These straightforward, short, and profound Advent readings have been edited from talks given by much-loved Bible teacher, Dr. R.C. Sproul, helping readers to benefit from his enduring insight and wisdom. They delve into the details of the Christmas story and reflect on how these impact our lives now, combining scholarly detail with heartwarming application. Each day also includes a prayer written by a well-known Bible teacher of our own day, to guide your own reflections. As R.C. Sproul observes, the narrative of the birth of Jesus is so familiar to many of us that ”the words just slip over us.” So, take the time to slow down and dwell on the words of the Christmas story so that you arrive at Christmas Day full of awe and wonder at the birth of Jesus.

In "The Advent of Christ," Dr. Sproul spans the Scriptures tracing the lineage of the seed of the woman from the Garden all the way to Bethlehem, explaining the nature of promises and the One who gave them.

If we were to list the biblical texts that are most frequently read and preached on during the Christmas season, we would not likely include today's passage. After all, it contains no story of the birth of Christ or details about His mother, Mary, or His adoptive father, Joseph. Still, Romans 1:1–7 includes key information about our Lord's first advent, information that helps us remember His significance in the plan of God.

First, the Apostle Paul refers to "the gospel of God . . . concerning his Son" (vv. 1–3). The phrase gospel of God does not mean the "gospel about God," although the good news indeed tells us something about our Creator, especially regarding His love and mercy for His people. Instead, the phrase is possessive. We could reword the phrase as "God's gospel." In other words, God owns the gospel. It is His good news, not a message that was invented by human beings. The story of our Lord's entrance into this world is not a manmade fable but the truth of God revealed by His Spirit (2 Peter 1:16).

Second, God promised this gospel "beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures" (Rom. 1:2). While the work of Christ represented a new act of God in an important sense, we cannot regard His ministry as something entirely new in the sense of something entirely unexpected. Actually, the Lord prepared His people for millennia before the coming of the Messiah via the ministries of the Old Testament prophets.

To find the first prediction of the Messiah, we must go all the way back to the beginning of human history, to the curse of God upon the Serpent shortly after Adam and Eve fell from grace. Genesis 3:15 features the intriguing and cryptic promise that the Serpent will bruise the heel of the seed of the woman while the seed of the woman will bruise the head of the Serpent. This is often called the protoevangel—"first gospel"—because it contains the heart of the gospel promise that is unfolded throughout the rest of redemptive history. The first gospel tells us that the war between the Serpent and humanity will not last forever, that the "seed" of the woman and representative of God's people must destroy sin and Satan. But the seed of the woman will not escape unharmed, for He will suffer in the process of defeating the Enemy. This prophecy is fulfilled in Christ, who had to die in order to defeat the Devil, and who rose again from the dead to prove His triumph and secure our justification (Rom. 1:4; Col. 2:13–15).

Sometimes, the narrative of Jesus’ birth can be so familiar that “the words just slip over us,” Dr. R.C. Sproul observed. This Christmas, take time to dwell on the birth of Jesus Christ, that this season may be filled with awe and wonder at the incarnate Son of God.

Drawn from the ministry of Dr. Sproul, The Advent of Glory is a new collection of Advent readings that presents the enduring insights of a beloved Bible teacher in a new format. Each day’s reading delves into the Christmas story, combining scholarly wisdom with heartwarming application for our lives today. The daily devotionals in this book also include prayers from gifted Christian theologians, teachers, and writers. Order your copy today.

words sound as if they were taken right out of the Protestant Reformation. It’s no wonder, for these Christians are cherishing the contributions of Reformed Christianity. Yes, this is a courageous church that is more grown-up, far less narcissistic, more realistic, and more committed than much of Western Christianity.

At Advent, we recall another wicked king who ordered wholesale murder as his flimsy reign was threatened. Again today, we see the true church being protected while under the cross. Should we not pray for these friends and martyrs? Why not join together at Advent and use one of the most potent means of grace that our Lord Himself ordained to intercede for these churches, pastors, and elders? May each of our churches join in prayer this Advent, and may God protect and bless these saints as He humbles us to admire many who are our superiors.

Dr. David W. Hall is senior pastor of Midway Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs, Ga. He is author of The Genevan Reformation and the American Founding.

Here’s an excerpt from The New Adventures of Old Trinitarian Heresies, J.V. Fesko's contribution to the December issue of Tabletalk:

“Progress has not followed a straight ascending line, but a spiral with rhythms of progress and retrogression, of evolution and dissolution,” was an astute observation once made by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832). Goethe refutes the idea that the march of time always brings progress and advancement. This applies even to the church. There are times when the church has advanced its understanding of biblical doctrine, and there are other times when its understanding has devolved. We see this throughout history when it comes to the doctrine of God and especially the doctrine of the Trinity.

