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Roots: Advent and the Family Story of Jesus
We all come from someone, somewhere, and something—a people, a place, and a story. So does Jesus.
The heart and mission of Emmanuel, God with us, is more profoundly understood by exploring the well-watered roots that flowered into Jesus’s life as the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). The roots of Jesus are his family tree and its characters, the land of Israel and its towns and terrain, and the incredible faith-story of God’s covenant people, the Jews.
In Advent and the Family Story of Jesus, we rediscover that Jesus—born naturally of a mother from a family line herself, and nurtured by a father who knew the names of his own kin many generations into the past (Matthew 1:1–17)—comes from the family vine of the great King David, the son of Jesse, and from a long line of faithful men and women.
The idea known as a “Jesse Tree” will be our map. A Jesse Tree is an approach to the preparation season of Advent, leading us toward Christmas, that encourages us to revisit stories from the Hebrew Bible to help us gain insights into the family line of Jesus and the spiritual mandate of the child born to save the world.
We will draw from both Jesus’ genealogical ancestry and his faith heritage, as we walk together on a journey through the stories of saints and sinners woven into the family line of the Son of God.
The heart and mission of Emmanuel, God with us, is more profoundly understood by exploring the well-watered roots that flowered into Jesus’s life as the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). The roots of Jesus are his family tree and its characters, the land of Israel and its towns and terrain, and the incredible faith-story of God’s covenant people, the Jews.
In Advent and the Family Story of Jesus, we rediscover that Jesus—born naturally of a mother from a family line herself, and nurtured by a father who knew the names of his own kin many generations into the past (Matthew 1:1–17)—comes from the family vine of the great King David, the son of Jesse, and from a long line of faithful men and women.
The idea known as a “Jesse Tree” will be our map. A Jesse Tree is an approach to the preparation season of Advent, leading us toward Christmas, that encourages us to revisit stories from the Hebrew Bible to help us gain insights into the family line of Jesus and the spiritual mandate of the child born to save the world.
We will draw from both Jesus’ genealogical ancestry and his faith heritage, as we walk together on a journey through the stories of saints and sinners woven into the family line of the Son of God.
- GenresNonfictionChristian
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2022
8 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Dan Wilt
26 books5 followersDan Wilt is a spiritual life writer based in Franklin, TN USA. Dan is an internationally respected speaker on the topics of the Christ-centered life, worship, creativity, and spiritual formation. One writer called him "a storyteller, a philosopher, and a theologian" who cares deeply about people and the flourishing of human beings in the way of Jesus.
His encouraging radio stories have been heard by nearly 2 million listeners weekly, and his training tools on the worshipping life and worship leadership are used by thousands. The songs he has written have had an impact in many corners of the world.
Dan makes his home in Thompson's Station, TN USA with his wife Anita and 3 children, Anna, Abigail, and Benjamin.
His encouraging radio stories have been heard by nearly 2 million listeners weekly, and his training tools on the worshipping life and worship leadership are used by thousands. The songs he has written have had an impact in many corners of the world.
Dan makes his home in Thompson's Station, TN USA with his wife Anita and 3 children, Anna, Abigail, and Benjamin.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 12, 2022
Moving, personal, succinct
Dan Wilt did a beautiful job summarizing how Jesus is the answer to the longing found in stories from the Old Testament and Jesus’ importance to our lives today. It was educational, humbling, and stirred my heart to adoration and thanksgiving. As a worship leader it breathed some fresh air into my planning for Advent & Christmas.
Dan Wilt did a beautiful job summarizing how Jesus is the answer to the longing found in stories from the Old Testament and Jesus’ importance to our lives today. It was educational, humbling, and stirred my heart to adoration and thanksgiving. As a worship leader it breathed some fresh air into my planning for Advent & Christmas.
November 4, 2025
Every year we celebrate Advent with my family and my church. And every year I look for more ways that I can make the meaning of Advent accessible and understandable for those who have only ever celebrated Christmas. The beauty of Christmas is so enhanced by the period of waiting before it, but I often lack the words to convey this.
In this short yet pithy devotional, Dan Wilt breaks Advent into bite-size pieces that are perfect for understanding the rich theology as well as the powerful applications of this season. If all you ever understood of Advent was “waiting for Christmas,” or a Light shining in the darkness, you are in for a grand revelation.
I have been a Christian for most of my life , and yet the applications that Dan brought out, the prayers for each day, and some of the simple tie-ins that he made from the story of Jesus to that of his ancestors were still meaningful and helpful. I chose to use this devotional outside of the normal Advent season, so that I could preview it for recommendation to my church. However, I think it would be even more powerful used in the correct timeframe.
In this short yet pithy devotional, Dan Wilt breaks Advent into bite-size pieces that are perfect for understanding the rich theology as well as the powerful applications of this season. If all you ever understood of Advent was “waiting for Christmas,” or a Light shining in the darkness, you are in for a grand revelation.
I have been a Christian for most of my life , and yet the applications that Dan brought out, the prayers for each day, and some of the simple tie-ins that he made from the story of Jesus to that of his ancestors were still meaningful and helpful. I chose to use this devotional outside of the normal Advent season, so that I could preview it for recommendation to my church. However, I think it would be even more powerful used in the correct timeframe.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews