Discover Your Roots

Step into Shiloh — Israel’s first national worship center and the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.In this episode, we discuss the significance of Shiloh, where the 12 tribes of Israel were split up and where the tabernacle rested. Join Avery and our guest, Dr. Luke Bray, as they unpack Shiloh’s geography, its role in Israelite history, and the important lessons Christians can learn today. From the troubling story of the daughters of Shiloh to the capture of the Ark by the Philistines, discover how God’s presence in contested spaces reveals His sovereignty.Dr. Bray is a biblical scholar, author, and educator with a Ph.D. in World Religions, a former pastor, and U.S. Army veteran. He helps believers connect with the biblical story in its original context.Learn more about Passages: www.passagesisrael.org

In this episode, we discuss two Biblical water crossings, crossing the Red Sea and the Jordan River, and the significance of these bodies of water in ancient times, and the connections between these two stories and the coming of Jesus.Our guest for this episode is Dr. Luke Bray. Dr. Bray is a biblical scholar, author, and educator with a Ph.D. in World Religions. A former pastor and U.S. Army veteran, he has dedicated his work to helping believers connect with the biblical story in its original context.Interested in learning more about Passages? Visit us at www.passagesisrael.org or follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.

In this episode, we travel to Be’er Sheva, the “Well of the Oath” — where Abraham made a covenant that marked the southern edge of the Promised Land. Through the geography of this desert region, we explore how faith often takes root in dry and uncertain places, and how the physical land of the Bible helps us understand the spiritual story unfolding within it. Our guest today is Jared Ulrich, who leads chapel worship services at Grand Canyon University and teaches as an adjunct professor of Old Testament and Biblical Interpretation and Application in the College of Theology. Interested in learning more about Passages? Visit us at www.passagesisrael.org or follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.

Welcome to the first episode of a new season of Discover Your Roots: Tracing the Map of God’s Story! In this episode, we explore why Christians should understand Biblical geography, its significance for our Christian faith, and provide helpful tools for understanding God’s story. In this episode, we’re joined by Bobby Moss, a pastor from Chicago and professor at the Moody Bible Institute. Bobby has visited Israel 15 times, 10 of those times having been with Passages. Resources Mentioned: The IVP Bible Background Commentary: https://www.ivpress.com/ivp-bible-background-commentary-set?srsltid=AfmBOooO4PJL0lbkkkPECj_eB29juEYIQHlRPXeyhOTtiigh72utjDVBZondervan Handbook to the Bible: https://zondervanacademic.com/products/zondervan-handbook-to-the-bible1 Interested in learning more about Passages? Visit us at www.passagesisrael.org or follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.

In the final episode of Discover Your Roots Season 3, Mattanah DeWitt, Passages’ VisitingScholar Dr. Luke Bray, and special guest Anna Babcox discuss the importance of prayerand showing up in tangible ways to support the Jewish people.Thank you for joining us for this season of Discover Your Roots. The journey doesn’t have toend here! To learn more about Passages visit www.passagesisrael.org or follow us onInstagram @passagesisrael.If you like this episode, please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review.

In this episode of Discover Your Roots, Mattanah DeWitt and Passages’ Visiting Scholar Dr.Luke Bray welcome special guest Anna Babcox to discuss the history of antisemitism andwhy Christians should stand against antisemitism today.Anna serves as Associate Director of Advocacy and Strategy at Passages. She is passionateabout Jewish-Christian relations and advocating for the Jewish community as a Christian.To learn more about Passages visit www.passagesisrael.org or follow us on Instagram@passagesisrael.If you like this episode, please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review

In this episode of Discover Your Roots, Mattanah DeWitt and Passages’ Visiting Scholar Dr.Luke Bray discuss how Christians think about the Jewish people theologically, and whyChristians should respect and care about the Jewish People.To learn more about Passages visit www.passagesisrael.org or follow us on Instagram@passagesisrael.If you like this episode, please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review.

In this week’s episode of Discover Your Roots, Mattanah DeWitt and Passages’ VisitingScholar Dr. Luke Bray discuss whether Christian advocacy actually helps or hurts others.Dr. Bray shares from his expertise regarding Christian advocacy in the Middle East, and theydiscuss the need for Christian advocates to be sensitive to cultural differences, collectivememory, and trauma and the importance of empowering others as advocates.To learn more about Passages visit www.passagesisrael.org or follow us on Instagram@passagesisrael.If you like this episode, please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review.

In this episode of Discover Your Roots, Mattanah DeWitt and Passages’ Visiting Scholar Dr. Luke Bray discuss the difference between intercessory advocacy and embodied advocacy and why it is important to show up for others.  To learn more about Passages visit www.passagesisrael.org or follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.   If you like this episode, please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review. 

In this episode of Discover Your Roots, Mattanah DeWitt and Passages’ Visiting Scholar Dr. Luke Bray explore how prayer is essential to our relationship with God, our view of the world around us, and Christian advocacy.    To learn more about Passages visit www.passagesisrael.org or follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.   If you like this episode, please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review.