Pastor Kevin Sadler presents the transforming power of God's grace in the podcast version of our popular television show "Transformed By Grace", from the Berean Bible Society.
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This episode explores Judges 16, which recounts Samson’s tragic downfall and final victory: after falling in love with the ill-intentioned and persistent Delilah, in a moment of weakness, he revealed the secret of his strength—his uncut hair as a Nazarite vow—allowing the Philistines to shave, capture, and blind him. At a great feast honoring their god, Dagon, the Philistines brought the blinded Samson out to entertain the crowd; he prayed for strength “only this once,” grasped the two central pillars, and collapsed the temple, killing more of Israel’s enemies in his death than he had in his l
The Passover, we see in this study of Exodus 12, is presented as a powerful prophecy of the Cross, showing how God delivers His people through the death of a spotless substitute. Israel was spared from judgment only when the lamb’s blood was applied to their doorposts, picturing how Christ—the perfect, sinless Lamb of God—must be personally trusted for salvation. Every detail of the Passover lamb finds fulfillment in Jesus’ crucifixion. Just as Israel found safety behind blood sealed doors, all who trust that Christ died for their sins and rose again are redeemed—safe and set free to live a ne
In this episode, Israel’s thirst and Moses striking the rock foreshadows Christ being smitten at the Cross to provide the “living water” of eternal life. The pre-incarnate Lord stood upon the rock that Moses struck, showing that the blow of judgment fell not on the guilty people but on a Substitute—just as Christ bore God’s wrath for sinners. The Apostle Paul later explains “that Rock was Christ,” creating a vivid illustration of His once for all sacrifice. When Moses later struck the rock a second time, he distorted this picture, underscoring that Christ’s offering is never to be repeated and
Isaiah 53, we learn in this message, gives a stunning prophetic portrait of Christ’s substitutionary death, written 700 years before the Cross and fulfilled perfectly in Jesus. Israel would one day recognize that the One they despised and rejected was actually pierced and crushed for their sins. The chapter describes His silent suffering, His violent death, His burial with the rich, and His resurrection, showing that His sacrifice fully satisfied God’s justice. Through this Servant Who “poured out His soul unto death,” God provides complete salvation to all who put their faith and trust in Chr
In this teaching, we see that Psalm 22 is a prophetic portrait of Christ’s crucifixion, written 1,000 years before it happened and long before crucifixion even existed. The psalm reveals the many circumstances surrounding the Cross work of Christ—His cry of abandonment, the mockery He endured, His physical agony, and the piercing of His hands and feet—all fulfilled exactly in the Gospels. It shows both the horror of His suffering and the holiness of the Father who forsook Him as He bore our sin. The psalm ends in triumph, anticipating Christ’s resurrection and His declaration of God’s name to
The story of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 is used to show how Christ’s Cross provides the only remedy for humanity’s deadly “snakebite” of sin. In this study, we learn that Israel’s murmuring brought God’s judgment through fiery serpents, yet God offered instant healing through a bronze serpent lifted on a pole—anyone who looked at it lived. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that this foreshadowed Him being “lifted up,” so that all who look to Him in faith receive eternal life. Just as the Israelites were saved by simply looking, sinners today are saved by believing that Christ was made sin for
In this lesson, the tabernacle is presented as a rich prophetic picture of Christ. Its single entrance symbolizes Christ as the only way to God, while the brazen altar at the gate shows that no one can approach God without a blood sacrifice, foreshadowing the Cross. The laver, the Holy Place furniture, and the Ark of the Covenant each point to Christ, and even the layout of the tabernacle forms the shape of a cross, emphasizing that Christ’s sacrifice is the center of God’s plan of redemption. https://bereanbiblesociety.org/tbg-episode/103-the-tabernacle/ Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-
Abraham’s offering of Isaac is presented here as a profound foreshadowing of the Cross, revealing the depth of the Father’s love in giving His only Son. This episode highlights Abraham’s unwavering faith, Isaac’s willing submission, and the symbolism of the wood, fire, and location—each pointing to Christ’s sacrificial death at Calvary. God ultimately provides a substitute, the ram, portraying Christ as our Substitute Who bears our sins. Isaac’s figurative “death and resurrection” anticipates the true death and resurrection of Christ, displaying God’s provision and redemptive plan. https://ber
