I look forward to Advent Season all year long. It’s the season of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The ultimate gift is the gift of Jesus. Knowing that God created himself as a baby to come to earth to save us is amazing. I’m excited to take you along over the next four weeks as we dive deep into why we celebrate this holiday called Christmas.
What is Advent Season?
After doing some research, there’s mixed dates and places where it all began. It’s not in the Bible that we have to celebrate Advent and I normally don’t follow suit if it’s not in there. However, I enjoy slowing down during this time and really diving into why we celebrate Christmas.
The earliest roots of lighting Advent candles are unknown, but marking the birth of Jesus with a purposeful practice fits well into the Church calendar. The worldwide Church has a similar time of remembrance called Lent, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus in the forty days leading up to Easter. So it seems natural to mark Jesus’s birth with a 4 week-long celebration as well.
The Meaning Behind the Wreath and Candles
We see Advent celebrations mentioned as early as AD 380 in a document from a church leadership meeting called the Council of Saragossa. The first Advent wreath and candles were used in Germany in 1839. A white candle was lit each weekday, while a red candle was lit each Sunday in the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
Eventually, this idea spread, and the traditional Advent wreath with one candle for each Sunday of the Advent season (and optionally, a Christ candle at the center to be lit on Christmas Eve) was born. Often, the Advent wreath that holds the candles is adorned with evergreen branches. The evergreen, which is vibranty alive even in the depths of winter, reminds us that God is eternal, and in Him, we too have everlasting life. The wreath is a circle that has no beginning and no end, reminding us that God always has been and always will be.
I have changed my candle wreath up over the years. Just use what you have and get creative. If you don’t have fresh greens, then use a faux wreath. I also just use pure beeswax candles to light as well. They are always burning in my home and convenient just to grab and make my wreath.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." ~ Isaiah 7:14
WAYS TO STUDY ADVENT SEASON
Along with the Bible, I use a few Advent Study books that I have found over the years. One is from She Reads Truth and the other is The Daily Grace Co. I will reference them below or you can just google them. They are both Bible teaching companies that I trust.
The Word Advent
The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival,” which translates to the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.
How We Celebrate the Advent Season
Advent Wreath and Candles
Join me over the next four weeks as we dive deep into each of the first four candles with our focus on Jesus. Each of the candles is symbolic and encourages us to remember the first coming of Christ and look forward to His Second Coming in a unique way. The candles represent hope, peace, joy, and love. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues every Sunday until Christmas Eve/Day. Here’s the schedule:
On November 30th, we light the candle of Hope.
December 7th, we light both the Hope and Peace candles.
On December 14th, we light the candles of Hope, Peace and Joy.
December 21st, we light the the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
Christmas Eve or Day, light the Christ candle (it’s usually placed in the center of the wreath and is white)
Each week, when a candle is lit, the flicker of the flame points to Jesus as the Light of the World. His first coming shines in the darkness, lighting the path to a relationship with God the Father and illuminating His plan and purpose through the work of the Holy Spirit. And we await His Second Coming when He will light the world with His glory (Revelation 22:5). John 1:4-5 says, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.” This is what the Advent season is all about, celebrating the light in the darkness —Jesus.
Other Ways to Celebrate Advent Season
Christmas Hymns – Singing hymns and carols that focus on the themes of Advent and Christmas is a common tradition. Many churches have special musical performances or choir presentations during Advent.
Nativity Scenes – Setting up a nativity scene at home or in church is a tradition that helps focus on the central story of Christmas—the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. We have several in towns nearby that we can go to. They offer walking and driving events. Check your local churches to see who might be having a live nativity in your area.
My Gift To You
I created a playlist of Christmas Hymns and Carols for you to listen to all season long. There is almost 3 hours of beautiful music for you to enjoy. I hope you love it! (Shuffle up the songs, if you like)
Pin For Later
See my full disclosure here.
Candle Lighting of Hope
Today we will light the candle of Hope. Let us celebrate the hope that we have in Jesus.
Let us pray as we light the candle:
Thank you Father God for this day and as we dive deep into your word this Advent season, we pray that we all can slow down this year. Keep our minds not on the worldly things like shopping and festivities but on you God. Open our hearts to really dive into your word as we study these scriptures this week. Remove any distractions and let us focus on you and the birth of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. I’m thankful that we have HOPE in our Messiah who is coming and will come again one day.
