leadership. They note that justice builds up a society, while injustice, whether through bribery or corrupt taxation, tears it down. They examine social programs and taxation through the biblical lens of compassion and fairness, pointing to examples like Ruth’s gleaning laws and God's provisions for the poor in the sacrificial system. The episode closes with the reminder that ruling and voting justly requires wisdom, and that Christians must wrestle deeply with these issues, always seeking to honor God above all.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title: Devoted to God
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00:34 - We Are Engaged in Spiritual Warfare
02:50 - Proverbs: In All Your Ways
05:13 - Who Is Lemuel?
07:52 - Two Poems: A King and a Wife Who Live in Wisdom
09:14 - The Wise King
10:02 - Don't Waste Your Life
12:08 - Don't Numb Yourself in Self-Centered Pleasure
12:36 - Don't Tear Down the Good You've Built
14:03 - Don't Live As One Who Has No Hope
16:07 - Numbing Comes from More Than Just Alcohol
17:33 - Speak Up for Those Who Can't
19:35 - The Wise Wife
19:47 - Wifehood is Worthy to be Praised
23:38 - Reading Proverbs 31:10-31
25:41 - Wisdom is for Everyone
27:22 - A Wise Wife is Valuable
28:59 - She Provides for Those in Her Care
30:17 - She's Diligent
31:25 - She's Strong
31:53 - She Has Ample Resources for Her Household
33:08 - She's Generous
33:32 - She's Fearless
34:47 - She is Praised
36:32 - She Enjoys the Fruit of Her Hands
36:57 - You Don't Pursue the Path of Wisdom by Accident
39:00 - Walking in Wisdom as a Married Couple
41:37 - Grace Marriage Shift the Drift
44:46 - Grace Marriage at Berean Bible Church
52:08 - Closing
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Proverbs 31
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In this final message from Proverbs, Jed Gillis explores Proverbs 31 as a call to live “devoted to God” in every role. The chapter contains two linked poems that picture wisdom in action. 
First, King Lemuel’s mother warns her son to guard his strength. He should guard against destructive relationships and self-numbing excess, and he should govern with clear judgment, defending the poor and voiceless. Her counsel shows how a leader who fears God stewards power for the good of others. 
Second, the acrostic portrait of the “excellent wife” celebrates a woman whose strength, diligence, generosity, and foresight bless her household and community. Her true beauty is reverent trust in the Lord. 
Together, the poems teach that wisdom is a deliberate path: every believer, whether wielding public authority or managing daily tasks at home, is summoned to intentional, God-honoring living
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title: Faith That Stands Still: Trusting God in the Battle
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00:05 - Living Out Proverbs in the Day-to-Day
02:12 - Have You Ever Been Engulfed by Stress?
03:14 - Who Were the Enemies of Judah?
06:20 - Jehosaphat Turned to God in His Time of Fear
08:31 - Turn to God First
11:40 - Come to God with Honest Humility
14:47 - Trust God's Leadership, Not Your Own Understanding
16:26 - Why Is Judah Standing with Their Infants?
19:33 - Listen to God's Voice
21:36 - Are You Creating a Space to Hear God's Voice?
25:03 - God's Battle is Our Obedience
26:41 - Worship Comes Before Victory
29:34 - Faith Praises Before it Sees
31:13 - Not Just Death, but Life is in the Power of the Tongue
32:30 - God's Victory
34:35 - The Meaning of Jahaziel's Lineage
36:21 - What Can We Learn from Jehoshaphat?
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II Chronicles 20
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 10:25
When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Proverbs 21:31
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.
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In this sermon, George Waller unpacks the story of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 as a real-life example of Proverbs lived out during crisis. When Judah faced an overwhelming threat from a coalition of enemy nations, Jehoshaphat responded not with military strategy but by seeking God in prayer, calling for a fast, and admitting his fear and powerlessness. Waller emphasizes that true faith begins not with self-reliance but with honest humility—saying, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
Waller draws out several key principles: turn to God first, trust His leadership over your own understanding, and make space to hear His voice. He highlights that spiritual maturity is not about having answers but knowing where to look. When God answered through the prophet Jahaziel, the people were called not to fight but to stand firm and watch God bring the victory. Yet obedience still required action—they had to show up and take their positions.
