Every year, round about this time, I carve out some space to update my annual Advent Resources for Individuals, Families, and Other People Who Want to Advent Well post. While we all know what a bummer 2020 has been, with all its hang-ups, none of that is going to stop me this year. However, I am going to switch gears a bit. I'm going to share a few new resources, but I'll link to my old posts below, so you can go back and revisit those resources, as well. Before we get to that part, I wanted to offer a word on Advent.
The reality is, for the Christian, Advent is an essential season. At least it should be. While the rhythm of the season is mostly a product of the church calendar –which is man-made– that rhythm creates in us an embrace and a longing for what has already come, and what is yet to come (Jesus). Advent is a season of expectation where we joyously herald the arrival of Christ, a baby born in a humble circumstance to a man and a woman who were surely filled with joy but also probably a little freaked out by the enormity of the task set before them: to raise God's Son. But we know from Scripture the joy with which Mary anticipated the birth of God's own son and the faith Joseph held in his Lord's promise. And this should be the very same posture we adopt during this season. We anticipate and herald the birth of Christ, while fixing our gaze to His return. It's one of the unsettling arrangements where we find ourselves being tasked with looking back as we look forward. Regardless of which direction we're looking, we see Christ. Christ behind us. Christ in front of us. This is where Advent leads us and like a child wading into deep waters, we hold our father's hand until the water gets a little too deep for us, then it's not His hand we're holding, it's His hand that is holding ours. Advent teaches us that God is faithful to His promise and will continue to be faithful to what He has promised.
In a world that seems like it's constantly on fire, this is an assurance that we should all lean deeply in to. It's probably hard to celebrate Christmas/Advent this year. I get it. But what a gift we have before us: to celebrate Jesus in the middle of what seems like a very long season in the valley.
Fellow brothers and sisters, celebrate well. Draw near to the warmth of the Spirit working in and through your life and fix your gaze to light of the world, Christ Jesus. I hope that these new resources, as well as the old resources, help stir your affections for Christ. The Christ who came, and the Christ who will soon return.
First with the old: you can find that very long list of resources here. I hope this list compiled in years past still serves you well now.
Now onto the new resources!
The Gift: What If Christmas Gave You What You've Always Wanted?
This is the one I’m digging into for daily reading, but I may incorporate a few others. More on that in a minute. I’m not as familiar with Mathis’ work, but this book comes recommended from other authors and theologians I trust, so I’m taking it up this year. It’s just about everything you want in an Advent reading as the readings are only a couple pages each, but they seem substantive as each daily reading drives you into Scripture and unpacks the truths of those scriptures, as well.
The Gift: What If Christmas Gave You What You've Always Wanted?
This little book clocks in at 53 pages, but is a light-hearted and lively book that shows how our gift-giving traditions give us a glimpse of a giving God. It’s definitely a book that the avid reader could devour in one-sitting, so you’ll either want to pace yourself and stretch it out or pair it with another reading, which is most likely what I intend to do this year.
The Advent of the Lamb of God
This book is a few years old now, but I just recently found it, and Russ Ramsey is a wonderful and creative writer. This book is part of a retelling series Ramsey has done, but isn’t just the story of baby Jesus, but of God’s love and pursuit of His people.
The Jesus Storybook Bible a Christmas Collection: Stories, Songs, and Reflections for the Advent Season (Jesus Storybook Bible)
This is a new Advent rendering of the wonderful Jesus Storybook Bible so many parents have adopted for reading with their children. There are interactive elements that should help parents looking to reinforce the story of Jesus at Christmastime with their kiddos.
The One True Gift
Tim Challies has been such a helpful resource through the years in terms of sharing useful resources for believers and the church. He’s a gifted writer who understands the necessity of discipleship of the Christian and the family, as well. This is actually one in a series of Advent resources he’s written over the course of the last few years.
When Santa Learned the Gospel
This is a fun picture book just for kids. Parents tend to wrestle with how to fit Santa into Christmas with their kids, and if that’s you, this is a simple story that incorporates a little elf sharing the good news of Christ with Santa.
Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season
An interesting Advent devotional for the hymn lover in your family that couples the lyrics and score of a new hymn daily with a devotional message about the hymn's biblical and spiritual truths.
A Jesus Christmas: Explore God's Amazing Plan for Christmas
This family devotional takes an interesting angle at Advent by dissecting the lies of the serpent who deceived Adam and Eve and how the truths of Christmas overcome the serpent’s lies.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas
Guthrie wanted a book of reflective Advent readings, so she combed through the sermons of some wonderful preachers and teachers to dig out the gold that draws us into the wonder of Jesus’ incarnation and birth.
There's a Lion in My Nativity!
A fun little story of Christmas for your children that takes place in a Christmas nativity play that helps reorient our place in the Christmas story. Where we normally put ourselves at the center, this book helps us put Jesus in the story as the star. It’s colorful and has wonderful illustrations.
Jesus Came for Me: The True Story of Christmas
This board book is taken from the Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible series and is meant for ages three through seven. A conversational book that presents your child with the gospel and invites them to respond.
The Story of His Glory
This is a short little book that shares the narrative of the Bible in a concise, meaningful way. It’s a nice little resource for evangelizing at this time of year.
That’s all I have for you this year. I’m sure there are more, but we already have a healthy list of resources that should keep you busy for years to come. I hope you find something helpful to dig into this Advent to help draw your heart closer to the coming of Christ our King.
Take care, and Merry Christmas!
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