What’s included in the program?

The course visits key biblical places from the Old and New Testaments, including most (but not all) landscapes associated with the life and ministry of Jesus. It also includes a few places not commonly featured in our other courses. With a focus on the land—and the material culture of the Bible—the program includes archaeological parks and museums. Contemporary issues of the Bible Lands are also engaged, though in less depth than in our longer courses. The course includes a 2-day/1-night trip to the Galilee. Each iteration varies, but the program generally includes:

• Biblical Jerusalem. From the First and Second Temple periods (from the time of David and Solomon through Jesus’ day), including the City of David and remains of Herod’s Temple complex.
• Holy Week Commemorations. The Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, and the Holy Sepulchre.
• Biblical Judea. Bethlehem and, when possible, Hebron or Herodium.
• Biblical Samaria. Sites such as Shiloh, Mt Gerizim, Jacob’s Well, ancient Shechem, and Sebastia.
• Jordan River Valley. The Judean Wilderness, Jordan River, Jericho, and the Dead Sea, including renewal of baptismal vows at Jesus’ baptismal site.
• Galilee (2‑day/1‑night excursion). Nazareth and Sea of Galilee sites associated with Jesus’ ministry.
• Archaeological Sites. Including the Israel Museum.

The aims of Introduction to the Bible Lands

The course integrates critical learning, spiritual reflection, and engagement with contemporary realities in the Holy Land. Participants will:

• Gain introductory, empirical knowledge of biblical topography in Israel and Palestine.
• Explore archaeological and historical contexts that illuminate Scripture.
• Encounter biblical narratives in place, deepening understanding through embodied learning.
• Engage the Holy Land as Christian pilgrims, integrating biblical, historical, and contemporary studies with spiritual reflection, prayer, and worship.
• Encounter the storied landscapes of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
• Engage local Christian communities and explore contemporary issues in Israel and Palestine through multiple perspectives.
• Return renewed in faith, equipped to enrich life and ministry back home.
• Share the experience of the Holy Land—its peoples, problems, hopes, and prayers—with others.

The Course Leader and Program Team

The Introduction to the Bible Lands study pilgrimages are generally led by course director, Rodney Aist. The program team includes Dean Richard Sewell, a course chaplain, and commonly a course assistant. Additional speakers contribute to the course.

Resources and Readings

Participants receive a recommended reading list upon registration. A key resource is Jerusalem Bound: How to Be a Pilgrim in the Holy Land by Rodney Aist (Cascade, 2020).

Contact

For questions about the program, contact Course Director Rodney Aist at coursedirector@sgcjerusalem.org.