Advent Resources Round-up

Advent & Christmas
Written By Winfree Brisley

The Advent season seems to fill all sorts of things. Stores are filled with decorations and holiday promotions. Our mailboxes are full of cards. Our calendars are filled with parties and activities. Our children’s minds are full of visions of presents on Christmas morning. The nooks and crannies of our houses are filled with gifts hidden away from prying eyes. Our to-do lists are filled with presents to wrap, menus to plan, and decorations to hang. 

Our minds are full of questions: What should I buy her? Will he like what I got him? Can all of our family really fit in our house? Does the Christmas tree have enough ornaments on it? Or maybe there are too many? Why did I volunteer to host this year?

If we’re not careful, our hearts will be full too. But full of the wrong things. Anxiety. Worry. Fear. Advent is supposed to be a time of joy, wonder, and hopeful anticipation. But we often find ourselves bogged down by the weight of expectations. So just like we prepare our homes, our budgets, and our calendars for the Christmas season, we need to prepare our hearts as well. 

The classic Christmas carol, Joy to the World, reminds us that the Advent season is an occasion for joy as we celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus. But it also gives us a practical idea about how to experience that joy: 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare him room

And heaven and nature sing

Let every heart prepare him room—a subtle, but powerful reminder that we need to prepare room in our hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ. But how can we prepare our hearts? How can we make room for him in the midst of our busy preparations and full lives? One way is to spend time reading and studying Scripture about the coming of Christ.

There are Bible studies, devotional books, and Bible reading plans created particularly for the Advent season to help us focus on the amazing truth that God became man to save us from our sins. Below we’ve gathered various Advent resources for both adults and kids—some are old favorites of R|M team members, others are new resources we’re excited to try. In addition to the ones below, you’ll find many more great resources on our Advent Resources page.

As your house and your to-do list and your calendar fill up with all that this season brings, we hope these resources will help fill your heart with joy as you prepare to celebrate our King, who came and is coming again. 

Advent Bible Studies

Advent Devotional Books


Advent Reading Plans

Winfree Brisley

Winfree Brisley serves as an editor for The Gospel Coalition. She was previously the editor for Risen Motherhood. She and her husband, Will, have three sons and live in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they are members of Uptown Church (PCA).

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