Advent Is For Anticipation
Longing. Waiting. Yearning.
One of the deepest desires of the human heart is the anticipation of deliverance. This desire affects how we worship, how we love, and how we wait. What - or who - we’re waiting for determines how we live and reaches into all areas of life.The Christmas season shouts to distract our hearts by making much of shopping, gifts, and traditions that often lack the centrality of Christ’s coming. By establishing the tradition of Advent, we take a few moments each day to proclaim the gospel amidst distractions. We can do this individually, with roommates or spouses, and alongside our children as their hearts wonder about the true meaning of Christmas.Take a few moments each day (consider breakfast or dinner time) to work your way through one of the following reading plans. You can practically begin the habit of daily turning your hearts to God and cultivate a home-culture of worshipping Jesus.
Consider using one of these resources:
Good News Of Great Joy by John PiperJesus StoryBook Bible by Sally Lloyd-JonesThese resources can also be used with an Advent calendar (you can make your own or easily find one at your local home store) with daily ornaments or an activity for your kids.For more ideas, visit our Pinterest page and find our Advent board.
Advent Readings
Using the “Jesus Storybook Bible:”December 1st: The beginning: a perfect home (Genesis 1-2)December 2nd: The terrible lie (Genesis 3)December 3rd: A new beginning (Genesis 6-9)December 4th: A giant staircase to heaven (Genesis 11)December 5th: Son of laughter (Genesis 12-21)December 6th: The present (Genesis 22)December 7th: The girl no one wanted (Genesis 29-30)December 8th: The forgiving prince (Genesis 37-46)December 9th: God to the rescue (Exodus 3-13)December 10th: God makes a way (Exodus 14-15)December 11th: Ten ways to be perfect (Exodus 16-17, 19-40)December 12th: The warrior leader (Joshua 3, 6)December 13th: The teeny, weenie...true king (1 Samuel 16)December 14th: The young hero and the horrible giant (1 Samuel 17)December 15th: The Good Shepherd (Psalm 51, 2 Samuel 7, Psalm 23)December 16th: A little servant girl and the proud general (2 Kings 5)December 17th: Operation “No More Tears!” (Isaiah 9, 11, 40, 50, 53, 55, 60)December 18th: Daniel and the scary sleepover (Daniel 6)December 19th: God’s messenger (Jonah 1-4 Hebrews 1:1-2)December 20th: Get ready! (Nehemiah 8-10, Malachi 1,3, 4, and Ezra 7)December 21st: Heaven breaks through (Matthew 3, Luke 1,3, and John 1)December 22nd: He’s here (Luke 1-2)December 23rd: The Light of the whole world (Luke 2)December 24th: The King of all kings (Matthew 2)Daily Bible Verses:December 1st: John 1:1-5December 2nd: Isaiah 9:2-7December 3rd: Isaiah 11:1-10December 4th: Jeremiah 33:14-16December 5th: Luke 1:5-10December 6th: Luke 1:11-17December 7th: Luke 1:18-25December 8th: Luke 1:26-38December 9th: Matthew 1:18-21December 10th: Matthew 1:22-25December 11th: Luke 1:39-45December 12th: Luke 1:46-56December 13th: Micah 5:2-5December 14th: Luke 2:1-7December 15th: Luke 2:8-12December 16th: Luke 2:13-14December 17th: Luke 2:15-18December 18th: Luke 2:19-20December 19th: Matthew 2:1-2December 20th: Matthew 2:3-6December 21st: Matthew 2:7-8December 22nd: Matthew 2:9-12December 23rd: Matthew 2:19-23December 24th: John 1:14