Volume 16 | Cultures In Conflict
Volume 16
Cultures In Conflict
Paul Proclaims Jesus as Lord - Part 2
How do you live in a culture where the worldview conflicts with Christianity? Learn from Paul as he presents his beliefs to the most powerful court in Athens and settles among the Greco-Romans of Corinth, who valued wealth and class, worship of mu... MORE VIEW TRAILER
How do you live in a culture where the worldview conflicts with Christianity? Learn from Paul as he presents his beliefs to the most powerful court in Athens and settles among the Greco-Romans of Corinth, who valued wealth and class, worship of mu... MORE
Locations:
Athens 105 58, Greece, Corinth,
Tags:
Ray Vander Laan, That That World May Know, Jesus, Acts, Paul, Bible, Greece, Athens, Corinth, Rome, Priscilla, Aquila, Areopagus, Archaeology, History,
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | Engaging the Mind: Paul in the Stoa of Athens |
The people of the Bible lived in temple-building cultures. Temples provided pagan gods with a place to live, keeping them close to the people who worshiped them. Even Israel did the same – first Solomon, then Nehemiah and Zerubbabel, and eve... MORE
Locations:
Athens 105 58, Greece,
Tags:
Ray Vander Laan, That That World May Know, Jesus, Acts, Paul, Bible, Greece, Athens, Corinth, Rome, Priscilla, Aquila, Areopagus, Archaeology, History,
| 2 | Engaging the Heart: Paul Before the Areopagus |
When the disciples arrived with Jesus in Jerusalem, they marveled at the unbelievable beauty of the Lord’s temple. According to the Bible, the original temple built by Solomon was also absolutely stunning. And yet, in both cases it wasn't en... MORE
Locations:
Athens 105 58, Greece,
Tags:
Ray Vander Laan, That That World May Know, Jesus, Acts, Paul, Bible, Greece, Athens, Corinth, Rome, Priscilla, Aquila, Areopagus, Archaeology, History,
| 3 | Turning Weakness Into Strength |
When the time came for God to choose a people, He didn’t pick the strongest kingdom He could find. He chose the weak, the nobodies – a family that would become the nation of Israel. God rescued them from Egypt and brought them into the... MORE
| 4 | The Lord's Supper: Discerning the Body |
The Jews of Jesus’ day lived together as extended families, sharing the family resources. The task of the father was to use those resources to care for everyone who lived in “the father’s house,” as they called it – r... MORE
| 5 | Transforming the Chaos |
In Paul’s day, the city of Corinth was known for two things: drunkenness and sexual decadence of all kinds. The word “Corinthian” was even used in Greek plays to describe someone with poor morals or drunken behavior. And yet in a... MORE
Volume 15 | A Clash of Kingdoms
Volume 15
A Clash of Kingdoms
Paul Proclaims Jesus As Lord - Part 1
Like the Roman Empire, today’s governments or organizations can become centered on power and believe their messages are the “good news.” As Christians, we’re called to proclaim God’s name in all the earth (1 Chronicle... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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A Clash of Kingdoms
02:42:45 minutes
Like the Roman Empire, today’s governments or organizations can become centered on power and believe their messages are the “good news.” As Christians, we’re called to proclaim God’s name in all the earth (1 Chronicle... MORE
Locations:
Cinecitta Studios, Rome, Italy, Forum of Augustus, Rome, Italy, Gerasa (Jerash), Jordan, Jerusalem, Israel, Philippi, Greece, Qatzrin, Israel, Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Israel, The Parthenon, Thessaloniki,
Tags:
Ray Vander Laan, Focus on the Family, Zondervan, Bible, Acts, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Greece, Rome, Paul, gospel, Jesus, Caesar, colony, heaven,
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | The Gospel of Caesar |
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The Gospel of Caesar
00:32:01 minutes
Followers of Jesus believe that the Bible contains the inspired revelation of the Creator of the universe. “Gospel” is the word that’s often used – the good news that God is redeeming a broken world through His So... MORE
Locations:
Gerasa (Jerash), Jordan, Philippi, Greece,
Tags:
ray vander laan, philippi, paul, greece, acts, philippians, bible, macedonia, caesar, augustus, marc antony, octavian, jesus,
| 2 | The Believers |
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The Believers
00:30:45 minutes
The Jews of Jesus’ day lived in homes meant to house an entire extended family, with several rooms situated around a common courtyard. A family’s home in that patriarchal society was known as a “beth ab,” which means, &ldqu... MORE
Locations:
Philippi, Greece, Qatzrin, Israel,
Tags:
paul, jesus, acts, philippians, philippi, caesar, colony, bible,
| 3 | The Powers of Darkness |
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The Powers of Darkness
00:32:15 minutes
Jesus came with a unique message, preaching to the Jewish people that “the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). But from the beginning, there was another king who hates the shalom that God creates and loves life’... MORE
Locations:
Capernaum, Israel, Delphi, Greece, Philippi, Greece,
Tags:
acts, philippians, greece, philippi, delphi, apollo, pythia, bible, paul, jesus,
| 4 | The Philippian Jailer |