The outcome of the fight between David and Goliath was certainly unexpected to all who were present that day. In this episode, we continue our walk through this well-known account and then see how it all points forward to the Seed of David, the Lord Jesus Christ. In the face of discouragement, David refuses to be deterred and declares that the Lord will deliver him from this uncircumcised Philistine who defies “the armies of the living God.” Ultimately, David miraculously triumphs over Goliath in a battle that pictures Christ facing off against the devil at the Cross, where God delivers total
The most famous battle in the Old Testament was not fought between two armies, but instead between two men. In this teaching on 1 Samuel 17, the Philistines set up a nearby camp opposite Israel, where their champion giant Goliath emerges twice daily to taunt the Israelite army with a one-on-one representative challenge, as he defies “the armies of the living God.” David, a young shepherd who is sent by his father with food supplies for his three older brothers at the front, arrives at the battlefield just as Goliath issues the challenge again and is ready by faith to accept the fight. The acco
Here in Revelation 22, we understand more about Israel’s eternal home and her place of glory on the new earth in the new Jerusalem, from where the Lord Jesus Christ will rule and reign. This lesson looks into the vision of the new Jerusalem as a living city where “a pure river of [the] water of life” flows from “the throne of God and of the Lamb” and “the tree of life” yields monthly fruit, symbolizing eternal provision and restoration. The curse from the Fall will be removed, God’s throne will be established there, and the redeemed will experience the joyful, active service and reign of God’s
In this episode, we learn that in the new Jerusalem, gold will be so plentiful it will be the pavement on which people will walk! The closing verses of Revelation 21 portray the new Jerusalem as a radiant, gold paved holy city that needs no sun or moon because “the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” The passage emphasizes the city’s interior splendor—streets of pure gold like transparent glass—and that its open gates welcome the saved nations and their kings who bring honor into the city. The new Jerusalem is Israel’s eternal capital on the renewed earth and celeb
This message examines the new Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal, divinely prepared capital—a vast, cube-shaped city descending from heaven, radiant with God’s glory and built of precious stones and pure gold. It emphasizes the city’s perfect, orderly design and its symbolic features of twelve gates and twelve foundations. The city is presented as the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Israel and a place of honor for the prophetic saints, while the Church retains its heavenly citizenship, but will still have access to the earth and the new Jerusalem as part of the family of God. https://bere
When you read all the fine details about the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21 and 22, and the glory, beauty, and intricacy of it, you see how much God loves the redeemed saints from His prophetic program. In this teaching, we learn of the city’s majestic features: great walls with twelve gates named for Israel’s tribes, twelve foundations bearing the apostles’ names, and brilliance that needs no sun. The new Jerusalem is presented as Israel’s earthly hope—while the Church’s hope remains in heaven. Overall, the passage highlights God’s loving preparation, the permanence of His promises, and the j
We can’t always trust people’s words. But we can always trust God’s words, which will be fulfilled exactly as He has said in His Word. This episode opens with Revelations 21:5, where the Lord Jesus Christ says to the Apostle John that His promises about the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem are certain and must be recorded “for these words are true and faithful.” Later, Christ identifies Himself as “Alpha and Omega,” underscoring His divine sovereignty and the finality of God’s plan. God’s Word is true and faithful to what it promises to both believers and unbelievers. The moment you tr
Revelation 21 describes the eternal state in which God creates a new heaven and new earth, with the new Jerusalem descending from heaven to the earth as a holy, radiant city where God will dwell with His people. It emphasizes that the first heaven and earth will pass away, the curse of sin will be removed, and the new creation will be free from death, sorrow, and suffering. The new Jerusalem is pictured as a bride adorned for her Husband and will be inhabited by the redeemed, who will live in God’s immediate presence. In this lesson, we also learn how many of the things that are true for Israe
