A Guide for Advent: The Arrival of King Jesus

by Brad A. Watson

We stand in the already and not yet. We are disciples serving between Christ’s coming and his coming again. As we look backward, we see an astonishing baby boy cradled in his mother’s arms and the saving life he will lead. Looking forward, we see a complete kingdom and restoration of all things. We celebrate Christmas only after grappling with the hope fulfilled and the hope still waiting. We worship on Christmas morning through the lens of complete peace and anticipated shalom in the darkened corners of our world. We receive Christmas after enjoying the love of God already given and still to come. Advent invites us into the joy of knowing God has promised, God has fulfilled, and God has promised again. 

We wait, watch, and wonder at the gift of God entering his world. This collection of essays on the refracting beauty of God’s arrival into our desolate world and our isolated souls will move the follower of Jesus to internal reflection, communal worship, and participation in God’s mission in every aspect of human affairs.

Genres: Christmas

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.


Brad Watson serves as a pastor at Bread & Wine Communities in Portland, OR. He lives in inner Southeast Portland with his wife, Mirela, and his daughter, Norah and co-author of Raised? Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection.

Reviews

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good collection of Advent devotionals, written from an evangelical and Reformed perspective. The devotionals are not long, and they are written in a way to show the difference Advent makes for today.

Included in the guide are scripture readings and suitable hymns for Advent.

A great little reflection and meditation on Advent.

[Kellye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good content/bad writing

I enjoyed the content of this book, but the writing was difficult for me to ignore. Fragments, run-one, comma splices...it seems they lacked a copy editor. It really distracted me and took much of the pleasure of the book away for me.

[Matthew S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great selection of readings for Advent. Thoughtful, reflective, and hopeful.

[Élizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the book is transcribed sermons or Well-known Christmas hymns. Not exactly what I had in mind. Really appreciated the list of advent readings at the end.