Two millenia ago, Jesus revealed himself to the Apostle John. The Word given to the Seven Churches of Asia is the same inspired scripture that teaches Christ's churches today.
You'll be accompanied by both an expert guide and Greg Gilbert, a trusted church pastor, as you explore the depths of Scripture in the midst of the ruins where that Word was first sent.
Greg Gilbert is the senior pastor of Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the author of What Is the Gospel?, Assured: Discover Grace, Let Go of Guilt, and Rest in Your Salvation, and the commentary in the ESV Story of Redemption Bible. He is the co-author of What Is the Mission of the Church?: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission. You can follow him on Twitter.
Fly to Izmir, Turkey (Ancient Smyrna), where you'll be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Start your journey with a tour of Smyrna, a principal city of the Roman Empire vying for the title "First City of Asia."
Then take a short drive to the sweeping views from the Acropolis of Pergamum, the city of mythological mystery.
After lunch, spend some time in Thyatira, where the Apostle Paul established a strong Christian community through his ministry.
Enjoy a scenic drive to Hermes Valley where you'll briefly stop to visit Philadelphia, the city of martyrs. Then spend the morning in Sardis, the place of myriad faiths, creeds, and empires.
Spend the afternoon driving through the beautiful countryside to Colossae, where you'll experience the site pre-excavation and get a better idea of what these places have looked like for centuries.
Spend the morning enjoying the beautiful scenery while crossing the Taurus Mountains on your journey north, followed by a tour of the ancient city of Laodicea, a picturesque reminder of the "lukewarm" church.
Later, explore Hierapolis, the land of hot springs, the illusion of snow, and one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in Turkey.
Enjoy a leisurely drive to the coast in the afternoon.
Spend the morning enjoying the ancient city of Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul’s School of Tyrannus unleashed the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Asia.
Enjoy Turkish hospitality and culture for lunch with Osman, witnessing history through the craft of carpet weaving.
Then, visit one of the world’s oldest baptismals at St. John’s Basilica. Spend some time in the Ephesus museum, which houses the original statues of Artemis.
Transfer to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB)
Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do you say I am?’ It’s a question each of us must answer. In a wonderfully readable and succinct manner, Greg Gilbert mines the pages of Scripture to consider the truth of Christ’s claims about himself [in Who is Jesus?].
Greg Gilbert is one of the brightest and most faithful young men called to serve the church today. [Through What is the Gospel?] he offers us a penetrating, faithful, and fully biblical understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no greater need than to know the true gospel, to recognize the counterfeits, and to set loose a generation of gospel-centered Christians.
Amidst a contemporary Christian culture characterized by rampant confusion regarding the central tenets of our faith, Greg Gilbert has given us a portrait of the gospel that is clear for those who have believed and compelling for those who have yet to believe. Word-saturated, cross-centered, and God-exalting, What Is the Gospel? will capture your mind’s attention and ignite your heart’s affection for the God who saves us by his grace through his gospel for his glory.
Enrich your insight. Enjoy your tour.
