How to Observe Advent Like a Christian

How can a teen observe Advent like a Christian?

On a recent visit to Walmart’s Christmas card section, I found quite an array of mailable holiday greetings. Singing cards, pop-up cards, 3-D cards (which, admittedly, are kind of cool), cards with jokes, money-holder cards, and neutral “Happy Holidays” cards. But Christmas cards with any type of meaningful Biblical message at all?

Those were non-existent. The few cards that were labeled “religious” constituted less than ten percent of the stock and mostly stuck to wimpy “may your Christmas be filled with peace” messages. 

Which is pathetic, considering “Christmas” starts with Christ.

Christ is Still In Christmas

The greater population has been taking great pains to erase all hints of Christ from years of history. Where dates used to be divided between BC and AD (“before Christ” and “Anno Domini”—Latin for “the year of our Lord”), they are now “common era” (CE) and “before common era” (BCE). Christmas concerts are now winter concerts in public schools, and the traditional Merry Christmas greeting is being swapped out for Happy Holidays.

God’s love and power aren’t limited by mankind’s willingness to acknowledge them.

When you don’t want to acknowledge Jesus, it’s embarrassing to have all these reminders of his existence hanging around, so let’s change them, right?

You and I know better. We know erasing the truth doesn’t make it any less true, and God’s love and power aren’t limited by mankind’s willingness to acknowledge them. So our celebration of the Christmas season shouldn’t look exactly the same as everyone else’s. After that frustrating Walmart visit, I went home and made my own cards with beautiful messages of biblical hope.

And then I started pondering the question:

How might I observe Advent like a Christian?

Advent = “Come, Lord Jesus”

Advent is about preparing for the coming of the Savior—celebrating his first arrival while preparing for his second. 

The word “advent” is actually a command—”come.” (Try that one on your dog next time you work on his obedience skills.) The commercial world would have you believe it’s entirely about the coming of Christmas—Christmas shopping, Christmas baking, Christmas lights, Christmas parties…

But Advent means something different for Christians. Advent isn’t the preparation time for another glitzy holiday. Advent is about preparing for the coming of the Savior—celebrating his first arrival while preparing for his second. 

Related: The Forgotten Side of Advent: When Jesus Returns

As a Christian, you have a reason to enjoy the present while looking forward to the future. Let that sink in for a moment. Roll it around in your mind and store it in your heart.

Then consider: What are you doing to prepare for Jesus?

What are you doing to prepare for Jesus?

Real: Christ came into the world as a baby so he could grow up and take your place on the cross.

True: Jesus loves you, and he’s coming back for you.

Those are the only things that matter. And because of that, there are really only two things you need to do to observe Advent like a Christian:

1) Meet him in his house.
2) Meet him in his Word.

Doing everything else but skipping these most crucial elements is like putting on makeup and forgetting to wear pants!

1) Meet him in his house.

Worship can happen in many ways, but attending church is the most obvious and, frankly, the most convenient.

Think about it.

Someone else (your minister and/or worship leader) chooses the Scripture readings, the prayers, the songs, and the message, and puts them into an orderly format so all you have to do is show up with listening ears and an open heart. How easy is that? It honestly amazes me how many Christians see church as non-essential when worship is absolutely essential for every Christian’s relationship with God. Organized church services are the best way to do this.

Don’t spend more time hanging lights and shopping for the holiday season than you do worshipping the one for whom the holiday season was created!

Related: Why Young Christians Absolutely Need to Go to Church

2) Meet him in his Word.

This, too, is very simple: Read your Bible! You can’t know God if you don’t regularly meditate on His words.

If you haven’t already made daily Bible reading a habit, Advent is a great time to start. At a loss as to where to start? Check out my twelve-day Advent devotion series 12 Reasons to Rejoice. You’ll explore who Jesus was and is, along with suggested Scripture readings for each day.

Because he was way more than just a cute little baby in a nativity scene!

Related: Read Your Bible Every Day: A Feast For the Soul

How Teens Can Celebrate Advent: Prepare Your Heart

If you’re not feeling it for Advent, it’s time to wake your heart and smell the aroma of blessing. Some posts to help you out:

• Do you know how much God loves you? How to Really, Truly Know God Loves You
• Perhaps you recognize Jesus’ sacrifice, but do you know exactly what he saved you from? Jesus Saved You From Sin, Death, Hell—And God
• To better understand the blessing of Jesus’ sacrifice: What is the Hardest Thing to Believe in Christianity?
• The Difference Between God and Santa: Amazing Grace
• If you’re struggling to focus on the true meaning of Christmas beneath all the commercialism: Finding Jesus in the Enormous Heap of Christmas
• For an all-around reminder of what you’ve been given: 16 Awesome Things Christian Teens Can Take Pride In
• Wake up your heart and observe Advent like a Christian: From Silence to Song: How to Find Your Heart of Praise

Christian teens can celebrate Advent differently from their peers when they grasp just how amazing God’s love is for us.

Make it Your Goal: Observe Advent like a Christian This Season!

Don’t relegate Jesus to a measly ten-percent slice of a chaotic, glazed-over holiday pie. Keep him at the center of your focus, and all other elements of the holiday season will have more purpose.

Check out this article from the Catholic Digest for Easy, fun, and Spiritual Ways to celebrate Advent.