Skip to main content

Israel Trip Devotional Introduction

Welcome 

Thanks for joining us on this exploration of the Biblical text in preparation for our journey to the Holy Land. Over the coming weeks we will break down the itinerary of our trip into a devotional guide through the Scriptures, giving you one week per itinerary day to prayerfully prepare your heart, mind, and soul for the coming days. Our goal is to help prepare you to absorb and enjoy the sites we will experience together and not be overwhelmed with the information while on the trip. 

 

The Land we experience will bring the Biblical text alive in many ways, so the more familiar we are with the text the more insights we will walk away with. However, reading the entire Bible, and comprehending all the details, before the trip is overwhelming and near impossible. Therefore, we will identify key passages for you to read and reflect on before the trip. This will give you plenty of time to read the full story prior to the trip and allow you to reflect on the key texts while on the trip. 

 

We also want to thank those who want to participate in the devotional even though they cannot join us on the trip. Because this devotional and the trip is based on the Bible and the Land of the Bible, it will benefit all who read along. Our prayer is that your relationship with Jesus and your understanding of His Word will grow deeper as we seek to understand the roots of our faith and see the land where the stories took place. 

 

Remember, this is not a homework assignment. We do not want to add stress to your life. This is to be a helpful tool for you if you choose to engage it. We will provide a variety of helpful options for you in this devotional. You may want to have your own notebook and pen to write a lot, or maybe you just want to read through and be familiar with things. Our goal is for you to enjoy the journey and learn along the way. 

 

What to Expect

 

Devotional Thoughts: Each devotional will begin with a few thoughts to guide our journey. Most days will have a theme selected for our focus as we read and learn together. We know that there are many lessons to be learned from these stories and these places, and we cannot wait to hear how God speaks to you on this trip. The theme selected is what stood out to us as we encountered these locations and passages. 

 

Key Texts: We will identify key passages that will be read on the corresponding day in Israel. We will invite each person on the trip to select a passage or two to read with the group on location. These are shorter texts that will bring focus to our time at each historical site we are at, easy to read the night before, and throughout the day.

 

The Story Texts: We will list the broader sections of Scripture for you to read to understand the fuller story of that day. Depending on the day and the locations will determine how many chapters to cover. This list will be hard to read while we are in Israel but will be helpful to read beforehand. 

 

The Locations: We will focus on the major stops of our itinerary and give some explanation of each location. We may share some of our own observations and thoughts from our first time at that location, share a brief commentary, and connect some Biblical texts to the location. 

 

Reflection Questions: Information alone is good, but reflection on information leads to transformation. We hope to help you grow through thought provoking questions along the way. It is important to remember this is not an assignment for a grade, but a tool for you to enjoy. Sometimes writing an answer will help you remember long term, but some moments are best for quiet contemplation. 

 

`

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Devotional 5.16.25

Yours, O Lord, Is the Kingdom   1 Chronicles 29:10-11 Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.   Scripture Reading: Psalm 70   Psalm 70 is a cry for urgent help: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me!” In contrast, 1 Chronicles 29 declares God’s eternal rule, power, and glory. Together, they reveal two essential truths of faith: God is both near to the needy and exalted above all. We pray for deliverance while praising His unshakable sovereignty. David, in his final prayer, praised the Lord not for personal blessing, but for God’s eternal kingship and majesty. When we feel weak and desperate like the psalmist, we look up and remember the greatness of our God and His amazing love demonstrated in sending Jesus Christ (John 3:16; R...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional 9.5.25

Forgiven and Victorious in Christ 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   Scripture Reading – Psalm 86   Confession is not about wallowing in guilt—it’s about running to the God who is rich in mercy. Psalm 86 reminds us that God is “good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon him.” When we confess, we’re not hoping for forgiveness but claiming the forgiveness already secured in Christ. God’s justice demands sin be dealt with, and in Jesus it has been fully satisfied. The promise of 1 John 1:9 assures us that confession is always met with cleansing, not condemnation. Like the psalmist, we can call upon the Lord with confidence, knowing that He not only hears us but delights to show mercy. Confession restores intimacy with God and renews joy in His steadfast love. Worship often helps us grasp truths Scripture declares.  You’ve Already Won  reminds us that th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional 8.22.25

Our Future Hope    John 14:1–3 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.   Scripture Reading – Psalm 84   Jesus comforts His disciples by promising them a place in His Father’s house. This assurance reminds us that no matter how unsettled or uncertain life feels, our true home is secure in Him. Psalm 84 echoes this longing: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” The psalmist celebrates the joy of God’s presence, where even the sparrow finds a home. Together, these passages show us that the Christian life is not about striving to belong in this world but about resting in the promise of Christ’s eternal dwelling place. A reminder that life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. Our hea...
Post a Comment
Read more