Reverberate: A Berean Bible Church Podcast | Knoxville, TN

Title: Is Wisdom the Same as Following God's Commands?
---
00:36 - Is Wisdom Just Following God's Commandments?
06:51 - The Growth from Commands to Wisdom
11:03 - What Does "Bind Them On Your Fingers" Mean?
17:25 - Does God or Do We Write on Our Hearts?
22:36 - Closing
---
Proverbs 7-9
---
In this episode of *Reverberate*, Pastor Jed, Pastor Isaias, and Jason explore the relationship between wisdom and God’s commandments through Proverbs 7–9. They highlight that while God’s commands form a moral foundation, wisdom goes further by helping us navigate real-life complexities—such as timing, tone, and motives—with spiritual discernment. Wisdom is described not merely as rule-following, but as maturing into a life that reflects God’s heart. The conversation draws a contrast between the obedience of a child and the mature decision-making of an adult shaped by values. The commands of God reveal patterns that wisdom then helps us live out. Wisdom applies those commands through love, humility, and daily choices rooted in God’s Word. The hosts also discuss how God’s work of writing His law on our hearts does not bypass our effort, but invites us to actively memorize, meditate, and apply His truth. Ultimately, wisdom is not separate from God’s commands, but is the Spirit-shaped skill of applying them to the full spectrum of life.
---
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's Rhythm: Rest and Work
---
01:03 - The Way of the Image-Bearer
02:22 - Motivation 1: Want Wealth? Then Work Consistently.
06:37 - Why Do We Have a Slack Hand?
06:48 - Wealth Gained Hastily Will Dwindle
08:09 - Motivation 2: Want to Not Bring Shame? Work at the Right Times.
11:23 - Motivation 3: Want Bread? Work Your Land.
12:37 - Motivation 4: Want Honor? Be Good at What You Do.
18:32 - Motivation 5: Want to Be Satisfied? Enjoy the Fruit of Your Work
22:22 - The Way of the Sluggard
22:41 - The Sluggard Irritates the People Around Them
23:35 - The Sluggard Makes Their Own Life Harder
24:57 - Why Are We Tempted to Take the Way of the Sluggard?
26:09 - The Sluggard is Motivated by Fear
27:15 - The Sluggard Restlessly Avoids Life
28:24 - The Sluggard Doesn't Follow Through
30:41 - The Sluggard is Wise in His Own Eyes
31:45 - The Way of the Sabbath
32:54 - Responsible Rhythms of Rest and Work
34:10 - We Need Rest to Practice Trust
36:20 - Do You Really, Truly Rest?
40:01 - Reflect God in Your Rest and Your Work
---
Proverbs 10:4–5
Proverbs 13:11 
Proverbs 22:29 
Proverbs 12:11
Proverbs 12:14
Proverbs 12:24
Proverbs 12:27
Proverbs 26:13–16 
Proverbs 15:16–17 
Proverbs 23:4–5 
---
In this sermon, Pastor Jed Gillis walks through the wisdom Proverbs offers about the rhythms of work and rest. He begins by contrasting worldly reasons for work like survival, meaning, legacy, or earning rest, with God's design for diligent and timely labor as a reflection of His image. Proverbs holds out consistent effort, skillful work, and honest labor as patterns that often lead to wealth, honor, and satisfaction. These are not guarantees, but repeated observations of how life tends to work. Rather than obsess over success or chase get-rich-quick schemes, Proverbs invites you to work faithfully with what God has given you and to rest trustfully, knowing that God is the one who ultimately provides.
Gillis also warns against the way of the sluggard, marked by fear, avoidance, and unfinished effort. Laziness is not true rest. It leads to frustration, hardship, and self-deception. True rest, by contrast, flows from trust in God. Like the Sabbath commanded to Israel, real rest is not earned by productivity but is a gift and starting point for worshipers. God's people are invited to work with diligence and integrity and to rest with joy and confidence in His provision. Because Christ has completed the ultimate work on our behalf, we are now free to labor without fear and to rest without guilt.
---
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: Self-Interest Leading To Death vs. To Life?
---
00:58 - Self-Interest That Leads to Death vs. Leads to Life
08:45 - Our Honor is in God, No Matter the Circumstances
14:38 - Closing
---
Proverbs 7-9
---
In this episode of the *Reverberate* podcast, Pastor Jed, Pastor Isaias, and Jason explore the tension in Proverbs between two kinds of self-interest—one that leads to life and one that leads to death. They discuss how Proverbs encourages a godly form of self-interest rooted in the fear of the Lord, aimed at wisdom, and centered on God's glory. This contrasts with a selfish pursuit of pleasure and ease that leads to ruin. The conversation draws from chapters 7–9 to show how to evaluate your motives: Who or what is praised in your pursuit? Is it driven by pride or by love for God? The hosts emphasize that true self-interest aligns with seeking God and becoming more like Christ, while destructive self-interest exalts self and results in sin. They also reflect on how humility, wisdom, and rightly placed honor shape our choices and strengthen our fight against sin. The episode concludes by affirming that honoring God and seeking true joy are not at odds—they are one and the same path.
---
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: Wise Enjoyment

