Adore

I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5

What comes to mind when you think of Advent? Do you picture chocolates hidden behind numbered doors on a calendar? Maybe you imagine the glow of candles and the scent of evergreen wreaths. Perhaps you have heard the word Advent, but the wreaths, candles, and calendars leave you a bit mystified. Let’s start our Christmas season by growing our understanding of Advent.

The word “Advent” originates from the Latin word “adventus”, which means “coming.” At the heart of Advent is an invitation to set aside time each day to remember the sacrifice and gifts Jesus gives by coming to earth for us. Advent is also the season of looking forward to Jesus coming to earth again to make all things new.

For centuries, churches around the world have observed the season of Advent. Traditions vary across churches and cultures, but everyone shares the common goal of spending time intentionally reflecting on Jesus and His arrival.

Author C. S. Lewis reminds us, “The son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”

We all know waiting, especially for something special, can be hard. Advent, which begins four Sundays before Christmas Day and ends on Christmas Eve, helps us wait well by keeping our focus on Jesus’ birth. Our hope is that you and your family maintain your focus on Jesus by integrating an Advent tradition with your Christmas celebration.

Consider

Do you have a special tradition that helps you focus on Jesus during the Advent season?The Bible repeatedly reminds us of the importance of loving our neighbors. Do you know your neighbors’ traditions? If not, take time this season to learn them and share your own.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
John 8:12

Four Sundays before Christmas, the first Sunday of Advent, people often decorate churches and homes with evergreen wreaths to symbolize the everlasting love and life Jesus brings to us.

The tradition of Advent wreaths dates back almost 200 years. A German minister, who had grown tired of the daily questions from the children at his school about how many days remained until Christmas, created a wooden wreath with 24 candles to help them count down the days.

Advent wreaths are now typically made from evergreens intertwined to form a circle as a reminder that God’s love for us has no beginning and no end. Holly leaves, berries, pine cones and other types of greenery are often added. Learn more about the elements of an Advent wreath and how to make your own on the Advent Activities page on our website.

Advent calendars are another way to mark the season of preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. While Advent calendars today usually have tiny doors to open, revealing a picture, Bible verse, or small treat, the tradition started much more simply.

During the 1800s, Christians in Germany marked the days of Advent with chalk on their front doors. Each day, children erased one mark as they counted down to Christmas.

The first commercial printed Advent calendar was introduced in Germany just after the turn of the century, with little doors to be opened each day to reveal a picture or Bible verse added by the 1920s.

Advent calendars in America grew in popularity after people saw President Dwight D. Eisenhower opening an Advent calendar with his grandchildren in the 1950s.

Consider

Go on a nature walk to gather materials to make a wreath, or to enhance a wreath you already have. Consider inviting a neighbor, friend, or family member to go with you.Try setting aside a few hours to invite others to create Advent wreaths together.Mother Teresa encouraged us to, “Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God’s own love and concern.” How will you bring light to the world by serving others this Advent season and beyond? Make a list of ideas, then create a plan to implement at least one of them during this season.
The symbols of Advent are reminders to prepare room for Jesus, who came to be with us. As you count down the days to Christmas, what would it look like for you to make room? Shuffling your schedule? Eliminating items from your calendar? Something else?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

Continue reading about the shepherds and the birth of Jesus in these passages from the Bible.

Shepherds Hear About Jesus

Luke 2:8-20

That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.”

Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.”

When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.”

So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding trough. When they had seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child. Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them. Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It had been just as the angel had told them.

Consider

Can you think of a time when you’ve had to overcome fear to be open to something God has called you to? How can you grow in this area?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

Take a few minutes today to finish reading the Christmas story from the Bible.

Wise Men Come to Visit Jesus

Matthew 2:1-12

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the time when Herod was king. When Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the baby who was born to
be the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, as were all the people
in Jerusalem. Herod called a meeting of all the leading priests and teachers of the law and asked them where the Christ would be born. They answered, “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this in the Scriptures:

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are not just an insignificant village in Judah.
A ruler will come from you
who will be like a shepherd for my people Israel.’” Micah 5:2

Then Herod had a secret meeting with the wise men and learned from them the exact time they first saw the star. He sent the wise men to Bethlehem, saying, “Look carefully for the child. When you find him, come tell me so I can worship him too.”

After the wise men heard the king, they left. The star that they had seen in the east went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with joy. They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their own country by a different way.

