Make Advent More than "The Christmas Season"

Many of us make the four
weeks leading up to Christmas
into something it's not.

For the longest time, I thought "Advent" was just a fancy word for "the Christmas season," a holier, maybe more spiritual-sounding word for an otherwise hectic and overly-commercialized holiday stretch between Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. What I've discovered in the past few years of observing Advent is it's not just a different word; it's an entirely different approach.

Let me explain. Advent as a season is meant to make the journey toward Christmas full of meaning; it's meant to put us in touch with our deepest longings and greatest hopes; it's meant to teach us to bring all our desires together on one object: Christ. While "Christmas" as a season (properly) begins on Dec. 25 and goes 12 days (yes, there's a song about that!) until Jan. 6, Advent is all about the build-up to it. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and takes us right up to the glorious celebration of the incarnation.

When you journey through Advent to Christmas, you begin to see Jesus more fully. You recognize His incarnation was the beginning of the redemption of the world and His return is the completion of it. Advent pulls those two moments together. It overlays the joy of His arrival as a helpless babe with the hope of His appearing as conquering King. Both arrivals are anticipated in celebrating Advent.

Twenty-Seven Percent - is prophecy important?

Our Daily Bread 

Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn

READ: 2 Peter 3:1-13

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? —2 Peter 3:11

People’s attitudes toward Bible prophecy vary widely. Some believers are so preoccupied with it that they are constantly talking about the latest world events, thinking they are biblical signs that Christ could return at any moment. Others are so casual in their view of prophecy that it seems as if they don’t believe it’s relevant to the Christian life at all.

God Is NOT the Gospel

Stephen Altrogge

The Gospel is the good news the way 

to God has been opened for all who believe in Christ.

Okay, put your pitchforks and effigies down for just a second. Before you burn me at the stake as a heretic, let me explain myself.
Lately I’ve noticed that Christians in general (and I include myself in that number) have been equating the Father, Son and Spirit with the Gospel.

What to Do When God Seems Slow to Act

Photo by Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Depending on who you talk to, you’ll hear varied opinions on what God is doing in the world today. Is God about to pull the plug on time as we know it? Are the bad guys winning? How do we make the most of our time here on earth? And when God seems slow to act on our behalf, what’s our next step?

Heavy questions. I was reminiscing about a woman named Martha the other day, and this incident prompted my response to one of those questions:


Several years ago I was with a group in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. On a small-scale “Holy Land” tour that same day, we met a woman regaled in biblical garb and walking about in a cool, dark cave.

She introduced herself as the character “Martha,” a keeper of the cave where Jesus was born. She and her retired husband had moved to Eureka Springs, she told us, with nothing but an availability and willingness to serve God. Her voice increased a few decibels with each sentence as she narrated her familiar script.

Deciphering Your Dreams

FELICIA ABRAHAM

Evangelist Perry Stone believes people will experience dreams and visions with increasing frequency as Christ’s return nears. Discover why he says this, as well as the purpose dreams and visions serve and how you can interpret them.

Perry Stone - Dreams & Visions

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Our World on Fire

GEORGE OTIS JR.

 

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If we truly want to see the Holy Spirit transform our communities, here’s how we can prepare ourselves for His coming

Only God can transform a community, but there are several things we can do to prepare for His arrival. Here’s a short list of considerations.

1. Picture true success. In short, a transformed community is a neighborhood, city or nation where values and institutions have been overrun by the grace and presence of God; a place where divine fire has not merely been summoned, it has fallen; a society in which natural evolutionary change has been disrupted by invasive supernatural power; a culture that has been impacted comprehensively and undeniably by the kingdom of God; a location where kingdom values are celebrated publicly and passed on to future generations.

2. Discern your condition. Obscured Jeopardy Syndrome is a condition that prevails in communities where serious illnesses are not readily discernible. The primary symptom is a false sense of security, and the only remedy is to ask God to help us see things as they really are. This revelation helps us avoid superficial assessments based on how circumstances are affecting us personally, as well as what prior experience has taught us is normal.

The Lamb Who Is The Lion

by C. P. Hia

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Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: Revelation 5:1-12

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . [and] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. —Philippians 2:10-11

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 61-63

In Revelation 5, the apostle John portrays Jesus, the Lion of Judah (v.5), as a wounded Lamb (v.6). Referring to this word picture, preacher Charles Spurgeon asked, “Why should our exalted Lord appear in His wounds in glory?” His reply: “The wounds of Jesus are His glory.”

Typically, the symbol of a lamb does not represent power and victory. Most people prefer symbols of strength that invite admiration. Yet God chose to be incarnated as a baby born into a poor carpenter’s home. He lived as an itinerant preacher and died “as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isa. 53:7) on a Roman cross. 

WHO'S WHO IN BIBLE PROPHECY

The individuals listed below are Christians (past and present) who are passionate about their faith.  Some are recognized pastors, scholars and teachers of Bible prophecy and eschatology (study of end-times) who also belong to various denominations.  Also listed here are those from pseudo-Christian organizations (so-called Christian groups that adhere to doctrines outside mainstream Christianity).  This comprehensive list of individuals is meant to help you identify sound teaching on Bible prophecy and prophecy topics only.  Some have devoted their entire lives to teaching Bible prophecy.  Not all are always in agreement, and not all are sound in their doctrines.  Therefore, study for yourselves, and use this as a guide only.

Though there are many good prophecy teachers, some should be avoided.  With that in mind, remember that we are commanded to pray for those whom we take issue with.  Please don't confuse this list with those who claim to be prophets or those with prophetic revelations, dreams, visions or other so-called inspired prophecies.  

The below "apple" rating is solely for the teaching of Bible prophecy and prophecy topics, not for individual ministries or personal lives of those listed.  You might find some listed here who teach sound Bible prophecy, yet to support other doctrines you disagree with.  Their teaching on other important Bible doctrines should not necessarily be confused with the comments here.  Use the Bible as your guide, just as Paul described the Bereans in Acts 17:11, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."  "Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding."  Proverbs 4:7.