By Dr. Luke Miller
Pastor at Sunrise Community Church in Sacramento, California, & Member of the NAB Missional Initiatives teaching team
In 2006, Sara and I stepped off a plane in Tel Aviv and made our way to our new home in Jerusalem, where we would spend the next three years. Coming from a small town of 500 in Saskatchewan, we found ourselves on the other side of the planet for school. Those three years were transformative, filled with friendships that have lasted and moments where the Bible came to life like never before. We had countless visitors join us as we gave tours of Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.
One of our greatest joys was witnessing the same spiritual transformation in others as they stood where Jesus taught and read Matthew 5–7, walked the Valley of Elah where David and Goliath battled, or spent a Sabbath praying in front of the Temple Mount. Passages they had studied their whole lives experienced a renaissance in their own spiritual formation. At the early part of the 20th century, Herman Gunkel introduced the phrase Sitz im Volksleben or ‘setting in the life of the people,’ which later evolved into the widely known Sitz im Leben, meaning ‘situation in life.’
While I hope you’re impressed by my recall of academic German, these concepts are what truly bring the Scriptures to life for those visiting Israel. Understanding how the first readers of The Word understood Jesus’s teachings gives us great insight into his ministry and work. At the NAB, we’ve worked hard to train pastors and church leaders to understand the context of their neighborhoods and discern how God is using them and the local church. Our Blue Ocean training helps pastors over the course of a year to discern what a church on mission with God looks like in their own Sitz im Leben.
The NAB has a deep commitment to training pastors and churches to see them succeed in their ministry context. This is one of the reasons why I am thrilled to announce NAB Study Tours.
In November 2025, we will launch Blue Ocean Israel, incorporating our Blue Ocean training throughout the Holy Land. Blue Ocean Israel will build on this foundation by providing a unique setting for learning and growth. It is more than a tour; it is an immersive experience/training designed to deepen your understanding of the Bible by exploring its historical context firsthand. Participants will have the chance to walk in the footsteps of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, gaining a richer appreciation of the Scriptures. Picture yourself standing on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, visualizing Jesus calming the storm or walking on water, or reflecting on his teachings at the Mount of Beatitudes. These experiences make the Bible come alive in ways like never before, while also granting insight into how Jesus viewed his ministry.
Blue Ocean Israel will be open to pastors and their spouses, church leaders, and key ministry individuals. We’ve scheduled the trip for November 2025 to give churches ample time to budget and individuals time to save for this invaluable ministry training. Israel’s geography and culture provide invaluable insights into the lives and events of the Bible, and our goal is not only to see the Bible come to life in new ways as God reveals himself in our own spiritual formation but also to help us view our ministries through the same lens as Jesus as we join God on his mission.
Sara’s and my time in Israel transformed our understanding of the Bible and helped deepen our faith. Visiting Israel is about experiencing God’s presence uniquely, connecting with the land and people, and understanding the Bible’s cultural and historical context. It’s an opportunity to grow spiritually, be inspired, and be transformed. I hope you will join us on this journey.
If you are interested in Blue Ocean Israel or other NAB Study Tours, please contact me at lukem@sunrise.church or visit nabconference.org/events. Join us for an unforgettable journey that will deepen your faith and transform your ministry.