The early church fought off false teachers and doctrines to obtain a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about who God is and how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit relate to one another in terms of their existence and works. They thought deeply and biblically regarding the Scripture’s affirmation that we worship one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In so doing, the church defended biblical truth against three errors: modalism, Arianism, and semi-Arianism. Yet, these errors did not go away but have periodically reappeared throughout church history.

Continue reading The New Adventures of Old Trinitarian Heresies, or begin receiving Tabletalk magazine by signing up for a free 3-month trial.

For a limited time, the new TabletalkMagazine.com allows everyone to browse and read the growing library of back issues, including this month’s issue.

As dawn broke on that first Christmas morning, the sun rose on a new era: God’s King had come to earth to bring about His kingdom. Join Dr. Sinclair Ferguson as he opens up the first two chapters of Matthew's Gospel in these daily devotions for Advent. Each day’s reflection is full of insight and application, helping you to arrive at Christmas Day awed by God's redeeming grace and refreshed by the hope of God’s promised King.

Two thousand years ago, the birth of a baby boy in the tiny city of Bethlehem changed the course of world history. However, though many people can recount the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, fewer understand the true significance of the birth of the Messiah. In this series, R.C. Sproul examines various themes that we must consider when we look at the first advent of Christ. Dr. Sproul discusses Mary’s role in the nativity and the necessity of Christ’s birth for our redemption, reminding us that the glory of God seen in the birth of Jesus will be seen again at His second coming.

Two thousand years ago, the birth of a baby boy in the tiny city of Bethlehem changed the course of world history. However, though many people can recount the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, fewer understand the true significance of the birth of the Messiah. In this series, R.C. Sproul examines various themes that we must consider when we look at the first advent of Christ. Dr. Sproul discusses Mary's role in the nativity and the necessity of Christ's birth for our redemption, reminding us that the glory of God seen in the birth of Jesus will be seen again at His second coming.

Journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem with these reflections for Lent by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson. As you walk through the second half of Luke's Gospel, you'll meet the people Jesus encountered on the way to the cross-and prepare your heart to appreciate his death and resurrection afresh. Each day you'll be invited to: Read a passage of Luke's Gospel and a short meditation by Sinclair Ferguson Reflect on a thought-provoking question Respond in prayer and praise as you journal Pithy yet profound, these devotions will hold up a mirror to your own heart and, more importantly, give you a window into the heart of the Lord Jesus-the one who came to seek and to save the lost at Easter. This is the perfect follow-up to Dr. Ferguson's highly popular Advent devotional, Love Came Down at Christmas.

Love is at the heart of Christmas-it's the reason behind all our gathering and gift-giving at this time of year. In this Advent devotional, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson refreshes our hearts as we reflect on the source of it all-love incarnate, Jesus Christ.Over the course of December, this devotional walks through 1 Corinthians 13 phrase-by-phrase, showing us that "love is" the Lord Jesus himself.Dr. Ferguson brings the rich theology of the incarnation to life with his trademark warmth and clarity. Drawing on stories from the Gospels, we'll see what "love" looked like in the life of Christ, and be challenged us to love like him. Each day's reading finishes with a question for reflection and a prayer.However you're feeling-weary or frantic, lonely, or lovesick-your heart will be refreshed as you wonder again at the truth that love came down at Christmas in the person of Jesus Christ.

The same Jesus who arrived humbly at Bethlehem will return from heaven in majesty and glory. Today, Sinclair Ferguson explains the importance of giving thought to our Lord’s second advent in addition to His first.

With just over a week left to recant, Martin Luther preaches an Advent sermon in Wittenberg. He is not too timid to decry the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church from the pulpit as he boldly proclaims the truth. Today, travel back 500 years and sit under Luther’s fearless preaching.

The revolutionary advent of the printing press made it possible to get the Bible into more hands more easily. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols looks through the Van Kampen Collection of Bibles and Bible memorabilia at the Scriptorium in Orlando, Florida.

Following the advent of radio came the development of television, which brought revolutionary changes to our culture. With images produced for us, we were no longer forced to use our imagination. What has that done to western culture? How should Christians utilize this medium of communication and expression? In this message, Dr. Sproul considers the influence of the film industry in our lives.

Delivering a Christmas message from a rather unexpected Scripture passage, Dr. Sproul shares some biblical insights with us as we prepare our hearts for the Advent season in this second part of the message entitled “How We Should Think Because of Christmas.”

In the opening chapter of Luke we read the birth announcement of Jesus, as it was delivered to Mary. A temptation may arise through this to elevate her beyond scriptural bounds, but another would be to minimize her role in redemptive history. So how should we understand the role of Mary as we celebrate this Advent season? Is it proper to call Mary the Mother of God? In this message, Dr. Sproul looks at Luke chapter one as he re-visits "Mary: The Messiah's Mother."

In this Advent message entitled “The King Shall Come,” Dr. Sproul shows that the success of our King is not based on a piece of land, or anything else in creation, but on Himself.