- Southern Steps: How to Finish Well
Date: Oct 20, 2007
Sitting on the ancient steps entering Herod's Temple, cut from the bedrock in Christ day--we are transported back to the day Jesus came as a baby into the Temple. From Luke 2:22-38 we are confronted with two Spirit filled saints. Their names: Simeon and Anna. Their lives: in step with the Spirit. Their ages: very advanced. The lesson: we can walk with the Lord and be fruitful at any stage of our lives, but they show us how especially in the sunset of life.
- Caesarea's Seaport: Sendoff Prayers
Date: Oct 19, 2007
Sitting on the ancient dock of the seaport Paul used during his missionary journeys, leads us to the message of Acts 20:36. Paul exemplifies the holy habit of praying with those who set off on trips. As Paul ask for safety and blessing before he traveled--so should we!
- City of David Palace Rooftop: Beware of Unguarded Moments
Date: Oct 18, 2007
We stand remembering David's fall into sin and the grave consequences as captured in II Samuel 11:1-5 from a rooftop over the excavation area where David's Palace stood. The view looking down into the modern day homes clinging to the steep hillside reminds us how dangerous it was for David to lustfully look at his neighbor and friend's wife Bathsheba. Flee lust as Paul says, and don't feed our flesh is the lesson we learn here.
- Sea of Galilee: Remembering Christ is Our Refuge
Date: Oct 17, 2007
On the quiet waters of the Sea of Galilee, surrounded by the roads that crisscrossed the Land of Israel in Christ's day, we remember the six cities of refuge from Joshua 20:7-8 and how they portray Christ. As Hebrews 6:18 reminds us, we are to flee to Jesus our Refuge each time we feel: unclean (Kedesh), weary (Shechem), homeless (Hebron), helpless (Bezer), hopeless (Ramoth), or tempted (Golan).
- Herodian: Holding Tight to God's Promises
Date: Oct 16, 2007
Sitting on the side of the mountain Herod built, we open to Matthew 2 and consider one of the greatest and most powerful kings of all time--Herod the Great. As we look at the largest palace complex ever built in the ancient world, and think of all his wealth, power, splendor and achievements--we are reminded by the dust and rubble of his desecrated and robbed tomb, that nothing ever lasts. At the instant of death we lose everything but the promises of God. How many of the promises of God are you sure that you are holding tightly to right now?
- Capernaum Synagogue: Feeling the Touch of Jesus
Date: Oct 15, 2007
As we watch Christ through Peter's eyes in Mark 1:41, we see the compassion in Christ's touch of the leper who came to Him in this place so long ago. Like the leper we all come defiled and hopeless to the feet of Jesus, and we look up asking for His touch. In love Jesus touches us, taking our defilement upon Himself and giving us a fresh new eternal beginning. This touch pictures the justification we have in Jesus, erasing the record of our sin, taking our punishment upon Himself, and making us blameless saints!
- Pool of Siloam: Wash My Eyes, I want to See Jesus
Date: Oct 14, 2007
Starting in John 9, we sit by the Pool of Siloam and remember that Jesus opened our blind eyes at salvation, but how quickly they can dim. As Revelation 3:17 reminds us, we need to avoid spiritual cataracts caused by the infectious materialistic world we live in. Avoid the lust for comfort and convenience; and watch out for greed for recognition; and finally stop coveting for security. All of these things dim our eyes and must be avoided if we want to see Christ clearly.
- Jerusalem's Herodian Street: Building for Eternity
Date: Oct 13, 2007
From the remains of 1st Century Jerusalem's streets built by Herod, and walked by Christ and His Apostles, we are reminded to build our lives for eternity. We are each given one life to invest for Jesus, is yours going to fade or last for eternity? As we study II Peter 3:11 and II Timothy 4:6-7 choose to renew your desire to give to Christ what you can never keep, so you can gain what you'll never lose.
- Adullam: Surviving Cave Times
Date: Oct 12, 2007
Under the great oak tree at the foot of the cave of Adullam, I Samuel 22 comes alive as we see David at his lowest point. In this time of depression and distress David walks out of the darkness of the cave and in Psalm 142, teaches us the lesson of looking up and seeing God coming to us through our trials--and DELIVERING us!
- Caesarea: Living Full, Satisfied, and Overflowing
Date: Oct 11, 2007
From Caesarea by the Sea (Maritima) and in John 7:38, God's Word poses us with a fundamental question about how we live each day of our lives. Are you living what God designed you to be? He wants us to be: full, satisfied, and overflowing with Christ. Join us in this study, and start making those little choices to allow Christ to satisfy you!
