Love's Pure Light: A Bible Study for Advent

By Kyle Leyendecker

The stage is set. Millennium after millennium, the prophets have spoken of these days; and now, the time has come. More than an Advent devotional booklet, this four-part mini-Bible study helps the reader get ready during the Advent season for the coming Savior, bringing into focus the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Originally written for high school youth, Love's Pure Light: A Bible Study for Advent is designed to immerse the reader in all the themes and texts traditionally associated with the Advent season. Journey through four lessons of readings, hymn-texts, and selected Bible verses and experience Advent like never before! Drawing upon the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, the reader will discover how Jesus is the Promised One who fulfills all that the prophets spoke by His First Coming and will be reminded to stay alert and prepared to receive Him again when He returns. It's a message you'll cherish year after year. So grab your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, church small group, or simply find a quiet spot for yourself and begin a spiritual journey that will lead you to Christ""the newborn King in Bethlehem and the King of all kings who is coming back very soon!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644582589

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Loveand's Pure Light

A Bible Study for Advent

Kyle Leyendecker

Copyright © 2018 by Kyle Leyendecker

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

First Week of Advent: HOPE

Second Week of Advent: PEACE

Third Week of Advent JOY

Fourth Week of Advent: LOVE

In loving memory of my uncle, Rev. Mark Follett,

whose favorite season of the church year was Advent.

Week 1

HOPE – Prophets’ Candle

The message of hope is brought to God’s people

by the prophets of old.

Week 2

PEACE – Bethlehem Candle

Salvation brings peace between God and man.

Week 3

JOY – Shepherds’ Candle

Christ’s birth brings joy to the world!

Week 4

LOVE – Angels’ Candle

The angels announce God’s wondrous love to the earth.

Preface

As we draw close to Christmas and the Christmas season, our lives can easily become a whirlwind of distractions and busyness. In fact, if we are not careful, it is easy to gloss over the real reason of the Christmas season and become bogged down with meaningless activity after meaningless activity. That is why, I believe, Advent is so important. Advent directs our focus to where it should be—on Christ, as a child in a manger and as the King of all kings who is coming back one day very soon! Advent gives us the chance to dive into God’s Word and hear the ancient message proclaimed by the prophets that a Savior is coming who is Christ the Lord! And if we take a little time to listen—to really listen—and take to heart God’s message as He comes to us in the still, quiet moments the Advent season offers, we will no doubt find joy and peace beyond measure. Christmas itself will have a whole new feel and freshness about it as we experience it from a deeper understanding and maybe even a new and different perspective! But above all, by spending time in God’s Word this Advent season, we will find that we will be truly ready to receive our King as He comes to us.

To help the reader get ready is this book, Love’s Pure Light: A Bible Study for Advent. A four-part Advent Bible study, this book is designed for individual or small-group use and closely parallels the traditional themes associated with the four weeks of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love.

Originally written for my church’s youth group, this study has been expanded so that the reader looking for a deeper Advent experience may have the opportunity to explore the richness and depth of the Scriptures as they relate to the themes of Advent.

While throughout the centuries Advent’s main focus has always leaned toward Christ’s Second Coming, this brief Bible study centers mainly around the anticipation of and waiting for the Messiah’s first advent, or arrival, on Christmas Day. Again, the lessons zero in on the major themes of the Advent season—hope, peace, joy, and love—and on the maybe lesser-known but still popular themes assigned to each of the four candles of Advent—the Prophets’ Candle, Bethlehem Candle, Shepherds’ Candle, and Angels’ Candle.

Here is a synopsis of what the reader will find: Week one explores man’s need for a Savior, and the reader discovers that God the Father sent His Son, the Christ, as the answer to that need. In week two, the reader connects that, because Christ has come to be our Savior, there is now peace between God and man. This peace can be found in a truly repentant heart. Week three celebrates all the reasons we have for joy and reminds the reader that real joy flows from what Christ has already done for us. Finally, in week four, the reader comes to understand that God is ultimate love and that there is no greater act of love in all of history than when He came down to dwell with men and bring salvation to the world.

Because the intent of this study is to engage the reader in examining God’s Word, the reader should take caution not to rush through the readings for the sake of time. Instead, the lessons are written so that each week can be easily divided into two different sections (perhaps for a Sunday and Wednesday).

The reader will also find an exhausting number of Bible verses to look-up, read, and examine. It may be tempting at times to skip over some of them, but spending time thoroughly studying God’s Word produces greater understanding, sharpening the faith. It is at these times, though, that group study might make reading all the Bible passages more thrilling! Be sure to mark the book of Isaiah. So many passages are drawn from this book of the Bible that the reader might begin to think this is a study on Isaiah itself! A few bookmarks will definitely be very handy.

Additionally, the reader will notice that most of the Bible passages are printed using the NIV (1984) translation. Using this translation of God’s Word would make it easier for the reader to follow along and understand; however, most translations of Scripture will suffice. (If you have a favorite translation you use, by all means, please do not change.)

Finally, I encourage you to use the centuries-old custom of an Advent wreath. If you do not already have one, you can very easily make one. I purchased an inexpensive wreath from my local Walmart store along with three purple/blue candles and one pink/rose-colored candle and assembled the candles to the wreath by wrapping the wire of the greenery around the base of each candle so that they would stand straight. (NOTE: Make sure to put cardboard or some other material under your wreath to catch the wax drip.) I find that by lighting an Advent wreath during my study time helps me visually see that Christ’s Advent draws nearer and nearer each week, and His presence (symbolized by fire) does indeed dispel the darkness around me.

I hope you find this Advent study to be just what you need as you prepare for the coming of our Lord at Christmas! It is my sincere hope that this book will be a blessing to you and to everyone with whom you share it. May God bless you richly as you begin your Advent journey, and may the light of Christ shine brightly in your