USING THIS GUIDE. Advent is a season of intentional remembering and longing. The goal of this guide is to help you do both.

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1 USING THIS GUIDE Advent is a season of intentional remembering and longing. The goal of this guide is to help you do both. Remember the sovereign plan God set forth in His Son coming as our Savior. Long for Christ to be present in your daily life, and long for his return as King. FOR FAMILIES Families can use this guide as a springboard for family devotions or spiritual conversations with parents and kids. Try to think of this guide as a starting place for fostering the flame of Christ in your home at Christmas. FOR INDIVIDUALS This can be a powerful add on to personal devotion times. Immerse yourself in the incarnation of Christ. Let His coming as an infant cultivate humility in your life, and His returning as King nurture reverence and awe for Jesus. FOR SMALL GROUPS Feel free to use this guide to aid your weekly small groups or Sunday School discussions. Perhaps split the weeks and devotions to different people in the group to lead out as a starting devotion for your corporate times together. LISTEN ALONG We have prepared a great playlist of songs and instrumental selections to listen to during the Advent season. They can be found on Spotify under our username: jfcreative

2 A WORD FROM BRYANT Jesus Christ has come and He will come again! This is the joy of the Christmas season that followers of Jesus have celebrated all throughout history. In Christ we find the greatest hope and fullness of joy. Hope is given a name and was wrapped in swaddling cloths as we point to baby Jesus and say, Behold, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the earth. Joy is expressed through Mary s song, the angel s proclamations, the shepherd s praise, and the wise men s gifts. The prophesy of Isaiah 9:6 says, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Advent is derived from a Latin word meaning coming or arrival, and this is precisely what we celebrate in Jesus at Christmas. The season is a time for remembering and rejoicing, watching and waiting. The season officially begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues until Christmas Eve or Day. There are several ways to celebrate the Advent season. Some use an Advent calendar typically with 24 windows containing Scriptures, stories, poems, or gifts to count down the days until Christmas. Another popular tradition that we use here at Johnson Ferry is marking the progression of the season through an Advent wreath made up of five candles. Each week a new candle is lit in anticipation of Christmas Eve. The last candle, the Christ Candle, is lit on Christmas Eve to represent the Light of the World (Matt. 4:16, John 1:4-9) coming to earth. We pray this guide will help you and your family celebrate the season with great eagerness and excitement. Let it enrich this Advent so that you may experience the fullness of Christ s coming and His presence in your own life. -Bryant Wright

3 Week 1 Hope

4 ROOTED IN HOPE Romans 15:12-13 And again Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. The root of Jesse will come All of us learned about trees growing up. We learned about the leaves, the branches, the trunk. We learned about the process of photosynthesis, as a tree takes carbon dioxide and uses it for its growth, all the while producing for us oxygen to breathe and keep us healthy. At the base of every tree are roots. Roots are the foundation. Roots are what keep the tree stable and steadfast. It is through the roots that nutrients to nourish the tree are absorbed, and it is the roots that take the initiative in the tree s growth and healing whenever the tree is damaged. The roots are what first sprout from a seed. The invisible roots underground precede the visible tree in its growth. These words quoted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 15:12-13 were first spoken by the prophet Isaiah 730 years before Jesus even came on the scene. And for us in the 21st century, they can appear a little obscure. But for the nation of Israel in the 8th century B.C., a nation surrounded by enemies on all sides, a nation about to be carried off into exile, under the judgment of God, these six words brought comfort and hope. You see, from the family of Jesse, King David came. And David was a warrior, a king after the Lord s own heart, a king that brought stability and prosperity to a nation that had never known it before. And God had promised David that his descendants would forever sit on the throne of Israel. But this promise had far bigger implications than a physical king on an earthly throne. For from the line of King David another King would come. And this King was the root of Jesse. As with roots of a tree, this root was before Jesse. This root was actually before the foundations of the world, creating and sustaining through the word of his power (Heb. 1:3). And this root would be the foundation for a new tree, a tree consisting of believers, made up of Jews and Gentiles redeemed through his death and resurrection. This root is none other than Jesus Christ. And Jesus nourishes us with his presence, keeps us stable and steadfast and brings healing to our very souls. The root of Jesse has come once, and he will come again. Praise be to our God! Prayer: Lord, we are so thankful for the hope that you have given us in Christ. Would You remind us of Your sovereignty and authority in this world and we can trust fully in Your Son. Let us walk through this season with great joy and contentment knowing that our hope rests in Jesus. Written by Austin Baker Phil Wickham O Come O Come Emmanuel, Ryan Long Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