At one point during his ministry, the Apostle Paul was at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He was accused by some Jews of bringing a Gentile into the courts where only Jews were allowed. He hadn’t, but they thought he did and a riot started. W... MORE
Locations:
Caesarea-By-The-Sea, Israel, Philippi, Greece,
Tags:
caesarea by the sea, caesar, israel, greece, philippi, paul, jail, acts, philippians, bible, jesus,
| 5 | Confronting the Empire |
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Confronting the Empire
00:33:22 minutes
Paul’s missionary journeys were generally marked by conflict. Sometimes, his message clashed with the Jews, who were often skeptical about Jesus or jealous of Paul’s success. Even more often, Paul’s teaching angered the governing... MORE
Locations:
Philippi, Greece, Thessaloniki,
Tags:
Paul, Silas, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Acts, 1 Thessalonians, Ephesians, Alexander the Great, Caesar Augustus, Octavian, Roman Empire, gospel, Jesus, Greece, missionary, caesar,
Volume 14 | The Mission of Jesus
Volume 14
The Mission of Jesus
Triumph of God's Kingdom in a World of Chaos
It’s easy to think of the Bible as a collection of short stories, but each one makes up a greater story – one story of a God who created the universe and entrusted it to His human partners to care for it. They were unfai... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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The Mission of Jesus
2:36:35 minutes
It’s easy to think of the Bible as a collection of short stories, but each one makes up a greater story – one story of a God who created the universe and entrusted it to His human partners to care for it. They were unfai... MORE
Locations:
Capernaum, Israel, Cinecitta Studios, Rome, Italy, Colosseum, Rome, Italy, Forum of Augustus, Rome, Italy, Horvat Susita (Hippos), Israel, Jerusalem, Israel, Mount of Olives, Israel, Rome, Italy, Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Israel,
Tags:
Israel, Italy, Jerusalem, Rome, Capernaum, Hippos, Susita, Galilee, Mount of Olives, Temple Mount, Crucifixion, Ascension, Pentecost, demoniac, legion, strong man, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Great Commission, Jesus, disciples, Father's house, gospel,
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | Capernaum: Jesus Binds the Evil One |
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Capernaum: Jesus Binds the Evil One
32:33 minutes
Jesus left heaven to be born in a filthy shepherd’s stable, as if to say, “I’ll leave heaven to enter the brokenness of your world.” Much of His teaching ministry, though, took place in a very different sort ... MORE
Locations:
Capernaum, Israel, Sea of Galilee,
Tags:
Israel, Capernaum, synagogue, Jesus, Mark, Matthew, Sea of Galilee, Galilee, demoniac, strong man,
| 2 | Decapolis: The Other Side - Jesus and the Man from the Tombs |
The majority of Jesus’ ministry was done in places like the town of Capernaum, among a people who loved to debate and discuss Torah in the synagogue. They didn’t always agree with each other, but their emphasis was on how to ... MORE
| 3 | Crucifixion: The Coronation of a King |
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Crucifixion: The Coronation of a King
28:48 minutes
The Colosseum in Rome is famous for many reasons, not least of which because it was built by the spoils of war from the destruction of Jerusalem, the military defeat of the Jews. In the Roman world, it was assumed that if Caesar was... MORE
| 4 | Ascension: The King Takes His Throne |
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Ascension: The King Takes His Throne
31:51 minutes
It was customary in the Roman world to consider the emperor a divine being. New emperors would claim this status because they believed that when the previous ruler died, he would ascend to heaven to be seated among the gods, making ... MORE
Locations:
Jerusalem, Israel, Mount of Olives, Israel,
Tags:
Ascension, Matthew, Luke, Acts, Jesus, Great Commission, Rome, Caesar, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel, Galilee,
| 5 | Pentecost: God Changed His Address |
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Pentecost: God Changed His Address
31:43 minutes
After His resurrection, Jesus spent about 40 days with His followers in Jerusalem and back in the Galilee region, where they had received much of their training. He explained that after His ascension to heaven, He would send them a ... MORE
Locations:
Jerusalem, Israel, Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Israel,
Tags:
Jerusalem, Israel, Temple Mount, Mount Moriah, Jesus, Pentecost, Southern Stairs, temple, tabernacle, God, Luke, Acts, Peter, tongues, Holy Spirit,
Volume 13 | Israel's Mission
Volume 13
Israel's Mission
Becoming A Kingdom of Priests in a Prodigal World
As they stood at the foot of Mount Sinai, the Israelites not only agreed to partner with God by worshipping Him as king, they also took on a mission: become a kingdom of priests in a prodigal world. This had been God's plan for His people from the... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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Israel's Mission
01:58 minutes
