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Advent Devotional Reading Guide

11/28/2021

A Small Taste Of The Glory Of Christ

God’s presence brings joy to His people (Psalm 16:11). This devotional guide gives you a small taste of the glory of Christ found in God’s Word. Don’t be surprised if you plan to spend 15 minutes and end up enjoying an hour with God! We were created for this. Our sole purpose in life is to worship and enjoy God forever.

How To Use This Guide

The goal is not to just get through the reading for the day and check the box (wait, there is no box!). Pick a time, pick a place, and maybe pick some people to read with. Early birds, get up and have your coffee with the Lord. Night owls, ditch Netflix and enjoy time with Christ.

As you read, I recommend the following basic steps (ARMY):

Ask God to prepare your heart and mind to receive the Word with humility.
Read the passage with a pen or pencil in hand. Underline key words and phrases. Take brief notes in the margin or in a notebook, but remember that this is not an in-depth Bible study.
Meditate on a passage or truth from your reading throughout the day. Ask three questions: How does this reading lead me to love God more? How does this reading lead me to love my neighbor more? How does the passage show my need for God's grace to love God and my neighbor?
Yield to God’s will by praying for transforming grace to obey His Word. Confess your sin, trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus, and consider specific ways to apply the teaching of the passages to your life.

To be honest, you may not feel like doing this some days. Find a believer to read and meditate with. You can keep each other encouraged and accountable as you use this as an opportunity to spur on discipleship for next year!

Before You Get Started

Before you get started with this Advent guide, I want you to take 5 minutes to ask yourself a few questions. I know, I know, you don’t have time to stop and wait, right? But seriously stop and ask yourself these questions:
Why am I doing this? Will God love me less if I fail? Will He love me more if I do well? Is this just something I’m doing to look more spiritual?

If you decide to wake up earlier, stay up later, or give up some time during your lunch break to spend time with Christ, don’t just go through the motions. Remind yourself that the blessed saints are the ones who meditate day and night (Psalm 1). Abiding in Christ will lead to fullness of joy (John 15:1-11). The God of the universe is worth more than any gift you will receive this Christmas.

For a printable version of the guide, click here.

Reading Guide

Jesus, The Eternal Son Of God
December 1: Jesus, the Creator (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3)
December 2: Jesus, the Eternal Word (John 1:1-18)
December 3: Jesus, the Foreknown Savior (Acts 2:23; Acts 3:18; 1 Peter 1:17-21)
December 4: Jesus, the Son of God (John 1:29-34; Luke 1:35; Matthew 14:33)
December 5: Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:22-56)

Sinners In Need Of A Savior
December 6: The Fall of Man (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-19)
December 7: The Effects of Sin (Genesis 6:1-8; Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 53:1-3)
December 8: The Wages of Sin (Romans 6:23; Psalm 49:7; Romans 3:23)
December 9: The Requirement of Justice (Proverbs 24:12; Job 34:10-15)
December 10: The Forgiveness That Counts (Mark 2:7; Matthew 9:1-8)

Prophecies Of The Messiah
December 11: Jesus, the Headcrusher (Genesis 3:14-15; Romans 16:20; Hebrews 2:14-18)
December 12: Jesus, the King (Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 2; John 18:33-38)
December 13: Jesus, the Forsaken (Psalm 22:1; Psalm 22:14-18; Matthew 27:45-56)
December 14: Jesus, the Risen (Psalm 16:8-11; Acts 2:24-32)
December 15: Jesus, the Light of the Nations (Isaiah 49:6; Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8)

Themes Of Immanuel
December 16: Joy in Christ (Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:4-7; 1 Peter 1:8-9)
December 17: Hope in Christ (Psalm 39:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
December 18: Peace in Christ (Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 4:4-7; Ephesians 2:11-22)
December 19: The Sacrifice of Christ (John 15:12-13; 1 John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 8:9)
December 20: The Presence of Christ (Matthew 1:23; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Revelation 21:3)

Unto Us A Child Is Born
December 21: Mary, the Virgin Mother (Luke 1:26-38)
December 22: Mary, the Joyful Mother (Luke 1:39-56)
December 23: Joseph, the Obedient Earthly Father (Matthew 1:18-25)
December 24: John, the Forerunner (Luke 1:67-80)
December 25: Jesus, the Savior, Is Born (Luke 2:1-38)

For a printable version of this guide, click here.

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How Will You Celebrate Advent This Year?

11/28/2021

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Apathy at Advent

The Christmas season is upon us. For many Christians, myself included, Advent is a season of excitement and joy as we celebrate the incarnation (putting on flesh) of the Son of God. While it's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of gifts, food, family time, and fun, there's another subtle distraction that can keep us from enjoying Christ during the Advent season—apathy.

Who could be apathetic during such a joyful time of year? I can't speak for anyone else, but I know I tend to struggle with apathy. It's a sneaky little thought that creeps in every year: "I've read the Christmas story a million times. There's nothing more to get out of it. A virgin birth. Check. Shepherds. Check. Three wise men. Check." Some years I gloss over these magnificent and eternity-altering words without even a spark of excitement or joy. I can hear John Piper exhorting me to "LINGER....LINGER...LINGER!!"

You may be thinking that Advent and Christmas aren't even biblical holidays, so we shouldn't even be worried about lacking holiday joy. You're right in saying that the Bible doesn't command Christians to celebrate Advent or Christmas. I've had some friends make a huge fuss about this, but you can't convince me that it's sinful to celebrate the Son of God coming in the flesh. However, I am fully convinced that there's something wrong with my heart when I don't get excited about Jesus.

