December is here, and with it comes the hustle of a busy season with a lot to do. But in this time, it’s important for us to take time to reflect on the coming of our Lord Jesus. There are so many things that take our mind off the reason we have this holiday.
Advent is a time, designed for reflection on Christ’s coming. Although Advent has taken on different forms throughout the years, and is celebrated in different ways, the purpose is the same—for reflection. Advent was originally created to be a time for penance, prayer, and fasting leading up to a season of baptism of new Christians. It gradually became a time to celebrate and prepare for Christ’s Second Coming in the rapture of the church. Today it is recognized as a time to anticipate Christ’s Second Coming, and to look back on His first coming in Bethlehem. It is celebrated for the four Sundays that come before Christmas until Christmas Eve (this year would be Dec. 2-24).
This season, let’s remember that without the Christmas story in Bethlehem, we wouldn’t have the redemption story of Calvary. And without either, we wouldn’t have the hope of Heaven and a New Earth.
Resources For Advent
We’ve put together two resources to help you use this Advent season to reflect of God’s gift to mankind. One is a Bible reading schedule for the days of Advent up until Christmas. This schedule is designed to cover various aspects of our Christmas celebration. The second resource is a daily emailing with a devotional thought to guide your reading. If you’d like to recieve this emailing, join our mailing list and you will begin receiving our emails.
Advent Reading Schedule
December 2 — Luke 2:21-40
December 3 — Matthew 1
December 4 — Luke 2:1-20
December 5 —Mark 9:33-37
December 6 —Matthew 4:12-17 & Isaiah 9:1-3
December 7 —Acts 20:35 & 1 John 4:10
December 8 —Exodus 25
December 9 —Matthew 25:31-46
December 10 —Isaiah 9:6-7 & 1 Timothy 6:11-16
December 11 —Psalm 51:1-10
December 12 —Revelation 2:1-5 & 1 John 3:1-3
December 13 —Psalm 150
December 14 —Acts 15:22-31
December 15 —Luke 1 & Jeremiah 32:17
December 16 —Matthew 2:1-12
December 17 —Galatians 4:1-7
December 18 —Isaiah 58 & Matthew 6:16-18
December 19 —Luke 11:1-13
December 20—John 1
December 21 —John 21:25
December 22 —Psalm 100
December 23 —Matthew 25
December 24 —Luke 1:26-56 & Matthew 1:18-25
December 25 —Luke 2:1-40 & Matthew 2:1-12
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