Small Group Leaders:

Thank you for considering leading a Holy Quest Ministry study of Israel with your small group and possibly making an actual trip to Israel. This study guide is designed to maximize group participation in weekly study in advance of a pilgrimage trip to Israel. There are 22 lessons, each with two sections:

• 1) Group Advance Study
• 2) On Site Participation

We recommend that you present this resource to your group for review in preparation for the Group Advance Study sessions. After deciding to participate in this study, each group member should be encouraged to have their own copy of the study guide as there are built in sections for personal study, reflection and revelation on future spiritual goals for their individual faith journey. The study guide can be used as a tool to interact with the obvious text relating to each site the group will eventually visit in Israel, evoke group interaction relating to the text and the site and application to the group and individual’s spiritual growth.

Copies of this study guide may be purchased directly at this link

As you prepare to lead this study for your group, realize that there are 22 lessons that correspond to 22 different Biblical sites in Israel. The study is written and the sites are visited in chronological order from the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah in the Temple to Christ’s ascension from the Mount of Olives. The top of each lesson lists all Biblical texts relating to the site that is the focus of the lesson. Read these sections in advance of your weekly group meeting as well as the questions in the Group Advance Study section. You may want to do some outside study on these texts as part of your weekly preparation. The study guide gives brief background, historical and archaeological information about each site in your weekly study, but greater detail will be spent on these areas with your group’s guide at each site in Israel.

If you decide to meet weekly, we recommend covering two lesson per week. Covering two lessons takes an average small group one hour to an hour and a half plus time for questions and discussion. Given this time frame, you will want to start your study about four months prior to you your departure to allow for holidays or sections that require an additonal meeting. Obviously, you may pursue this study with your group by only completing the Group Advance Study section and not going to Israel. It is our deep desire that your prayerful consideration will result in you leading your group to the decision to continue their exploration with an actual guided tour of Israel. A complete listing of tour dates, itineraries and costs are available on the Tour Information Page.

After you have discussed the logistics of travel dates and participation among your group, you should explain to them the process of using this study guide. Each week, after the group completes the Group Advance Study section, there will remain a blank On Site Participation section. It is important that each group member participates in the Group Advance Study section as it will directly relate to their experience and deeper understanding of the corresponding On Site Participation section in Israel. When your group makes its pilgrimage to Israel, you will have time to go through the On Site Participation section outlined at each site visited and continue your study with a licensed Israeli tour guide familiar with your program.

The final section of this study guide encourages participants to develop their spiritual life based on their group and individual interaction with the Biblical text, the site in Israel and how God uniquely speaks to them. We have created several sections where it is likely that participants will feel especially close to God or contemplate ideas that they would like to follow up on in their spiritual lives after they return home from the trip. There are also additional journal pages left at the end of the guide for special times of reflection unique to each participant. If you have any further questions about using your study guide to lead your small group or about trip logistics, please Contact Us

Now on to your pilgrimage to Israel! Click here to book your tour and learn about special reduced and free trip incentives for you as the small group leader based on the size of your group  Tour Information