Consider

If you wanted to remember the Christmas story throughout this season by focusing on one word, what word would you choose and why?How would you retell the Christmas story to a friend in your own words?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

Continue to explore the story of Jesus’ birth by watching a video from BibleProject.

The Birth of Jesus: Luke 1-2

Watch the video on the birth of Jesus.

Consider

What additional insight into the story of Jesus’ birth did you receive from this video? How does it increase your understanding of the gift God gave us when he sent his son to earth for all of us?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem...
Matthew 2:1

You might be familiar with the Christmas carol, “We Three Kings.” As you read the Bible verse above, did you notice Matthew calls them Magi and not kings? The word magi is related to our English word for magician, but they were not likely magicians as we use the word. Ancient records show they may have been priests in Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian/Iranian religion that continues today.

Magi were counselors, scholars, and scientists whose life’s work was to uncover and map out the mysteries of the world. They also served as wise advisors to kings.

Matthew states they came “from the east”, which translates to “from the rising of the sun.” Many scholars believe the Magi most likely came from Persia, which at that time stretched from eastern Syria to India,
a distance spanning over 5,000 miles. The Bible does not mention the names of the Magi or their number.

These Magi were unlikely to have been Jewish, and yet were the first to see and follow the signs of the Messiah, the promised savior of the Jewish nation. This is the first indication that Jesus would be coming for everyone.

Consider

Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong in a community of faith? What does it mean to you that God sent his son to earth for everyone? Express your feelings to God by writing a prayer to him below.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel...
Numbers 24:17

The stories from the earliest books of the Bible were familiar not only to the Jewish people, but also to those living beyond their borders. In Numbers chapter 24, the non-Israelite prophet Balaam is recorded sharing a vision of a coming ruler that gave a clue to the Magi and others that a star would precede the coming Messiah.

The Magi would have likely also known stories passed down from the Jewish prophet Daniel. Six hundred years earlier, while in captivity in Persia, Daniel shared prophecies about the birth of the Messiah with groups of Magi from his time.

Generations later, a new group of Magi would discover the star, which was a sign to them the prophecies about the coming of a savior
were beginning to be fulfilled. They assembled a caravan loaded
with provisions and gifts for the long journey through deserts and mountains to Jerusalem, where they believed they would find the prophesied Messiah.

Consider

The Magi were able to recognize the importance of the star they discovered because they were familiar with the prophesies in which it played a role. If you are a follower of Christ, how can you grow your knowledge of the Bible?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1

At Christmas, we often see artistic depictions of the Magi. A magnificent star guiding the Magi or glowing above a stable in Bethlehem are common themes for Christmas art. The beauty of those images is undeniable, but let’s also consider what may have actually happened.

The Bible mentions stars over 50 times, so it seems fitting God chose a star to mark the arrival of his son, Jesus, on earth. From ancient times to today, travelers have used stars as guideposts for charting their journeys on land and sea. As skilled astronomers, the Magi charted the night sky and knew it well.

One special night, they detected something others apparently did not notice - and it’s possible the star was visible only to them. In fact, there is no biblical record of anyone other than the Magi recognizing what came to be known as the Star of Bethlehem.

The Magi likely saw the star only twice, rather than as a continuous light guiding their every step. The first appearance of the star triggered their journey. The second appearance of the star came later in the story, guiding them to the house where Jesus lived.

Consider

Do you need to focus more intently on God so that you don’t miss signs he might send you? If so, share with him in a prayer your desire to grow in this area.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:3

Once loaded with provisions and gifts, the Magi left their homes and country to find and worship Jesus, the Messiah.

This was a hard trip of up to 2000 miles. The caravan would likely have covered no more than 15 miles on their best days, as camels carried the heavy loads and people walked. Their journey took many months and possibly as long as 2 years. They traveled on ancient roads, across dry deserts, and through rocky mountain passes, always on guard against wild animals and thieves. An occasional town provided a break in the routine and opportunity to replenish food supplies and other goods for themselves and their animals.

Looking back on another big trip in the Bible helps us better understand what may have been involved in preparing for a long journey.

In the book of Genesis, we learn Abraham’s servant was preparing for a journey to find a bride for Abraham’s son, Isaac:

Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled...
Genesis 24:10

If Abraham’s servant needed 10 camels to carry gifts to the potential bride and her family a few hundred miles away it seems likely the Magi would require more than the three camels we often see depicted in order to carry the food, water, gifts, and other necessities for an expedition lasting up to two years.

