Join us for Christmas 2024!
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. One of the names he is given in the Bible is '“Immanuel” which means God with us. Jesus literally lived this out since he is God come to live among humanity. By sharing in the human experience, he has made a way for us to enjoy the presence of God forever and to find our own humanity renewed.
Join us this year as we celebrate that Jesus is Immanuel: God with us. All our events will be held at 15 Rossmoyne Street, Thornbury.
Please note, there will be no service on Christmas Day.
If you are interested in attending, please register here.
ADVENT RESOURCES
Advent runs from the fourth Sunday before Christmas (e.g. December 1st in 2024) through to December 25th. Most Christians mark the days starting December 1st. Since advent means “coming” it is a season of building expectation. Many families use cardboard advent calendars with 25 little doors, one for each day, with a little treat behind it, giving a foretaste of the mountains of treats to be enjoyed on December 25th. While this is a fun way to build expectation, it’s not necessarily building the expectation for the key part of Christmas Day – the birth of the Christ.
Christians traditionally celebrate December 25th as the first advent of Jesus. It’s a time to prepare room in our hearts to celebrate Jesus as the King who demands our repentance and the Saviour who calls us to faith. He was God come to earth as a baby, born of a virgin, to rescue rebellious humans from God’s just judgement. After the cradle in Bethlehem came the cross in Jerusalem, followed by the crown in heaven. We now wait for King Jesus to return from the Father’s side to make all things right. We wait for his second advent.
All of these resources can be used each year and so they are worth buying. To make physical and digital purchases, you can visit www.koorong.com or www.reformers.com.au. Also see below for how to access resources through apps.
Pastor Adam Humphries
What you will find below:
Top recommendations for 2024
Let Earth Receive Her King
Written by Alister Begg
25 ADVENT MEDITATIONS
Begg’s goal in this book is to show us that the Christmas story does not start with Matthew 1 but with Genesis 1. He takes readers on a journey through the Bible looking at God’s preparation for the coming of Jesus and even for the second coming of Jesus.
Each reading has a Bible passage, a devotion, a reflection question and some words from a hymn or carol.
The Promise and the Light – A Christmas Retelling
Written by Katy Morgan
25-CHAPTER STORYBOOK
Aimed at children 8-12 but great for everyone, this book retells the Christmas story through the eyes of Mary and Joseph. It consists of 25 chapters so can be read across advent.
There is an extensive notes section which explains the biblical background.
The God of Amazing Gifts - Family Devotions for Advent
Written by Lizzie Laferton
25 DEVOTIONS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 7 to 14+
Christmas time is a wonderful season to consider how God is the ultimate gift-giver! Lizzie’s book helps families to appreciate the wonderful grace that God gives us in Christ and encourages us to be generous towards others. Each devotion has an opening prayer, a launching question, a Bible passage to read, discussion questions and a closing prayer. The questions are marked as being for younger or older children.
If your family can’t get through all the devotions before Christmas Day, you can skip some or use this book into the new year. Just make sure you do the final study on Christmas Day as it’s a special one for December 25th!
Visit the publishers page for extra resources to download.
Resources for adults
The Advent of Glory
Written by R.C. Sproul with prayers by various
24 ADVENT MEDITATIONS
R.C. Sproul passed away in 2017 but, with the help of his wife, this book has been created by drawing from Sproul’s sermons on the Messiah. Each chapter reflects on a key word from the Christmas story.
A number of respected Bible teachers have composed prayers to go with each meditation.
The Dawn of Redeeming Grace
Written by Sinclair Ferguson
Ferguson guides readers through the first two chapters of Matthew, showing how Jesus’ birth brought the dawn of God’s kingdom.
The Weary World Rejoices
Edited by Melissa Kruger
Melissa Kruger has gathered devotions from various TGC contributors (including Collin Hansen, Brett McCracken, Megan Hill and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra).
The readings use the Advent wreath as a guide, shaped around advent themes: hope, peace, joy, love, and faith.
You can purchase the ebook online here.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Epiphany
Written by Jonathan Gibson
The unique feature of this 40-day devotional book is that it contains a daily liturgy to help nurture a heart that is fixed on Christ. Each reading includes a guided meditation, relevant Scripture readings, hymns, prayers, creeds, and prompts for petition and confession.
Runs from November 28th to January 6th but you can dip in at any time you like.
The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas
Written by Ann Voskamp
Based on the Jesse Tree, this daily devotional traces the theme of Christ’s coming. Each day consists of a scripture reading, a devotion, an application and then reflection questions.
There are loads of related resources online, including printable ornaments.
Is Christmas Unbelievable?
Written by Rebecca McLaughlin
This brief book by apologist Rebecca McLaughlin is great for believers and unbelievers alike. She answers four questions to show that the Christmas story is believable and life-changing.
1. Was Jesus Even a Real Person?
2. Weren't the Gospels Made up Later?
3. How Can You Believe in a Virgin Birth?
4. Aren't We All Just Stories in the End?
Christmas Music
Carols are one of the best parts of Christmas time! Not only can we enjoy classic songs from ages past, but there are a ton of new songs written by believers to help us celebrate the birth of Jesus.
PREPARE HIM ROOM
By Sovereign Grace
New songs and re-workings of classics.
ADVENT TO CHRISTMAS
By Page CXVI
Classic carols done in Page’s usual respectful yet creative style.
KING OF CHRISTMAS
By Colin Buchanan
Still the best kids Christmas album!
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD
By Andrew Peterson
This unique and engaging advent album covers the sweeping story of the Bible, culminating in the coming of Jesus, and presents new arrangements of well-loved carols.
Access resources digitally
Many of these resources can be access digitally as PDFs or ebooks or even as part of existing apps.
PrayerMate App
Some of the books listed above appear as feeds in the app that you can subscribe to. The paid ones are as little as $2.99 each.
YouVersion Bible App
Search “Advent” or “Christmas” to access free Bible plans with devotions. Here are some recommended ones:
Advent - 4 readings by Bible Project (includes videos).
Come let us adore him - 7 readings by Paul Tripp (includes excerpts from his book).
Resources for children and families
The Littlest Watchman
Written by Scott James
“As children wait with anticipation for Christmas, they can follow the adventures of Benjamin - the littlest watchman – who waits for and then witnesses the first Christmas.”
The story book has an accompanying advent calendar & family devotional book that you can buy.
When Santa Learned the Gospel
Written by Simon Camilleri
This book by Simon Camilleri (a member of Bundoora Presbyterian Church) has colourful illustrations, an easy to read rhyming text and, most importantly, a clear gospel message! Check out an animated reading online.
The prolific Andrew McDonough has many books in his Lost Sheep series that are centred on the Christmas Story. These stories are biblically faithful with bright illustrations and plenty of humour. You can visit the Lost Sheep website to read the books online and find plenty of resources to download.
Light in the Darkness
Published by The Good Book Company
Something for young adults (and the not so young!) is this graphic novel about the birth of Jesus.
The illustrations are great and the words are simply the text of Luke’s account.
Jesse Trees and Advent Wreaths to Create
Christmas is a time for creativity. Whether you have lots or little of time, you will find the suggestions in these documents will inspire you to create your own resource for celebrating the birth of Jesus.