Biblical Places Spiritual Spaces
Wilderness of Zin, Negev Desert, February 2006
Walk with us through many of the Biblical sites that we have visited over these past 20 plus years. Experience the culture, read the original language, and hear what those living in these places during Biblical times understood God to say.
Below is a quick table of contents divided into regions with links to each site along with the scriptures covered.
Scroll further down for a more complete description and photo of each site in alphabetical order.
You will notice some "quick tours" that have many of the photos but less content than the normal tour. Some sites are worthy to study the letters written to these congregations in later years- such as Corinth, Thessalonica, and Colassae.
Other sites have the 'class graphics' we use in our classroom and Sunday morning presentations.
All photos have been taken by us over the years, with additions of our study tour buddies Craig Englert, Luke Boadhurst, Tim Walsh, Ben Massenburg, and Dottie Smith.
Grab a cup of coffee and tea, sit back and experience each of these memorable place of Biblical history, and let God show you what He has for you as you absorb His words in the context of that local culture.
It's all about experiencing Him!
Table of Contents
Israel
Judea
Caesarea Maritima - The War for our Hearts
Rom 12:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13-19, ! Cor 13:1, 2 Cor 10:3-6
Wadi Qelt - Love God, Love Your Neighbor
Luke 10:25-27, Matt 22:34-40, Deut 6:4-9, Lev 19:18, John 14 & 15
Joppa/Jaffa - Jonah and The Calling
Jonah Chapters 1 thru 4
The Walls of Jerusalem - Following God's plan
Nehemiah Chapters 1 thru 13
A Traditional Judean Vineyard - I am the Vine
Psalm 104, John 15:1-7
Jericho - How walls come down
Josh 2:1-21, 6:20-25, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 19:1-10, James 2:14-26
The Wilderness Tabernacle - How we are to approach God
Leviticus Chapter 1 thru 5, Exodus 28
Sheep and Shepherds
Psalm 23, John 21
Nazareth & Bethlehem
The Real Christmas Story
The Wilderness of Zin
Numbers 20, Deut 32, Psalm 81 & 95, Hebrews 3
Jerusalem
The South Steps of the Temple
Acts 3 & 4
The Holy Sepulcher - Redemption
John 19, Matthew 27, Mark 16, Luke 23
Galilee
Beth Shean - The Prodigal
Luke 15
Capernaum - The Hometown of Jesus
John 21
Sepphoria - Understanding the Law
Psalm 19, Matthew 5, Exodus 24, Leviticus 18
Mount of Beatitudes - Jesus' most famous teaching
Matthew Chapters 5 thru 7
Geography: Mt Arbel, Capernaum, Valley of Elah
1 Samuel 17, John 4:46-54, Matt 8:5-13, Luke 8:40-56, Matt 18:1-6
Tell Dan - The story of one of God's Chosen
1 Kings 11:26-39, 1 Kings 12:1-33, 1 Kings 13:1-10, 2 Kings 23:15-16
Banyas - Upon This Rock
Matt 16:1-20, Romans 1:18-25
Sea of Galilee
Mark 4 & 5
Nazareth & Bethlehem
The Real Christmas Story
Greece
Paul's Greece Mission - From Philippi to Corinth
Paul's Greece Mission Graphics
Philippi - God's Greater Plan
Acts Chapters 11, 15, & 16
Thessaloniki and Berea - Making Disciples
Acts 17, 1 Thessalonians chapter 1-4
Athens - Speaking to the Philosophers of this age
Acts 17
Corinth - A Sailors town
Acts 18:1-17, 1 Corinthians Chapters 1 thru 16
Turkiye
Colossae, Hierapolis, and Laodicea
Colossians Chapter 1-4, Revelation 3:14-22
Ephesus
Acts 19, Ephesians 1-6
Miletus
Acts Chapter 20
Your hosts for these study tours:
Randy & Dottie Smith, Directors of Christian Travel Study Programs
Laura & Michael Bagby, Directors of Seek The Lamb
Check out the schedule for the upcoming study tours to Israel, Greece, Turkiye & Italy:
Christian Travel Study Programs
Our family has been with Randy and Dottie on numerous study trips to Israel, Greece, Turkiye and Italia.
Clockwise: Arielle, Mikaela, Michael, Laura, Lukas, Baby Moselle
Jerusalem 2000
Michael, Lukas, Laura, Arielle & Mikaela
Sea of Galilee 1999 and 2018
The Biblical Sites in alphabetical order:
Athens
How do we reach the philosophers of our age? Paul traveled to the cultural center of his world and using a historical event and referring to two of their owm poets, he gave them a message that reached their minds and hearts.
Athens: Engaging the philosophers of our time
A Quick Tour of Athens
Athens Class Graphics
Banyas - Caesarea Philippi
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"
Beth Shean - Scytholopolis
The largest archeological site in Israel is one of the Greco-Roman cities that battled for the hearts and minds of the people. Jesus using the image of a 'distant land' in a cultural sense to vividly describe the nature of sin in one of his most famous parables.