---

03:11 - Where Does True Enjoyment Come From?

07:57 - What Gets in the Way of Joy?

08:49 - Foolishness

11:17 - Greed

13:36 - Strife

16:54 - Laziness

18:42 - Pride

20:02 - Removing The Anti-Joy Postures to Make Room for the Spirit

21:55 - What Are the Gifts We Are Meant to Enjoy?

22:27 - The Fear of the Lord

23:05 - Love and Peace in the Home

24:14 - Wise and Faithful Friends

25:37 - Home and Righteousness

26:15 - Diligent, Honest Work

27:13 - Well-Ordered Households

28:37 - Fitly Spoken Words

30:49 - Sweet Food

32:12 - Generosity

32:49 - Humility and Teachability

34:15 - Family

35:49 - Joy is Both Relational and Material

38:36 - All Joy Finds Its Center in Christ

---

Various Proverbs

---

In his sermon titled Wise Enjoyment, Pastor Isaias Viñales teaches from Proverbs on how godly wisdom forms the foundation for lasting joy. While the world offers constant entertainment, it often leaves people weary and unsatisfied. Proverbs offers something deeper: a vision of joy rooted in the fear of the Lord and the pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom brings peace, pleasantness, security, and rest (Proverbs 3), and teaches that true enjoyment is relational, not just circumstantial. Viñales outlines several joy-killers: foolishness, greed, strife, laziness, and pride. Each one distorts or destroys the heart’s ability to receive God’s gifts with gratitude.

In contrast, Proverbs encourages the enjoyment of specific blessings: the fear of the Lord, peace in the home, faithful friendships, hope, honest work, well-ordered households, fitting words, sweet food, generosity, humility, and family. These are not luxuries but sacred pleasures that reflect God's goodness. The sermon closes by grounding all joy in Christ, who endured the cross for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2) and now invites his people to experience that joy in him. True enjoyment begins with God, receives his gifts with thanks, and points back to him in worship.