As they stood at the foot of Mount Sinai, the Israelites not only agreed to partner with God by worshipping Him as king, they also took on a mission: become a kingdom of priests in a prodigal world. This had been God's plan for His people from the... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | Abraham and Sarah and Three Strangers |
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Abraham and Sarah and Three Strangers
32:43 minutes
When the Israelites left Egypt and began their journey with God to the Promised Land, how much did they know of their past history? Some, like Moses' parents, seemed to have retained a knowledge and faith in the God of their fathers, but the Bible... MORE
Locations:
Negev Desert, Tel Arad, Arad, Israel, Timna valley, Israel,
| 2 | Israel at Sinai: The First Great Commission |
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Israel at Sinai: The First Great Commission
33:29 minutes
In the beginning, God created magnificent beauty and order out of absolute chaos, "tohu vebohu," in Hebrew. When humanity rebelled, the world began a long progression of slipping back into that chaos. Yet God wasn't finished; He decided... MORE
Locations:
Jordan River, Negev Desert, Timna valley, Israel, Wilderness of Paran, Israel,
Tags:
corner, holy, kaddosh, kanaf, laquakh, marry, tallit, tassels, tohu, tzit, vebohu,
| 3 | Jesus Renews His Mission: Seeking the Lost |
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Jesus Renews His Mission: Seeking the Lost
30:33 minutes
Sheep and shepherds were so much a part of the Biblical world, it's no wonder Jesus uses the imagery as a metaphor in several of His teachings. The shepherds of His day knew every one of the animals in their flock by sight and spent their lives pr... MORE
| 4 | The Lost Son: In a Far Country |
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The Lost Son: In a Far Country
30:55 minutes
Of all the parables Jesus told, the one we call "The Prodigal Son" is possibly the most famous. In the story, a younger son demands his inheritance from his father and leaves the family behind, taking his riches to a far country. The imp... MORE
Locations:
Gerasa (Jerash), Jordan, Qatzrin, Israel,
| 5 | The Seeking Father: The Lost Son Returns |
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The Seeking Father: The Lost Son Returns
32:00 minutes
Throughout His ministry, Jesus' compassion for sinners and those considered unclean raised the eyebrows of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. God's word warned His people not to touch any unclean thing, and they could not understand why Je... MORE
Locations:
Gerasa (Jerash), Jordan, Qatzrin, Israel,
Volume 12 | Walking With God In the Desert
Volume 12
Walking With God In the Desert
Experiencing Living Water When Life is Tough
Throughout the Bible, the desert functions as an image of discord, of loss of control, and of separation from the safety of society. Barren and deadly, the wasteland places of the text meant certain death without access to resources. Many times Go... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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Walking With God In the Desert
2:15 minutes
Throughout the Bible, the desert functions as an image of discord, of loss of control, and of separation from the safety of society. Barren and deadly, the wasteland places of the text meant certain death without access to resources. Many times Go... MORE
Tags:
test tag 1. test tag 2,
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | Join the Journey |
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Join the Journey
00:12:18 minutes
In the Bible, the desert is an image of great hardship and suffering, signifying the impossibility of survival without access to basic resources. God often led His people through desert places, using the barrenness of the land as opportunities to ... MORE
| 2 | It's Hot Here and There's No Way Out |
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It's Hot Here and There's No Way Out
00:29:52 minutes
The heat and intensity of the sun in the desert can be scorching, often without any guarantee of relief. Yet whenever God led His people there, He promised to provide exactly what they needed to make it through each day. In this lesson, wander the... MORE
| 3 | Help Is Here |
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Help Is Here
00:31:21 minutes
The Bible compares those who trust in the word of the Lord to great trees planted by streams of water. What would this image mean to someone living in the desert, where water is scarce and trees are few and far between? Is it possible to live out ... MORE
| 4 | When Your Heart Cries Out |
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When Your Heart Cries Out
00:22:36 minutes
Some of the dangers in the desert are slow to develop: the build-up of scorching heat from the sun, the slow evaporation of streams, the depletion of food supplies. Others are more sudden; the flash floods of desert wadis can come out of nowhere, ... MORE
Locations:
South Sinai, Egypt,
| 5 | They Were Not Wandering |
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They Were Not Wandering
00:26:10 minutes
After their escape from the might of Egypt, the Israelites spent forty years wandering in the desert of Sinai. But were they really wandering? The Bible says that God led them like a flock, like sheep through the desert with a pillar of cloud by d... MORE
