Advent @ B&A
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Advent is a time of preparations, presents and partying! Often in the busyness of preparing for Christmas we struggle to stop and reflect on what Christmas is really about….somehow, we have lost the essence of what Advent is.
Traditionally, Advent has been a time of preparing our hearts, making time to be present with God and fasting in anticipation of celebrating Jesus’ birth and in expectation of Jesus’ return.
This Advent @ B&A let’s look together with expectation and take time to lift our eyes from the distractions of a modern Christmas to fix our eyes on Jesus. Each week, we’ll have a Word of the Week to think and chew on. The words are Hope, Peace, Joy & Love. We’ll explore how these vital components of following Jesus can impact our daily lives and make a difference to those around us.
Advent 4 – Love
At Christmas we celebrate the greatest act of love the world has ever seen: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) God did not love us from a distance—He came close.
Questions: Where do you need to receive God’s love today? Who needs to experience His love through you?
Verse: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
Response: Choose one simple act of love this week—kindness, generosity, forgiveness, or encouragement—and ask God to shine His love through it.
Listen: God loves us so much, not only did he send Jesus but he also chooses to adopt us and make us his children, as Amy Hughes unpacks in this talk Good Father from Orchard Conference
Advent 3 – Joy
Joy is more than a feeling—it is a fruit of the Spirit and a sign of God’s kingdom breaking in. The Christmas story is full of joy: the angels announce “great joy,” Elizabeth’s baby leaps for joy, and the shepherds rejoice.
Questions: Where have you recently experienced God-given joy? Where might God be awakening joy in you again this Advent?
Verse: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
Response: Think of someone who brings joy into your life. Pray for them or encourage them today. Ask God to make you a bearer of His joy to someone this week.
Listen: If you want to think a bit more about Joy, then listen to this talk Real Joy from Timothy Keller’s Gospel in Life series.
Advent 2 – Peace
In Isaiah 9:6, one of the Messiah’s names is the Prince of Peace. Knowing Jesus doesn’t remove every storm from life, but His presence brings a peace that calms the storms within us.
Questions: Where in your life do you most need God’s peace? What difference does knowing the Prince of Peace make?
Verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6–7
Response: Take a globe or map and pray for peace this Christmas — for nations in conflict, for leaders, and for God’s church across the world.
Listen: If you want to think a bit more about Peace, then listen to this talk from John Mark Comer’s Teachings Podcast Peace of Heart. What would we do if we were not afraid? How will we bring peace to our troubled world?
Advent 1 - Hope
Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people lived with a deep longing for rescue—waiting, watching, hoping for the Messiah who would set all things right. Read Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 to feel their hope and anticipation.
Questions: What are you hoping for this Christmas? What has God placed on your heart for 2026?
Verse: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Response: 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer... for the hope that you have.”
If a friend asked you today, “Where does your hope come from?” what would you say? Pray for an opportunity to share.
Listen: If you want to think a bit more about Hope, then listen to this talk from Jon Tyson about Advent: The Threat of Hope . It is a brilliant talk, contrasting Herod the Great and his kingship with that of Jesus. For Herod it was all about Herod, whereas with Jesus, it is all about you!