Make the Most of Advent

The Big Idea: Seven different approaches to studying Christmas passages during Advent. 

Enrich Advent with these  7 Study Tips.

Advent was not a household word used when I grew up. My impression was that liturgical church services are based on God's Word, but it becomes so rote it does not mean anything to people. My freshman year in college I attended a conservative Baptist church that (gasp) used an Advent wreath! I embarked on a wonderful lifelong journey 4 weeks before Christmas every year to study God's Word and prepare my heart regarding the real meaning of Christmas.

The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word Adventus, which means coming or arrival. It is used in many churches as a time of introspective spiritual preparation for Christmas. The traditions vary in churches around the world, but usually 4 candles are used to light each week (5 if you count an additional center candle for Christmas). The first week, one candle is lit. The second, two are lit, and so on. The colors vary but the traditional color is purple for Christ's royalty, with the candle of the third week pink, a color of joy as Christmas is over halfway here!

Don't get hung up on whether you have an Advent wreath with the right colors of candles, or no wreath at all. Some people prepare for Advent opening one chocolate a day on a candy Advent calendar! This is not about the physical, it is about the spiritual, about preparing your heart toward Christmas.

Your Scripture Spy loves to study the Bible and encourage others to get into God's Word and prayer. I'd like to give you several hot tips how to use the season of Advent for this.  For focused study I would recommend a different focus or theme each year to keep it fresh.

1. Devotional guide ready to use. You can use it for just the four Sundays or some for every day of the week.  Christianity Today has an excellent one online this year.  It is in eight different languages. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/november-web-only/advent-living-hope-series-devotions.html

2. Advent wreath on your family table. Light a candle and share a devotional with the family every Sunday dinner (or any one day of the week when everyone gathers around the table). This Raising Arrows blogs has a number of sources for children's devotionals on Advent. Some free, some to buy. https://raisingarrows.net/free-advent-devotionals-for-children/

3. Theme based study. Focus on a theme for either the 4 Sundays of Advent or for a focus the entire month. You would look into these on your own.

·         Research Prophesies in the Old Testament on Christ's arrival to the world.

·         Research what the Bible says about Christ's second coming.

4. Word study. Again focus either on 4 Sundays or through the week.

·         Research light throughout  the Bible ("I am the Light of the World"  John 8:12)

·         Research the love of God throughout the Bible

·         Study angels in the Christmas Passages and in the Bible exalting Jesus

·         Study giving, generosity, kindness

·         Study names of Jesus in the Christmas story: Emmanuel, Messiah, Jesus, Savior

5. In depth study of the Christmas passages.

·         Inductive study on the Christmas passages Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2 (four chapters)

·         Character studies on people in the Christmas story (Mary, Joseph, Zachariah, Elizabeth) as well as lesser characters like Herod, Wise Men, Innkeeper, Simon, Anna, etc)

·         Background study of the Christmas passages with the help of a Bible handbook or Bible encyclopedia (or use Bible Hub online) Look at locations, times, geography, customs pertaining to the Christmas story like childbirth, shepherd life, etc.

·         Search and study what the rest of the New Testament authors say about Jesus coming in to the World, and also the Gospel of John chapter 1.

6. Write it or speak it. Write out the four Christmas chapters (Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2) by hand. Read it aloud. Read it over the course of advent in numerous translations. Write down fresh insights.

7. Memorize Christmas verses. Use this exercise for meditation on those verses. Here are some passages or verses that might be beneficial.

·         Isaiah 9:6-7

·         Isaiah 7:14

·         Matthew 1:18-23

·         Luke 1:39-45

·         Luke 1:46-55

·         Luke 2:10-14

·         John 1:9-14

·         Galatians 4:4

·         Philippians 2:5-11

·         Colossians 1:15-20

·         Hebrews 1:1-4

 

When I lived in West Africa, my electricity shut off every evening at 10 pm. One particularly busy Sunday I had no time to study the Bible. That night I lit the Advent candles and sat there with my Bible open. I meditated and prayed for the peace and joy that I needed for that day. I started to relish snatching quiet moments like this with the Lord every year during the Christmas season. The Advent season is not something in the Bible we are commanded to celebrate or honor. However I find it to be a very useful tool for deepening my understanding of the Word, my walk with Christ and a way to keep Christ in Christmas.

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For reflection: 

1. Do you have an Advent practice? Is it meaningful spiritually to you or not? 

2. Is there an idea in this blog that is appealing to you to try? How do you think it might steer your inner spirit and thoughts towards the real meaning of Christmas?