Preparing for the Advent Season

Merry Christmas!

As a follower of Jesus, it is our desire and joy to encourage others to draw near to God through Jesus Christ. As we looked forward to this season of Christmas, our Innovations for Transformation team in YWAM Kona prepared a unique resource to help all of us meditate on Christ’s coming each of the days of December leading up to Christmas.

It is our joy to share this resource with you so that you can enrich your celebrations with family and friends!

You can find our Advent Discovery Starter here:
https://sourceviewbible.github.io/ADVENT/

Here’s a taste of the introduction:

Advent comes from the Latin noun adventus – meaning “arrival” – and was used in Roman history to describe the ceremonial arrival of a great leader to a city or nation. Adventus was derived from the Latin verb advenire meaning “to come.” Traditionally in the church calendar, Advent  – the time set aside to prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of the Christ child – begins four Sundays prior to Christmas day. As each Sunday passes and the celebration of the incarnation approaches, our excitement and anticipation build. This is what we celebrate. It’s amazing but true: God came to dwell in our midst! He came to us in Bethlehem’s manager. And he continues to come: to be forever Emmanuel – God with us.

The Bible tells us that the original humans in the Garden of Eden hid themselves from God (Gen 3:8). But God lovingly pursued them. From then to now, men and women have continued to hide themselves from God. We run from him perhaps because we are ashamed of our guilt, or because we want to cover up our fears and inadequacies, or because it is more comfortable to ignore his presence then it is to face our reality. Whatever the reason is for our hiding – throughout the generations – he comes to find us. Though we may often run from him, he always comes running towards us. The stories of other religious traditions tell how men and women should seek God. The amazing story of the Bible is different. It speaks consistently of a loving God who comes to us. Time and time again. Most fully and wonderfully in Jesus. But even before that climactic moment in the story – indeed throughout the whole of the story – God’s coming is the central motif. He comes again and again…READ MORE

Merry CHRISTmas!
From Rob, Cy & Elias Wiebe