The Magi must have experienced intense relief and rejoicing upon reaching Jerusalem after such a grueling trip. But to their dismay, they soon realized the Messiah they had come to worship wasn’t in

Jerusalem or born in a palace as they imagined. Instead, they changed directions and continued on.

Consider

Can you imagine the overwhelming exhaustion the Magi likely felt when they discovered their long trip was not yet over? Can you think of a time when you felt you had followed God’s leading only to learn you were not yet done? Did you experience stress and a sense of overwhelm from this unmet expectation? If so, how can you give up control and increase your reliance on God’s leading? Tell him your concerns and ask for his help in this area by writing or saying a prayer.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2

Rome had appointed Herod king over Judea. Herod loved praise, wealth, and power, calling for massive building projects throughout Israel and Palestine and often naming them after himself. He was a violent king who ruled by intimidation and fear and used his power to order the murder of many of the members of his family.

The Magi were accustomed to protocol in the presence of kings, and yet still asked him where the newborn “King of the Jews” was so they could worship him. This would have been alarming to Herod, who considered himself the king of the Jews.

After being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, the Magi defied his orders to return to tell him where they had found Jesus and departed from Bethlehem for their home by a different route.

Consider

The wise men, or Magi, experienced something - a star in the sky - that was a normal experience (stars are not rare), and yet, they also saw something very different in this star. That is often how God works, taking the ordinary things of life and then surprising us with something special in their midst. How might you take the normal traditions of this Christmas season and more intentionally look for what Jesus has for you in them?Herod was unwilling to give up his power or control, even to God. Do you also find yourself holding on to power, control, or the environment around you? What would it look like for you to trust God more and give up control over those things?
Herod and the Magi provide two common attitudes towards worship. Herod arranged his priorities so he could be the source of worship, while the Magi were looking for something to worship. As we make room for Jesus during Advent, what does your daily/weekly schedule say about what you value? If your schedule does not line up with what you say you value most, what is one step you can take to help them match up?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Matthew 2:10-11a

After leaving Herod, the star appeared to the Magi for the second time and led them to the place where the child was. They had finally arrived, but the scene was nothing like they expected.

They were at a small house with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus - not at the stable as we often picture or a palace as they had probably imagined. According to Matthew, the star guided them to a house with a young child, likely around the age of two.

Though the setting was not what they anticipated, they did what they had come to do, bending low with reverence to worship the Messiah.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11b

Their gifts were purposeful, with each gift speaking to who Jesus was and why He came to earth. Gold was the gift for kings, symbolizing divinity. Frankincense, a white resin or gum, is a gift for a priest and symbolizes holiness and righteousness. Myrrh, a spice used for anointing high priests and kings and for preparing a body for burial, symbolizes a purified life, suffering, and affliction.

Consider

Frankincense and myrrh come from trees grown in a region over 1,000 miles from Bethlehem, providing another indicator of how far the Magi traveled. Time and distance didn’t deter the Magi from worshiping the King of the Jews. If you are a Christ-follower, what does worshipping Jesus look like to you?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

“I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:4

During biblical times, families in the ancient Near East (which includes modern day Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Iran) relied upon sheep to provide many essentials, including meat, milk, fat, wool, skins, and horns. Sheep were also used as sacrifices in many types of ceremonies required by Old Testament law.

Because sheep were so valuable, shepherds would stay with the flock to protect them day and night. Frequently, the youngest boy in the family served as a shepherd until he grew older and could do harder manual labor. While shepherds were mostly men, girls eight to ten years old often trained to tend sheep as well, with several mentioned in the Old Testament.

Shepherds handled every need of the sheep in their care, ensuring they had pastures to graze in and fresh water to drink, protecting them from predators such as lions and thieves, tending to injured sheep, and searching for lost sheep. A good shepherd sacrificed his comfort, and sometimes even his own life, for the sake of his sheep.

God has a longstanding history of using ordinary shepherds in extraordinary ways. Many biblical figures were shepherds, including Old Testament leaders such as Abraham, Moses, and King David.

Consider

In the Western world, shepherding today takes on an added meaning of caring for others. Who is someone you could help shepherd through the hills and valleys of life? Ask God to help you identify that person, and make a plan to spend time with them during this season.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:23

Many early shepherds are important figures in the Bible, but only one - David - became a king. Many generations later, Jesus would be born through the line of King David, the former shepherd.

