The Best of WTOnline

Reader Poll

What part of your life is most difficult to surrender to God? My finances My future My past My family My physical body My feeling of control View Results

 

From the Editor

The Significance of Advent

The word advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “a coming.” Christians celebrate the First Advent (the coming of Christ as a baby) and anticipate the Second Advent (when Jesus Christ once again returns) on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Often parents look for meaningful ways to keep Christ in their Christmas celebration. An Advent wreath offers a visible way to train children. From Sunday to Sunday during the Advent celebration, families can incorporate Scriptures pertaining to the Advent into their devotional time.

In the Advent wreath, four candles of the same color are positioned around the edges and a fifth candle, usually white, is placed in the center. One candle is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas. The white center candle is lit on Christmas Eve.

As Christmas is celebrated each year, time brings us closer to the Second Advent of Jesus. As Christians we are called to prepare for His return. This should make us more zealous in sharing the good news of the birth of a Savior not only with our children but with those who do not know the true meaning of Christmas.

The Advent Wreath

The shape—as with a circle, His love is without beginning or ending.
The greens in the wreath—suggest the reality of everlasting life.
The four colored candles—remind us that Christ is the light of the world.
The white center candle—speaks of the sinless nature of Christ.

Week One

Old Testament Prophesy
The Sunday that falls closest to November 30 is the first Sunday of Advent. The candle lit on this day represents the Old Testament prophesy of the coming of Jesus Christ. Read Isaiah 7:14 and then light the first candle.

Bible Readings for Week One

1st Sunday	Genesis 3:1-15	Galatians 4:1-7
Monday	Genesis 12:1-3	Acts 3:17-26
Tuesday	Genesis 17:15-21	Matthew 1:1,2
Wednesday	Genesis 28:10-17	Luke 3:23,33
Thursday	Genesis 49:8-10	Luke 3:23,33
Friday	Isaiah 9:2-7	Matthew 21:1-9
Saturday	Isaiah 7:10-17	Matthew 1:18-23

Week Two

The Birth of Christ
The birth of Jesus Christ is the subject of the second Sunday of Advent. The Christmas story, familiar to so many, is recorded in Matthew 1:18–25 and Luke 1:26–56. Read the Scriptures, and then light the second Advent candle.

Bible Reading for Week Two

2nd Sunday	Malachi 3:1	Mark 1:1-11
Monday	Malachi 4:5,6	Matthew 11:7-15
Tuesday	Isaiah 40:3-8	Matthew 3:1-12
Wednesday	Isaiah 40:1,2	John 1:29
Thursday	Isaiah 40:9	John 1:32-34
Friday	Isaiah 49:1	Luke 1:30,31
Saturday	Haggai 2:6,7	Luke 2:1-7

Week Three

Angels and Shepherds Worship
On the third Sunday of Advent, another candle is lit to represent the good news of the birth of Christ, as recorded in Luke 2:8–20. This passage describes the appearance of the angels to the shepherds and how the shepherds went to Bethlehem to worship Him. During the week, talk with your children concerning different ways we may worship God.

Bible Reading for Week Three

3rd Sunday	Isaiah 61:1–3	Luke 4:16–21
Monday	Micah 5:2–4	Matthew 2:1–6
Tuesday	Isaiah 49:3–6	Luke 2:25–32
Wednesday	Isaiah 60:1–6	Matthew 2:1–11
Thursday	Numbers 24:17	Matthew 2:1–9
Friday	Jeremiah 31:15–17	Matthew 2:16–18
Saturday	Hosea 11:1–4	Matthew 2:13–23

Week Four

Journey and Gifts of the Magi
The fourth Sunday of Advent celebrates the visit of the Magi. Matthew 2:1–12 describes their journey, the gifts they brought for the King, and how God warned them to return to their own land by a different route so Herod would not be informed of Jesus’ whereabouts. After reading the Scripture, light the fourth candle.

Bible Reading for Week Four

4th Sunday	Genesis 22:15–17	Luke 2:8–14
Monday	Isaiah 9:7	Luke 1:30–33
Tuesday	Isaiah 9:6	Luke 1:34,35
Wednesday	Isaiah 53:1–5	Matthew 27:32–44
Thursday	Isaiah 40:11	John 10:1–42
Friday	Isaiah 40:5	Luke 2:1–20
Saturday	Isaiah 9:1–5	John 1:1–14

Christmas Eve

God is With Us
Finally, Christmas Eve arrives and the fifth candle in the center of the Advent wreath is lit. The birth of Jesus is celebrated by reading Luke 2:26–38 or John 1:1–5. Both relate the joyous news of “God with us.”

Merry Christmas from all of us here at WTOnline!

By Joy Stead  Reprinted from Woman’s Touch November/December 2002

Previous Letters

• Self-Image
• Obedience and Surrender
• Spirit-Filled Living
• Healthy Families
• Your Career
• Miracles
• Missions
• Money Matters
• The Significance of Advent
• Gratitude
• Overcoming Fear
• The Power of Prayer
• Reaching Out: Compassion & Evangelism
• Letting Go of Your Past
• Using Your Gifts
• The Miracle of Motherhood
• Keeping the Joy
• A Life of Worship
• Finding Balance in a Stress-Filled World
• What’s Cooking in Your House this Christmas?
• Hospitality that Works
• Smart Entertainment Choices
• Real Friendship
• Out of Control
• Masterpiece
• The World is Waiting
• Stewardship
• Handling Disappointment
• Hope Doesn't Disappoint
• Mentoring
• An Amazing Commitment
• Take Charge of Your Health Care
• The Value of Health
• The One and Only You
• Lessons on the Wall