Locations:
Timna valley, Israel,
| 6 | Ears to Hear |
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Ears to Hear
00:21:26 minutes
Egypt was a culture for the eyes. Temples, palaces, histories, and statues of their gods were impressively created to dazzle the eyes of all who saw them. After delivering Israel from Egypt and "punishing" the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12), ... MORE
| 7 | There's Hope in the Desert |
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There's Hope in the Desert
00:32:07 minutes
David trusted in a living God - not a religion. Watch this complimentary full episode for a limited time from the That the World May Know film series with Ray Vander Laan as he shows us there's hope in the desert when life is tough -- even for Dav... MORE
Volume 11 | The Path to the Cross
Volume 11
The Path to the Cross
Embracing Obedience and Sacrifice
God's story culminates with the intense devotion of his people in this 11th volume of the Faith Lessons series. Discover how their passionate faith prepares the way for Jesus and his ultimate act of obedience and sacrifice at the cross. Then, be c... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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The Path to the Cross
01:22 minutes
God's story culminates with the intense devotion of his people in this 11th volume of the Faith Lessons series. Discover how their passionate faith prepares the way for Jesus and his ultimate act of obedience and sacrifice at the cross. Then, be c... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | The Way of the Essenes |
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The Way of the Essenes
29:58 minutes
At times, God chose to use the harsh reality of life in the desert near the Promised Land as a practical teaching tool to mold and shape His people. The Essenes went willingly into this wasteland to allow Him to do just that: to teach them His wor... MORE
Locations:
Dead Sea, Judean Wilderness, Qumran, Israel,
Tags:
mikveh,
| 2 | The Way of John the Baptist |
John the Baptist focused his life entirely on preparing the Jewish people for the coming of Jesus. His ministry still holds enormous meaning for us today, and there is much we can learn from his understanding of how to prepare for the arrival of M... MORE
| 3 | Into the Desert to Be Tested |
During their forty years of testing in the desert, God continued to teach and shape the Israelite nation. By the time they entered the Promised Land, a new generation had formed, a people who obeyed and trusted God with all their heart, soul, and ... MORE
Locations:
Judean Wilderness, Rephidim, Wilderness of Sin,
| 4 | The Last Passover |
In the story of God making Himself known to His people, Passover is a foundational element. As the continuation of this redemptive process, the Lord's Supper finds its most profound meaning when taken in the context of Passover imagery. In this le... MORE
Locations:
Jerusalem, Israel,
Tags:
seder,
| 5 | The Fifth Cup: Our Way of Hope |
The Passover Sedar employs four symbolic cups to help the Jews remember the miraculous ways that God delivered His people from the hand of Pharaoh. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked the Father to take away the cup placed before Him, a "... MORE
Locations:
Jerusalem, Israel, Kidron Valley, Jerusalem, Israel, Maresha, Israel,
Tags:
seder, gath, shemenim, oil press, leyel shimerim, the night of watching,
Volume 10 | With All Your Heart
Volume 10
With All Your Heart
Being God's Presence to Our World
Ray Vander Laan takes us on a journey through Sinai and Israel, a region that is still largely desert but at times filled with lush, bountiful places. We will discover how Jesus called people to live in the Promised land. What can we learn during ... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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With All Your Heart
1:06 minutes
Ray Vander Laan takes us on a journey through Sinai and Israel, a region that is still largely desert but at times filled with lush, bountiful places. We will discover how Jesus called people to live in the Promised land. What can we learn during ... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | Build Me a Sanctuary |
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Build Me a Sanctuary
00:20:55 minutes
When the tabernacle was established among the Israelites, God came and lived among His people. Its design, construction, and function revealed much of His character, which proved to be completely unlike that of any gods the people had ever known. ... MORE
Locations:
Abu Simbel Temples, Egypt, Timna valley, Israel,
| 2 | Making Space for God |
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Making Space for God
00:32:06 minutes
God desired a people who would partner with Him in "making space" to reveal Himself to a broken world. The detailed patterns and plans for the tabernacle not only illustrated the kind of care and devotion He wanted to display to His peop... MORE
Locations:
Timna valley, Israel,
Tags:
Michcon, Aron'ha'kodesh, Sha'vu'oat,
| 3 | He Led Them Like a Shepherd |
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He Led Them Like a Shepherd
00:29:18 minutes
