Tell Me the Story of Jesus at Advent

When I was 14 years old, I received a package at Christmas with an odd shape. It was long and thin on one end and oblong and wide at the other. My mind started to race. What could this be? Once I opened the gift, I couldn’t believe I didn’t recognize the clues the shape of the package were giving. Once I saw it – a brand new acoustic guitar – I couldn’t unsee all that pointed to the identity of this gift.

For five months, we have been looking at a package through the Old Testament, hinting at the greatest of gifts to come. As we enter the Advent season, the clues take clearer shape until the moment God’s great gift arrives to which the Scriptures hinted – The Gift of Jesus. Join us each week of Advent, as we consider the shape of this gift and finally the identity of the one to whom all of the Old Testament clues point – The Gift of Jesus.

ADVENT SERMONS:

• December 7: Joy Giver – Nehemiah 8:1-12, JSB 21
• December 14: Long Expected Jesus – Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-7, JSB 22
• December 21: Light of the World – Luke 2:8-20, JSB 23
• December 28: King of Kings – Matthew 2:1-12, JSB 24

To help you prepare for each week, below is a suggested weekly Bible reading schedule that includes passages and themes that help tell the story of Jesus. These are designed for you to read throughout the week at your own pace.

The scripture reading for this Sunday will be:

Nehemiah 8:1-12 (ESV)

And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016).
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.