In this episode, we learn that when unbelievers stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment, they will not be judged by the code of morality they have written for themselves, but by God's perfect standard. And because they died in their sins and unrighteousness, all who appear at this judgment will be eternally condemned to a place of eternal torment in the lake of fire. May these sobering truths drive us toward fulfilling our commission to beg people to be reconciled to God before it’s too late. There are many roads to hell, but there is only one way to avoid it—believing that Chri
This teaching explains that during the Millennial Kingdom, many people born into its perfect conditions will still reject Christ—not believing He is the Messiah and the Son of God—and that after 1,000 years, Satan will be released to deceive those unbelievers and gather them for a final rebellion. That revolt will instantly be destroyed when God sends fire from heaven, and Satan is then cast into the lake of fire to be tormented forever. This passage in Revelation 20 illustrates that human hearts remain sinful apart from new birth, so even utopian conditions cannot produce universal faith, and
This message focuses on Revelation 20:4-6, which explains that Tribulation martyrs who refuse the beast’s mark will be resurrected in the “first resurrection,” given thrones and priestly authority, and will live and reign with Christ for 1,000 years. The “rest of the dead” (unbelievers) will not be raised until after the Millennium and will face final judgment. Although this passage emphasizes Israel’s role as priests in the earthly kingdom, we as members of the Body of Christ can also be urged to live with eternity in view, and that faithful service as Christ’s ambassadors will be rewarded wi
We begin a series that examines the events that the Apostle John saw leading up to and then into the eternal state, as recorded in the last three chapters of the Book of Revelation. As we’re bombarded with chaos, temptation, deception, broken families, corrupt governments, and opposition against God—much of which is the result of Satan’s work—it is very comforting to know that the devil’s days are numbered. We are reminded in this episode that God is in control and will have the final say over the devil. Satan has made the fatal choice in rebelling against God and at first will be bound for 1,
After being “delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,” the Apostle Paul arranges a meeting with the Jewish rulers of the synagogues in Rome to explain why he was a prisoner there and, chiefly, to share the truth with them of Christ’s resurrection and the gospel of grace. We learn in this episode that the response of the Jews to Paul’s teaching in Rome was mixed, but a familiar one: some were persuaded by what had been spoken and believed, and others believed not. But this never deterred Paul, the preacher, as he boldly and unashamedly proclaimed the Word, so that others
On the return leg of his third apostolic journey, with his destination being Jerusalem, the Apostle Paul makes a stopover in Miletus to meet with the elders of the Ephesian church to give them instruction, warning and encouragement. This episode reveals Paul’s three-point discourse to the church’s leadership. He reviews his past three-year ministry in Ephesus, informs the men of his present situation and current ministry and journey to Jerusalem, and reminds the elders of their future responsibilities as the spiritual leaders of their flock. https://bereanbiblesociety.org/tbg-episode/378-milet
Paul’s second apostolic journey brings him to Athens, the intellectual center of the Greek world at that time. While there, he engages in dialogue in the synagogue with Jews and Gentiles about Christ, and also in the marketplace, where he interacts with everyday Athenians and also two groups of philosophers, who bring the apostle to Mars’ Hill to explain his “strange” teaching of Christ and the resurrection to the city’s main Council. We see in this episode that Paul’s purpose in his message that day was to convict the idol-worshipping Athenians of their accountability to the one true God. htt
As the Apostle Paul continues his talk in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia to both Jews and some Gentiles, he turns to the heart of his message—the resurrection of Christ—and how it was the fulfillment of prophetic promises in the Old Testament. In this episode we see that while his first teaching there was warmly received, his following week’s sermon stirred up opposition among antagonistic, non-believing Jews. This prompted Paul to make one of his three pronouncements in the Book of Acts that he was turning to the Gentiles with his message of grace. https://bereanbiblesociety.org/tbg-epis
In Acts 13, the Apostle Paul is on his first apostolic journey, during which he faithfully and boldly proclaimed God’s Word primarily to the nations. In our lives and ministries, we, too, need to bring the truth of the Word of God to both unbelievers and believers. Here, in the first of two episodes that chronicle Paul’s visit to Antioch of Pisidia in Asia Minor, however, the apostle starts off preaching to mostly Jews in the local synagogue, outlining God’s providential care during Israel’s history, and then explaining how prophecy was fulfilled when the nation rejected and killed her promise
