Introduction to ‘Tis the Reason Devotional

November 9, 2021

Advent 2021

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How do you prepare for Christmas? Do you put up Christmas lights indoors or outdoors, decorate your apartment or house, cut down a Christmas tree to bring it home, or buy presents for family and friends? Are there certain traditions you return to each year that help you get in the mindset of what Christmas is all about?

One traditional song begins with these words: “Deck the halls with boughs of holly…’tis the season to be jolly.” ‘Tis the season…the appropriate time for joy and celebration. But we all know how quickly we can lose focus. Caught up in the rush of the season, losing our bearings in Christmas concerts, holiday parties, online or in-person shopping, and so much more, we forget why we are doing it all.

We’ve all likely heard someone say or read a bumper sticker that said, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” This is so very true, but can feel so very trite. Yes, we celebrate Jesus’ birth as a monumental marker in human history and the centerpiece of God’s salvation story. Jesus is the reason for our season of joy and celebration. But hopefully we know the Gospel story of Jesus’ birth has a depth and richness far greater than cute phraseology or bumper sticker theology. As seekers and disciples, we want to get inside that richness and depth. Like finding a vast and thrilling new territory, we want to step inside and explore the why of Jesus’ incarnation. ‘Tis the reason…the significant meaning behind our joy and celebration.

Advent is the season before Christmas that helps us do just that. Coming from the Latin word adventus (“appearing”), Advent gifts us with four weeks to explore the expanse of the reason for the season. In Advent we look back with wonder at Jesus’ birth roughly 2,000 years ago. We also enter into the history of the chosen people, Israel, whose prophets anticipated Jesus’ birth in the messages. Simultaneously, we stand as the new chosen people, looking forward to Jesus’ future return at the end of human history.

This year, instead of looking at the typical infancy narratives, our Advent journey will uniquely take us through the middle of the Gospel of Matthew. There, we see Jesus turning toward Jerusalem while offering hints about and glimpses into the reason he has come as Messiah. His suffering will bring peace, His glory will bring joy, His healing will come to those with faith, and His resurrection will bring hope.

In your hands is a devotional intended as a tool for the Advent exploration of the reason for Jesus’ incarnation. This devotional can be used individually, but is also intended for use in groups, such as housemates or families. So, let me invite you to step into this new and glorious territory, exploring it through the four weeks of Advent. May we have a fresh encounter with Jesus through Advent on our way to the celebration of Christmas.

Pastor Matt Erickson

How to use this Devotional

At Eastbrook, we have been publishing our own devotionals for several years now, but our Advent devotional is different from any of the others! Advent is a season of thoughtful reflection that prepares us for the celebration of Christ’s birth. It is the “fast before the feast”, and in this way, it sets apart God’s people. Instead of following our culture in its rush from one celebration to another, we pause to reflect, pray, and meditate on the profound meaning of the incarnation—Christ with us.

At the same time, because of its lead-up to Christmas, Advent is also a season of childlike anticipation. Perhaps we light another candle on the Advent wreath every week? Or, maybe we add more figures to our nativity set each day until Christmas Eve, when we finally place Baby Jesus in the manger?

Each week of this devotional begins with a Sunday reading written by Senior Pastor Matt Erickson for older students and adults. There is also a version called “Family Talk” written by a member of our NextGen team, intended for families with young children. Each day Monday-Saturday has a short devotional thought written by one of our Eastbrookers with questions at the end for deeper reflection and a few days have an activity for you to build a Nativity scene (look for this symbol: ✧).

Although it is not necessary, you may choose to pair this devotional with an Advent Wreath. On Sunday of Week 1, when you open your devotional, light one candle on your Advent Wreath. Every Sunday thereafter, light an additional candle, so there are four on Week 4. On Christmas Day, light the final candle.