Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience

by Magrey Devega, Ingrid McIntyre, April Casperson

In 1741, John Wesley preached his famous sermon titled “The Almost Christian” in which he encouraged people to follow Christ wholeheartedly. We should not be satisfied with being almost Christian but rather strive towards being altogether a Christian.

In Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience, author and pastor Magrey deVega leads a group of authors to explore how we can make the same commitment to Christ during Advent, connecting our Wesleyan heritage with the traditional Advent themes of Love, Hope, Joy, and Peace.

In this book, perfect for Advent, deVega and the other authors break down the barriers that prevent us from experiencing an “altogether” love, hope, joy, and peace in Christ in our lives and in the world around us. They demonstrate the promises God offers to us that makes those longings a reality, inviting us to claim those promises for ourselves this Advent and celebrate an altogether Christmas.

Chapters include:

Altogether Love

Altogether Hope

Altogether Joy

Altogether Peace

Additional components for a four-week study include a DVD featuring Magrey deVega and the other writers and a comprehensive Leader Guide, as well as nativity hymns by Charles Wesley, litanies for lighting the Advent wreath, and prayers that can be incorporated into both worship and small group settings. A daily devotional and a youth study book are also available.

Genres: Nonfiction

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2019

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful way to walk through the Advent season and reflect on John Wesley’s sermon, Almost Christian.

Considering the difference between almost and altogether was a really reflective and illuminating way to consider what peace, hope, love and joy look like as we prepare for Christmas.

Advent is hitting me differently this year, as an expectant mother, especially reading Luke and the passages about Mary and Elizabeth.

2020 has also been such a strange year, that this consideration of almost versus altogether was deeply meditative, refreshing and reassuring of focusing on the truth and depth of Advent.

[Mike Doel · Rating 3 out of 5]

We used this book for our Advent bible study this year. I enjoyed the connections with our Wesleyan tradition and teaching. There were also several occasions when I felt the devotional passages really did a nice job helping to center myself on scripture and faith. But there were other parts where the thematic structure felt a bit forced and distracting. I also wish the book would have had more encouragements to engage with scripture itself and helped to connect the stories of the Old Testament pointing to the coming messiah fulfilled in Christ. Overall, it was a good enough resource for our class to use, but I found myself wishing for more.

[Rebecca L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and well researched resource for Advent. I plan to reference chapter 2 for my sermon this Sunday. It’s clear the authors are very familiar with Wesley’s life and theology. I particularly enjoyed the sections were they discussed Wesleyan hymns from the United Methodist Hymnal. Excellent resource for both clergy and laity. Short and concise, I was able to read this in a single day. I plan to refer to it next Advent as well and perhaps use it in a small group setting.

[Scott Torrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advent study based on Wesley sermon "The Almost Christian", the weekly theme was on moving from "almost" to "altogether" in the 4 Advent components of peace, love, hope and joy. Two quotes on joy have stuck with me: "Joy is a flash of eternity that illuminates time" and "Joy is the steadfast assurance that God is with us".

[AngelaGay Kinkead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leader's Guide and DVD available. Our Wed. morning Bible Study liked it. Every so often I through something very "Wesleyan" into the mix. This time, we didn't have much time to deal with the Wesley content, though this group was good about reading in advance and I could assume they picked it up anyway.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great Bible study for the Advent season. Four different authors wrote about peace, love, joy and hope. Each author brought out the importance of having altogether peace, love, joy and hope, not just being almost there. Lots to think about.

[Jacquelynn Hollman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Light read with authors using their own experiences to demonstrate Wesleyan principles. Read it with my teenage son for Advent 2019 & he was done with writing style & lack of substance in week 2.

[Judi Politte-Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

See

[Graemme Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Apply the principles to your life.

[Christina Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter was written by a different person and while some were very good; a couple were not so good. There are definitely better Advent studies out there in my opinion.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read and videos to accompany- would repeat this material.

[Roxi]

Sunday School Advent Study at Christ United Methodist Church, 2024

[Tiffanie Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great devotional for Christmas — I did it myself but could be a small group or sermon series. It even has a John Wesley “recommitment to Christ” order of worship service from the 1700’s.

[Jeff Bobin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good brief devotional with supplemental materials for discussion group.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a great idea to write a book on experiencing Advent; chapters on Peace, Hope, Love and Joy. It was made clear that John Wesley sought perfection in that to experience these feelings fully requires experiencing God. As a Christian I appreciate that view, however I just would have enjoyed the book more if the more human experiences of peace, hope, love and joy were given more weight in the Advent discussion. Because we are saved by grace, seems it might be possible to have "altogether" experiences beyond the thought of our eternal souls. The book does make for good discussion in a class setting that I took part in. Our pastor had the companion video for the book. With each chapter there was a video where the four authors discussed the subject of the chapter. I thought those were excellent.