Psalm 78 says that God led his people Israel "like sheep through the desert." Their wanderings through the Sinai provide a striking image of God's leading in our lives today. In this lesson, you will follow God's people through this barr... MORE
Locations:
Jebel Musa/Mt. Sinai, Timna valley, Israel,
| 4 | By Every Word - Striking the Rock |
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By Every Word - Striking the Rock
00:26:52 minutes
Interestingly, when God chose a person to lead His people out of Egypt by the power of His word, He chose Moses, a man with a speech impediment. In this lesson, consider the implications of allowing His strength to work in weakness as you discover... MORE
Locations:
Timna valley, Israel,
Tags:
Marah,
| 5 | With All Your Might: The Final Test |
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With All Your Might: The Final Test
00:28:34 minutes
The blessings of a good land can often obscure the hard-learned lessons of the desert. In a sense, the real test for the Israelites came after they had crossed into the Promised Land, when their need for God was less obvious throughout daily life.... MORE
| 6 | A Well-Watered Garden |
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A Well-Watered Garden
00:22:39 minutes
A fruitful vineyard requires the cooperation of a community. In this lesson, you will explore the communal nature of producing a vineyard and discover the significant implications that this imagery still has for God's people today. MORE
Volume 9 | Fire on the Mountain
Volume 9
Fire on the Mountain
Displaying God to a Broken World
When the Israelites left Egypt, they were finally free. Free from persecution, free from oppression, and free to worship their own God. But with that freedom comes a new challenge - learning how to live together the way God intends. In this ninth ... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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Fire on the Mountain
1:41 minutes
When the Israelites left Egypt, they were finally free. Free from persecution, free from oppression, and free to worship their own God. But with that freedom comes a new challenge - learning how to live together the way God intends. In this ninth ... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | The Lord Who Heals You: Marah and Elim |
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The Lord Who Heals You: Marah and Elim
00:33:05 minutes
When the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt, the Promised Land awaited them, but first God led them into the desert. The time they spent there would not only get them out of Egypt geographically, but would also remove its influence from thei... MORE
| 2 | Not by Bread Alone: Manna and Water from the Rock |
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Not by Bread Alone: Manna and Water from the Rock
00:32:54 minutes
In Deuteronomy, God tells Israel that He led them into the desert in order to train and test them, so that He might know what was in their hearts. He still does this for His people today, leading us through experiences to reveal the depths of our ... MORE
Locations:
Wilderness of Sin,
| 3 | Their Blood Cried Out: Israel Becomes a Community |
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Their Blood Cried Out: Israel Becomes a Community
00:29:43 minutes
God desired a people who would partner with Him in bringing shalom to the chaos of a broken, hurting world. Israel experienced a taste of the peace He brings when He rescued them out of Egypt. In this lesson, you will continue on the road of the e... MORE
| 4 | The Mountain of God |
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The Mountain of God
00:28:13 minutes
Over and over in the Bible, God used the image of fire to illustrate His power, holiness, and passionate love for His people. The fire on Mount Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments was just such a display of power, highlighting the holin... MORE
Locations:
Mt . Catherine,
| 5 | I Led You Like a Bride: A Wedding at Sinai |
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I Led You Like a Bride: A Wedding at Sinai
00:25:33 minutes
The covenant at Sinai is often thought of as a wedding between God and His people, between God and the bride He chose for Himself. This became the picture of God's redemptive plan for humankind, fully realized in Jesus' death and resurrection. In ... MORE
Locations:
Mt . Catherine,
Tags:
Chuppah, Mikvah, Ketubah, Segula, Na'se Vaneeshma,
Volume 8 | God Heard Their Cry
Volume 8
God Heard Their Cry
Finding Freedom in the Midst of Life's Trials
This five-session small group Bible study, God Heard Their Cry, by noted teacher and historian, Ray Vander Laan, is volume eight of the 12-part Faith Lessons series. In this volume, Vander Laan illustrates how God answered the cry of the Israelite... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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God Heard Their Cry
2:08 minutes
This five-session small group Bible study, God Heard Their Cry, by noted teacher and historian, Ray Vander Laan, is volume eight of the 12-part Faith Lessons series. In this volume, Vander Laan illustrates how God answered the cry of the Israelite... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | How Big is Our God? |
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How Big is Our God?
