Remember to anticipate
Advent is a special celebration and contemplation of the coming of Jesus Christ that Christians participate in during the Christmas season. Advent literally means “arrival” or “coming.” During Advent season God’s people remember and rejoice in Jesus’ first coming to save His people from their sins, while at the same time long with anticipation and expectation for His return.
reading and meditation plan
Advent is about Jesus. Purpose to be intentional to pursue God’s Word throughout the Advent season.
This year’s reading plan follows our Advent series Big Truths and gives you a passage to read and something to ponder, pray, or practice for each day.
- Meditate: Everyday Gospel Christmas | PDF Devotional by Paul David Tripp
- Read: The Habit of Waiting for Christmas | Desiring God article
- Share: 10 Questions to Ask at Your Christmas Gathering | Crossway article
- Sing: Songs for Advent | Spotify, Youtube, or Apple Music
- Ponder: Why do we sing the Advent songs that we sing? Read these meditations by our worship team to help center your focus on Christ and prepare your heart to worship.
Family Advent Kits
Nextgen families, be sure to pick up your kit from the kids halls or the Outpost.
Even if you don’t have kids in your home, check out what’s inside the kit for ideas on ways to resource your friends and family to celebrate Advent together!
jesus is
Advent is all about Jesus. We remember Jesus to anticipate Jesus.
But who is He? Our Advent series this year will consider foundational realities of who Jesus is.
Jesus is the Word (Week of 12/1)
1 In the beginning was the Word… John 1:1
Ponder: What does it mean that Jesus is the Word?
Pray: Thank God that we can know Him because He has revealed Himself to us.
Practice: Take a moment to look up the cross references of “the Word” in John 1:1 and consider what you learn about Jesus by knowing that He is the Word.
- Reading Plan – Jesus is the Word– God in the flesh. God’s revelation of Himself to His people. Throughout the Old Testament, prophecies are used to reveal promises about the coming Messiah. This week, read prophecies both made about and fulfilled by Jesus Christ, and remember that He came and dwelt among us.
Jesus is Fully God (Week of 12/8)
1 In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God. John 1:1
Ponder: Meditate on Jesus’ deity– all of the ways that He is unlike us. From Him and to Him and through Him are all things (Rom 11:36). Let this reality lead you to worship!
Pray: Pray in adoration of who God is.
Practice: How many attributes or characteristics of God can you think of? Make a list and praise Him!
- Reading Plan – Advent is a time to center our focus on Jesus. This week, read passages in which Jesus Himself makes a proclamation of who He is, and let the reality of who Jesus is lead you to worship.
Jesus is Fully Man (Week of 12/15)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… John 1:14
Ponder: Why does Jesus’s humanity matter for our salvation?
Pray: Pray, thanking God that Jesus became like us (Hebrews 2:17).
Practice: Talk with your family or your Go Group about how Jesus is our example (Phil 2:5-11). We ought to live for His interests, not our own (Phil 2:21). What opportunities do you have this week to pursue this?
- Reading Plan: At Advent, we remember Jesus’s first coming to anticipate His second coming. This week, read the gospel of Luke’s narrative to remember and meditate on the first coming of Christ.
Jesus is Our Only Hope (Week of 12/22)
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… John 1:12
Ponder: Why can we hope in Jesus alone?
Pray: Confess the lesser hopes that you are tempted to trust in. Ask God to help you set your mind on Christ and set your hope on what is to come in Him.
Practice: As you look ahead to 2025, journal about things that you are hoping for. Then, write a verse from Scripture that you can memorize to help you set your hope on Christ.
- Reading Plan – At Advent, we remember to anticipate. The Jesus follower’s hope lies beyond circumstances in what is to come in Christ. This week, read and meditate on Scripture that reminds us that our King is coming soon!
Jesus is the Christ (12/29 – 12/31)
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31
Ponder: Meditate on your sin and need for a Savior. Apart from Jesus, you have nothing.
Pray: Thank God that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior. We can have life in His name.
Practice: Consider someone in your life that does not know Jesus. Without Him, they can have no hope and no life. Have a gospel conversation with this person this week.
Christmas
Give
a kingdom gift
Each December, TCBC participates in a special seasonal offering we call Christmas Give. Every dollar given as a part of this special offering goes toward Give2Go, our missions fund that enables our pursuits of Send Disciples, Serve the Vulnerable, Train Leaders, Reach the Unreached, and Plant Churches.
This Christmas, consider how you can make the largest gift you give be a kingdom gift. Make a plan with your family, and collect money throughout the month of December.
Bring your Christmas Give offering to the Christmas Eve service at 5pm, or give online today!
Look Ahead
The Bible is God’s Word, His revelation of Himself to His people.
In 2025, we will read through the whole Bible chronologically as a church, seeing who God is, what He has done throughout all of history, and how we ought to live and walk in light of Him.
Find resources here to help you along as you read through the Bible 2025!