Advent

This year, as we face a different kind of Christmas following a very hard year, we all need reminders that our joy begins (and ends) with the love displayed from the manger to the cross. Jesus’ birth on that seemingly unremarkable Bethlehem night is our hope for today. Even as there’s pain in the night, joy still comes from a baby born that first Christmas morning. 

Joy Comes in the Morning

The Gifts of Advent - The Christmas season is approaching and preparing for Christmas is sometimes filled with stress and chaos, but God never intended it to be that way.  Come walk with author and mentor, Janelle Keith, as she uncovers the gifts of Advent and the true meaning Christmas has for each of us today.

21 Gifts of Advent

Women bring the present at Christmas. They cook, buy gifts, create crafts, plan parties, coordinate outfits….make MAGIC, and this year will be no different. This devotional is a walk through a few of the women involved in the family line of Christ and his birth. These women faced a myriad of obstacles, but in the end, they brought the most beautiful gift to the world--the presence of Jesus Christ. 

You Bring the Present: A Women’s Christmas Devotional 

Biola University's Center for Christianity, Culture & the Arts is pleased to share the annual Advent Project, a daily devotional series celebrating the beauty and meaning of the Advent season through art, music, poetry, prayer, Scripture, and written devotions.  The project starts on the first day of Advent and continues through Epiphany. Our goal is to help individuals quiet their hearts and enter into a daily routine of worship and reflection during this meaningful but often hectic season. Our prayer is that the project will help ground you in the unsurpassable beauty, mystery, and miracle of the Word made flesh.

The Advent Project: Week 2

In this Study, we will investigate Jesus’ arrival as King, Priest, and Sacrifice. Through studying these roles, we will not only be able to see the true meaning of Christmas, but also have a fuller understanding of the story of the Bible and how God becoming Man and being born as a Baby is Good News for us today!

The Gift

We hate to admit it, but after years of reading the same story of Christmas, we get a little bored—we lose some of the awe that we had the first time. That's why The Characters of Christmas was written, to give you a fresh look at the Christmas story by getting to know the characters that played a part in Jesus' birth and restore awe to the Christmas story.

The Characters of Christmas: A Five-Day Devotional

In this fourth and final reading plan in the Infinitum Christmas Series, we progress from ‘Space for Awe’ (week 1) and ‘Liminal Space’ (week 2) and ‘Lectio Liminal’ (week 3) to ‘Awestruck & Awesome’, a consideration of the remainder of Luke’s Christmas story through the lenses of the Infinitum postures of surrender, generosity, and mission.

Week 4 Christmas Challenge, Awestruck & Awesome.

Don't lose your focus for the reason of the Christmas season—Jesus. Celebrating Advent is a beautiful way to keep Christ central in the holiday and in this reading plan, you'll take a journey through Scripture to worship our King with daily Bible readings and devotions.

A Weary World Rejoices — an Advent Reading Plan

The word "Advent" means "arrival" or "coming." On the church calendar, Advent is the beginning of the Christian year. It is a season of Great Expectation and a time not only to look back but to look forward.