We made our first trip to Israel in 1997 and became friends with Dr Randy Smith, a graduate of Hebrew University with a PhD. in Comparative Religion/Rabbinical Literature as well as a MS in Archeology. At the the time, Randy was training and certifying all the guides for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. We quickly realized that he understood the culture and history of the Bible.

He invited us to return to Jerusalem in 1999 to work with him, and we spent the summer and part of the fall living in an apartment in Downtown Jerusalem. We returned the following year (2000) during the uprising by the Palestinian Authority to secure more land in the 'Two State" negotiations, and many Israelis were being shot at bus stops and bridge overpasses. Tourism died, and many of Randy's Arab and Jewish friends were economically desperate. We began buying groceries and delivering them to families in Bethlehem, Bet Jala, and Gilo. That grew to a relief project that we operated out of Randy & Dottie's garage for the next three years.

Celebrating Randy's birthday in Jerusalem in 1999 with Dottie.

Randy and Dottie had to leave Jerusalem after waking up one morning with five bullets ricocheting around their bedroom. They brought their family to Florida, where over the next year Randy started the Great Commission Bible School in Sebring and came to Nicaragua to teach pastoral training conferences in our school district along the Coco River.

Peace returned to Israel, and Randy began the study tours, with trips also to Italy, Greece and Turkey. Randy has taught us about the geography, history, culture, politics, customs, and the languages of the Biblical lands, and helped us understand what the authors of the Bible were communicating. We have been taken out of our 21st Century world into the culture and time of the Bible. It has been a very rich experience for many who have traveled with us on our study tour trips.

Dottie, Laura, Larissa, Aaron, Michael & Randy

Istanbul 2021

After we returned from our seventh study tour of Israel in May of 2023, I began teaching a Saturday morning group at the Rio Coco Cafe some of the lessons that we have learned on the Biblical sites in Israel, as well as Italy, Greece and Turkey. We first tour the site using the photographs that we have taken over the years, talking about the significant contextual points. Then we read what the Bible has to say about that particular site, and the lessons we learned with Randy while on the site.

I decided at the beginning of 2024 that I should post these lessons on our site with as many photos as possible, and share the lessons that we have learned, hoping that it will enrich your Biblical studies as well as inspire and encourage you in your personal walk and ministry with the King.

Let me know what you think at gmbagby@gmail.com.

Thanks

Michael Bagby

Clockwise: Arielle, Mikaela, Michael, Laura, Lukas, Baby Moselle

Jerusalem 2000

Michael, Lukas, Laura, Arielle & Mikaela

Sea of Galilee 1999 and 2018

Sea of Galilee 2006 & 2018

Clockwise: Moselle, Arielle, Mikaela, Michael, Laura& Lukas

The Sites:

How does God solve the problems of humanity. Often it is to us a most unlikely resource- us.

The Walls of Jerusalem - Following God's Plan

What is the lesson of the prophet who ended up in the belly of a big fish? You might be surprised how much each of us are like Jonah.

Joppa - Jonah and The Calling

What do you think of when you hear the word 'Jericho?'
The walls did come down for three individuals from Jericho.

Jericho- How The Walls Come Down

A visit to a typical Judean Vineyard reveals some deeper truths about Jesus's "I am the Vine" comments.

A Traditional Judean Vineyard - I am the Vine

The Geography of the Holy Land often reveals deeper meaning to the events described in the Bible. Here are a few famous examples.

Georgaphy - The Valley of Elah, Mt Arbel & Capernaum

The battle for the hearts and minds of a culture is always present, especially when the Greco-Roman pagan practices collide with the Judea-Christian Biblical worldview. It was happening in the First Century as it is happening now.

Caesarea Maritima - The War for our Hearts

Sepphoris was town that was rebuilt during the early First Century by workers from nearby Nazareth. It is probable that Joseph and his son Jesus were constructors who worked on that project. Sepphoris became a center of Rabbinical study in the First and Second Century. What does the Laws given to Moses have to do with the modern day follower of Jesus? You may be surprised by what Jesus said....

Sepphoris - Understanding the Law

God showed Moses how we are to approach God through the design of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Dr. Randy Smith rebuilt the Wilderness Tabernacle near the shore of the Dead Sea in 1998 and for years it served as a study center to better understand what God was saying to the Hebrew people through this Divine Design.

