Sent

by Jorge Acevedo

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them . . . —John 17:18 God sent Christ into the world as our Savior. That’s what Christmas is all about. In turn, Christ sends us into the world. But do we really understand how, where, and why we are sent? This five-week, churchwide Advent study challenges us through story, art, and Bible study to discover what it means to be Christ’s hands, feet, head, and heart. Centered around a DVD with 8-10 minute videos created by a group of dynamic young pastors, Sent is appropriate for adults and youth. The study includes a Participant Book, a Leader Guide for adult small groups, a Youth Study Guide for students ages 13-18, and The Children’s Leader Guide for use with kids 12 and under. A companion book, Devotions for the Season, offers four weeks of personal daily reflections.

Genres: Religion, Christian

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2015

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike many print and online offerings for the liturgical seasons of advent and lent, this isn't a book of devotions, though it contains four – as in four Sundays of Advent – average length chapters and a short afterward chapter by Jorge Acevedo. I read it cover to cover in about an hour, and enjoyed how all four contributors told their real-life stories of discovering the presence of God in others, about becoming the divine presence for others in the context of a particular narrative. Yet as present as God always is to us, as present as people can be to each other, Advent remains a season of hopeful waiting, often silently, typically in darkness of many kinds (insert here another of my wonderings about how it might feel to celebrate Christmas in the southern hemisphere).

This isn't a book I'd expect to read again soon, but it is the type of book that would be an excellent Christmas gift or drop in to visit a friend offering. Mostly I see its value in (1) encouraging each of us first to look back a few months or years and tease out similar narratives from our own lives; and (2) looking around us wherever we go for opportunities to receive and to give to other individuals or communities with the time, talents, and treasures God has given us.

In chapter 4, "Dry Bones," Rachel Billups admits "pastors can bring incredible vision to churches, but we also can damage people's vision." Anyone who has spent any time in the church realizes that ultimately, pastors, local church officers, and other leadership are simply laity (literally "people" as the word laity derives from the Greek), called and sent by God, any of whom can bring amazing visions to church and world, any of whom can damage and denigrate dreams and visions. Needless to say, "Dry Bones" references the famously colorful account in Ezekiel 37 where the living Word of God breathes life back into the recently reassembled bones. Rachel also cautions us about the life-giving power of our own speech. If you're from the Reformation traditions, you may recall the Heidelberg Catechism telling us we move from Christmas with the mystery of Spirit in Flesh, to Ascension, with the mystery of Flesh in Spirit.

Jorge Acevedo's short concluding chapter uses Pastor Eugene Peterson's image of God moving into the neighborhood by sending Jesus. Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas brings actual accounts of real people who have brought hope by being the God's Presence wherever they were. Let's start looking around us wherever we are and wherever we go, writing our own chapters as God in the Spirit sends us to deliver gifts of hope to our worlds during the Advent-Nativity seasons and all year round everywhere.

[Terra · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read this little book quickly, and enjoy 5 chapters by five different authors: Jorge Acevedo, Jacob Armstrong, Rachel Billups, Justin LaRosa and Lanecia Rouse. This is meant to be an Advent journey and I suggest that it can be read at any time of the year. One favorite chapter was written by LaRosa, a minister who experienced terror with his wife when she faced a serious medical condition and their son was born very early. In the hospital a woman he had never met before gave LaRosa an angel pin, when he was crying in his darkest hour, and a baby blanket hand knit with love by women they had not met and who had a knitting ministry was placed over their baby’s incubator. These stories show us that God’s grace is everywhere, in our hour of deepest need, and before, and after.

[George Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

This looks to be what we will utilize for our approach to Christmas at Crossroads this year. It is an Advent study and goodness knows there is no shortage of Advent studies. The strength of "Sent" is that it begins with the gift God sends to us, but does not stop there. Each chapter leads to an understanding of Advent being not only about Christ sent to us, but about us sent to the world. Very readable book, with five different voices (authors) in the five different chapters. Looking forward to sharing this.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually written in part by the head pastor at the church I attend. He doesn't often come to the branch I attend, I've heard him before and enjoyed his messages.

This books isn't 100% what I thought it would be, but I did enjoy it very much. There are great stories of Christmases the authors had gone through and inspiring messages to be learned from each.

[Terri Milstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that I will be using at my church this Advent. The fourth chapter is particularly good, but the whole book has a fresh feeling that inspires.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of stories and teachings from YCP in the UMC

[Polly Rosenstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories about people being a light of love to others in need during Advent.