As typical of the youngest son, David was the shepherd who cared for his father’s sheep. In his early teens, David had been anointed by the prophet Samuel as the future king of Israel, but it would be many years of caring for sheep before he ascended the throne.

David’s gift of music developed while playing his harp during long days and nights in the fields. As king, his love for music continued, and he wrote over 70 psalms (songs), including one of the most famous, Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23

Consider

Reread Psalm 23. How has the Lord been your shepherd? Pause at each stanza to thank Jesus for how he has shepherded and cared for you.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2:6-7

Is it possible that Jesus was born in a building used by shepherds, rather than the inn depicted in retellings of the Christmas story you might be familiar with?

Bethlehem’s small size and location in the mountains of Judea with no major road makes it doubtful an inn existed there. In the Bible verse above, Luke used the Greek word that refers to a private home where guests were welcomed, rather than the word that is translated to mean an inn such as you would have found in large cities. Since Bethlehem was Joseph’s hometown, he might have sought lodging in the guest room of a relative or friend.

Family homes in that region were frequently carved into a hillside, similar to a cave but with two levels. The upper room was for the family to eat and sleep, with an area below to bring animals in for the night. With the room above overcrowded with people, it is possible Mary and Joseph were given the lower floor, among the animals, to provide Mary with some privacy during her son’s birth.

Some suggest that another possible location for Jesus’ birth is Migdal Eder, a watchtower near Bethlehem where shepherds watched over lambs that were to be sacrificed during ceremonies at the temple. In the tower’s base, newborn lambs were placed in a manger, a stone trough used to hold feed, water, or newborn animals.

The Bible doesn’t mention animals being present at the birth of Jesus, but Luke does say Mary laid Jesus in a manger. The presence of a manger suggests the birth of Jesus took place where animals are born and cared for. Both a family home of the time and Migdal Eder are possibilities for Jesus’ birth since both would have had mangers.

Consider

How much have you relied on popular retellings to learn about the Christmas story? How has your understanding of it changed through the Bible verses you have been reading? How will this new knowledge shape how you celebrate Jesus’ birth?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Luke 2:9-11

We can guess that the sight of an angel must be scary since nearly every time an angel shows up in the Bible - as they did to Mary, Joseph, and many others - the first words the angels say are, “Do not be afraid.”

The verse above says that the shepherds were terrified. Can you feel their hearts pounding as they tried to make sense of what they were seeing, hearing, and experiencing?

It may have taken a moment before they realized the angel was there with a message of Good News from God that Jesus’ birth was for all people - both the Jewish nation and everyone else. The shepherds didn’t need to be afraid. It was time to rejoice!

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:13-14

Consider

How do you think you would have responded to an angel sharing this news? Write a prayer to God to express your feelings. Gather any art supplies you might have and draw, paint, color... what you imagine the shepherds saw that night.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
Luke 2:15-16

God could have sent the news of his newborn son to a palace or the temple, but he chose the least likely location and the least likely people. Shepherds hurried from the fields to be the first witnesses of Jesus’ birth.

This will be the sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Luke 2:12

Wrapping babies in cloths or blankets, called swaddling, was a common practice in ancient times and is still today. It is comforting to the child, and at the time was a visual cue they properly cared for the child. Some women embroidered swaddling cloths with the symbols of the infant’s ancestry during their pregnancy. Because Jesus was being born into the tribe of Judah, Mary may have embroidered symbols such as a lion, a lamb, or branch.

Wood and trees were scarce in Israel and saved for important projects such as roof timbers and doors, but stones of all sizes were abundant and found everywhere. Mangers were carved out of stone, with a 6-8” deep well in the middle to hold feed, water, or newborn animals. After Jesus was swaddled, it is likely Mary carefully placed him in the middle of a stone manger.

Consider

Like the shepherds, you have been invited to come to Jesus. What does this look like in your life?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

After seeing him [Jesus], the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished.
Luke 2:17-18

How do you imagine the scene unfolded? Did shepherds tell everyone by shouting in the streets and waking up the sleeping town? Perhaps they were so excited as they tried to share the news that people asked them to calm down so they could understand what they were trying to say. However the shepherds shared the news, those that heard were amazed. Jesus, the Messiah, had finally arrived!

