Reverberate: A Berean Bible Church Podcast | Knoxville, TN

Title: Galatians 4:1–7
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Galatians 4:1–7
I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (ESV)
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In his sermon on Galatians 4:1–7, Jed Gillis explores the profound difference between being a slave and being an heir in God's family. He likens the distractions of our daily lives to seeing only the immediate surroundings and missing the majestic mountains in the distance, representing deeper theological truths. Gillis emphasizes that while we were once enslaved to worldly principles, God sent Jesus at the perfect moment in history—"the fullness of time." Jesus' birth, life under the law, and ultimate redemption transform us from slaves into adopted children of God. This adoption grants us not only a new identity but also an inheritance as heirs with Christ. By sending His Spirit into our hearts, we can now cry out "Abba! Father!" and live in the freedom and joy of being God's children. Gillis urges believers to focus on these deeper truths during Christmas, reminding them that their faith is built on the monumental reality of God becoming man to redeem humanity.
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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: Luke 2
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Jon Farra's sermon focuses on the birth of Jesus as described in Luke 2, highlighting its profound implications for faith and life. The passage begins with a decree from Caesar Augustus, leading Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born in humble circumstances. Despite the modest setting, angels announce the birth to shepherds, proclaiming it as good news for all people. Farra emphasizes that Jesus' arrival defied expectations of a mighty savior; instead, God chose humility and servitude as the path to salvation.
The sermon delves into the contrast between earthly power, represented by Caesar Augustus, and divine greatness shown through Jesus' birth in a manger. Farra challenges listeners to reflect on what they seek from God and to embrace faith even in difficult circumstances. He also underscores the shepherds' role as unlikely messengers who respond to God's revelation with immediate action and worship.
Farra connects these events to broader themes of faith, obedience, and humility. He encourages believers to look beyond societal measures of success and greatness, focusing instead on walking with God in everyday life. The sermon calls for introspection during the Christmas season, urging individuals to offer their lives as gifts to God and share their experiences of His love with others.
In conclusion, Farra invites the congregation to emulate the shepherds by spreading the message of Jesus' birth and living out their faith with humility and dedication. This reflection on Luke 2 serves as a reminder of God's unique approach to greatness and the transformative power of humble obedience.
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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: One Flock, One Shepherd
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John 10:1–21
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (ESV)
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In his sermon on John 10:1-21, Jed Gillis explores the metaphor of Jesus as both the door and the good shepherd. Gillis emphasizes that Jesus is the exclusive entry point to salvation and abundant life. He contrasts the true shepherd, who sacrificially cares for his sheep, with hired hands who flee at danger. Jesus' intimate knowledge of his followers mirrors the Father's relationship with the Son. The sermon underscores that Jesus' sacrificial love extends beyond immediate followers to all who will hear his voice, forming one unified flock under one Shepherd.
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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 God Who Needs Nothing
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Psalm 50
A Psalm of Asaph.
The Mighty One, God the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
Our God comes; he does not keep silence;
before him is a devouring fire,
around him a mighty tempest.
He calls to the heavens above
and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
“Gather to me my faithful ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
The heavens declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge! Selah
“Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
your burnt offerings are continually before me.
I will not accept a bull from your house
or goats from your folds.
For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine.
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and its fullness are mine.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
But to the wicked God says:
“What right have you to recite my statutes
or take my covenant on your lips?
For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you.
If you see a thief, you are pleased with him,
and you keep company with adulterers.
“You give your mouth free rein for evil,
and your tongue frames deceit.
You sit and speak against your brother;
you slander your own mother’s son.
These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.
“Mark this, then, you who forget God,
lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!” (ESV)
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In Jed Gillis's sermon on Psalm 50, he explores the profound idea that God is entirely self-sufficient and needs nothing from us. He emphasizes that everything in creation belongs to God, from the cattle on a thousand hills to the birds of the sky. This understanding is crucial for cultivating a heart of genuine thanksgiving.
Gillis explains that God's people often mistakenly believe their sacrifices fulfill God's needs. However, God clarifies that He does not require anything from humans; instead, He desires a sacrifice of thanksgiving. This means acknowledging God's ownership of all things and expressing gratitude for His provisions.
The sermon contrasts two groups: the faithful ones who make sacrifices with a heart of thanksgiving and the wicked who disregard God's commandments and think they are self-sufficient. The message underscores that true worship involves recognizing our dependence on God and offering sincere thanks for His blessings.
By understanding God's independence and our complete reliance on Him, we can develop an attitude of gratitude that extends beyond Thanksgiving and permeates every day of our lives.
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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 Sight of a Worshipper
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In his sermon "The Sight of a Worshipper," Jed Gillis explores the profound spiritual lessons from John 9:8-41. He begins by reflecting on the blindness that permeates our world—not just physical, but spiritual. The narrative centers around a man born blind, whose encounter with Jesus not only restores his physical sight but gradually opens his eyes to deeper spiritual truths.
The story unfolds through five key conversations, each revealing more about Jesus' identity and mission. Initially, the healed man knows little about Jesus, referring to him as "the man called Jesus." However, as he faces skepticism and interrogation from neighbors and Pharisees, his understanding deepens. By the end of these dialogues, he recognizes Jesus as a prophet and ultimately declares his faith in Him as the Son of Man.
Gillis emphasizes that Jesus' miracles serve to illustrate greater spiritual realities. The man's physical healing acts as a metaphor for gaining spiritual sight—seeing Jesus for who He truly is. He points out that while the formerly blind man's vision improves progressively, the Pharisees grow increasingly blind to the truth due to their rigid adherence to religious customs and fear of losing societal status.
The central message is clear: True sight comes from recognizing and worshipping Jesus as the Christ. This journey from blindness to sight is marked by an ever-deepening understanding of His glory and grace. Gillis concludes by urging listeners to examine whether they truly see Jesus' glory or remain spiritually blind like the Pharisees.
In essence, this sermon calls believers to move beyond superficial understanding and embrace a transformative vision of Christ that leads to genuine worship and wholehearted devotion.
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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: God's Glory Displayed
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John 9:1–12
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” (ESV)
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Jed Gillis delves into John 9:1-12, emphasizing that our sufferings serve a divine purpose. In this passage, Jesus encounters a man blind from birth. His disciples question whose sin caused the blindness—his or his parents'. Jesus clarifies that it wasn't due to anyone's sin but so that God's works might be revealed in him. By healing the man through unconventional means—spitting on the ground, making mud, and instructing him to wash in the pool of Siloam—Jesus not only restores physical sight but also highlights spiritual truths. This act signifies that God's glory can shine through our deepest afflictions. Our sufferings are not random; they are opportunities for God’s glory to manifest. Whether through healing or enduring grace, God’s intentions are always rooted in revealing His magnificence. The ultimate display of this is seen in Christ’s own suffering and resurrection, affirming that our trials are woven into a greater tapestry of divine purpose and glory.
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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.