00:36:05 minutes
The exodus from Egypt was a metaphor for God's greater redemption story, the restoration of shalom from the chaos of the evil one. His purpose was to invite Israel into a greater story than the one of their bondage, eventually unveiling a plan of ... MORE
Locations:
Giza Egypt, Thebes, Egypt,
Tags:
Pylon, Maat, First Court, Sanctuary,
| 2 | Israel in Bondage: God Heard Their Cry |
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Israel in Bondage: God Heard Their Cry
00:33:39 minutes
Unable to stand their suffering under a cruel Pharaoh any longer, the Israelites cried out to God. He heard them and initiated his plan to deliver his people, not only from their physical bondage but from slavery to Egypt's story. In this lesson, ... MORE
Locations:
Goshen, Egypt, Medinet Habu, Egypt, Thebes, Egypt,
| 3 | Finger of God: The Plagues |
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Finger of God: The Plagues
00:36:28 minutes
The Lord defied the gods of Egypt with mighty displays of power so that Israel, Egypt, Pharaoh, and ultimately the entire world would see the strength of the one and only God. Pharaoh hardened his heart, but the Israelites responded to the power o... MORE
| 4 | Watch With Me: Israel Leaves Egypt |
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Watch With Me: Israel Leaves Egypt
00:27:52 minutes
As God's plan of deliverance from Egypt for the Israelites unfolded, He began their "basic training," cultivating for Himself a people marked by shalom through obedience to His kingship. The very route they took out of Egypt illustrates ... MORE
Tags:
Ze'akah, Layel Shimereem,
| 5 | The Lord Reigns |
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The Lord Reigns
00:30:19 minutes
The themes of the exodus experience look forward to the good news of God's kingdom, which Jesus would later proclaim. In this lesson, journey beyond the Red Sea and into the desert with the Israelites as you explore the gospel in this context, cel... MORE
Volume 7 | Walk as Jesus Walked
Volume 7
Walk as Jesus Walked
Being a Disciple in a Broken World
Becoming a disciple of Jesus demands more than merely a deep commitment to the text and complete devotion to Christian community. The Messiah is king, and believers are called to pick up their crosses in daily pursuit after becoming like Him. Come... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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Walk as Jesus Walked
2:08 minutes
Becoming a disciple of Jesus demands more than merely a deep commitment to the text and complete devotion to Christian community. The Messiah is king, and believers are called to pick up their crosses in daily pursuit after becoming like Him. Come... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | Run! The Passion of Elijah |
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Run! The Passion of Elijah
00:21:47 minutes
As the gospel of Jesus spread across a Gentile world unfamiliar with the teachings and culture of the Jews, the early church faced an interesting challenge %u2013 meeting different cultures in their own context to demonstrate the redeeming power o... MORE
Locations:
Aphrodisias, Turkey ,
| 2 | Learning to Walk Like Jesus - Paul's Journey to Rome |
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Learning to Walk Like Jesus - Paul's Journey to Rome
00:22:46 minutes
After meeting Jesus on the Damascus Road, Paul dedicated the rest of his life to sharing the gospel with anyone and everyone. He soon became one of the major leaders in the early church, focusing much of his effort on reaching out to the Gentiles.... MORE
Locations:
Antioch of Pisidia, Omrit, Israel,
| 3 | An Unlikely Disciple |
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An Unlikely Disciple
00:22:39 minutes
The apostle Paul was no stranger to the duties of a rabbi, having studied under one of the most famous rabbis in Israel before becoming one himself. He understood exactly what Jesus meant before His ascension, when He commanded the church to go ou... MORE
Locations:
Galatia, Turkey, Lystra, Turkey,
| 4 | Why Christians Suffer - The Weight of Gethsemane |
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Why Christians Suffer - The Weight of Gethsemane
00:23:16 minutes
Jesus told His disciples that anyone who wished to follow Him would have to take up his own cross. Many of the early believers did just that, willingly following in their rabbi's footsteps even when it meant certain death. Count their cost as you ... MORE
Locations:
Cappadocia, Turkey,
Tags:
Gethsemane, Gat-Shemanim,
| 5 | Don't Forget Us |
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Don't Forget Us
00:23:46 minutes
In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul wrote that the body of Christ is a unit made up of many parts and when one part suffers, the whole body suffers along with it. Are you aware of the suffering of brothers and sisters, both in your own ex... MORE
