Wisdom's Dawn | Proverbs Part 6

Title: Wisdom's Dawn
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02:43 Reading Proverbs 4
03:44 God's Wisdom is Wonderful
04:20 Solomon's Family History of Following God's Wisdom
05:43 A Community of Wisdom
07:33 Inspiring a Love of Wisdom in Those we Influence
09:45 What if I Don't Have Godly Examples?
12:44 You're Invited into One of Two Communities: Godly or Worldly Wisdom
15:03 Do Whatever It Takes to Marry Wisdom
16:55 If You Run, You Won't Stumble
19:37 Wisdom is a Path, Not a Door
22:59 Avoid the Path of the Wicked
25:33 Hate Temptation Immediately
27:22 The Destructive Community of Addiction
30:19 The Results of the Wicked Path
30:28 The Wicked are Blinded to What Makes Them Stumble
33:48 There is Hope
37:02 Take One Step
40:49 Depend on Christ for Change
42:49 Turn From Foolishness, and Walk Together in Wisdom, Motivated by Worship, and Encouraged by Hope.
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Proverbs 4:1–19
Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble. (ESV)
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Jed Gillis walks through Proverbs 4:1–19, unpacking the call to pursue wisdom not out of fear but out of joy. God’s instruction isn’t just “don’t do that or it’ll end badly.” Instead, Proverbs invites us into a life that is both protected and flourishing—a life where wisdom is a treasure worth pursuing at all costs. Gillis highlights that wisdom is not merely about avoiding destruction but embracing life with God, in a community shaped by generations of faithful pursuit. 
Drawing from Solomon’s recounting of his father’s instruction, Gillis emphasizes the value of passing down a love for wisdom, not just knowledge. He presses the listener to see wisdom as a path, not a one-time decision, and challenges us to avoid even a single step onto the path of foolishness, warning of its addictive and destructive pull. Yet, the message isn’t just caution—it’s hope. The path of the righteous, like dawn, begins with a flicker and grows ever brighter. Even if you feel stuck or in deep darkness, the call is to take just one step toward Jesus, trusting that He is the light that will shine brighter and brighter until full day.
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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 encour