Advent 2005 Resources
Many pastors plan well in advance for their Advent/Christmas sermons. So the Center for Excellence in Preaching is doing what retail stores so often do: we're hauling out some Christmas stuff even before it is Halloween!
On this page you will find that we have imported some Advent/Christmas resources from elsewhere on the CEP website, concentrating them here in one spot for your convenience. We will also post sermon ideas as well as whole sermons on Year B Lectionary texts.
Some of this material is the fruit of discussions that have been held over the last five months by a peer learning group of pastors in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area who met regularly recently to look at the upcoming Lectionary gospel texts for Advent so as to do advance sermon planning.
The group was led by John Rottman and Scott Hoezee and included Everett VanderHorst and Ben Van Arragon of Shawnee Park CRC , Leonard Kuyvenhoven and Ruth Boven of Neland Ave. CRC, Jay Blankespoor of Boston Square CRC, Elizabeth VanderHaagen of Church of the Servant, and Peter Jonker of Woodlawn CRC.
Introducing Advent (link)
Secular society knows a little something about Christmas but virtually nothing about Advent. The danger for the Church is to end up going in this same direction. In our rush to get to the manger, we are tempted to downplay-or completely ignore-the Advent themes that the Church has long believed are necessary so that we can come to the cradle of Christ in the right way.
Advent 2005 (link)
Links to Sample Sermons on Year B Lectionary Texts
Worship Resources from our Ministry Partner: The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (link)
Scripture passages and Statements of Faith Applying to the Theme of Christmas
The following texts are particularly appropriate for sermons or for supplemental liturgical use:
Scripture Passages:| Psalm 97 | Psalm 98 | Psalm 147 |
| Psalm 148 | Isaiah 52:7-10 | Isaiah 61:10-62:12 |
| Isaiah 63:7-9 | Jeremiah 31:7-14 | Matthew 1:18-2:23 |
| Luke 2 | John 1:1-18 | Galatians 4:4-7 |
| Ephesians 1:3-14 | Ephesians 2:13-18 | Titus 2:11-14 |
| Titus 3:4-7 | Hebrews 1:1-12 | Hebrews 2:10-18 |
| 1 John 4:13-16 |
Statements:
| Belgic Confession, Art. 18-19 | Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A's 35-36 |
| Westminster Confession, Chap. VIII, Sec. 2-3 | Our Song of Hope, st. 3 |
| Our World Belongs to God, st. 24 |
Advent Sermon Series (link)
A few suggestions for possible Advent Sermon Series
Advent & Christmas (link)
A number of recommended articles from past issues of Reformed Worship Magazine