Evil in an Evening Gown (Proverbs Part 8)

Title: Evil in an Evening Gown
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00:19 Opening Prayer
02:45 Why is the Path of Wisdom So Hard?
04:44 Evil is Not Always Ugly
06:41 A Disclaimer to the Topics of Chapter 5
08:49 Proverbs Five is Talking on Two Different Levels
10:06 The Extended Metaphor of Two Women: Wisdom and Foolishness
13:51 How Do We Pursue Wisdom When Evil is Enticing?
14:33 Temptation Happens Earlier Than We Think
22:56 Evil Spends and Wrecks You
28:12 There is Hope to Turn from Foolishness
32:15 The Way the World Looks at Sexuality
32:30 The World Overvalues Sexuality
34:15 The World Undervalues Sexuality
37:46 Should We Throw Off Human Attraction Entirely?
39:23 Talk to Your Kids
41:19 Enjoy Your Spouse
43:29 Be Crazy Drunk in Love with Wisdom
46:19 Look to God for Hope
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This sermon covers Proverbs 5.
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In his sermon Evil in an Evening Gown from Proverbs 5, Jed Gillis unpacks how evil often comes disguised as something attractive. The chapter warns against adultery, but Gillis highlights that it is also a picture of a deeper reality. Foolishness, like the forbidden woman in the passage, can be appealing and persuasive. It does not always look wrong. It can sound sweet, feel affirming, and appear desirable, which is why relying on what looks or feels good can lead us into destruction.
Gillis points out that Proverbs is not only speaking about physical immorality. The forbidden woman is also a symbol for folly itself. Her lips drip honey, her speech is smooth, but the result is bitterness and ruin. The warning is clear: temptation begins earlier than we think, often in the heart and through words that play to our desires. Whether in self-pity, pride, or resentment, foolishness whispers things that seem right but are deeply harmful.
Folly not only deceives, it also depletes. It spends your energy, steals your joy, and leaves you with lasting regret. Yet the message is not without hope. Gillis emphasizes that God’s wisdom brings life. The passage encourages delighting in the spouse of your youth, but the bigger picture is about being captivated by wisdom itself. Just as marriage is meant to reflect intimacy, trust, and joy, so too is our relationship with God’s wisdom.
The final call is to love discipline, seek wise correction, and rejoice in God’s design. Even if past choices have brought pain, God offers restoration. Gillis urges the listener to ask, “What kind of foolishness looks good to me?” Evil may dress up in beauty, but it still leads to death. Wisdom, however, offers joy, peace, and true life.
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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.
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