Category Archives: Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan

Sea of Galilee Jesus made talmidim (disciples) from among the Jewish Galileans.  But eventually, a Galilean had to make a Greek or  Roman disciple. Priene Priene is a city in Asia Minor, near Ephesus. The lower city is the part … Continue reading →

Omrit, Herod’s temple to Caesar The lesson begins at what is probably the northern temple to Caesar built by Herod. Caesar claimed to be a “son of god.” If the site is that temple, then the Damascus Road is likely … Continue reading →

Scythopolis is filled with arena, theater, and gymnasia (universities), but Jesus chose no disciples here. But nearby is Bethsaida, a fishing village in Galilee, a town of 600 or so, with just 8 or 10 families. Hardly the place to … Continue reading →

How was it possible for the disciples to suddenly have the willpower needed to change the world. We can find the answer at Pentecost, on the southern stairway at the temple mount. The southern stairs are inside the City of … Continue reading →

No one knows exactly where Jesus was buried, but if the Garden Tomb is not that place, it’s very much like the genuine tomb. Jesus’ death fulfills a promise God made to Abraham thousands of years earlier, as part of … Continue reading →

The film in shot on the road that Jesus would have followed to go to Jerusalem. On the way to Jerusalem, he would have traveled in the same area where he’d been tempted by Satan at the beginning of this … Continue reading →

[For new readers, my church is studying a series of DVDs by Ray Vander Laan, called “Faith Lessons,” published by Zondervan. As I prepare my notes each week, I post them here.] The lesson is taught in Jerusalem. David made … Continue reading →