The birth of Jesus was incredible news for the whole world, and God chose shepherds to be the first to experience it. After they worshiped Jesus, they hurried off, telling others the Good News as they returned to their flocks.

The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2:20

Because of their lack of social status and Old Testament laws regarding the handling of animals, the shepherds were excluded from entering the temple or testifying in court. Think about that for a moment: shepherds weren’t allowed to worship God or be in his presence in the temple, but he invited them to become the first to witness Jesus’ birth. Similarly, shepherds banned from testifying in court were now entrusted with testifying to the world the Messiah arrived.

Consider

The shepherds are a reminder to us that God uses ordinary people to share the Good News of Jesus with others. If you are a follower of Christ who are you being asked to share this good news with? Make a plan to spend time with them soon.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
Matthew 1:16

God chose an ordinary Jewish farm girl, Mary, to be used in an extraordinary way. But in a time and place so different from our own, how can we understand more about who Mary was?

To know her better, we need to understand the culture in which she lived. Nazareth was barely a dot on the map of northern Israel, roughly 10-60 acres in size - what we might consider a small farm. Between 100-400 people lived in this hilly area, with a single ancient spring as the source of water for the entire community.

In 1st century Nazareth, young girls like Mary were expected to perform specific tasks in a farming community. She likely washed clothes in a community water trough and carted water from the ancient spring. Her duties might have also included caring for elderly family members, working in the fields owned by her family, tending the goats and sheep and making clothes from their wool, and preparing and preserving food.

Mary was an ordinary Jewish girl. Her work was common. Even her name was common. 25% of all women at the time were named Mary (or Miriam, a variation of Mary in Hebrew). Her town of Nazareth
was not highly thought of, lacking big city affluence, glamor, trade, and cultural appeal. The book of John even raises the question, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”An invitation followed the question, “Come and see for yourself.”John 1:46

Consider

Mary wasn’t the only ordinary person on earth. Why do you think the Lord invited her above all others?This week, consider how God invites unlikely people to bring about great purposes. What does that say about God? What hope does that give you?As farmers, the Nazarenes’ diet fluctuated with the seasons, but typically included a steaming bread cake made from an ancient form of popcorn. The bread cake would have been served with goat cheese, yogurt, fish, eggs, or chicken as a protein source, with lamb reserved for special occasions. During the warmer months, beans, cucumbers, or other vegetables sprinkled with dill, and fruits such as melons, dates, figs, and olives, would also have been part of the meal. Consider making a meal sometime over the next few weeks using these ingredients, and invite others to share it with you.

This advent devotional was produced by:

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God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
Luke 1:26b-27

First century Jewish marriages were most often arranged by parents when girls were between 12-14 years old and young men between 18-20 years old. When a custom is common to a culture, the Bible often omits the detail, so we can assume that Mary and Joseph were in the traditional age range since it does not include their ages in the story. Mary’s and Joseph’s parents likely arranged their marriage without consulting them following Jewish customs of the time. When the parents settled the details of the marriage agreement, they signed a binding contract. In many cultures, the bride’s father pays a dowry but in the Jewish culture, the groom’s father makes a payment of money, property, and/or services to purchase the bride, called a mohar.

Often, fathers shared some or all of the mohar with their daughter, so that she would have an emergency fund in case something unforeseen happened to her husband. With negotiations complete and the mohar given, the bride and groom were betrothed, considered married. Although they may not have even met yet, a change of plans would require a divorce at this stage.

The wedding ceremony would take place a year or more later. By tradition, the bride and groom would have little to no contact during that year, as the groom built a bridal chamber in his father’s house where they would live after the wedding ceremony. When completed and after his father gave permission, the groom would come for his bride.

The wedding day would be a surprise and usually came with the blowing of a trumpet for a short warning to the bride her groom was coming. A wedding ceremony with family and a wedding feast with friends would traditionally follow. The celebration could last up to a week and was one of the most joyous occasions in Jewish life, especially for a small community like Nazareth.

Consider

God’s plans for Mary and Joseph are quite different than were their parents’ plans for them. How do you deal with unfulfilled desires when God gives you something other than what you had hoped for and expected?What is God teaching you about how to deal with these unfulfilled desires? Are there any next steps he is prompting you to take?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

... God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.“ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-35,38

The distance between the Old and New Testaments is only one page in the Bible, but it spans four long centuries. The Old Testament prophets shared many details about the coming of Jesus. After 400 years of silence, God dispatched His angel Gabriel first to Zechariah, and then to Mary. With this silence now broken, every Old Testament prophecy about Jesus began to be fulfilled.