5 WHERE IS YOUR HOPE? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Application of this verse typically focuses on faith, but in order to fully understand the verse we must also have a strong grasp on the word hope. We have faith in what we have hope for. Where do you find your hope this holiday season? For many Jewish people living in biblical times, hope was found in a coming messiah a political, military, and spiritual messiah. When Jesus revealed himself as the true messiah many people were, at best, skeptical. Jesus certainly did not match up with what they had previously envisioned and hoped for. Jesus was poor, he was average He entered into town on a donkey instead of a warhorse. He was born in a barn. For many people hope was found in an idea of the messiah not the actual messiah. This holiday season ask yourself is my hope truly found in Jesus? Or is my hope found in something else? Today hope is found in so many different things. Do you place hope in your family? Your job? A sport team? A political candidate? Maybe your hope is found in who you want Jesus to be? If we are going to have true faith this holiday season, we must start with having true hope in Jesus. As followers of Jesus we hope in his daily direction and guidance, we hope in his comfort and peace and we hope in his return. Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Steven Bonham Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

6 Week 2 Peace

7 FINDING PEACE IN THE NOISE The Christmas season can be one of the most joyous occasions. It can also be one of the most hectic. It starts with Thanksgiving dinner with crazy Uncle Jack, Black Friday sales, school plays, staff parties, end of the year sales quotas, long road trips, traffic, sleeping on the pullout sofa, shopping, gift wrapping, Christmas Eve services, and Christmas with Uncle Jack. It s amazing how restless, non-stop, on-the-go our lives become around the holidays. So I think it s pretty awesome when Isaiah was predicting the coming of Jesus the Christ (Messiah) nearly 800 years earlier, he used several titles to describe him. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace -Isaiah 9:6 The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom. It means having the appearance of calm and tranquility. When the New Testament writers used the word peace, they used a Greek word that meant unity and accord. I think what Isaiah was trying to communicate is a sense of peace that can only come from a relationship with the living God that is Wonderful, Mighty, and Eternal but will also provide peace in your life. Now God never promised that life would be easy. We will always encounter trials and tribulations. But we will also always have God on our side to walk through these trials. Here are three great verses to read and meditate on today and throughout the Advent season. When life gets a little crazy or Uncle Jack goes a little crazy, remind yourself of these promises. Stick them on your mirror, dashboard, or computer screen and enjoy the craziness! John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Written by Lee Taylor Frank Sinatra Silent Night, Chris Rice God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

8 DON T BE DEPRIVED OF PEACE It s Christmas time, and with that one often hears the phrase peace on earth. I suspect, however, that the kind of peace you think about most often is not world peace. I suspect that the kind of peace you think about most often is much closer to home. It s peace in a family full of strife. It s peace in a contentious marriage. It s peace between you and a wayward child. It s peace between you and a coworker. The kind of peace you most want on a daily basis comes from the most basic of relationships, and the lack of it in those relationships can often be so unsettling that you find its sinister hand drawing you away from the present, prodding at you in the quiet, and keeping you awake during the night. What is peace other than the assurance that all is as it should be? What is anxiety other than a lack of peace? But we know that sin has invaded not only this world, but our hearts. It destroys relationships, and complicates our circumstances. If we try to find peace only in people or things, then peace will always evade us. The degree to which you look to them to find peace (to dissolve your anxiety) will be the degree to which you yourself crumble under the crushing weight of your own expectations when they are inevitably let down. The Advent season is by definition a season of longing and anticipation of the coming Messiah. Some of us struggle with a lack of peace more than others, and this Advent season you find yourself longing most for a more lasting and durable peace than the one you have hitherto known. Jesus, alone, brings with him the kind of peace that is durable enough to last in a world of relationships full of strife. Because while our relationships will never be all that we want, we can have confidence that Jesus will be all that we need. He alone brings a sure peace in knowing that because of what he did on the cross, our Father will never leave us or forsake us. He alone brings a sure peace because God has pledged his unfailing love to you by giving the life of his son for you. Now, no matter what anxiety there is in your most difficult circumstances, you have a future and a hope that one day all things will be made new, and that there will be no more mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4). This frees you from the tyranny of the moment; from the lie that says, If this thing doesn t work, then the world will come crashing down. It frees you because you know that you have a better world on its way! So ask yourself if you are without peace this Advent season, What am I not believing about the gospel that is depriving me of peace? Written by Eric Parker Take a moment. Or two. Or three. Press pause. Breathe. Create space for the peace of Christ to fill your heart.