The Wilderness Tabernacle- How we are to approach God

Tell Dan is one of the most astounding archeological sites in Israel. The uncovered walls, gates and altar tell us how God interacted with one of his favored individuals, and how that individual responded to God's message and the pressures of society. There are many lessons for those of us called to God's purposes. Can we trust God? Believe His promises? Stand firm against societal pressures? Resist satan's attacks?

Tell Dan - The Story of One of God's Chosen

One of the most refreshing archeological sites in Israel is Banyas, (Biblical name Caesarea Philippi) which is located at the base of the snow covered Mount Hermon. There are multiple waterfalls, streams, and stunning rock formations. In the First Century it was a center of pagan worship. It was here that Jesus took his disciples to ask them the Final Exam question, which is one that all mankind must ultimately answer. The geographical setting may help us understand what Jesus said in response to their answer, and it may change the way we view "making disciples."

Banyas - Caesarea Philippi "Upon This Rock"

There is a pleasant meditation site on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave his most important teaching.

Mount of Beatitudes - Jesus' Most Famous Teaching

It was a warn day in May when one of our friends took us to a pond in a deep gully (wadi) that runs from Jericho up to Jerusalem. As we hiked to the watering hole, a famous story told by Jesus suddenly came to mind, and came to life. "What is the greatest commandment?' is the question. Jesus offers a story that anyone who had walked through this wadi would identify with.

Wadi Qelt - Love God, Love Your Neighbor

A new adventure begins for the Church when the disciples are scattered during the persecution of Stephen. Its not what they expected, It was risky. But this remarkable experience set in motion a series of events over the past two millennium that has resulted in the salvation of us!

Philippi - God's Greater Plan

Paul traveled to the sex capital of the ancient world and was very successful in planting a vibrant church. What happens when you evangelize among those totally caught up in worldly culture? Problems arise, and Paul gives principles to his Corinthian friends that remain helpful in our culture today, which is very similar to First Century Corinthian culture.

Corinth - The Sailors Town

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Biblical Places Spiritual Spaces

Table of Contents

Israel

Greece

The Sites:

How does God solve the problems of humanity. Often it is to us a most unlikely resource- us.

What is the lesson of the prophet who ended up in the belly of a big fish? You might be surprised how much each of us are like Jonah.

What do you think of when you hear the word 'Jericho?'
The walls did come down for three individuals from Jericho.

A visit to a typical Judean Vineyard reveals some deeper truths about Jesus's "I am the Vine" comments.

The Geography of the Holy Land often reveals deeper meaning to the events described in the Bible. Here are a few famous examples.

The battle for the hearts and minds of a culture is always present, especially when the Greco-Roman pagan practices collide with the Judea-Christian Biblical worldview. It was happening in the First Century as it is happening now.

There is a pleasant meditation site on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave his most important teaching.

A new adventure begins for the Church when the disciples are scattered during the persecution of Stephen. Its not what they expected, It was risky. But this remarkable experience set in motion a series of events over the past two millennium that has resulted in the salvation of us!

Corinth - The Sailors Town

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Table of Contents

Israel

Greece

The Sites:

How does God solve the problems of humanity. Often it is to us a most unlikely resource- us.

What is the lesson of the prophet who ended up in the belly of a big fish? You might be surprised how much each of us are like Jonah.

What do you think of when you hear the word 'Jericho?' The walls did come down for three individuals from Jericho.

A visit to a typical Judean Vineyard reveals some deeper truths about Jesus's "I am the Vine" comments.

The Geography of the Holy Land often reveals deeper meaning to the events described in the Bible. Here are a few famous examples.

The battle for the hearts and minds of a culture is always present, especially when the Greco-Roman pagan practices collide with the Judea-Christian Biblical worldview. It was happening in the First Century as it is happening now.

There is a pleasant meditation site on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave his most important teaching.

A new adventure begins for the Church when the disciples are scattered during the persecution of Stephen. Its not what they expected, It was risky. But this remarkable experience set in motion a series of events over the past two millennium that has resulted in the salvation of us!

Corinth - The Sailors Town

Leave a comment

What do you think of when you hear the word 'Jericho?'
The walls did come down for three individuals from Jericho.