Bethlehem is often the setting that comes to mind when we think of the Christmas story, but the events in Bethlehem would not have happened without the conception miracle in the small village of Nazareth. The Christmas story as we think of it begins in Nazareth when Mary accepted God’s invitation to be the earthly mother of his son, and Jesus was conceived.

Consider

Mary bravely pushed past her fears and focused on the promise of God. Where do you need to be brave and push past fear, focusing on his promises? Spend some time talking to God about your fears, asking for his help in working through them.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!
Luke 1:45

It is hard to imagine the range of emotions Mary would have experienced during her pregnancy. On one hand, she surely felt great joy as Jesus grew inside her. On the other hand, she likely felt fearful because under Jewish law at that time a woman who became pregnant outside of marriage could be stoned to death.

God did not leave her to face this dire situation alone. The angel Gabriel told her, “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”Luke 1:36-37

Six months earlier, the angel Gabriel had also visited Zechariah. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin) had not been able to have children and were now past childbearing years. Gabriel said to him that his prayer had been heard and his wife was going to bear a son, whom they would name John.

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child (John the Baptist) leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
Luke 1:39-44

Consider

What does it mean to you that no matter what has gone on in your life, the Lord promises to never leave you if you have put your trust in him? Tell God what this promise means in your life.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18

Mary is three months pregnant when she returns from visiting her cousin Elizabeth, and her baby bump is starting to show. She needs to tell Joseph, even if it risks her life.

Imagine Joseph’s devastation and confusion when he learns Mary is expecting, and he knows he is not the father. He had an incomprehensible decision to make.

As a man who followed Jewish law, he knew that divorcing Mary publicly would cause her to be disgraced and possibly stoned to death for adultery. And while Joseph would have been familiar with Old Testament prophecies, it had likely never crossed his mind that HIS future wife would be the virgin giving birth to the coming Messiah. But God sent this sign to Joseph:

...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. All of this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”
Matthew 1:20-25

Consider

What do these passages teach you about God’s character? What are some areas in your life that you are trying to control and should trust God to control instead? How can you grow your trust in God?

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
Luke 2:1

Shortly before Mary gave birth to Jesus she and Joseph embarked on an arduous journey to Bethlehem. There were two pressing reasons why they travelled so late in the pregnancy. The first was that everyone was required by Roman decree to register for the census. The second, and more important, reason took place 700 years before the birth of Jesus, when the Old Testament prophet Micah foretold that Jesus would be born in the little town of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem, with a normal population of around 600, was bursting at the seams. Families reunited in overfilled homes and on the streets as relatives converged for the census. The bustling town was completely unaware of what was about to transpire once the weary soon-to-be parents finally arrived. The birth there of Jesus, the Messiah, would forever change the entire world.

Consider

The whirl of people and activities in Bethlehem caused most to miss the unfolding miracle. If your Christmas feels like a whirl of people and activities, too, ask God to help you focus on the gift of Jesus during this season.What have you discovered about God and yourself in this Christmas season? Write a prayer to God to share what you’ve learned and how it will impact your life going forward.

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.

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.

Isaiah 9:6

If you made or have an Advent wreath, begin by lighting the “Christ Candle” in Jesus’ honor. If you don’t have a wreath, light a candle to honor of Jesus, who brings light to our lives.

In the glow of the candlelight, reread the Christmas story from Matthew, chapters 1 & 2 and Luke, chapters 1 & 2.

You may have been excited to give and receive gifts today, but the most important gift you’ll ever receive won’t be found under a tree or in a stocking. Jesus left heaven to offer us the unmatched gifts of forgiveness, salvation, presence, hope, peace, love, joy, eternal life, and so much more.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

Have you received the greatest gift ever offered - to know, love and follow Jesus this Christmas and beyond? If not, perhaps your greatest gift will come today as you accept Jesus’ invitation and welcome him into your heart.

Our Prayer for You

May the LORD who created the stars, and gave us his only son, bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24b-26

Merry Christmas!

This advent devotional was produced by:

Willamette Christian Church - willamette.cc Hope City Church - hopecitypdx.com Beaverton Christian Church - beaverton.cc We encourage you to subscribe to our weekly sermon podcasts, and attend an in-person service if possible.