ADVENT GUIDE

WEEK 1: November 30 - December 6, 2025

Reading: John 1:1-5 

Theme: Joy in the Presence 

Questions:  

• When you think about the season leading up to Christmas, what emotions come to mind, what memories do you have? 

• What other passages come to mind when you read the opening of John’s gospel?  

• Who is the Word of God? 

• What do verses 1 and 2 communicate about the person of Jesus?  

• What is the role of Jesus in creation? 

• In verse 5 John says, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Why can darkness not overcome light? 

• If Jesus is the light that overcomes the darkness, is he able to overcome darkness in our lives? 

• How can letting Jesus into the dark places this Advent season bring us joy? 

• Our souls depend on God to flourish, how can we attach to God who brings light this season? 

Practice: Presence.  

Over this Advent Season, what would it look like for you to spend intentional time with God?  

Where and when will you carve out extravagant space to see the Lord face to face? 

Light a candle, turn on the Christmas tree lights, or have a small lamp on to signify the light shining in the darkness, the light shining in your darkness as you spend time with the Lord. 

Attempt to spend more time than you might originally be comfortable with. It can be helpful to set an alarm in a different room for when you’d like to be done. This way you’re not distracted by wondering if time is up or distracted by the notifications and endless opportunities offered through the phone, which is not face to face. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You were face to face with the Father before time began, dwelling in perfect joy. Teach us to slow down and turn our faces toward You. In a world of distraction and hurry, help us to practice joy through presence—with You and with one another. May our hearts light up because You are near.   

Songs: 

• “Show Me Your Face” by Steffany Gretzinger

• “Behold” by Phil Wickham 

WEEK 2: December 7-13 

Reading: John 1: 6-8, 19-23 

Theme: Joy in the Waiting 

Questions:  

• Who is the John in this passage? Is he the same as the gospel writer John? 

• How did John respond in joy when he was in the presence of Jesus? 

• Who in your life brings you joy to be around? How have you seen joy on someone else’s face? 

• What was the mission of John? 

• How can that be our mission? What would it look like for us to point people to Jesus? 

• How many different people does John say he is not? 

• How do we try and compare our lives to those around us, especially during the holiday season? 

• Would you be more fulfilled living out your own purpose or the purpose God has for someone else? 

• The wilderness experience for John was not an easy one. What does it currently look like for you to wait for the Lord? 

• What is the difference between expectancy and expectation? 

Practice: Gratitude – G. K. Chesteron said, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Try one or some or all of the following things this week to practice gratitude in your life. 

• Create a gratitude journal: write down 3-5 things you are thankful for each day. 

• At dinner as a family each night, go around the table and share two things you are thankful for from that day. The more specific the better. 

• At the end of each day reflect back on the daily evidence of God’s nearness. Name how you sensed God’s presence that day and how you anticipate seeing His presence tomorrow. 

• When you pray this week, start first with gratitude towards the God who became flesh. 

• In face to face conversations tell people why you are thankful for them. 

• Get a small pack of thank you cards and write handwritten (!) notes to those close to you. 

Prayer: St. Augustine put it this way. Await His will with patience, and let your heart take courage. Do not let your joy depend on what you see, but on Him whom you believe. He delays, yet He does not deny; He waits that He may increase your longing, and increase your joy when He comes.” 

Songs: 

• “Gratitude”

• “Thank You Jesus”

WEEK 3: December 14-20

Reading: John 1:5, 9-13 

Theme: Joy in the Darkness 

Questions: 

• What are the different names that are used for Jesus in the beginning of John’s gospel? 

• When you think of the Christmas story, how often have you thought about the darkness that was surrounding the incarnation? 

• Reflect on the fact that the creator of the world was not known by the world. What a stark contrast! 

• Why do you think “his own” did not accept him? (v11) 

• Reflect on a time in your life when the light of the world stepped into your darkness. What were the feelings that came with that? Did you run to the light or run from the light? 

• What happens to those who do accept the Light of the World? 

• What does it mean to you to be a child of God? 

• How does this certainty, this identity, give us joy? 

Practice: Observe the darkness. Just like in the first century, we live in a world of darkness. There is pain, disappointment, hardness of heart, anger, strife, injustice, inequality, amongst a litany of other things all around us. For many of us, the darkness is a chance for us to turn and go the other way, to ignore it or pretend we haven’t seen it. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to the dark things in our life we think. What would it look like for us to speak JOY to darkness this advent season? How can you name the darkness near you and speak JOY into it? 

Prayer: Our prayer this week comes from the Evening Hymn in the 3rd Century.  O gladsome Light of the holy glory, of the immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ. Now that we have come to the setting of the sun and behold the light of evening, We praise God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O giver of life, and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Songs/Resources: 

• “Sanctuary” by Bethel

• “Joy to the World” by Phil Wickham

WEEK 4: December 21-27 

Reading: John 1: 14-18 

Theme: Joy in the Flesh 

Questions: 

• What does it mean that the Word became flesh? How did this happen? 

• Why do you think Jesus chose to enter into humanity? 

• Who is in your neighborhood? Can you answer this question with the people physically in your neighborhood but also the people with whom you spend the most time? 

• Are there people in your life that you need to make space for?  

• Why is it significant that the incarnation allowed us to “see God?” 

• What are the ways or times that God has felt near to you? 

• What has grace upon grace looked like in your life? 

• Who shows you the most grace? 

• How would you like to see your participation in community increase over this advent season and into the next year? 

Prayer: A Prayer from St. Columba.  

Help us, O God, to love the fellowship of the saints, to delight in the presence of one another, and to see Your face in those with whom we live.  

Practice: Spend meaningful time with people face to face. What would it look like for you to put technology away for a set amount of time and spend time with people? What board games or card games could you play? Is there a coffee shop or other place that you would like to go to with a friend or family member during this season? Instead of posting what is going on during the holidays, how can we engage with people face to face? 

Songs: 

• “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

• “O Holy Night/Holy Forever”