Reverberate: A Berean Bible Church Podcast | Knoxville, TN

Painful Pieces in a Beautiful Story | Reverberate Podcast

Title: Painful Pieces in a Beautiful Story --- 0:00 Introduction 00:37 How Is Everything Beautiful if Despair Exist? 7:15 How Is Everything Beautiful if Evil Exist? 8:58 How Should We Think and Talk About Tragic Situations? 15:43 Trusting God Even If We Don't See the Good 18:11 Avoiding Both Emotional Detachment and Overwhelm 24:40 What's Next? --- Ecclesiastes 3:1–13 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. (ESV) --- Pastor Jed and Jason discuss Ecclesiastes 3 and Solomon’s statement that God has made everything beautiful in its time. They wrestle with how that can be true in a world filled with grief, death, moral evil, and painful stories we do not fully understand. The conversation points to Lazarus, Joseph, and the cross to show that evil is never called good by itself, yet God can make even painful things fit within a larger story of redemption. They also discuss how Christians should grieve honestly, trust God without easy answers, and resist emotional detachment while still resting in the hope of resurrection. --- 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.

Wandering Appetites | Ecclesiastes 6:3-9

Title: Wandering Appetites --- 0:00 Introduction 3:26 Reading Ecclesiastes 3:3-9 4:40 If Your Soul's Not Satisfied, What's the Point? 10:02 What Is Satisfaction? 10:45 Our Appetites Are Never Satisfied 18:00 What Advantage Does the Wise Have Over the Fool? 20:22 Don't Pursue Control. Pursue Good. 24:05 Wandering Appetites 27:54 Looking At the Good that God Has Given Right Now 31:28 The Proper Place for Goals and Ambition 33:28 Where Do You Fail to Enjoy Something Good Because Your Appetite Wanders? 35:42 The Woman at the Well 41:07 Closing Prayer --- Ecclesiastes 6:3–9 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place? All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. (ESV) --- Jed Gillis’ sermon on Ecclesiastes 6:3–9, “Wandering Appetites,” shows how easily the human soul chases satisfaction in things that cannot finally satisfy. Solomon points out that even a long life, many blessings, wisdom, work, money, relationships, safety, or achievement cannot give lasting rest when the soul keeps wandering toward “just a little bit more.” Rather than pursuing control, God calls His people to pursue what is good, to see and enjoy the gifts He has already given, and to bring every restless appetite back to Christ, the only one who can truly satisfy the soul. --- 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.

How to Be Less Alone at Church | Reverberate Podcast

Title: How to Be Less Alone at Church --- 0:00 Introduction 0:39 What Does True Community Look Like in the Church? 7:16 If Community Has So Many Benefits, Why Do People Choose Isolation? 12:43 How Do We Draw Isolated People In Without Overwhelming Them? 18:11  Do Churches Sometimes Hurt Community Through Busyness 22:18 How Can Someone Cultivate Community in a Stagnant Culture? 29:09 What's Next --- Ecclesiastes 4:6–12 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (ESV) --- In this episode of Reverberate, Pastor Jed and Jason discuss Ecclesiastes 4 and its picture of true community. The conversation explains that biblical community is more than being in the same room, attending the same events, or exchanging surface-level conversation. Real community gives purpose, creates opportunities to help one another flourish, restores those who fall, strengthens the weak, and reminds believers that life is not meant to be lived alone. Pastor Jed also addresses why people often choose isolation, especially after hurt, fear, pride, or a desire for control, while emphasizing that the gospel gives believers enough security to risk loving others again. The episode closes by calling the church to pursue isolated people with gentleness and by reminding individuals that programs can create opportunities, but people create community through repeated, intentional love. --- 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.

Adam, Eli, and David: A Warning to Men

Title: Adam, Eli, and David: A Warning to Men --- 0:00 It's Father's Day 0:48 Adam, Eli, and David: Examples of Passivity 6:50 Adam, The Passivity of Silence 16:29 Eli, The Passivity of Weak Correction 26:11 David, the Passivity of Indulgence 32:29 Jesus Succeeds Where These Men Failed 34:50 Practical Questions Worthy of Consideration 40:06 God Calls Us to Faithful Responsibility --- Genesis 3:1–7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. (ESV) 1 Samuel 2:22–25 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death. (ESV) 1 Kings 1:5–6 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. (ESV) --- In “Adam, Eli, and David: A Warning to Men,” George Waller warns that some of the most serious failures in Scripture came through passive men who failed to take responsibility when God had called them to act. Adam shows the danger of silence, standing by while God’s Word was questioned. Eli shows the danger of weak correction, speaking against sin but failing to restrain it. David shows the danger of indulgence, loving his son without confronting him. Together, these examples call men to humble, sacrificial engagement in their homes, friendships, church, and ministries. The hope of the sermon is found in Jesus, who succeeds where these men failed and gives grace for men to repent, lead with courage, speak truth in love, and faithfully care for those entrusted to them. --- 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.

Grief, Joy, and the Resurrection | Reverberate Podcast

Title: Grief, Joy, and the Resurrection --- 0:00 Introduction 0:29 How Does The Resurrection Illuminate Ecclesiastes? 7:04 How Can Ecclesiastes Help Us Talk With Unbelievers? 10:23 How Can Ecclesiastes Guide the Way We Comfort Others 13:27 Staying Grounded Without Pulling People Down 16:33 Taking Joy In the Fleeting Nature of Life 18:32 Pastoring a Depressed Ecclesiastes Reader 22:30 What's Next? --- * John 11:1-44: The story of Lazarus. Jesus delays, Lazarus dies, Mary and Martha grieve, Jesus weeps, and then Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. * John 11:11-14: “Lazarus has fallen asleep.” Jesus explains that Lazarus has died. * John 11:21, 32: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Martha and Mary both say this to Jesus. * John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” * John 11:43-44: Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb. * 1 Corinthians 15:20-23: Christ has been raised, and those who belong to Christ will also be raised. * 1 Thessalonians 4:13: Believers grieve, but “not as others do who have no hope.” * Matthew 6:19-20: Lay up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not steal. * 2 Corinthians 4:16-17: “Our outer self is wasting away,” but God is preparing “an eternal weight of glory.” * Philippians 3:20: “Our citizenship is in heaven.” * Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” * Ecclesiastes 1:2: “Vanity of vanities.” Life is described as hevel, or breath. * Ecclesiastes 1:3: Life “under the sun.” The episode uses this as a repeated phrase for life viewed apart from resurrection hope. * Ecclesiastes 7:1: “The day of death” is better than “the day of birth.” The episode connects this to a completed life and a good name. * Ecclesiastes 2:24-25: Eating, drinking, and enjoying work are gifts from God. * Ecclesiastes 3:12-13: It is good to rejoice, do good, and enjoy God’s gifts. * Ecclesiastes 5:18-20: Enjoying life, work, food, and drink is described as God’s gift. * Revelation 21:4: God will wipe away every tear. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. * John 3:16: God gave his only Son to redeem and restore. --- Pastor Jed and Jason discuss how the resurrection of Jesus shines light on Ecclesiastes without making light of real sorrow. Ecclesiastes helps us name life under the sun honestly. It is fleeting, painful, limited, and full of both grief and good gifts. The Gospel gives believers a deeper hope because death, injustice, and sadness are not the final word. Through the story of Lazarus, the conversation shows how Jesus grieves death while also holding resurrection power over it. That hope frees Christians to mourn with honesty, enjoy God’s gifts without trying to control them, and speak with unbelievers who feel the emptiness of life under the sun. --- 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.