Anticipating Christmas: An Advent OverviewSample

God’s Great Arrival

Welcome to the first day of the Advent reading plan. For many, Advent evokes images of candles, calendars, and nativity scenes. It’s a season of joy and anticipation.

The word “advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” During the Advent season, we remember the first arrival of Jesus in history and look forward to his return when he will renew all of creation. Advent shapes communities to pray, give, and worship while they learn to wait with expectation.

This season teaches us to lament the world’s fractures, to practice generous love, and to live as people formed by God’s future. We light candles, read Scripture, and set our hearts on the story of God coming to dwell with humanity.

Over the next four days, we will walk through the key Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. Each one reveals an aspect of God’s character and calls us to live in light of the world he is making. Between the first advent and the second advent, Jesus’ return, our lives take their shape from the story God is telling.

This reading plan invites you to meditate on these themes to deepen your understanding of Advent and, perhaps, to experience the season in a new way.

Reflection Exercises:

• As you read Philippians 2:5-11, how does the picture of Jesus’ humility and exaltation help you reimagine what it means to “wait with expectation” during Advent?
• In this season of anticipation, where in your daily life can you practice the same kind of self-giving humility that Jesus modeled?