Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam - Adult Study: An Advent Study

by James W. Moore

Christmas or confusion, Bethlehem or Bedlam… Which will you choose this year? The truth is, we don’t have to choose, because Christmas always happens right in the midst of our confusion. God breaks into our confusion and makes himself known. Christmas and confusion--weren’t they intimately related at the first Christmas when Jesus was born? Sometimes we forget that. But, that’s what this book is about--how Christ breaks into our chaos and confusion and brings Christmas--how Bethlehem always happens in the midst of bedlam. This thematic Advent study for 2013 has five sessions--one for each Sunday of Advent and one for Christmas. Each session is related to the overall theme of the book and offers an alternative to the lectionary-based Scriptures for the Church seasons. This year's theme is Bethlehem or Bedlam? A reflection is also available at the end of each session.

Genres: Christian

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2013

Reviews

[James Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of an Advent study with my small group at church. We also got the DVD, which had some interesting additional information and stories in it. As someone said who reviewed it on Amazon, the presenter was a little strange, but the overall review was good. The reason I got this is because MY holiday season this year was just filled with chaos, with both my wife and mother having surgeries. We also moved my mother-in-law into an apartment, in the midst of all this. So I personally was trying to find Bethlehem in the midst of bedlam.

This made for a decent study for our group. There was very little objectionable and it had some interesting points for us to discuss. There was nothing earth-shattering or revolutionary in these pages, but it was a pleasant diversion in an otherwise forgettable holiday season.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Study for Any Time of the Year

Finding Bethlehem has an engaging, useful format. You get to look up the scripture snippets for each day's devotions, read the author's ideas that variously are thoughts related to that brief scripture passage, or an anecdote, story or a parable, and then you get to think about questions related to the day's scripture. You probably get that "bedlam" in the title is a generic term that has grown to mean messy, unresolved, sometimes noisy in a visual or auditory sense or physical (messy house, office, kids, road ahead, at least as far as you can discern from here), chaotic, unorganizable. James Moore helps us consider how we might recognize God's being born and staying put on earth with us amidst all that messiness, chaos, and irresolution. In addition to showing the reader some parallel history from the Hebrew Bible, Moore reminds us that famous basic Nativity narrative from Luke's gospel of coming into town to pay taxes along with thousands of other people, trying to find lodging (research has shown us that would not have been a problem at all for Joseph and Mary), needing to get ready to welcome their first born, etc. would be a stellar example of bedlam seeking and needing divine presence. I'm reviewing and blogging this very late Advent, almost Christmas Eve day, but please be assured there's nothing about everything between the covers that needs to be exclusively done during Advent and/or to prepare for the Christmas season.

How literally sensational it is – "sensational" in that we can access God's presence in Jesus with our five physical senses – God coming into our midst in this stable, this manger, this baby, this Jesus born in the little town of house of bread! So much so, that God's enfleshment in Jesus is our central proclamation! James Moore explains some of the theology (covenant, sin, love, grace, incarnation, community, savior. redemption) clearly and simply. I believe this book would be accessible to someone with or without a lot of church experience, with or without a formal theological education or scriptural credentials. The author(s) don't talk highfalutin language; they don't talk down to the reader, either. I'd hazard a guess this could be a good small group resource for people who are newcomers to church or newly re-engaged in church activities.

I appreciate that the paper quality isn't exactly great so I won't hesitate to write on the comment pages, though I haven't done so yet. Like many bible studies from Abingdon, "Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam" comes in different formats that include a leader's guide, a version for kids, one for teens, and a DVD.

However, the title page tells us this is An Advent Study for Adults by James W. Moore, with "Questions, Prayer, and Focus for the Week Devotions by Pamela Dilmore. With so much space for readers to write their own reflections, question, and responses, the book doesn't contain a whole lot of text, but I wonder what percentage Pamela contributed, and I believe front and back covers need to credit her, as well?

[Melanie Barbarito · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a disappointment. I recommended it to our church women's book group expecting it to be good for Advent. Most of the women found that it just added stress to an already stressful season. The meditations were not all that inspiring. Although I honored the commitment to do the readings, including the Bible passages, the questions to which one was supposed to respond did not really lead one to any deep insights. I can't recommend it. There are plenty of better Advent meditation books out there.

[Cheryl Malandrinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book because it often feels more like bedlam than Bethlehem around here. While I didn't get a chance to read it during Advent, I did take it with me on vacation and instantly dove in. James W. Moore's book encourages the reader to not only look for Bethlehem during Christmas, but throughout the year. I could see myself reading it numerous times a year to stay focused on God's Word during my hectic life. I would highly recommend Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam to busy people everywhere looking to reconnect and refresh their relationship with their Lord and Savior. It's a book that will touch your heart.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this in a small group at church during Advent, through chapter 4, and I just now finished it up on my own. It was a great companion to the Advent season and made that time more meaningful for me this year. :)

[Jill K Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great December devotions to help center yourself on what's truly important during the our preparations for Christmas.

[Embracing the Spectrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to read with an adult Bible Group

[NancyInWI · Rating 3 out of 5]

This study was just ok for me. Very simplistic. The questions posed after the reflections were too vague for me.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good selection for our bible study group. The last day was a tear-jerker as we all shared our favorite Christmas memories. It's important to remember.

[Laurel Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Advent study I did at church. Has some good stories in it and made for lots of interesting discussion.