Locations:
Cappadocia, Turkey, Derinkuyu, Turkey,
Volume 6 | In the Dust of the Rabbi
Volume 6
In the Dust of the Rabbi
Learning to Live as Jesus Lived
During his ministry in Israel, Jesus called and trained disciples, His "talmidim." Their job would eventually be to bring His message of redemption to all the nations, Jew and Gentile. What would happen when they began to make disciples ... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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In the Dust of the Rabbi
2:23 minutes
During his ministry in Israel, Jesus called and trained disciples, His "talmidim." Their job would eventually be to bring His message of redemption to all the nations, Jew and Gentile. What would happen when they began to make disciples ... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
| 1 | When the Rabbi Says "Come" |
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When the Rabbi Says "Come"
00:28:07 minutes
For a first century Jew, to follow a rabbi meant to "be covered with the dust of his feet." When Jesus called His disciples, it was implied that they would begin this process of becoming like Him by following closely in His footsteps. Tr... MORE
Locations:
Bethsaida, Israel, Korazin, Israel, Scythopolis,
Tags:
Bethsaida, Torah, Tanakh, Beth Sefer, Beth Midrash, Talmidim,
| 2 | When the Rabbi Says "Go" |
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When the Rabbi Says "Go"
00:21:27 minutes
Most of Jesus' ministry was spent in Jewish communities, proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom to the people of Israel. His greater intention, though, was for His Jewish followers to bring this message to the Gentile world around them, a worl... MORE
Locations:
Eremos Topos, Israel, Omrit, Israel, Scythopolis,
Tags:
Eremos Topos,
| 3 | The Presence of God - A Countercultural Community |
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The Presence of God - A Countercultural Community
00:23:38 minutes
When the believers began to bring the message of the gospel to the world of the Gentiles, they quickly realized that their faith made them extremely countercultural. How would they explain the good news in places where they couldn't engage in the ... MORE
Locations:
Priene, Turkey,
Tags:
Agora, Agoranomos, Bouleuterion, Prytaneum,
| 4 | Living Stones |
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Living Stones
00:21:27 minutes
When questioned about his message, Paul tells the Athenians that the one and only God "does not live in temples made with hands" (Acts 17:24). Naturally, anyone who was curious about Jesus in the Greco-Roman world would ask the early bel... MORE
Locations:
Priene, Turkey,
Tags:
Propylaeum, Pronaos, Naos,
| 5 | The Very Words of God |
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The Very Words of God
00:30:51 minutes
In ancient times, people craved words of counsel and knowledge from their gods. The city of Didyma in what is now modern-day Turkey functioned as one of three main oracles, places where ordinary people would travel to hear advice and predictions o... MORE
Locations:
Didyma, Turkey,
Tags:
Oracle,
Volume 5 | The Early Church
Volume 5
The Early Church
Becoming a Light in the Darkness
Experience the Bible for yourself! This in-depth video Bible study-shot on location and featuring teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan-will help you understand the New Testament better by giving you abetter understanding of the Old Testament. MORE VIEW TRAILER
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The Early Church
0:50 minutes
Experience the Bible for yourself! This in-depth video Bible study-shot on location and featuring teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan-will help you understand the New Testament better by giving you abetter understanding of the Old Testament. MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
Volume 4 | Death & Resurrection of the Messiah
Volume 4
Death & Resurrection of the Messiah
Bringing God's Shalom to a World in Chaos
Pack your bags. We're going on a journey. A quest to uncover Scripture and its meaning across history. Filmed on location in Israel and throughout the Middle East, the Faith Lessons DVD series is an adventure in biblical learning. You will discove... MORE VIEW TRAILER
VIEW TRAILER
Death & Resurrection of the Messiah
01:51 minutes
Pack your bags. We're going on a journey. A quest to uncover Scripture and its meaning across history. Filmed on location in Israel and throughout the Middle East, the Faith Lessons DVD series is an adventure in biblical learning. You will discove... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
Volume 3 | Life & Ministry of the Messiah
Volume 3
Life & Ministry of the Messiah
Learning the Faith of Jesus
Pack your bags. We're going on a journey. A quest to uncover Scripture and its meaning across history. Filmed on location in Israel and throughout the Middle East, the Faith Lessons DVD series is an adventure in biblical learning. You will discove... MORE VIEW TRAILER