The Gift of Gifts

I'm ashamed to admit that I get excited about lesser things. If you turn on a UK game, I'll find myself drawn to the screen. If you buy me a new tech gadget, I'll spend a day or two getting it set up and playing with it. If you hand me a new book, I'll spend some time flipping through the table of contents and reading the opening chapters. If those things bring me excitement, why doesn't Jesus?

Part of my problem is that I let lesser gifts capture my attention. Flame, a Christian rapper, once said that we are like a pig in a pin who will pass up a steak to eat slop. C.S. Lewis said we settle for mud pies. I don't want pig slop or mud pie faith. I want the joy of the Shepherds and the Magi who dropped everything to celebrate the Life and Light of men who burst on the scene to save His people from their sins and be with them. I want to rejoice in the God who came to be with sinners in order to save them.

For me, Advent is a time to be lifted from the miry bog and set on the firm ground. I find myself distracted more now than ever. Too often, my eyes have been set on this earth below rather than on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Advent is a time to grab my Bible, a great devotional, and a notebook to feast on the glory of Christ. He is the greatest of all gifts.

6 Ways to Meet With God During Advent

This year, my Advent plans are to:

Read The Dawn of Redeeming Grace by Sinclair Ferguson and the relevant Scriptures in the book.
Study some passages about Jesus' incarnation.
Eat dinners lit by oil lamp with my family on several evenings as we read a family Advent devotional and the Bible.
Help my kids set up Advent Blocks that will help us remember various aspects of Jesus' first coming.
Meditate and jot some short and quick prayers in my journal to stir up my affections for Jesus.
Listen to biblical, Christ-centered Advent playlists (along with my Christmas jazz playlist, of course!).

I'm not doing every one of these things every single day. None of this guarantees that I'll be happier this Advent season. None of it earns me a spot closer to God. However, I want to do most of these on most days because they're simple ways to connect with God.

I want to saturate my heart with Christ more than I saturated my mind with Covid-19 variants and social issues. I want to discuss the glories of Christ and His coming in the flesh more than I scroll social media. I'm not saying that any of those things is inherently wrong to think about and discuss, but it is wrong to be consumed by them, and we need seasons to stare at the glory of Christ and be transformed in that beholding of our Savior. Advent will be a much needed time to enjoy the Lord.

What are your Advent traditions? How will you celebrate Advent differently this year than other years?

If you need an Advent reading Guide, check this one out!

Photo by Katie Evensen from Pexels

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C.H. Spurgeon's New(ish) Sermons Are a Blessing

11/22/2021

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C.H. Spurgeon is known as “The Prince of Preachers” for good reason. His sermons reached thousands—if not millions—while he was alive, and his preaching and gospel legacy has continued for nearly 130 years after his death. Though Spurgeon wrote many books including his Autobiography and his noteworthy Lectures to My Students, he is most known for his massive volumes of published sermons.

The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon series has shed light on some of Spurgeon’s earliest sermons and sermon skeletons. This series includes photocopies and transcriptions of Spurgeon’s sermon notebooks from 1851-1854. Volume 5 of the series represents his sermon skeletons 233 to 284. These skeletons represent some of Spurgeon’s foundational exegetical works and material sometimes used in future sermons and transcripts.

The sermons in Spurgeon’s 5th notebook tally 123 pages, but The Lost Sermons Vol. 5 totals nearly 500 pages. What could account for the other 370 pages? Besides introductory material and indexes, each sermon has been transcribed and edited for clarity. Then, Geoffrey Change has combed through Spurgeon’s library to trace his study materials, autobiography, and later sermons to give readers Scripture references and other valuable insights and progression in Spurgeon’s thought.

Each sermon has copious notes to help the reader get a better grasp of the context for Spurgeon’s work. In sermon 241, "What Doth Hinder Me To Be Baptized?", there are 26 notes spanning 4 pages. There are 8 references to others of Spurgeon’s works and 1 reference to external work. Here’s a small sample from the notes on sermon 241:

“It appears that Charles did not preach another sermon on the text of Acts 8:36…” (p. 100).
“Charles rejected the idea of baptismal regeneration or any other conception of baptism that made it a condition of salvation. Rather baptism portrays (“sets forth”) the forgiveness fo the believer, which he has already enjoyed.” (p. 102).
“Like other Baptists, Charles held baptism and church membership together. To be baptized was to be brought into the membership and accountability.” (p. 103).

The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon Vol. 5 is a versatile resource. If you’re into history, you’ll love the full-color photocopies of Spurgeon’s original notebooks. If you’re a fan of Spurgeon’s preaching, you’ll benefit from these “new” sermons. If you’re just someone looking to read some solid sermons in your devotional time, Spurgeon’s sermon skeletons are still rich with his warm devotional and doctrinal zeal. If you’re unacquainted with Spurgeon, here’s a great way to discover an incredible preacher of God’s Word. Personally, I love getting a glimpse at Spurgeon’s study habits, pulpit notes, and reference materials.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers. I was not required to leave a positive review.

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Advent Devotional Reading Guide

A Small Taste Of The Glory Of Christ

How To Use This Guide

Before You Get Started

Reading Guide

How Will You Celebrate Advent This Year?

C.H. Spurgeon's New(ish) Sermons Are a Blessing