---

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: Reverberate Podcast | Is Wisdom Calling Out or Do We Have to Dig? | Proverbs 7-9 Q&A Part 1
---
00:41 - Is Wisdom Calling Out or Do We Have to Dig?
04:34 - Is It Possible to Accidentally Miss God's Wisdom?
08:10 - I'm Seeking God's Wisdom, but Haven't Seen Results
---
Proverbs 7-9
---
In this episode of Reverberate, Pastor Jed, Pastor Isaias, and Jason discuss Proverbs 7–9 and the two seemingly different images of wisdom in the book. One picture shows wisdom calling out in public places, easily accessible. The other presents it as treasure that must be diligently searched for. Rather than being at odds, these images work together. God's wisdom is available, but it requires intentional effort and discernment. They also talk about how people often miss God's wisdom by expecting it to look a certain way or by mistaking worldly advice for godly insight. The group encourages listeners to pursue wisdom through Scripture, not to rely on outcomes alone, and to trust God even when wise choices do not lead to immediate success. True wisdom is measured by faithfulness, not results.
---
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 the King Hands You the Keys
---
00:55 - Why Does God Give You Stuff?
04:08 - What Does Proverbs Teach about Honoring God with Our Resources?
04:55 - Honor the King Who Blesses By Enjoying His Blessings
09:40 - But Don't Serve Money or Resources
14:50 - Honor the Provider with Diligence
20:37 - Also Honor the King with Gratitude
23:28 - Honor the Protector by Looking Beyond the Protection of Money
26:03 - Honor the Maker by Using Your Resources to Recognize Value in His Creation
29:18 - Honor the Giver by Reflecting His Generosity
34:00 - Why Does God Trust Us with Resources, In Spite of the Dangers?
37:08 - Honoring the Lord with Your Wealth is an Act of Grace
---
Various Proverbs about wealth, money, and resources
---
In this sermon, Jed Gillis reflects on why God gives us resources like money, time, and energy. The message begins with a hard but honest question: Why would a holy and all-sufficient God entrust anything to sinful, limited people? The answer is not about ownership but about worship. God gives so we can honor him with what we receive.
Through Proverbs, the sermon explores five ways to honor God with our resources:
1. Honor the King Who Blesses
God invites us to enjoy his gifts, not serve them. Proverbs calls us to delight in what God gives, while never losing sight of the Giver. Refusing his gifts is dishonoring, but so is worshiping the gift instead of him.
2. Honor the Provider with Diligence
God regularly provides through hard work. Diligence is an act of faith and gratitude. It means using what you have been given with steady, joyful effort. Whether in a job, a home, or a field, work becomes worship when it is offered to the Lord.
3. Honor the Protector by Looking Beyond Money
Money can create the illusion of safety, but true security comes from God. Proverbs reminds us that trusting in riches leads to pride and destruction. Instead, we are called to trust in the Lord who watches over us.
4. Honor the Maker by Valuing His Creation
Generosity toward the poor reflects God’s value of every person. To disregard someone in need is to dishonor their Creator. Giving to others is one way we affirm the worth of what God has made.
5. Honor the Giver by Reflecting His Generosity
God built a world where generosity is possible. He gives so that we can give. The righteous are marked by open hands, not closed fists. When we give with joy and faith, we imitate our generous God.
Gillis closes by reminding us that God knows the risks of giving us resources, yet he still chooses to do so. Not to test us, but to transform us. Our giving, our spending, our enjoying, all of it can be worship when done in response to God's grace. The question is not how much we give, but whether all of our resources are honoring the One who gave them in the first place.
---
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: Reverberate Podcast | Does God Really Forgive Sexual Sin? | Proverbs 4–6 Q&A Part 4
---
01:01 Is God Really Willing to Forgive Sexual Sin?
10:12 True Repentance vs. Dealing with Consequences
19:46 How Can The Church Show Love in Events of Sexual Sin
31:35 Conclusion
---
Proverbs 4-6
---
In this episode of the Reverberate Podcast, Does God Really Forgive Sexual Sin?, Pastors Jed and Isaias join Jason for a weighty and compassionate conversation rooted in Proverbs 4–6. Reflecting on the sobering warnings of Proverbs 5, they speak directly to the devastation of sexual sin—its consequences, its wounds, and its lasting scars. But the heart of the discussion centers on the gospel: the reality that Christ bore even these sins on the cross, and that full, personal forgiveness is truly offered through him. The episode explores the difference between godly grief and worldly sorrow, unpacks what genuine repentance looks like, and offers biblical clarity on how churches can wisely walk with both the repentant sinner and those affected by the sin. At every step, the message is clear: God’s grace in Christ is greater than our deepest failures, and his love leads not only to forgiveness but to restoration.
---
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: Plans and Providence
---
03:39 How Do We Pursue Wisdom?
05:14 Humans Are Planners
09:00 The Heart of our Plans
12:03 The Goals of Our Plans
12:30 The Work Towards Our Goals
13:23 The Results of Our Work
14:19 God May Change Your Plans
15:58 God Knows Your Heart
19:02 How Should We Make Plans?
19:11 Make Plans With Wisdom, Not Outcomes Obsession
25:45 Make Plans With Humility
28:19 Make Plans With Others
