What is Advent?

Advent means “arrival” or “coming.” Advent is a time of eager expectation of the coming of the Messiah. Although Jesus has already come, at Christmas we celebrate His first coming and long for His second coming when He will receive His bride.

What is an Advent Calendar/Jesse Tree?

The idea of a Jesse Tree comes from Isaiah 11:1, “Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” This verse points to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus.

Each day of the month leading up to Christmas, we will read a Bible story that anticipates the incarnation, when God became man to save His people from their sins. As Jesus said in John 5:32, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” From the Garden of Eden to Mary’s womb, Jesus’ coming is announced in all of Scripture, and we are invited to discover who He is from Genesis to Revelation.

Included in each day’s devotion is a symbol. Each of these symbols foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ in a unique way, which we will explore each day.

Why is Family Worship important?

In Deuteronomy 6:4-7, God commands parents to diligently teach their children truths about God on a regular basis. The home, not the church, is where most spiritual formation occurs. God holds parents, especially fathers, accountable ”to bring [their children] up in the training and the instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

I like to use the acronym R.A.S.P. to describe the elements of family worship. A rasp is a tool that is used to shape material. Family worship is a spiritual rasp for your family so to speak. There are four basic elements to family worship: read, ask, sing, pray. Read the Bible together for nothing is more vital to the spiritual growth of your family than the regular intake of God’s Word. Ask questions about the Scripture passage and engage your family in dialogue about the text and how to apply it to your lives. Sing songs that are sound in theology for they can reinforce and remind you of spiritual truths and refocus your heart on the Lord. Lastly, teach your children how to pray by praying together.

How do I use this guide?

This devotional is simple to use. To learn about the theme, each day you will find a primary Biblical passage as well as a supplemental passage in parentheses that points to how Jesus fulfills each story. Read the passage together and discuss the questions and pray as a family. We have also included a song (with link) for your family to sing together and a prayer as well.

This devotional is meant to be flexible. Use what portions work for you! Feel free to shorten the passage or simplify the questions based on your family’s needs.

We hope this month anticipating Jesus’ first coming is fruitful for your family. May you love Jesus more than before. And we pray that you will see how He was working for our salvation from the very beginning.