2025 Season of Advent
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:10–11
Introduction
Genesis, the book of beginnings, is a literary mine rich with truth and mystery. The stories of creation, the fall, the flood, and the patriarchs all testify to an active, almighty and faithful Creator – the Lord. This God is not a local deity of which Babylon and Egypt had hundreds. This God possesses authority, purpose, and plans that tower over all other gods.
The scope of His plans is eternal.
In our recent sermon series, we saw the Lord covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Speaking into their hearts, dreams, and experiences, the Lord engaged men willing to walk by faith.
In subsequent history, the Lord has shown us time and time again that He is unwilling to let His covenanted people go their own way, blindly following the circles and patterns of normal life with its inevitable moral and physical decay. No, He has established a wonderful path and plan of salvation meant to lead us forward.
Our destiny is not to lose our individual personhood and be joined harmoniously to the rest of the universe. Nor are we destined to die forever; nor are we destined to descend into hell – left alone to face the consequences of our many unholy choices.
The Guide
This year’s Advent Guide may first seem a bit off to you. After all, it does not focus upon Christmas and the incarnation of Christ. Rather, it is built upon them. It is intended to focus us upon the ultimate destination the Lord has shown us – the promised new heaven and earth – which we first glimpsed when heaven came down to earth in the person of Jesus, born of Mary and placed in a manger.
I invite you to join Jesus our Savior by faith. Let’s travel to the Lord with the Lord towards the great destination of life eternal – a vibrant, eternal life without any sorrow, without any sin, and without any more death. Remember, everything meaningful we can experience is possible because of the victory Jesus has already won for us.
In the Guide you will find a set of readings for each week of Advent. Each reading is designed to anticipate the challenges we face in our faith journeys.
We encourage each family and each adult to build a little liturgy around the readings. Mold the liturgy around these readings, and fit it to your or your family’s schedule.
Our hope is that you will make time during each of the four weeks of Advent by:
- Gathering with family or a friend
- Lighting a candle
- Reading the Scripture
- Discussing the reading using the questions, or questions of your own, and
- Closing with the prayer.
The first two weeks of Advent have three days of readings. The third and fourth weeks have four. In each set, the first reading is for adults and older children. The second is for younger children.
I pray that in these four weeks your faith-footing will grow more secure, the path of salvation more recognizable, and your covenant faith reinforced as you look to your future with joyous Christian hope.
Then, at Christmas, we can gather and truly celebrate the Incarnation, the immeasurable gift of Jesus our Lord and King, who came down to earth that we may become citizens of heaven.
With faith and affection,
Pastor John
Advent 1 – “Where Are We Headed?”
Before You Begin Each Day
Light the candle representing our Christian Destiny.
Day 1
Readings – Adults
Genesis 49:8–10
“Judah, your brothers will praise you.
You will grasp your enemies by the neck.
All your relatives will bow before you.
Judah, my son, is a young lion
that has finished eating its prey.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down;
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants,
until the coming of the one to whom it belongs,
the one whom all nations will honor.”
Readings – Children
Genesis 49:10
“The scepter will not depart from Judah nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.”
Discuss
- Who is speaking in these passages?
- How could he have known about the future?
- What is a scepter?
- Who does the most powerful and important scepter belong to?
Pray – A Prayer for the Journey
King Jesus, you have prepared a wonderful future for us. In our life journey, prepare us for our future with You! This Advent, keep us mindful of your goodness, attentive to your teaching, and grateful for your coming. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 2
Readings – Adults
Isaiah 11:3–9
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
Illustration by Nancy Conant
Readings – Children
Isaiah 11:3–4
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.
Discuss
- Who is Isaiah describing in verses 3–4?
- What will it be like in the days of Jesus’ return according to Isaiah in verses 6–9?
Pray – A Prayer for the Journey
King Jesus, you have prepared a wonderful future for us. In our life journey, prepare us for our future with You! This Advent, keep us mindful of your goodness, attentive to your teaching, and grateful for your coming. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 3
Readings – Adults
Revelation 21:1–6
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.”
Readings – Children
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Discuss
- Name something you’ve experienced that was completely new and different to you (for example: a new house, a new town, a new teacher, a new school). Were you ready? Why or why not? What helped?
- What do the verses in Revelation say is in the future for Christ-followers?
- Is that hard to imagine? Why or why not?
Pray – A Prayer for the Journey
King Jesus, you have prepared a wonderful future for us. In our life journey, prepare us for our future with You! This Advent, keep us mindful of your goodness, attentive to your teaching, and grateful for your coming. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Advent 2 – “The Right Way to Get There”
Before You Begin Each Day
Light the candle representing True Faith.
Day 1
Readings – Adults
Hebrews 11:8–10
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Readings – Children
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham obeyed God when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.
Discuss
- What is an inheritance? What makes it important?
- Why did God bless Abraham with an eternal inheritance? (Or, what was it about Abraham that was so important to God?)
- The Bible says we can be heirs with Christ. How can that be possible?
Pray – A Prayer for Continual Faithfulness
Dear Lord, keep teaching us what it means to “walk by faith,” to “press on” and to never stop believing that you have a glorious future awaiting those who truly love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 2
Readings – Adults
1 Peter 1:3–5
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
Readings – Children
1 Peter 1:3b–4
Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
Discuss
- How is it that we are born again?
- What does it mean to be born again? What is it that the person who is born again receives? What is the inheritance the born-again person receives?
- Through what is God protecting us with his power until we receive this inheritance?
