Come, thou long expected Jesus : experiencing the peace and promise of Christmas

An anthology of Advent readings collected from the writings and sermons of 22 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers. Between purchasing presents and planning travel, enjoying holiday pageants and attending parties, it is all too easy for Christmas to sneak up on people and crowd out a quiet anticipation of this sacred season. So when editor Nancy Guthrie decided she wanted a reflective book of Advent readings by writers who held a high view of Scripture, she embarked on what she calls "a sacred adventure," putting together such a collection herself. This special volume draws from the works and sermons of classic theologians such as Whitefield, Luther, Spurgeon, and Augustine, and from leading contemporary communicators such as Skip Ryan, John Piper, Ligon Duncan, Randy Alcorn, John MacArthur, Francis Schaeffer, R. C. Sproul, and Joni Eareckson Tada to help readers enter into the wonder of Jesus' incarnation and birth. Each essay in this solidly biblical anthology expounds on a particular aspect of the Christmas story and includes the appropriate Scripture passage from the ESV Bible. It is sure to awaken people's longing and prepare their hearts for a fresh experience of the coming of Jesus each and every Christmas season.

An anthology of Advent readings collected from the writings and sermons of 22 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers.

Between purchasing presents and planning travel, enjoying holiday pageants and attending parties, it is all too easy for Christmas to silence the sacredness and crowd out a quiet anticipation of the season's truths. So when editor Nancy Guthrie decided she wanted a reflective book of Advent readings that would help her pause and consider the riches of Christ come to earth, she embarked on what she calls "a sacred adventure," putting together such a collection herself.

The result-this special volume-draws from the works and sermons of classic theologians such as Whitefield, Luther, Spurgeon, and Augustine, and from leading contemporary communicators such as John Piper, J. Ligon Duncan, Randy Alcorn, John MacArthur, Francis Schaeffer, R. C. Sproul, Skip Ryan, and Joni Eareckson Tada to beckon you and your family into the wonder of Jesus' incarnation and birth.

With its high view of Scripture and its focus on the gift of Jesus, this lovely book is sure to ready your heart and mind for a fresh experience of "Immanuel, God with us" this and every Advent season. Open the cover and discover what Christmas was meant to be...

Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Preface......Page 10 1 Contemplating Christmas......Page 12 2 Tabernacled among Us......Page 18 3 The Maiden Mary......Page 24 4 Conceived by the Holy Spirit......Page 30 5 The Gifts of Christmas......Page 36 6 The Great Fulfillment......Page 44 7 Joseph: Righteous and Kind......Page 50 8 To Be More Blessed Than Mary......Page 56 9 Have You Any Room?......Page 62 10 The Word Was Made Flesh......Page 66 11 For Your Sakes He Became Poor......Page 70 12 Unto Us a Child Is Born......Page 74 13 Wrapped in Humility......Page 80 14 Shepherd Status......Page 86 15 Glory Revealed......Page 92 16 Good News of Great Joy......Page 98 17 Seeing Jesus with the Shepherds......Page 104 18 The Lessons of the Wise Men......Page 110 19 Gifts of Faith......Page 116 20 Embarking on a Course of Redemption......Page 122 21 Those to Whom Christ Comes......Page 128 22 A Christmas Longing......Page 136 Notes......Page 142 Back Cover......Page 144 Contemplating Christmas / George Whitefield Tabernacled among us / Joseph "Skip" Ryan The maiden Mary / Martin Luther Conceived by the Holy Spirit / John Piper The gifts of Christmas / Tim Keller The great fulfillment / Martin Lloyd-Jones Joseph : righteous and kind / Ligon Duncan III To be more blessed than Mary / Jonathan Edwards Have you any room? / Charles Spurgeon The Word was made flesh / Saint Augustine For your sakes He became poor / J.I. Packer Unto us a child is born / John Calvin Wrapped in humility / Alistair Begg Shepherd status / Randy Alcorn Glory revealed / John MacArthur Good news of great joy / Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr. Seeing Jesus with the shepherds / Francis Shaeffer The lessons of the wise men / J. C. Ryle Gifts of faith / James Montgomery Boice Embarking on a course of redemption / R.C. Sproul Those to whom Christ comes / R. Kent Hughes A Christmas longing / Joni Eareckson Tada. An Anthology of Advent readings, collected from the works of 22 classic and contemporary theologians with a high view of Scripture, it will help in preparing your heart to honor the sacredness of each Christmas season.