Rediscovering Israel - by Kristi McLelland (Hardcover)

About the Book

Kristi McLelland weaves history, culture, and personal experience to celebrate Scripture as one timeless, transformational Story, rooted in its original contexts.

Book Synopsis

See the Bible through a New Lens, from Beginning to End

In Rediscovering Israel, you will experience the living God and His Word as never before! Bestselling author and professor Kristi McLelland invites you to explore the biblical narrative in the historical, cultural, geographic, and linguistic contexts in which it was written. As you do so, you will

• experience Scripture as a timeless, transformational Story demonstrating God's love and faithfulness
• string biblical pearls to encounter the Bible as one cohesive storyline rather than a book of stand-alone accounts
• celebrate the richness of Scripture while discovering unique cultural idioms and customs
• share in the joys, curiosities, and insights gained through Kristi's adventures in Israel

Whether you are preparing for pilgrimage to Israel or you desire to experience a fresh encounter with Scripture, Rediscovering Israel offers a welcome blend of biblical truth, faithful research, and personal reflections that will enrich your interactions with God's Word.

Review Quotes

"From Kristi's teaching, I have learned so much about the world in which Jesus walked. Having lived my whole life in America, I read the Bible through a Western worldview. But when I was introduced to Kristi's teaching, I began understanding the Word of God with a new lens. I can't think of anyone better from whom to learn about Israel."
--Mandisa Hundley, recording artist

"A few years ago, I was fortunate to go on a trip to Israel with Kristi McLelland. Right off the bat, I was blown away by her ability to teach and clarify the Scriptures. They came to life in a way that resonated deep within my soul, which only the Word of God can do. Kristi has a way of breaking down historical and cultural barriers of context to help us discover the deeper meanings of Bible texts."
--Michael Tait, lead singer of Newsboys

"Are you ready to have your mind explode and your heart expand at the same time? Beyond education, in reading Rediscovering Israel you will have an encounter. I cannot herald enough Kristi McLelland's deep, contagious passion for the Scriptures and her rich Middle Eastern lens into the treasure of God's Word from beginning to end. She has unearthed and strung together a gorgeous, antique necklace of appetizing pearls (to use her metaphor) for us to feast upon. Weaving stories and history alongside archaeology, Kristi disciples us from anthropocentrism to Theocentrism: the world, the Plan, does not revolve around me, but around God. Rediscovering Israel will not leave you a spectator. It will stretch you to leave your preconceived intellectual borders, and it will shift you. "Jesus came to save us from our sins in order to send us into the world." A wholesome education through a Hebraic prism, yes; and even greater, a refreshing encounter with the Living God."
--Ken Alpren, Sr. Rabbi and founder of Kol Dodi, Nashville, TN

"I have been waiting for a book from Kristi McLelland since the day I first heard her speak. This has surpassed anything I hoped for. Kristi's ability to serve a complex meal in bite-sized morsels invites you into a most beautiful feast. From Genesis to Revelation, this book shows us Jesus in a way that can only leave us loving Him more."
--Melinda Doolittle, recording artist

"If you've ever wanted to go to Israel--or want to go again--Rediscovering Israel will transport you there. Seeing Israel through Middle Eastern eyes, through the cultural lens of Jesus' world and His life, is absolutely transformative. I traveled to Israel with Kristi in 2019, and traveled again with her while reading this book. The pictures, descriptions, and details place you right there in the Land. People say that, after a pilgrimage to Israel, you never read the Bible in the same way again, and they're right. But reading this book did that for me too. It brought the Living Word of God even more alive, and I'm forever grateful."
--Tamera Alexander, USA Today bestselling author of A Million Little Choices

"Kristi McLelland has an exceptional ability to make sense of the Scriptures from a Middle Eastern perspective. Rediscovering Israel is a user-friendly gem, tracing God's redemptive plan, within the Land, from start to finish, never overlooking the primary plot of the story when she says, '...so that the world will bear witness to Him [Jesus].' This is why our students crave Kristi's teaching. I predict you will as well."
--Edward M. Smith, president of Williamson College, Franklin, TN

"My wife and I have had the privilege and honor of walking with Kristi McLelland for many, many years. Since the beginning, we have been moved by her teaching and ability to break down God's Word to where you can begin to grasp and understand the depth of God's truth and love. A few years ago, we were able to go to Israel with Kristi and we were blown away by how God used Kristi and the land of Israel to bring us into a deeper walk with Jesus. Kristi is a sincere servant of God who seeks to encourage believers in their pursuit of Christ."
--TobyMac, contemporary Christian recording artist

"This book provides priceless insights that will enhance, broaden, and deepen your appreciation of the Bible. Having traveled to the Holy Land on a team led by Kristi, I can confidently say that Rediscovering Israel is as close to that experience as I could have hoped for."
--Curtis Zackery, pastor, author of Soul Rest

About the Author

Kristi McLelland is an author and professor at Williamson College who teaches the Bible in its historical, cultural, geographic, and linguistic contexts. After studying in Egypt and Israel in 2007, Kristi began leading biblical study trips to Israel. Kristi's trips, as well as her in-person and online courses and resources--including her popular "Pearls" podcast--position Westerners to discover the Bible within the context in which it was written. KristiMcLelland.com