Pray – A Prayer for Continual Faithfulness
Dear Lord, keep teaching us what it means to “walk by faith,” to “press on” and to never stop believing that you have a glorious future awaiting those who truly love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 3
Readings – Adults
Hebrews 12:1–2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Philippians 3:13–14
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Readings – Children
Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Discuss
- What is endurance?
- How does having endurance make a person different from someone who does not have it?
- How can we encourage one another to “press on” with endurance?
Pray – A Prayer for Continual Faithfulness
Dear Lord, keep teaching us what it means to “walk by faith,” to “press on” and to never stop believing that you have a glorious future awaiting those who truly love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Advent 3 – “Fires and Forks in the Road”
Before You Begin Each Day
Light the candle representing Good Choices.
Day 1
Readings – Adults
Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 – Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.
“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”
“Darnel,” also known as “tares,” is a type of weed that closely resembles wheat until the plants mature. The Greek word for darnel is zizanion.
Readings – Children
Jesus told a story about a great wheat harvest that required removing all the weeds that had grown up alongside the good wheat. In Matthew 13:41–43 he explained:
“The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Discuss
- How is wheat different from a weed?
- What does Jesus say will happen to the weeds?
- Who is Jesus referring to when He uses the picture of wheat and weeds?
- How does God want us to be different from the world around us?
Pray – A Prayer for Making Good Decisions
Dear Lord, help us understand how important many of our decisions are. Teach us to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, so our decisions lead us and our families to be closer to you and to one another. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 2
Readings – Adults
Luke 12:49–52
“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.”
Matthew 3:11
(John the Baptist said), “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Readings – Children
Luke 12:51–52
Jesus said, “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.”
Discuss
This is one of Jesus’ hard-but-true teachings.
- Why would Jesus say He has come not to bring peace but to divide people?
- If Jesus loves people and families, why would He allow them to become divided?
- What kinds of things usually bring families closer?
- What decisions can you make to help ensure that your family is not divided over Jesus?
Pray – A Prayer for Making Good Decisions
Dear Lord, help us understand how important many of our decisions are. Teach us to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, so our decisions lead us and our families to be closer to you and to one another. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 3
Readings – Adults
1 Corinthians 2:10–12
For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
Readings – Children
1 Corinthians 2:12
And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
Discuss
- What does “crucial” mean?
- How can we tell when a decision we make is an important one, maybe a crucial one?
- What crucial decision does every person have to make regarding Christ?
- When someone makes the decision to follow Christ and become born-again, what do we get through God’s Spirit?
- Think of a story from the Bible. Did someone make a “crucial” decision in it? (For example: Joseph, Joshua, David, Daniel, Paul, etc.)
Pray – A Prayer for Making Good Decisions
Dear Lord, help us understand how important many of our decisions are. Teach us to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, so our decisions lead us and our families to be closer to you and to one another. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 4
Readings – Adults
Matthew 3:11
John the Baptist said, “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Readings – Children
Matthew 3:11
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Discuss
- Who is John referring to?
- How do you think experiencing the Holy Spirit and fire might change a person?
- Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit or the fire of God?
- Is there an area of your life that needs spiritual power or cleansing?
- What choice can you make now that would make experiencing God more likely?
Pray – A Prayer for Making Good Decisions
Dear Lord, help us understand how important many of our decisions are. Teach us to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, so our decisions lead us and our families to be closer to you and to one another. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Advent 4 – “Patience and Persistence”
Before You Begin Each Day
Light the candle representing Patience.
Day 1
Readings – Adults
2 Peter 3:8
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Readings – Children
2 Peter 3:8
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Discuss
- What do you think this verse means?
- What does this verse mean for our lives?
- What is God asking of us here?
Pray – A Prayer for Patience
Dear Lord, we confess to you that waiting can be hard. Help us to not grow weary in doing good and in being faithful to you. Remind us that however long we wait for your return, it will be more than worth it. In the meantime, you are always eager to help when we call upon you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 2
Readings – Adults
Galatians 4:4–5
When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
Readings – Children
Galatians 4:4–5
When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
Discuss
- What do you think is more important: to remember Jesus’ birth or to look for His return? Why?
- Do you think now would be a good time for Jesus to return? Why or why not?
- Was everybody in Israel ready for Jesus when He came 2,000 years ago?
- How were those who were ready different from those who were not ready?
Pray – A Prayer for Patience
Dear Lord, we confess to you that waiting can be hard. Help us to not grow weary in doing good and in being faithful to you. Remind us that however long we wait for your return, it will be more than worth it. In the meantime, you are always eager to help when we call upon you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 3
Readings – Adults
Matthew 24:37–39, 42–44 – When the Son of Man Comes
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Readings – Children
Matthew 24:43–44
“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Discuss
- God knows we are busy with many things. In what way do you think He wants us to be ready for the great coming of Jesus?
- Why is it important that we be patient for His return?
Pray – A Prayer for Patience
Dear Lord, we confess to you that waiting can be hard. Help us to not grow weary in doing good and in being faithful to you. Remind us that however long we wait for your return, it will be more than worth it. In the meantime, you are always eager to help when we call upon you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 4
Readings – Adults
Matthew 25:1–13 – Parable of the Bridesmaids
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”
Readings – Children
1 Corinthians 1:7–9
Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Discuss
- How do you think God wants to help us be ready for Christmas? For Jesus’ return?
Pray – A Prayer for Patience
Dear Lord, we confess to you that waiting can be hard. Help us to not grow weary in doing good and in being faithful to you. Remind us that however long we wait for your return, it will be more than worth it. In the meantime, you are always eager to help when we call upon you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.