Voices of Advent

by Matthew L. Skinner

Experience Advent with the Scriptures that inspire Christmas.

In Voices of Advent, Matthew L. Skinner leads readers through biblical texts and explores how they shape our lives and Christmas celebrations. We listen as Jesus promises to return to us in the future, to John the Baptist as he prepares the way for the Messiah, to the faithful people and poets who anticipate the magnificence of Jesus’s birth, and to the angels and visionaries who praise God when Christmas dawns. Listen carefully to the Bible’s various perspectives that shape our preparations for Christmas; you’ll hear hope in all of them. Voices of Advent helps readers experience Advent not only as the start of the Christian Church Year, but also as the powerful overture that sets the tone for the incredible story of Jesus

In addition to the book, other study components include a Leader Guide and video available on DVD.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

Matthew L. Skinner (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He frequently contributes to popular Christian magazines and blogs and is a featured writer for ON Scripture (a weekly column carried by Odyssey Networks), the Huffington Post, and other online outlets.

Reviews

[Doug]

I read this within a men's book study group at my church. I thought the author's insights on Advent and Christmas were very insightful. For some members in the group, the author went to deep into scripture at times, but I found that to be a strength of the book. I found if you read each chapter over the course of a day or two, it was very manageable. I would suggest that instead of reading all in one sitting. I feel that I could read this book each year when Advent comes. My only knock against it is that discussion topics/questions only were available through a leaders guide. It would have made our group meeting's so much better if this material (or at least parts of it) were part of the book itself. With just them being in the leaders guide, we struggled with discussion on complex questions that the group could only hear and not have in front of them to read. The only way around it would have been for everyone to have purchased a leaders guide as well which is asking a lot.

[Patty Corwin]

Read for a group study at church. Matthew Skinner is wise and highly versed in both the background of scriptural events and in unpacking translations. I learned so much from this book that I didn’t know - and I appreciate his scholarship as he enlightens parts of the Hebrew Bible in relation to the events of Advent. It took our group more than 6 sessions to truly unpack even a part of what we learned. It’s an excellent work, and the videos on Amplify Media helped me to understand the meaning even more. It’s very readable, not at all overly scholarly.

[Diane]

It was not exactly what I was expecting; I was thinking it would be more meditative or reflective. I think it would be good for a group study for Advent. And the word "imagination": preparing in advent by imagining as we go through the scripture texts, really was thought-provoking. I like to think of imagination as an advent discipline.

[Carolyn Prentice]

Looking at this period of history with a focus on John the Baptist, Mary mother of Christ, her cousin Elizabeth and Zecharaiah, followed by Angels and viewing the world events surrounding this birth. These characters point to the impact on all of us. The study reveals our need to see through the arts and our own history how important it is to meditate on these stories.

[Sharon]

My first completed book of 2026. We read this for Bible study and have been discussing it since November 21, one chapter per week. Skinner does an excellent job of weaving together the voices of biblical characters involved in the story of the Incarnation. There was much food for thought, leading to some fascinating conversation. Highly recommended for Advent study.

[Jdshankles]

Probably my new favorite book on Advent. Might have to read it every year!

[Jane Winner]

This is my favorite Advent Bible Study ever! I think reading the afterward section would benefit hearts and minds throughout the year... Keep the book accessible!

Thank you Matthew Skinner!

[Peterd]

Advent meditation

Very helpful and thought provoking.. I am ready for Christmas. Ten more words are required here. Fill in the blank

[Jan Bufkin]

This was my favorite of several advent studies I read! Bible based wisdom combined with relevant anecdotes and scholarship made for an illuminating read!

[Rick Benjamin]

Voices of Advent: well worth your time

This book has given me a whole different and deeper understanding of what the Advent season means. It’s very well written although it demands much of the reader. You must commit to spending sufficient time with this work… plus a fair amount of prayer and reflection… to get the maximum from it.

[Katharine]

Read for an Advent book study at church. I loved it. The author does not dismiss or offer trite positive answers to struggles with hope in a difficult world, and there was lots of depth in the Biblical meditations.