It’s a little crazy in the lead up to Christmas. We spend lots of time preparing physically for this season. Whether it’s the purchasing of gifts, the tidying of homes, the completion of renovations, the cooking of food or trying to compete with the Griswolds for number of lights on your house!
Yet we don’t prepare spiritually for the season ahead. I think that’s what Advent is seeking to do. What is Advent? It’s a season of preparation that some Christians observe to prepare their hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus. The word ‘advent’ means ‘coming’.
Desiring God Ministries and John Piper have just released a free set of daily readings for Advent. I’ve had a read of the first couple and they look fantastic!
Download ‘Good News of Great Joy’ by John Piper here.
I’m planning on reading through Bible verse and the short reflection each day in the lead up to Christmas. I won’t read the reflection with my kids, but I’m hoping to read the Bible verses and spend time preparing as a family for the coming of Jesus.
Are you interested in joining in? Go on. It’ll be good for you.
Here’s the idea…
Download the readings. And then read them. Simple, right?
If you’re on social media, use the hashtag #AdventPiper to share quotes or reflections along the way.
I have been doing this for the last few months each day with #BibleStott. It’s been a great encouragement sharing with people offline and online who are working through the same readings. (See this post and this post if you’re interested in the #BibleStott full year Bible reading plan…)
Let me know in the comments if you’re keen to join in. I’d love to be encouraged with you! Maybe think of a friend, or family member you could encourage to join you.
It starts December 1… Go!
DOWNLOAD ‘GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY’ FOR ALL DEVICES FROM THIS SITE… AND JOIN IN #ADVENTPIPER!!!
Here is a selection of the latest #AdventPiper tweets:
The info below is an overview copied from the Desiring God download page…
Excerpt
“What I want most for Christmas this year is to join you (and many others) in seeing Christ in all his fullness and that we together be able to love what we see with a love far beyond our own half-hearted human capacities.”
About the Book
Good News of Great Joy: Daily Readings for Advent is designed especially for Advent 2013. With readings beginning Sunday, December 1, and going through Christmas Day, this book of Advent devotionals aims to put Jesus at the center of your holiday season. These short meditations are excerpted from the ministry of John Piper and correspond to the daily readings in Desiring God’s free devotional app, Solid Joys (available in iTunes and Google Play), as well as online.
An EPUB file is formatted for readers like the Nook, Sony Reader, and Apple iBooks (iPad, iPhone, iPod). A MOBI file is formatted for Kindle applications (this option works well on some mobile devices, and not so well on others).
Table of Contents
Introduction: What Does Jesus Want This Christmas?
December 1: Prepare the Way (Luke 1:16–17)
December 2: Mary’s Magnificent God (Luke 1:46–55)
December 3: The Long-Awaited Visitation (Luke 1:68–71)
December 4: For God’s Little People (Luke 2:1–5)
December 5: No Detour from Calvary (Luke 2:6–7)
December 6: Peace to Those with Whom He’s Pleased (Luke 2:12–14)
December 7: Messiah for the Magi (Matthew 2:1–2)
December 8: Bethlehem’s Supernatural Star (Matthew 2:2)
December 9: Two Kinds of Opposition to Jesus (Matthew 2:3)
December 10: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh (Matthew 2:10–11)
December 11: Why Jesus Came (Hebrews 2:14–15)
December 12: Replacing the Shadows (Hebrews 8:1–2)
December 13: The Final Reality Is Here (Hebrews 8:1–2)
December 14: Making It Real for His People (Hebrews 8:6)
December 15: Life and Death at Christmas (John 10:10)
December 16: God’s Most Successful Setback (John 17:18)
December 17: The Greatest Salvation Imaginable (Jeremiah 31:31)
December 18: The Christmas Model for Missions (John 17:18)
December 19: Christmas Is for Freedom (Hebrews 2:14–15)
December 21: The Birth of the Ancient of Days (John 18:37)
December 22: That You May Believe (John 20:30–31)
December 23: God’s Indescribable Gift (Romans 5:10–11)
December 24: The Son of God Appeared (1 John 3:7–8)
December 25: Three Christmas Presents (1 John 3:7–8)
Conclusion: My Favorite Christmas Text
Appendix: Old Testament Shadows and the Coming of Christ
Thanks Dave – A great resource that I shall use, much appreciated.