31:09 How Do We Know God is For Us in Our Plans?
32:54 What Are The Detours to Our Plans?
37:44 Will You Trust God With Your Plans?
---
Proverbs 16:1–9
The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established.
The LORD has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.
When a man’s ways please the LORD,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
The heart of man plans his way,
but the LORD establishes his steps. (ESV)
---
In this sermon titled Plans and Providence, Jed Gillis explores Proverbs 16:1–9 and emphasizes the tension and comfort found in the relationship between human planning and God’s providence. We are natural planners, made in God’s image to think, dream, and set goals. But while we initiate plans from our hearts, it is the Lord who ultimately shapes our desires, directs our steps, and determines the outcomes.
The sermon highlights four key components of planning: the heart (our core motivations), the plans (our goals), the work (our actions to achieve them), and the outcomes (which God controls). Gillis urges listeners to make plans not out of obsession with results but rooted in wisdom, humility, and community. Wise planning does not demand certainty about outcomes. It trusts in God’s character.
Even when plans fail or detours arise, believers can rest in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. This is not a vague comfort, but a deeply rooted truth displayed most powerfully in Jesus, who endured what looked like a detour in the cross, only to rise again in victory. Because of Christ’s atonement, we can trust that God is for us, even when we are flawed. The call is to walk in wisdom, trust God with the results, and know that it is never too late to turn back toward him.
---
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: Reverberate Podcast | Am I Obeying Out of Love For God or Self-Righteousness | Proverbs 4–6 Q&A Part 3
---
00:36 Am I Obeying Out of Love or Self-Righteousness?
04:53 His Commandments Are Not Burdensome
09:52 How Can We Help Orient Eachother?
14:40 Conclusion
---
Proverbs 4-6
---
In this episode of the Reverberate Podcast, Am I Obeying Out of Love For God or Self-Righteousness?, Pastors Jed and Isaias join Jason to reflect on the motives behind our obedience. Drawing from Proverbs 4–6 and the broader story of Scripture, they explore the difference between joyful obedience that flows from love and trust in God versus burdensome rule-keeping fueled by pride, fear, or the need to measure up. The conversation emphasizes that God not only calls us to obey but cares deeply about the posture of our hearts. They also discuss how the gospel offers rest, not just relief, and how the church can cultivate a culture of encouragement and grace-centered accountability that leads to Spirit-led, love-fueled obedience.
---
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: A Humble Legacy
---
01:32 Pride Humiliates Us, Humility Honors Us
05:16 Why is Pride Such a Big Deal?
06:15 Pride Glorifies Self
09:06 Pride Contends with God for Supremacy
11:25 Pride Puts Your Trust in Yourself
13:58 Pride Breaks You
18:27 False Forms of Humility
19:01 One, Self-Loathing
20:27 Two, Lack of Confidence
21:15 Three, Lack of Motivation to be Used by God
24:19 Should We Want to Leave a Legacy?
24:38 Legacy is More About Who You Are than What You Build
27:34 Legacy Includes What You Leave Behind
29:13 Legacy Should Motivate You
32:39 Legacy is Guarded by Your Integrity
35:13 How Do We Guard Against Pride?
35:22 Example 1: Breaking Perfume on Jesus's Feet
36:41 Example 2: The Servants and the Talents
41:05 God Never Loves You for Your Legacy
---
* Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
* Proverbs 15:25 - The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
* Proverbs 25:6-7 - Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
* Proverbs 27:2 - Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.
* Proverbs 28:26 - Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
* Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
* Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
* Proverbs 10:6-7 - Blessings are on the head of the righteous; the memory of the righteous is a blessing.
* Proverbs 12:3 - No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
* Proverbs 12:7 - The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand.
* Proverbs 13:22 - A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children.
* Proverbs 14:11 - The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
* Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
* Proverbs 18:12 - Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
* Proverbs 29:23 - One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
* Proverbs 20:6-7 - Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him.
---
This sermon, A Humble Legacy, explores the biblical wisdom found in Proverbs regarding pride and humility. Drawing from various verses, Jed Gillis highlights that pride is destructive, leading to disgrace, while humility fosters wisdom, honor, and stability. Pride manifests as self-glorification, contending with God’s supremacy, and self-reliance, all of which God actively opposes. Gillis emphasizes that humility is not self-loathing or lack of confidence but a sober recognition of one’s dependence on God. A godly legacy is rooted more in who you are—righteous and rightly related to God—than in what you build. Proverbs teaches that integrity guards your legacy, ensuring that your impact aligns with God’s purposes. The sermon encourages seeking to leave a godly legacy through humility, worship, and faithful service, motivated by God’s promise to honor those who walk humbly before Him.
---
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.