Since the Middle Ages, this four-week tradition is intended to prepare our hearts and minds while we anticipate the coming of Christmas Day.  

The purpose is to slow down and reflect on God's fulfilled promise to send His Son, Jesus Christ, in the flesh, as well as Christ's promise to return as King.

What Does Advent Mean?
The word Advent means the arrival -- or coming -- of a noteworthy person, event or thing.  In this case, God coming to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.  Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birth.  The anticipation of that birth is known as the first Advent.

The second Advent anticipates Jesus' Second coming, when He returns in all His glory to establish His Kingdom on earth and judge the world.  Followers of Jesus live every day in eager anticipation of this Second coming.
What is the history of Advent?
Followers of Jesus throughout history have considered Advent to be a celebration of different comings.  Examples include the preparation of Christ's baptism and the Second coming of Christ.  But since the 6th century, Advent has traditionally been a celebration of Jesus' first coming -- the season leading up to Christmas Day.
When is Advent?
Advent begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas.  Depending on where Christmas falls on the calendar, the total number of days can vary between 22 and 28 days.

Prepare your heart and mind this year with one of the following Advent Devo options:

practicing the way
PRACTICING THE WAY :
Personal or Communal -- Adult -- Weekly 
As we wait in a kind of wilderness between Jesus’ incarnation and his return, we, too, ready ourselves by letting the Spirit form us into people of patient hope, steadfast peace, deep joy, and courageous love.  Each week’s reading includes conversation prompts for your community, a few curated resources for deeper reflection, and an optional practice that you may wish to incorporate in your life beyond Advent.
FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP
AWAKE AWAKE (Frontier Fellowship):  
Personal or Group/Family -- Adult -- daily devotions to tell the story of Jesus
This devotional focuses on Christmas and our God-given senses. It also features four weekly themes to remind us of the nature of Advent and its story of God with us, Immanuel. As you reflect on invocation, incarnation, indwelling, and the infinite with all your senses, may God richly bless you this holiday season!

We pray this small devotional can take you wider, deeper, and farther, serving as a reminder of what God is doing around the world and how you can be, or already are, a part of it.
focus on the family
AN ADVENT SONG (Focus on the Family 2025):
Personal or Group -- Adult -- Daily
In this beautifully crafted devotional, you’ll unpack Psalms that explore both the joyful and trying times of the prophesied life of Jesus. Whether you are walking through a season of blessing or a season of challenge, this devotional will remind you that our long-awaited Savior, Jesus Christ, knows exactly what you’re going through.

Each day, you’ll read a Psalm, reflect on thought-provoking devotions to uncover deeper truths of Scripture, and spend time in heartfelt prayer to refocus on the true meaning of the season.