1. Book The Land of the an 11 day tour of Israel and Palestine based in Galilee and Bethlehem led by Mike Fuller Friday 3 rd – Monday 13 th July 2015 (in hot weather, staying at inexpensive hotels; planned with theological students in mind)

2. Mike Fuller is a New Wine speaker, international Bible teacher; retired Baptist Minister and teacher of Religious Studies; Tutor in Theology at St Paul’s Theological Centre, Cheltenham; and author of “The Entire Story of the Bible in 50 Minutes” and “A Fool’s Guide to Following Jesus”. The Theological Thinkers tour

3. Friday 3 rd July Morning flight from London Luton to Tel Aviv The Theological Thinkers tour

4. We are then transferred by air- conditioned bus (with Wi-Fi) to our first hotel … Friday 3 rd July The Theological Thinkers tour

5. … in Tiberias, a few hundred yards from the Sea of Galilee Evening free! Friday 3 rd July The Theological Thinkers tour

6. We start the day with an “orientation” multi-media presentation introducing Galilee… Saturday 4 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

7. … then we explore Galilee, passing Mount Tabor (a possible site of the Transfiguration) … Saturday 4 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

8. We visit Cana (the site of Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine) … Saturday 4 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

9. In Nazareth, we visit sites connected with the childhood of Jesus … The Church of the Annunciation The Church of the Well Saturday 4 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

10. … we also visit Nazareth Village, built to show and explain life and trades in the time of Jesus. Saturday 4 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

11. … the Mount of the Precipice, where Jesus walked through the crowd that sought to throw him down … Saturday 4 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

12. … finally, we view the Valley of Armageddon – scene of ancient battles, and the Bible setting for End Times Saturday 4 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

13. Evening mini-lecture: An Israeli perspective on the conflict Saturday 4 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

14. We begin today by viewing the 2000 year old “Jesus boat” at a nearby kibbutz … Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

15. We sail across the lake on a replica of this boat, pausing on the lake for our Sunday worship… Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

16. We visit Kursi on the Sea of Galilee - the site associated with the story of the “Gadarene swine”… Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

17. … the recently discovered village of Bethsaida, Peter and Andrew’s home … The “Fishermen’s House” at Bethsaida Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

18. … then continue to Capernaum (Jesus’ home town) … Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

19. … where we see Peter’s house and the ancient synagogue. Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

20. We visit Tabgha (associated with the feeding of the 5000, and one of Jesus’ resurrection appearances) Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

21. We end the day with worship together on the “Mount of the Beatitudes” Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

22. Evening mini- lecture: Do chronology and geography matter in the evangelists’ accounts of Jesus life ? Sunday 5 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

23. Leaving the Galilee, we drive south through the Jordan Valley Monday 6 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

24. It may be possible to baptise any member of the group who wants this – in the Jordan river Please talk to Mike about this well beforehand! We see the baptismal site where it is believed Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist Monday 6 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

25. We visit Jericho, viewing excavations of the oldest city on earth … Monday 6 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

26. … seeing the Mount of Temptation … Monday 6 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

27. … and remember Jesus’ meeting with Zacchaeus. Monday 6 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

28. We pass through the Wadi Kelt (the valley of the shadow of death) and see St George’s Monastery across the valley … Monday 6 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

29. In Bethany, we see the tomb of Lazarus … Monday 6 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

30. … and continue to our new hotel, within the Palestinian territory, in Bethlehem Monday 6 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

31. Monday 6 th July Evening mini- lecture: How important is the historicity of the birth narratives ? The Theological Thinkers tour

32. In the morning we visit Herodion, one of Herod’s palaces … … Tuesday 7 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

33. … then see the “Shepherds’ Fields”, and worship together in one of the ancient shepherds’ caves. Tuesday 7 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

34. We visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Tuesday 7 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

35. Tuesday 7 th July The Theological Thinkers tour We visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

36. The remainder of the day is free to meet local Arab Christians, including visiting Bethlehem Bible College (with a lecture on the Palestinian view of the conflict), and The Tent of Nations peace initiative Tuesday 7 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

37. Tuesday 7 th July Evening mini-lecture: Did God command ethnic cleansing in the Old Testament ? The Theological Thinkers tour

38. Arriving in Jerusalem, we view the city from the top of the Mount of Olives … Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

39. We explore the Temple Mount excavations … Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

40. … and then see the Western Wall - a buttressing wall which is all that remains of the Temple … Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

41. … and explore the tunnels under the Temple Mount … Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

42. … at one point, walking on flagstones that Jesus almost certainly walked on. Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

43. We continue to see the excavations of David’s city Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

44. … and, for those who want, walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel … Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

45. … finishing at the Pool of Siloam … Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

46. … where we also see a newly excavated paved street from the time of Jesus. Wednesday 8 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

47. Wednesday 8 th July Evening mini- lecture: Do the Old Testament covenant promises apply to the modern State of Israel ? The Theological Thinkers tour

48. We return to the Western Wall - the buttressing wall which is all that remains of the Temple … hopefully, seeing a Bar Mitzvah… Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

49. We then walk down into Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives, following the route Jesus took on the first Palm Sunday … Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

50. …. stopping at the Dominus Flavit church, which marks the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

51. We spend some time in contemplation and worship at Gethsemane … Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

52. Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour We spend some time in contemplation and worship at Gethsemane …

53. … and then follow the “Last path” through the Kidron valley … Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

54. … and visit a possible site of Caiaphas’ house Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

55. We view the valley of Gehinnom Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

56. Our evening meal will be a Messianic form of the Passover seder Thursday 9 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

57. Returning to the Old City, we visit the Bethesda pool, where Jesus healed a paralysed man Friday 10 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

58. We see the Lithostratus (thought to be part of the courtyard from Herod’s Antonia Fortress) Friday 10 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

59. We follow part of the “Via Dolorosa” – remembering Jesus’ walk to the cross … Friday 10 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

60. We see a possible location of the Upper Room … Friday 10 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

61. … and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - the traditional location of the crucifixion Friday 10 th July

62. We finish the day with quiet reflection at an alternative site for Jesus’ death and resurrection … “Gordon’s Calvary” and the Garden Tomb Friday 10 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

63. Friday 10 th July Evening mini- lecture: How much does it matter whether Jesus died on the Day of Passover ? The Theological Thinkers tour

64. A day in the desert! After an early breakfast, we drive south to the desert and the fortress of Masada … Saturday 11 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

65. We visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found … Saturday 11 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

66. We see the oasis of Ein Gedi, associated with the story of David and Saul … Saturday 11 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

67. … and have an opportunity to “swim” in the Dead Sea! Saturday 11 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

68. Sunday 12 th July Our morning worship is in Jerusalem … (afternoon free) … either at Christchurch, an Anglican Church inside the city walls with Messianic links … or at East Jerusalem Baptist Church, an English speaking congregation with a number of Palestinian believers The Theological Thinkers tour

69. In the morning we visit the Israel Museum – where we see a model of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus, the Shrine of the Book (where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed) and other antiquities Monday 13 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

70. We then visit the newly extended Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial … Monday 13 th July

71. … before travelling on to Tel Aviv for our flight home £1275  includes half board, air-conditioned coach, en-suite, gratuities, licensed guide, all entrance fees  does not include any fuel surcharge, lunches, insurance Monday 13 th July The Theological Thinkers tour

72. www.mikefuller.org.uk Please ask for a brochure with further details, and a booking form with full conditions