Beth Shean - The Prodigal
Caesarea Maritima
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
Colossae, Hierapolis & Laodicea - What Kind of Water are We?
Colossae- at the base of the mountains where the cool waters flow
Hierapolis- the warm healing spring coming out of the mountains on the opposite side of the valley
Laodicea- the rich city in the plain in between Colossae and Hierapolis where the water was lukewarm and disagreeable
Colossae Hierapolis Laodicea
Corinth- A Sailor's Town
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 - A Sailors Town
Ephesus - Paul's most audacious ministry
Home of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Ephesus is a center of demonic activity where Paul and his team establish a thriving body of believers.
Ephesus - The Scriptures & The Power
The Holy Sepulcher - Where redemption happened
An abandoned 5th Century BC quarry is the scene where our salvations was paid for and where Jesus proved He is indeed God! Now there is a church sitting atop this site.
The Holy Sepucher - Jesus Redeems
Jericho - The oldest city in the world
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
Joppa - Where the prophet ran
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
A Traditional Judan Vineyard
A visit to a typical Judean Vineyard reveals some deeper truths about Jesus's "I am the Vine" comments.
A Judean Vineyard - "I am the Vine"
Miletus - meeting dear friends and ministy partners
Paul stop on his way back to Jerusalem in the port city of Miletus, where he invites his friends from Ephesus to walk the 50 mile for a visit. During their time together, Paul exhorts them as well as us in the significant elements of effective ministry.
Miletus - Humility, Tears and Trials
Mount of Beatitudes - Jesus' teaching amazes the crowd
Alongside the Sea of Galilee is a site where Jesus spoke to a large crowd and told them about The Kingdom of God and how we are to understand our relationship with God. It is one of the most quoted and profound teachings in all history.
Mount of Beatitudes - Jesus' Most Famous Teaching
Mount Arbel, Elah, and Capernaum - Geographical Context
The Geography of the Holy Land often reveals deeper meaning to the events described in the Bible. Here are a few famous examples.
Mount Arbel, Elah & Capernaum
Nazareth & Bethlehem - God arrives on Earth
The Real Christmas Story is told through the geography, history and culture of the Biblical narrative
Nazareth & Bethlehem - the Redeemer Arrives
Philippi - Paul plants the first Chuch in Europe
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!
Sea of Galilee - Jesus' fishing place
The largest lake in the Middle East is the centerpiece of the ministry of Jesus, where over 60% of his words were spoken. Let's spend one day with Jesus and his disciples as the encounter a storm, a demon possessed man, a bleeding woman and a dead child.
Sea of Galilee - The Power of the Messiah
Sepphoris - The principles of the Law
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
Sheep and Shepherds - God's care of us
The Bible is filled with the imagery of shepherds caring for their sheep. The First Century person understands what it means to be a sheep, and how shepherds lead there sheep. Psalm 23 is one of the richest and most quoted passages of Scripture. How would true Biblical understanding of this passage help us understand our roles as sheep and shepherds?
Sheep and Shepherds
Tel Dan - Evidence of Disobedience and God's Mercy
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?
Tel Dan - The Story of One of God's Chosen
Thessalonika and Berea - Personal Relational Discipleship
There are many in our modern churches who call themselves "Christians". They occasionally come to our gatherings, sometimes read their Bible, and are heavily influenced by their surrounding culture. They are the products of our modern 'culturally sensitive' discipleship efforts and some have never experienced the presence or power of God.
How did Paul and his team make disciples in such a short time on his first two missionary journeys? Is there anything we might learn about disciplemaking that may apply to our modern situations?
Thessalonica and Berea - Relational Discipleship
Wadi Qelt- The Ancient Road to Jericho and Jerusalem
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 along with an understanding of "The Greatest Commandments."
Wadi Qelt - The Good Samaritan
The Walls of Jerusalem - Nehemiah rebuilds the walls
How does God solve the problems of humanity. Often it is to us a most unlikely resource- us. Nehemiah was such an unlikely character.
The Walls of Jerusalem - Following God's Bigger Plan
The Wilderness Tabernacle - God's Design for Relationship
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
The Wilderness of Zin - Entering Into Our Rest
God brought his people into the Wilderness of Zin where they demanded food and water from Moses. God responded and then Moses responded in a angry and frustrated manner. There were consequences for the Hebrew people as well as Moses.
What can we learn from this journy through the Wilderness of Zin? Many practical applications!
The Wilderness of Zin - Entering into Our Rest
Your Guides to Biblical Places-Dr Rndall Smith & Michael Bagby
Caesarea Maritima
Haas Promenade Jerusalem
Tagba, Sea of Galilee
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 for our groups 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.
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.
Please let me know what you think at gmbagby@gmail.com.
Thanks
Michael
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