Advent is a season of reflection and anticipation where Christians remember Christ’s birth and look forward to His return. Advent invites us to slow down, prepare our hearts, and rejoice in the hope, joy, peace, and love found in Jesus during the Christmas season.
Advent, from the Latin adventus meaning "coming," is a season when Christians reflect on the birth of Jesus and anticipate His return. The Old Testament foretells the coming of the Messiah through prophecies like Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2, building a foundation of hope. The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of those promises in Christ's birth and points believers to await His second coming with joy and expectation. Though the formal tradition of Advent developed later, it is rooted in Scripture and offers a meaningful way to focus on Jesus amid the Christmas season. Whether through candles, songs, or Scripture, Advent invites us to slow down and prepare our hearts for the wonder of Christ.
The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming." During Advent, Christians around the world set aside time to reflect on and celebrate the coming of Jesus, His arrival in Bethlehem as the promised Savior. While the official season of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, many families and churches begin their observance on December 1 with daily or weekly rhythms of Scripture, prayer, and song.
Advent is a beautiful opportunity to slow down and prepare our hearts for the wonder of Christ’s birth. Each of the four Sundays typically focuses on a theme—Hope, Faith (or Prophets), Joy, and Peace—often marked by the lighting of candles and reading of key Scriptures. The first Sunday points to the hope found in God’s promises. The second recalls the voices of the prophets who foretold the coming Messiah. The third, known as Gaudete Sunday, emphasizes joy, drawing from the angelic announcement to the shepherds. The fourth centers on peace and the angelic proclamation of Christ’s birth. Many Advent wreaths also include a fifth candle, the Christ Candle, lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to celebrate the Light of the world entering our darkness.
Is Advent biblical? While the season itself developed later in church history, it is grounded in the biblical story of Jesus’ birth and rich with Scripture. Observing Advent is not a requirement for Christians, but it can be a meaningful way to focus our attention on Jesus during a season that can otherwise become rushed and distracted.
Advent can be deeply meaningful for individuals, families, and churches. Whether through lighting candles, reading the Bible together, singing carols, or reflecting in prayer, these practices help us prepare our hearts—not just our homes—for Christmas. More than a countdown, Advent is an invitation to pause, reflect, and rejoice in the incredible truth that God came near. Whether we celebrate Advent or not, may we approach the Christmas season with intention, keeping our eyes on the wonder of Jesus, our Savior and King.