The readings are from the NSRV (New Revised Standard Version) Bible. You can read the passages online at: http://www.biblegateway.com/&version=NRSV.
[00:01:44] Lesson One - Isaiah 40:1-8 - God's People are Comforted
[00:02:59] Lesson Two - Isaiah 64:1-9 - God is Called Upon to Act and to Come Among Us
[00:05:06] Lesson Three - Isaiah 11:1-10 - The People Hope
[00:07:17] Lesson Four - Isaiah 9:2-7 - A Child
[00:08:32] Lesson Five - Luke 1:26-38 - The Annunciation- Christ is Born
[00:10:59] Lesson Seven - Luke 2:8-16 - Angels and Shepherds
[00:11:57] Lesson Eight - Matthew 2:1-11 - Wise Men come from the East
[00:13:43] Lesson Nine - John 1:1-14 - The Word Became Flesh
[00:15:41] Prayer
[00:17:29] Blessing
What is Advent?
Advent is the season that begins the church’s yearly cycle of seasons. It starts on the 4th Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The word Advent comes from the Latin word for “coming”. Advent is marked by expectation and anticipation of Jesus’ coming to humanity.
We remember a very pregnant Mary on a journey to Jerusalem longing to see her child who holds profound promise and hope. We recall that Jesus will be born on Christmas in an animal’s feeding trough among a people who were longing for a Messiah, sent by God, to rescue them.
We hear the cry of John the Baptist calling us to repent and prepare for the coming of the Lord. So, we prepare our hearts and consider our own yearning to experience more of Jesus’ presence in our daily lives.
We also live in anticipation of the Second Coming when Christ will come again to renew creation and defeat evil once and for all. We prepare our hearts for the day when we will face our Lord and give an account of our lives. Advent is also a time of celebration because we believe that ultimately God is for us and not against us (Rom 8). At the time of his Second Coming he will wipe away every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away (Rev 21)
