In the business of the holiday season it can be easy to forget who and what we are celebrating. In order to avoid that and to prepare our hearts for this season, we’ve put together some resources that we hope you find helpful in growing closer to Jesus through Advent.
Books
The Christmas We Didn't Expect: Daily Devotions for Advent
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns and this has been particularly so in 2020. But the most unexpected and significant event in the history of the world actually happened over 2000 years ago when God himself became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. These Advent reflections help us to lift our eyes to wonder of the incarnation and worship the one who came to save us and make our futures certain.
A Jesus Christmas: Explore God's Amazing Plan for Christmas
Get your family excited with this advent devotional offering a fresh way to prepare for Christmas. Right from the beginning, the serpent lied to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and he has been lying ever since. But right from the beginning, God told us his amazing plan to send Jesus. Each day's devotional looks at one of the serpent's lies from Genesis 3, and then shows how the glorious truth of Christmas beats it every time! God prepared the world for Jesus and he will prepare your heart to celebrate this Christmas in a new and lasting way.
O Come Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional
'Come, Let Us Adore Him' will help you slow down during the busy Christmas season and focus on what matters most: adoring our Savior, Jesus. At the end of each devotion is a section for parents and children, featuring one central theme from the Christmas story, discussion prompts, and related verses.
The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas
Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, The Greatest Gift retraces the epic pageantry of humankind from Adam to the Messiah, with each devotional reading, prayer, and reflection leading you one glorious day at a time toward the magnificent promise of Christ. The Greatest Gift is a treasured reminder that it is Christ and Christ alone who endows Christmas with meaning.
Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ
In his book “Hidden Christmas”, Timothy Keller takes readers on an illuminating journey into the surprising background of the nativity. By understanding the message of hope and salvation within the Bible’s account of Jesus’ birth, readers will experience the redeeming power of God’s grace in a deeper and more meaningful way.
Prepare Him Room: Celebrating The Birth of Jesus
Christmas traditions become a treasured part of a family's heritage, passed down from generation to generation. This four-week devotional guides your Christian family on an unforgettable advent journey, exploring some of the most wonderful prophecies in the Bible and how God fulfills them in Jesus Christ. Prepare Him Room helps you build family Christmas traditions around Jesus.
MUSIC
“Hope Has A Name” by Passion
"Christmas (From the Realms of Glory)" by Bebo Norman
“Peace” by Audrey Assad
“Christmas Morning” by The McClures
READING PLANS
Carols: A Christmas Devotional
God is with us - in answered promises, realized dreams, and refreshed hope. How could we help but sing. During this Christmas season, explore the songs that were born from our joy that Christ has entered the world and rediscover their relevance in your life today in this 25-day reading plan.
Fruits Of The Spirit – Revealed At Christmas
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control are the fruits of the Spirit. Interestingly we see these in the characters of the Christmas story. The fruits of the spirit are seen in those who choose to follow God and allow His purposes to be fulfilled in their lives.
Christmas Break
Christmas is the most magical time of year, except when it isn’t—when nothing looks like the Christmas we see in commercials, movies, and even our friends’ families. In this series, we’ll discover that, even when Christmas doesn’t live up to our expectations, because of Jesus, we still have a reason to celebrate.
Remembering Christmas
It feels crowded, doesn’t it? The stores. The calendar. Our hearts. Even before stepping one foot into December, we’re already overwhelmed. In this 5-Day Bible Plan from The Messy Table Podcast, we’re intentionally making room—in our minds, relationships, time, bodies, and resources—to remember the real meaning of Christmas.