Daily Advent devotions that will help you to slow down and appreciate the wonder of Christmas.
These straightforward, short and profound Advent readings have been edited from talks given by much-loved Bible teacher, Dr R.C. Sproul, helping readers to benefit from his enduring insight and wisdom. They delve into the details of the Christmas story and reflect on how these impact our lives now, combining scholarly detail with heartwarming application.
Each day also includes a prayer written by a well-known Bible teacher of our own day, to guide your own reflections.
As R.C. Sproul observes, the narrative of the birth of Jesus is so familiar to many of us that ”the words just slip over us”. So, take the time to slow down and dwell on the words of the Christmas story so that you arrive at Christmas Day full of awe and wonder at the birth of Jesus.
1. Certainty
2. Time
3. Impossible
4. Virgin
5. Favor
6. Mother
7. Promise
8. Redeemed
9. Happened
10. Ruler
11. Bethlehem
12. David
13. King
14. Government
15. Room
16. Empty
17. Glory
18. Angel
19. Host
20. Go
21. Holy
22. Waiting
23. Face-to-face
24. People
Contributors | R C Sproul |
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ISBN | 9781784989071 |
Format | eBook |
First published | October 2023 |
Language | English |
Publisher | The Good Book Company |
Reading through this Advent devotional I could hear again, in vivid ways, R.C.’s voice. The warm, personable insights and grasp of divine truth that caused us to sit at his feet are captured again for all to hear as he expresses the wonders of the incarnation. A Christmas treasure!
I love that RC’s wisdom is still being compiled in books even after his death. This book is a compilation of text from 2 series of talks given by Dr. Sproul in his lifetime (The Messiah is Born and The Coming of the Messiah) with each chapter taking a keyword or character from the Christmas story and using it to mediate on the advent of Christ.
If you’ve read any of RC Sproul’s other books and have listened to one of his many sermons or series, then this book will feel like a familiar friend. It incorporates his usual wisdom and clarity as he explains detailed complexities of Christian doctrine in a very accessible way. It’s theologically rich, encouraging, and directs your focus on Christ.
This is a small, but mighty book as it progresses slowly through the details and characters of the Christmas story. Each chapter includes Scripture at the beginning and ends with a prayer written by other great theologians such as Sinclair Ferguson, Tim Challies, Steven Lawson, and Joni Eareckson Tada. This devotional will be a permeant place in our home library and will be brought out year after year. It’s shallow enough to read with children and yet deep enough for mature Christians to wade through. It’s exactly what you’d come to love and expect from the great, late RC Sproul.
The Advent of Glory by R.C. Sproul is 24 day devotional using key Christmas words to meditate on the Advent (Arrival) of Christ. After every chapter is a prayer to reflect on the reading.
This book was edited by Sproul’s wife and uses mostly material from 2 of his talks “The Messiah is Born” and “The Coming of the Messiah”
• MY THOUGHTS - the book is good! I enjoyed it, it has natural easy reading flow which I appreciate.
Sproul references scripture and uses great similes & metaphors in descriptions, which shines when it comes to breaking down some of the original Greek text.
Also the chapters are brief so you can more efficiently manage to get the reading in throughout almost any part of your day.
Rich in theological truth and application, this is an inspiring devotional that both engages and prepares your heart for the season of Advent.
I personally enjoyed the prayers at the end of each devotional and the insightfulness of several devotions including those on: Mary (“Mother”), being set apart (“Holy”), and Simeon (“Face-to-Face”).
Additionally, I love that this devotional is not only a wonderful resource for the Advent season, but one that can be referenced throughout the year for chronological or topical studies.
Thank you, The Good Book Company, for my copy in exchange for honest review.
(Star Rating: 4.25 stars)
I very much enjoyed reading this daily during advent. I wish it was a bit longer each day to feel more hearty, but it was nice to be able to easily read it at the dinner table and talk about the prompt at the end. Maybe it was the prompt questions that felt more simple in hindsight, because some of the days readings really challenged me or taught me something new. I adored the prayers that were added at the end of every chapter! It was great to read out load over the family or just to myself as I meditated on the devotion that day. This isn't something that replaces your daily Bible reading, but it was something fun to read additionally. I'll probably read it again next advent and maybe make it a family thing! I think it was more fun the days we read it as a family than the days I read it alone.
