Advent is a season of preparation and waiting for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas and his second-coming.
This year our readings follow a book by Tom Wright (Advent for Everyone: Matthew) based on four themes around time: a time to watch, repent, heal and love. Each reading encourages us to understand Advent within the wider context of God’s love for us—revealed in Jesus Christ who reconciles us to God through the cross, bringing us healing and restoration. The readings remind us to celebrate Jesus’ first coming and to look forward in hope to Christ’s second coming.
If you’d like some accompanying devotional notes, just click on the book title above – it is in paperback and ebook. Otherwise, follow the reading scheme below (PDF download here too) allowing the Spirit to guide your thoughts around theme and questions. Our readings run from Sunday 3rd to Saturday 30th December.
As always, do post some thoughts below as you go so we can reflect together as a community. Click here to jump to that section
How does it work?
It’s simple:
- PRAY for the Spirit to highlight a particular line or aspect of the word;
- READ through the bible passage;
- REFLECT on what’s struck you – whether relating to the questions or not;
- RESPOND in some way—through prayer, praise, confession, action, art, poetry, music, an act of kindness. Take this into your day.
- POST any occasional reflections below (scroll down). Dialogue with others by clicking REPLY next to their comment. As always, be respectful and encouraging in all you write.
Don’t worry if your observation seems obvious;
noticing and responding is the key.
I look forward to spending time reading together through Advent as we intentionally slow down each day—waiting in anticipation for both Christmas Day and the Lord’s return.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
– Romans 15:13
2023 Advent Reading Scheme: Matthew’s gospel
Week 1: A time to watch
Passage | Questions, if helpful | |
Advent Sun 3 | Matt 24:36-44 – The unexpected visit | How do you stand ready? |
Mon 4 | 13:24-35 – The parable of the weeds | How do you understand God’s silence? How does Jesus’ insistence on patience here challenge you? |
Tue 5 | 24:1-24 – Birth pangs | Why does Jesus use the image of birth pangs to describe God’s future? What does Matthew see as the elements of this future? |
Wed 6 | 24:29-34 – Coming of the Son of Man | What do you understand by the phrase ‘the coming of the son of man’? What demonstrates that Jesus has been vindicated by God? |
Thu 7 | 24:45-51 – The wise and wick slaves | How do you try to be wise in the biblical sense? |
Fri 8 | 25:1-13 – The wise and foolish girls | What, in practice, might being ready for Jesus involve in your life? And in the life of your church? |
Sat 9 | 26:36-46 – Gethsemane | Does this passage shed light on how you can face the darkness and horror of life? Or on how you can help others to do the same? |
Week 2: A time to repent
Passage | Question, if helpful | |
Advent Sun 10 | 3:1-10 – The words of John the Baptist | What was the situation of the Jewish people at the coming of John the Baptist? How did John say they were to get ready for Jesus? |
Mon 11 | 3:11-17 – Jesus’ baptism | What does Jesus’ baptism tell you about who he is? How does it speak to you? |
Tue 12 | 4:12-17 – Announcing the Kingdom | What do you understand by God’s kingdom? What does the call to repentance say to you personally? |
Wed 13 | 11:16-24 – Jesus condemns the cities | What excuses do people use today to avoid the issue of the kingdom? How can you help them to see that they need to repent and change direction? |
Thu 14 | 15:10-20 – The parable of clean and unclean | What are you doing about your own impurity? How are you going to change? |
Fri 15 | 22:1-14 – The parable of the wedding feast | What does God’s tough love mean for you? And for the people around you? |
Sat 16 | 26:69-75 – Peter’s denial | What are the ways in which you have denied Jesus? How can you put things right? |
Week 3: A time to heal
Passage | Question, if helpful | |
Advent Sun 17 | 11:1-11 – Jesus & John the Baptist | How can you show God’s mercy? What can the church do to show mercy to the world? |
Mon 18 | 8:14-22 – On Following Jesus | What demands does Jesus make on his followers? What is the link between Jesus’ authority and his healing? |
Tue 19 | 9:1-8 – The healing of the paralytic | What does this passage teach about authority? How and in what way is Jesus victorious over the forces of evil? |
Wed 20 | 9:18-26 – Raising of the little girl | What is the context of Jesus’ mission to cleanse us from pollution? How does it speak to you? |
Thu 21 | 12:15-21 – The servant | What are the characteristics of the Servant in Isaiah? How does the story shed light on what Jesus came to do? |
Fri 22 | 18:21-35 – The challenge of forgiveness | How can you becoming more forgiving? Why is the phrase ‘forgive and forget’ misleading? |
Sat 23 | 27:27-38 – Jesus mocked and crucified | How do you respond to the cross? How does it touch your life? |
Week 4: A time to love
Passage | Question, if helpful | |
Advent Sun 24 | 1:18-25 – The birth of Jesus | What do you believe about Jesus’ conception and why? How does this passage help you? |
Mon 25 | 5:38-48 – Loving your enemies | What is the nature of the justice Jesus offers? How does his teaching on reflecting the generous God and defusing violence speak to you? |
Tue 26 | 6:16-24 – On fasting & lasting treasure | What are your real priorities? When you look back at your life in two, five, ten, fifteen years’ time, will you be glad you put first things first? |
Wed 27 | 10:32-42 – Jesus causes division | How can you put Jesus first in your life? What practical changes do you need to make? |
Thu 28 | 22:34-40 – The great commandment | How does Jesus fulfil the two great commandments? Does it help you to see the commandments as invitations and promises? |
Fri 29 | 26:1-13 – Prep for Jesus’ death | How do you react to the story of Jesus’ death? Who do you identify with and why? |
Sat 30 | 28:16-20 – The great commission | What is your understanding of the claim that Jesus is already ruling the world? How do you react to the daily challenge to bring about God’s kingdom? |
One Comment
Kevin Johnson
Sun 03 – These words from Psalm 139 came to mind as I reflected: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” v23-24