ADVENT DEVOTIONALS
WHAT IS ADVENT?
“Advent” is the Latin word for “coming”. It is celebrated all over the world as the anticipation and coming of Jesus’ birth! These family devotionals are meant to spark conversations about advent based on Scripture and a traditional Christmas carol. Over the next four weeks, we challenge you and your family to dive deep into the four aspects of advent together–hope, peace, joy, and love–as we celebrate the coming of our Savior.
Hope
“This first week of Advent we are focusing on the aspect of hope. Oftentimes, we think of hope as a verb or an action that we do, sort of like a wish. We hope for a good grade on a test, a promotion at work, or for God to provide a need or desire. Let’s take a moment and focus on a different type of hope. Have you considered the hope that we receive when we become a child of Godand what that means?”
Written by Hannah Kennedy
PEACE
Jesus’ first advent declared the promise of peace but His second advent will bring that promise to fruition! We rejoice and give praise for His first advent in Bethlehem, but that is only the beginning of the story. We look forward with eager anticipation and confident assurance that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords will come again and “make all things new.”
Written by Faye Sharber
JOY
Christmas is known for being “the most wonderful time of the year!” Did you just sing that line in your head? Caught ya! There are so many reasons why this is a wonderful season. You may think of the presents, the decorations, the time with family, and the amazing food. Or maybe it’s the fact that everyone is so joyful and willing to give more during this holiday than any other. Either way, there seems to be joy in the air!
Written by Rachel Liverman
LOVE
Why is snow white? Light scatters and bounces off ice crystals in the snow. The reflected light includes all the colors, which together look white. How are our sins whiter than snow? Because of the crimson red blood Jesus shed on the cross to pay our sin debt.
Written by Jan Morton