A central theme is the power of worship. Before the battle was won, Judah worshiped. The choir led the army, praising God for His steadfast love. Waller explains that worship is not just a response to victory but a weapon that precedes it. Faith praises before it sees.
The sermon concludes with the reminder that God’s presence, promises, and power remain our refuge in crisis. Just as God fought for Judah, He still fights for His people today. When we begin with prayer, embrace weakness, listen to His Word, and stand still in trust, God brings peace and transformation in the midst of battle.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title: Soft Whispers, Sharp Wounds
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00:42 - Careless Words Covered in Grace
09:26 - Talking With, Not About
14:12 - Why Does Gossip Taste Good?
15:54 - What to Say When Gossip Starts
21:30 - How Can Our Words Bring Healing?
25:03 - What's Next?
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Matthew 12:36–37 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Proverbs 18:8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Proverbs 26:20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Proverbs 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
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In this episode of Reverberate, Jason, Pastor Jed, and Pastor Isaias explore the weight of our words through the lens of Proverbs and the gospel. They wrestle with Jesus’ warning that we will give an account for every careless word, while also holding fast to the promise that our sins are cast into the depths of the sea. Drawing from Proverbs’ vivid imagery of rash words like sword thrusts and whispers like delicious morsels, they examine why harmful speech can feel satisfying, how gossip damages community, and how the gospel transforms both our accountability and our healing. This conversation calls believers to speak with wisdom, pursue restoration over division, and let their words reflect the grace they’ve received.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title: When To Correct vs. When To Stay Silent?
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00:40 - How Do We Know When to Correct a Scoffer?
11:34 - How Do You Guard Your Heart When Correcting?
19:01 - How Can You Tell Someone is Ready for Reproof?
22:19 - Closing
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Proverbs 7-9
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In this episode of *Reverberate*, Pastor Jed, Pastor Isaias, and Jason explore the tension of knowing when to correct someone and when to stay silent, especially when the person resists correction. Drawing from Proverbs 9, they discuss how to discern whether someone is acting like a scoffer or showing a teachable spirit. Correction is more fruitful when someone is humble and open, while persistent scoffing may call for patience, prayer, and relational distance. They emphasize that wisdom literature guides us case by case, urging prayerful dependence on the Spirit. The conversation also challenges listeners to examine how they receive correction themselves. Do we respond with humility, or do we bristle with defensiveness? Finally, they unpack how to guard your heart when correction turns personal, offering gospel-shaped motives rooted in love for God and the other person, not in self-protection or approval. Through it all, the aim is to speak the truth in love while staying rooted in grace.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title:  Humility, Contentment, & Observation
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00:22 - Reading Proverbs 30
04:18 - Prayer
05:22 - Humility, Contentment, & Observation
05:47 - Observation
10:35 - Agur the Oracle
17:06 - The Word of God
20:24 - Two Prayers
27:38 - Content vs. Comfort Warning
32:33 - God Has a Design and Uses All Things
40:09 - Human Being or Being Human
46:31 - Lead Through Service
48:13 - People of Wisdom & Closing Prayer
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Proverbs 30
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In this sermon on Proverbs 30, Jon Farra reflects on the themes of humility, contentment, and observation through the poetic insights of Agur. The message begins with Agur's raw admission of exhaustion and limitation. Agur demonstrates a humble recognition of human frailty in the face of God's vast wisdom and power. This posture sets the stage for a reminder that true wisdom begins with reverence for God, not self-assurance.