9 Week 3 Joy

10 THE GIFT THAT OVERFLOWS I love to celebrate Christmas Eve at Johnson Ferry. After a meaningful sermon, we sing together and the lights are extinguished; then, from a single lit candle, we continue lighting each other s candles until the entire room is filled with light that originated from that single candle. In doing this, we pause to remember that Jesus is the Light of the world. Finally, we break forth in song singing Joy to the world, the Lord is come. That phrase from the beloved Christmas carol, is profound, because, since Jesus was born, we can have true joy joy that is not based on circumstances but the kind of joy that brings delight and satisfaction in knowing that regardless of our circumstances, God is in control of the entire world. Yet, He intimately cares for each one of us! Joseph experienced joy. Let s think about his situation for a moment. How did he feel when he found out Mary was going to have a baby? He loved her so much, yet he was very troubled and didn t know what to do. God sent an angel to speak to Joseph in a dream. He said, Joseph, do not be afraid to be married to Mary because everything that has happened to her is God s plan. The baby is to be named Jesus for He shall save his people from their sins. As soon as Joseph woke up, he felt reassured and quickly did what the angel told him to do. When life gets hard and even painful, we would do well to remember Joseph. When things go wrong, it could be that God is doing something remarkable we just can t see it yet. God can take our disapointments, hurts and pain and profoundly use them, not only to bless us, but in order that we might bless others, as well. What if Joseph had walked away from Mary, leaving her as a single mom? What joy would he have missed? God s greatest work often rises out of the journeys we don t want to take. We can be overwhelmed with joy when we view life through the lens of faith, and not in our circumstances. Prayer: Dear God, I want the joy of the Lord to be my strength, like Joseph. I understand joy comes from knowing and trusting You whether the times are good or bad. I see how Your joy can make a difference in my attitude. Father, allow others to see Your joy overflowing in me. Amen. Written by Pamela Vandewalker Citizens & Saints Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Austin Stone Worship Joy to the World

11 J-O-Y Joy. Just three letters. But put together form a word so full of hope and promise! For many of us the first verse that comes to mind at Christmastime is Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; How curious that right before the angels talk about joy, they tell the shepherds to not be afraid. I have heard many say that this is because they are angels, and well, I would need to be told that too if angels came! But what if a piece of it is because they are about to announce the greatest news the world will ever hear? The Good News of a great joy. I did a little digging and the Greek word used for joy is chara, meaning a calm delight. Maybe there was also an element of Hey guys, this is going to be HUGE, take a deep breath because you are going to need it. You aren t even going to believe this! Luke 2:11 continues the words of the angels For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. The messiah. He is born. The One you have been waiting for is here. Joy! I can t imagine the joy felt by those shepherds that night. Yes, joy emitted a feeling and emotions. But joy that night became a cornerstone. It was the start of God s great plan to redeem us. Joy was given to those in the lowliest of places, a cold dark dirty field full of smelly sheep. Those shepherds would never be the same again. This joy is something they could build their faith on. This Christmas, instead of seeing joy as an emotion or proclamation, let s use it as a reminder of the cornerstone of our faith. That joyous night the God of the universe put into motion His great love for us by sending His son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Joy our redeemer came that night. Written by Anne Brady

12 USE THIS SPACE TO MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY! (Go ahead! Write it down!) Even the smallest joy is a gift from above (James 1:17). Use this list to remind yourself of how greatly God has blessed you. Perhaps even come back to it in the midst of suffering or the business of the holiday season.

