Advent

Most of us long for a joyful Christmas but struggle to reconcile our idealized visions with our messy reality. As we prepare for Jesus’ arrival, how can we embrace the season in a way that offers hope rather than stress? Jesus is not turned away by our messiness; instead, he encourages us to experience his peace. Let’s discover what the expectancy of Jesus’ birth means for all of us.

Merry & Bright: Rediscover the Peace of Advent

For generations, churches and families have used Advent wreaths to help prepare for celebrating the Lord's birth at Christmas. The evergreen wreath symbolizes eternal life and includes four candles—typically three purple and one pink, with a white candle in the middle that symbolizes the purity of Christ. Various traditions assign different topics to each candle, and the candles are usually given names to remind us of the good news of Christ's birth.

The Weary World Rejoices: Daily Devotions for Advent

We all know how easy it is to get swept up in Christmas planning, shopping, decorating, and countless gatherings. These things are exciting and festive, but they can sometimes pull us away from what Christmas is truly about—the arrival of Emmanuel, “God with us.”

The Good News is that, in a world filled with so much uncertainty, He is our Hope. He is our Love. He is our Peace, our Joy, our Light. This is the gift of Christmas, for each and every one of us.

He Is...Good News

Advent is a season of waiting, hope and expectancy. As we prepare for Christmas day, we both celebrate the birth of Christ and look forward to the day He returns again. For the next 7 days, prepare for the celebration of our Savior by reading the Christmas story from a different perspective each day!

Waiting for the Savior

Are you longing to experience the true meaning of Christmas? This Advent, journey through the names of Jesus, found in Isaiah 9:6. Each day focuses on a different title: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Through these reflections, we are invited to experience Jesus more intimately, finding wonder, guidance, strength, love, and peace in him. Let’s rediscover the power of Jesus's name this Christmas season.

Names of Jesus

You can feel God’s Light, Hope, and Comfort in hard seasons. As you go through Advent, may you be reminded that you are not alone, and that God is holding you close every day.

Advent in Hard Times

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Things are looking up.” It means the situation is improving. The Bible tells us that things will start looking up when we start looking up. Get your eyes off your circumstances and onto God.

This Christmas Don’t Give Up, Look Up

As you rediscover Christmas in these devotions, you will find your heart opening to the wider field of God’s Love, empowering you to participate in the new Creation Story launched at Christmas and extending far beyond the Christmas season. 

Rediscovering Christmas

Since the beginning of time, humanity has yearned for love that is short of perfect. The kind of love we want and which we spend a lifetime pursuing. But there’s a kind of love that we need, and that love has pursued us all along. A love fully demonstrated by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This Bible plan will help readers draw closer into God’s everlasting love.