In Jesus name, Amen.
I encourage you to study the scriptures I have listed below this week. Read before and after so you can get the truth in context. A good and trusted website I love using is Precept Austin. Just google it online. I also enjoy Bible Hub. It goes deeper into all the books of the Bible along with the scriptures. It’s what changed my walk with the Lord. I wasn’t understanding the Bible and didn’t even know where to read each week. I now have a good study plan that I love and can understand scripture. Reading the Bible daily is something I enjoy now.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
Scriptures for This Week
Before we get started, let’s ask ourselves this question. “Why do we need a Savior”? God found favor with the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit came upon her and she gave birth to a baby boy. He was called “The Son of God” – (Messiah, Emmanuel, Jesus) and came to fulfill the Old-Testament promises. The old law is gone and now we walk and live by Grace since Jesus came to this earth.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49: And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
This scripture is saying Adam came first in the Old-Testament. He and his helper, Eve were the first to sin and bring darkness into this world. The last Adam is Jesus who is God that was sent from heaven. He died and rose again for our sins.
Let’s Start at the Beginning
God created this world. When you are finished reading below, go back and read Genesis in the Old-Testament, Chapters 1-2. On the sixth day, man and female (Adam and Eve) were made in God’s image. HE gave him dominion over everything and told them to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over all things.
The Serpent’s Deception
Genesis 1;1-4 – Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. He said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? The woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. The serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.
Verses 5-7 – For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened. Ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes. The tree was to be desired to make one wise so she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat. She gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. The eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
God Arraigns Adam and Eve
Genesis 1: 8-11 – And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden. Jehovah God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Verses 12-15 – The man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Jehovah God said unto the woman, What is this thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And Jehovah God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
How to Study and Understand the Bible
Have you heard of verse mapping? I used to struggle not knowing how and where to read in the Bible. There was no structure given to me and I didn’t have anyone to help me. A few years ago, I found out about verse mapping and it’s changed my entire walk with God. I actually enjoy studying his word now and understand it. I’ll study individual books in the Bible then break down the scriptures within that book.
Th Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-7
Then God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of [a]slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods [b]before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself [c]an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the [d]punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing [e]favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not [f]leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Verses 8-11
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 For six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your [g]resident who [h]stays with you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Verses 12-17
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not [i]give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male slave, or his female slave, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law
Matthew 5;17-20 ~ 17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not [a]the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! 19 Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches [b]others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever [c]keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Isaiah 9 is from the Old-Testament in the Bible. Read the entire book as we see the prediction of Jesus coming to this earth.
Isaiah 9:6 ~ 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.
Supplies Needed (Optional)
Bible – I use these two here and here
Read the rest of this chapter from Matthew 5. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, the Old-Testament Law goes away. We are made in the image of Christ. If we do commit sin in any of these commandments, that just gives the enemy an in-road into your life. None of us are perfect except for Jesus, but as a Christian, we do strive to live more like Jesus and not sin. We’re human so it’s hard and I get it. God still loves us no matter what but we’ve allowed the devil to come into our lives when we do sin. We just repent to God and the enemy will flee.
Resources
She Reads Truth – Advent Study Guide
The Daily Grace Co. – Advent Study Guide
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-advent.html
I hope you are excited as we start the first day and Sunday of Advent. I encourage you to read the scriptures and pray that God gives you wisdom and for HIM to open your heart. My prayer as I stated earlier, is to slow down more. Let’s set our focus on Jesus’s coming instead of all the hustle and bustle this season. I’m proud that I didn’t do any shopping over the past few days. The Christmas Tree is just going up today. If you ever need prayer, please email me over at [email protected]. I’d love to pray with you virtually. I mean it.
Over the next few weeks, we will be studying the books of both Matthew and Luke. They both were written and detailed the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I use the King James Version along with the New American Standard Bible. These are both closest to the real writings.
Next week, we will light the candles of HOPE & PEACE and will discuss more scripture. Have a blessed week! Don’t forget to share this post. Let’s try and reach as many as we can and lead any non-believers to the Lord this Christmas season!
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