13 Week 4 Love

14 LOVE IN SONG Lets focus for a few moments on the lyrics, origin, & insight on a familiar song at Christmas, O Holy Night or rather Cantique de Noel as it was originally named in French. It s one of the best known Christmas selections & has been performed all around the world for over 150 years. The story of O Holy Night began in the 1840 s in France when a priest asked a poet named Placide Cappeau to write a poem for Christmas mass. Cappeau composed this poem while he was in a carriage on the road to France and that he titled Cantique de Noel. Mr. Cappeau was so inspired by his own poem that he asked a well known classical musician name Adolphe Adams to compose a musical score for it. The song that we call O Holy Night was performed just 3 weeks later on Christmas Eve. Midnight mass, in an obscure French village, a choir celebrated Jesus birth with those words: O holy night! The stars are brightly shining Placide Cappeau was an unlikely man to write these beautiful lyrics. He was a wine merchant known more for his poetry than his church attendance. And in later years he left the church to join the socialist movement in France. The music composer was also an unlikely man to write music for this poem. Adolph Adams was Jewish. He composed music to celebrate a holiday he didn t observe and a Messiah he didn t accept. When the church leaders in France learned these facts they officially banned the song as unfit for church services. But it was too late. O Holy Night had already become one of the most beloved Christmas songs in France. And no matter what the church leaders decided the French people kept singing it. Several years later the song O Holy Night would be seen as something of a miracle. On Christmas Eve in 1906, a young 33 year old university professor Reginald Fessenden did something most of the world thought was impossible. Using a new type of generator, this professor (who had actually worked with Thomas Edison) spoke into a microphone and for the first time in history, a man s voice was broadcast over the airwaves. Shocked radio operators in ships, and wireless operators at newspaper offices were all amazed. They were used to hearing coded bleeps over tiny telegraph speakers but all of the sudden they heard a clear deep voice reading the entire first chapter of Luke. His broadcast caused quite an uproar. People all over were rushing to hear what many thought was a Christmas miracle. Some even believed they were hearing the voice of an angel. When the professor finished reading, he picked up his violin & played a beautiful Christmas melody. And on that Christmas Eve in 1906 the song O Holy Night became the first song ever sent through the air by radio waves. From that time on, people all around the world would have a new way of listening to music. So, Cantique de Noel O Holy Night whatever you want to call it, has stood the test of time not just because the words are nice poetry along with beautiful music but because it presents the truth of the Gospel. The King of kings was born to transform the whole world and set us free! Love came down and dwelt among us on that Holy Night. Written by Mark Cottingham

15 LOVE THAT DEMANDS A RESPONSE The Jesus of Christmas is often the only Jesus that any of us think about. We typically let our thoughts rest easy on the baby central to Christmas with wonderful lines from old carols occasionally providing accompaniment in the background of our thoughts. And these thoughts of Jesus at the first Christmas are good and right, but they are the visual image of something much deeper. They are some of the first physical images God provided humanity of His ultimate plan for the redemption of mankind. The baby Jesus at the first Christmas is the visible image of God s invisible love. 1 John 4:8 famously says God is love. Unfortunately that phrase is often reduced to the idea that God is love and therefore all that I do and think and feel will be forgotten in the light of His love regardless of my response to Him. That first Christmas introduced to us God in the flesh, love in the flesh. And that little baby on that first Christmas would grow into the Jesus of Easter. The baby Jesus of Christmas would one day become the man of Easter. The love found in flesh as an infant would become the love found in flesh nailed to a cross. God s love for us came softly and died tragically but then rose triumphantly. The love we see in the flesh at Christmas as that baby had a great purpose for all mankind. May our response this Christmas and for the rest of our lives be to wonder and worship that God is love and His love sent Him to earth and then to the cross. His love for us demands a response. May our lives be transformed into worshippers and into obedient men and women who follow Jesus no matter the cost. May our hearts cry out the same as the Apostle Paul as he wrote these words in Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. This Christmas may we see the reality of God s love as we peer into the manger. May we respond accordingly, as His love demands. May we worship for the Savior of the world has come! Written by Thomas Nelson Write a real letter to someone you love. Tell them how much they mean to you. Pray for them before you send the letter. Try it. Lauren Daigle O Holy Night, Nat King Cole O Come All Ye Faithful

16 CHRIST HAS COME! HE WILL COME AGAIN! And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. -Luke 21:27-28 Jesus came, just like God said He would. But God s promises don t end there. Just like God s people waited with eager anticipation for Jesus to come and rescue them from their sins, we are waiting too. God made us another promise. He promised that Jesus would return to earth. He has already saved us from our sins if we love and trust Him. But when He comes the second time, He will save us from all the brokenness that sin has caused in the world. Perhaps you can grab a candle there in your home or if you have an Advent Wreath you now light the final Christ candle and remember the light of the world has come first as a babe in a manger and He will return as King Jesus with full power and authority. We rejoice together in the truth of the Gospel this Advent season, and we pray that God has used this guide to help foster your love and devotion for Him. To God be the glory. Forever and ever. Amen.