Christmas is about the arrival of Jesus! That’s why, historically, the Christian church has referred to this season as Advent—which comes from the Latin word for Arrival.
To help you celebrate the arrival of Jesus, our teaching team has curated a list of Advent resources. From books to devotionals and more, we want to help you prepare your hearts and minds for the Christmas season!
Advent for Everyone by NT Wright
Advent for Everyone: A Journey with the Apostles provides readers with an inspirational guide through the Advent season, from the first Sunday in Advent through the Saturday after the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Popular biblical scholar and author N. T. Wright provides his own Scripture translation and brief reflection, helping readers understand Advent in the wider context of God's love.
Hidden Christmas by Tim Keller
Even people who are not practicing Christians think they are familiar with the story of the nativity. Every Christmas displays of Baby Jesus resting in a manger decorate lawns and churchyards, and songs about shepherds and angels fill the air. Yet despite the abundance of these Christian references in popular culture, how many of us have examined the hard edges of this biblical story?
Is Christmas Unbelievable? by Rebecca McLaughling
Many people assume that the story of the baby in the manger at Bethlehem is just another made-up fantasy for kids. In this concise book, respected apologist Rebecca McLaughlin outlines the evidence that Jesus was a real person, explaining the reliability of the Bible’s accounts of his life and why believing in a virgin birth is not as ridiculous as it might sound.
In the Manger by Max Lucado
Though the bright lights of Christmas glitter briefly, the message of the season lasts forever--the Word becomes flesh, and the Creator becomes the creation. Join pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado as he invites you to bear witness to the birth of Christ as you've never seen it before.
The Anticipated Christ by Brian Zahnd
*Pastor Forrest’s Choice for the Year* The Anticipated Christ is a six-week Advent and Christmas devotional that takes the reader from the first Sunday of Advent through Epiphany in a collection of daily meditations.
Waiting For You Here by Louie Giglio
A season overflowing with anticipation, Christmas comes the same time each year with great hope and promise of a baby born long ago. But, this season meant for joy is often consumed by busyness, pressure, mixed emotions, and is gone as quickly as it came. What is it all for? In the journey of Advent - a season of expectant waiting and preparation - we find our answer.