VIEW TRAILER
Life & Ministry of the Messiah
01:41 minutes
Pack your bags. We're going on a journey. A quest to uncover Scripture and its meaning across history. Filmed on location in Israel and throughout the Middle East, the Faith Lessons DVD series is an adventure in biblical learning. You will discove... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
Volume 2 | Prophets & Kings
Volume 2
Prophets & Kings
Being in the Culture and Not of It
Filmed on location in Israel, Faith Lessons is a unique video series that brings God's Word to life with astounding relevance. By weaving together the Bible's fascinating historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, teacher and hist... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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Prophets & Kings
01:22 minutes
Filmed on location in Israel, Faith Lessons is a unique video series that brings God's Word to life with astounding relevance. By weaving together the Bible's fascinating historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, teacher and hist... MORE
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
Volume 1 | Promised Land
Volume 1
Promised Land
Living for God Where Culture Is Influenced
Travel to Israel and radically change your understanding of the Scriptures. Wet your feet in the Jordan River and impact the culture with life-giving water. Show your trust in the Lord's provision by offering up first fruits at Jericho. And cleans... MORE VIEW TRAILER
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Promised Land
01:22 minutes
Travel to Israel and radically change your understanding of the Scriptures. Wet your feet in the Jordan River and impact the culture with life-giving water. Show your trust in the Lord's provision by offering up first fruits at Jericho. And cleans... MORE
Locations:
Negev Desert, Tel Arad, Arad, Israel,
EXPERIENCE THE BIBLE IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT™
with Ray Vander Laan
THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW
The idea for That the World May Know films began in 1992 when Michigan entrepreneur Ed Prince became exposed to Ray Vander Laan's unique method of Bible teaching. Ray, or RVL as he is affectionately known, has always believed that to more greatly understand and appreciate the Bible, one had to have a sense of the land and the culture from which it sprang. Biblical analogies and examples, while meaningful and helpful even to this day, were first meant to convey God's truth to particular people in a particular time and place. So the more fully we can appreciate those times and places, the more fully we can respond to the power of the Word.
So in 1992 Ed Prince generously offered to underwrite the development of a film series that would capture RVL's teachings to make them available to a wider audience. Director Bob Garner was secured, massive cameras were shipped to Israel, the first 5 sets were produced, and the broader church ate them up. Focus on the Family experienced a hunger for the series unlike anything they had ever seen. And that hunger has continued.
In 2003, sets 6 and 7 were co-directed by Garner and John Grooters, and the style of the films became much more consistent with the experience of an actual RVL trip. The programs moved to HD and were shot in 16 x 9 aspect ratios. These teachings reached beyond Israel and brought viewers to sites like Ephesus, Laodicea, Cappadocia, Galatia, and other biblical locations in modern Turkey. The theme was discipleship as the lessons followed Paul through his first missionary journey.
RAY VANDER LAAN
Since receiving his Master's of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1976, Ray Vander Laan has been actively involved in studying and teaching Jewish culture using the methods of Jewish education. He has continued graduate studies in Jewish Studies in the United States, Israel, Turkey and Egypt. He has been a teacher for 35 years and is an ordained minister with the Christian Reformed Church. He has also authored a book entitled Echoes of His Presence, published by Focus on the Family. Vander Laan founded That the World May Know Ministries in 1998. Ray has taken over 10,000 people with him on his study tours of Israel, Turkey and Egypt.
Ray's preaching and teaching ministry is focused on understanding the Bible in light of the historical and cultural context in which God placed it. This perspective on the Bible highlights God's call for His people to be a transforming influence on their culture. He uses research of the top scholars in the fields of archaeology, history, and Biblical study as tools to explore the Biblical text ever more deeply. His gifts, expertise, and calling are to link that cultural information and the Bible so that its message applies to our lives today in very practical ways.