Farra emphasizes that every word of God proves true and serves as a refuge for those who trust in Him. Rather than striving for control, believers are called to rest in the sufficiency of God’s word, resisting the urge to add to or manipulate it. This leads into Agur’s two prayers: to be kept from falsehood and from both poverty and riches. Farra draws attention to the heart of these prayers: not self-preservation, but the desire to honor God's name. Contentment with daily bread reflects a trust in God’s provision and guards against pride or despair.
The sermon also explores the value of observing the created world, as Agur does with animals and nature. These seemingly small or ordinary things carry profound wisdom. From ants to lions, Farra encourages the listener to slow down and notice the order, beauty, and lessons God has woven into everyday life. At the same time, he warns against the disordered realities that arise when human pride and rebellion upend God’s design.
Through stories, prayer, and biblical reflection, the sermon invites worshipers to embrace humility, anchor themselves in Scripture, and pursue a life shaped by God’s wisdom. Rather than chasing comfort or recognition, we are called to walk with God, serve others, and seek His glory in every season
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title: How Do I Fight Sudden Temptation?
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00:00 - Introduction
00:33 - How Do I Fight Sudden Temptation?
09:09 - How Do I Practically Avoid Temptation?
20:31 - Closing
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Proverbs 7-9
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In this episode of *Reverberate*, Pastor Jed, Pastor Isaias, and Jason unpack the struggle of sudden temptation through the lens of Proverbs 7. Though temptation may feel impulsive, they point out that the fall is often the result of a longer buildup—where spiritual reflexes are shaped by daily choices long before the moment of collapse. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing and avoiding the early stages of temptation, cultivating habits of wisdom, and strengthening your heart with God’s Word. They also explain how the gospel breaks cycles of regret and failure. Rather than trying harder to be good enough, the path forward begins with resting in Christ’s finished work and letting His love fuel wise, practical steps. True change comes not from fear or self-righteousness, but from knowing you are already deeply loved.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.

Title: Wisdom for the Heart
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02:44 What Proverbs Says About Emotions
04:04 Deceit Is in the Heart of Those Who Devise Evil
07:12 Our Emotions are Often Mixed
16:16 Only One Can Truly Feel Your Emotions Like You Do
20:16 A Crushed Spirit is Devastating
22:06 A Look at Some Specific Emotions
22:06 Fear
25:24 Anger
30:40 How To Handle Our Emotions
30:40 Be Slow to Anger
32:20 Go to God
35:12 Find Examples in Scripture
37:20 Seek Help From Godly Friendships
40:32 Practice Self Control
45:36 Emotions Are Messengers
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Proverbs 12:20
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.
Proverbs 14:10, 13
The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy... Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.
Proverbs 15:13
A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 18:14
A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
Proverbs 16:32
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 21:23
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 25:27–28
It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Proverbs 19:11
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 22:24–25
Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
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In this final message from Proverbs, Jed Gillis walks through how God's wisdom speaks into our emotions: joy, sorrow, fear, anger, and shame. Emotions, he explains, are like dashboard lights. They do not control the direction of our lives, but they signal what is going on beneath the surface. Proverbs calls us to neither obey our emotions blindly nor ignore them entirely. Instead, we are to understand what they reveal about our hearts and submit them to God's truth.
Gillis emphasizes that our emotions are often mixed and personal. No one else will fully share the depth of your joy or sorrow. But Jesus, our faithful high priest, truly understands. While others may not feel exactly what we feel, He knows and cares. Proverbs also warns of the danger of a crushed spirit. When emotions go unexamined or are bottled up, they can lead to spiritual shutdown. God’s goal is not emotional numbness but joyful, godly engagement with what we feel.
The message points us toward self-control, a fruit of the Spirit. Self-control means learning to recognize emotional signals and respond wisely, not reactively. Gillis urges us to check the condition of our hearts when emotions flare up and to bring our fears, anger, or sadness before God and into godly relationships. God's Word and Spirit, like a skilled mechanic, help us repair what is misaligned in our hearts.
True wisdom with emotions means remembering that they are not enemies to fight or rulers to obey. They are messengers meant to help us walk more closely with Christ.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.