These short readings have been so good to help my focus on the true meaning of this festive season. I can get so caught up in the to-do lists & wanting to make everything perfect & magical for my family that I am just a ball of stress. It's been good to slow down this advent season & have more reminders of what this season actually means. Each devotion focuses on a single word that is part of the Christmas story. The thoughtful meditation each day has been so challenging yet helpful for my soul this season.
Many advent devotionals stay in just one part of the Bible, but I really like that this one works its way through a number of different passages, including both the Old and New Testaments, to show us the depth of the story of that first Christmas. This one is particularly good because it also includes prayers each day written by a number of pastors, and these prayers are actually one of the best things in the book! A great option if you’re looking for a devotional that takes about 10 minutes each day.
R.C. Sproul was a widely recognised and highly respected Reformed theologian who had a distinctive gift for teaching and writing, many of his books and lectures continue to influence and nurture a whole new generation of believers. He was also the founder of Ligonier Ministries and even though he went to be with his Saviour six years ago, his great legacy of work and ministry lives on in the form of the wonderful spiritual deposits that he left behind.
“The Advent of Glory” is one such deposit - a collection of 24 devotions for Christmas and it does seem fitting that, since R.C. Sproul went to be with the Lord during Advent in 2017, his beautiful Advent writings should be published in a single volume this Christmas.
Each of the 24 chapters takes one key word from Christmas story and uses it to meditate on the Advent of Christ, the chapter then concludes with a question for the reader to reflect on and a prayer reflecting on what has just been read. I particularly loved the fact that these prayers were written by good friends and associates of R.C. Sproul — Chris Larson, Tim Challies, Stephen Lawson, Rosemary Jenson, Sinclair Ferguson and Joni Eareckson Tada.
I have been really blessed in reading these devotions to help me focus my heart and mind on the Advent of Christ during the busyness of this season, often finding myself being deeply stirred afresh by the wonder of the incarnation of Christ through these simple devotions. Sproul had such a gift in writing with a lucid simplicity and depth that gets right to the heart of the biblical theme and explaining it with such great clarity.
In conclusion, these beautiful Advent reflections bring the reader away from all the noise and busyness of life and help to focus more deeply on what the birth of the Messiah really means.
*Disclaimer: TGBC kindly provided me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
What a very quick devo to read with yourself or maybe your spouse before bed. Each devo is about 2 pages long! Lots of great truths and scripture throughout. And I loved the prayers at the end of each day from various people- I love what they added to the “day”.
One of my favorite parts of this devo was that each day felt with a new aspect to the Christmas story. Maybe some perspectives you’ve never thought twice about. My fave being day 23: Simeon. I think these perspectives really added to the beauty and joy of the birth of Jesus!
This book is very easy to get through during the Christmas season! It was nice to read in bed at the end of the day! Highly suggest you to read this if you’re looking for something to go along with your advent reading.
Thank you Good Book company for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Where can you find wonder during the holiday season? In The Advent of Glory, R. C. Sproul shares 24 devotions for Christmas.
Awe-Inspiring
This book was edited from the transcripts of two series of talks given by the late R. C. Sproul. If you are familiar with his ministry, you undoubtedly hear him in these pages. I could hear his voice with every word.
Each chapter will allow you slow down and appreciate the details in the Christmas story. Anchored around key-word phrases such as “Impossible,” “Promise,” and “King,” these short devotions are awe-inspiring.
Theologically Rich
The book features prayers after every chapter, written by Sinclair Ferguson, Tim Challies, Joni Eareckson Tada, and more. Reading them is a theologically-rich way to direct your gaze towards God.
Reading this book was like injecting a concentrated dose of joy to my daily devotions. See the Christmas story again with wonder and spur your heart towards worship.
I received a media copy of The Advent of Glory and this is my honest review.
The Advent of Glory; 24 Devotions for Christmas by RC Sproul. This book is great to prepare your heart this Christmas season. Each section is just a couple of pages long allowing for you to reflect on a specific part of the Christmas story, connecting it to your own life and faith journey today. There is a question at the end of each devotional to help you think about applying what your read followed by a prayer. I found it most helpful to read the prayer aloud.
This was actually the first advent book I had ever read and it inspired me to ensure I do something for advent each and every year!
Thanks to the good book company for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!