What is Advent? 5 Tips for Meaningful Family Discipleship
What is Advent? For many families, this word may bring to mind images of candles, wreaths, and countdown calendars. But beyond the traditions and decorations, what is Advent truly about? At its core, Advent is a season of preparation and waiting for the coming of Jesus. As we enter into this special time of year, it’s also an opportunity for families to reflect and focus on how Christmas fits into the Gospel and the story God has been telling since the beginning of time. In light of this season ripe with opportunity, we've put together 5 tips for meaningful family discipleship.
1. Establishing an Advent Routine for Your Family
You set the tone for this season — not the other way around. Find a routine that fits into your current rhythm but don’t be afraid if it feels unnatural or it’s difficult to maintain at first. Maybe this is a daily prayer first thing in the morning, a liturgy before supper, a family devotional time while the kids color, or a read-aloud before bedtime. Don’t overthink it, but do be intentional with what you choose and stick with it!
2. Creating Space for the Messy and Meaningful
The month of December can be a busy and chaotic time, filled with parties, shopping, and endless to-do lists. But it's important to remember to slow down and create space for the messy and meaningful moments that truly matter. We can expect that family devotional time, or any routine you choose, will be cut short, tantrums will happen, singing will be out of tune, clutter will distract, siblings will argue, patience will wear thin. And it’s ok. The gospel is powerful enough to shine through all our mistakes and mishaps and mess. Our job is to share the gospel, not to control how much is retained or how attentive our listeners. We can do our part to create an environment conducive to learning, but in the end we are called to be faithful parents, not super-parents. Take the pressure off and embrace the chaos.
3. Incorporating the Whole Biblical Narrative
Christmas is less about Jesus’ birthday as an isolated event and more about a crucial point in God’s unfolding, redemptive plan for the world. As you prepare for His coming, his advent, take time to zoom out and explore the entire story leading up to His birth, from creation to the prophecies of His coming to the fulfillment of those prophecies. Zoom out even further to reflect on the past, present, and future faithfulness of God. The Biblical narrative is not a series of isolated wonders — it’s a true tale filled with glory and tragedy, love and betrayal, darkness and light, despair and promise. And there is an unbroken thread woven throughout every part of this amazing story: the love of a God who always planned to rescue His people. Jesus’ birth in a stable, death on the cross, and victory over the grave were always part of the plan. Christmas is an essential part of a much bigger story of God’s forever plan for His beloved. Take time this season to behold God’s faithfulness from generation to generation.
4. Scaling Back: Finding Joy in Simple Advent Traditions
The holiday season can often become overwhelming with the hustle and bustle of shopping, baking, and celebrating. But Advent is a time for reflective preparation and joyful anticipation, not stress. How ironic that so much of the time we do experience anxiety even while celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Scaling back the festivities can be a helpful way to pursue peace and joy in this season. After all, simple is not the same as insignificant. Consider trimming down your schedule, prioritizing meaningful traditions, and embracing the beauty of simplicity. Remember, it's not about doing it all, but rather about keeping the main thing the main thing. Are the traditions we observe during Advent preparing us or distracting us? Are they weighing us down or freeing us to run unhindered when he bids us come and behold?
5. Embracing Your Rhythm: Letting the Gospel Shine through the Ordinary
In the midst of the Advent season, it's important to embrace your own family’s rhythm and let the gospel shine through the ordinary moments of your everyday life. Sometimes, we can get caught up in trying to do Advent "the right way" or following a specific set of traditions, but the truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. As you navigate this season, start where you are. There is no pressure to do things a certain way or live up to any expectations. Start by thinking through your values and what matters most to you during this season. Then make a plan to focus on these priorities and let go of any non-essential activities, obligations, and traditions. After all, traditions can be wonderful ways to celebrate a beloved season, but they can also chain us to the past and cause more stress than joy. Be creative and willing to adapt old traditions to work within your current season of life. Ultimately, the gospel will shine through no matter what — it pierces the darkness (John 1:5). But choosing to be intentional about how you spend your time, what activities you engage in, and how you celebrate can create space for God to work in your family's life. And if you’re looking for specific ideas for couples to help you focus and prioritize your marriage during this season, you can find some ideas here. As you navigate this Advent season, remember that the goal is not perfection, but rather a heart and mind focused on the King of glory who became a baby in a feed trough to show us that there is beauty in the ordinary.
In the coming weeks, as you seek to love and disciple your family, remember that your efforts don’t have to be flawless to be faithful. Embrace the imperfections, simplify wherever you can, and focus on the heart of Christmas: the grand revealing of God’s unfolding rescue plan. And when we fail and are faithless, He remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). At the manger we see the Creator, the Savior, and the promised Redeemer. There is peace in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, there is joy in the midst of brokenness and noise, and there is rest in the midst of stressful life circumstances and the weight of heavy laden hearts. He is clearly gentle and lowly, and all we have to do is gather our children, our families, our loved ones, and come near to worship and adore the Light of the world.
Author: Kalie Moore, MA, LCMHC. Clinical Therapist. Co-Founder of Dwell Ministry, PC.
