As we prepare for the fourth Sunday of Advent and the coming of Christmas Day, we want to finish this season by looking at our response. Now that we know Christ's coming changes everything, heals our hearts, reverses the strong for the weak, the glamorous for the ordinary, effort for grace, wealth for poverty, and the degradation of women for the worth of women and their partnership in the Gospel, what does this mean for us? What changes do we need to make in our everyday lives? Will we rage against the Gospel and the Kingdom of Christ like King Herod, or will we bow our heads and hearts in worship like the wise men in Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18? The essence of Advent is not only about looking back and remembering that Christ came as a baby, it is about looking ahead, and preparing our hearts for the day He comes again as the ruling and reigning king.

Links Mentioned:

FREE TOOL: Preparing for Christmas

BOOK: Prepare the Way: An Advent Devotional by Susannah Baker

Connect with Susannah:

Website: susannahbaker.com.

Books and Bible Studies: www.susannahbaker.com/resources/

Instagram: @baker.susannah

As we prepare for the third Sunday of Advent, we continue to look at the great power and strength of Mary's Song in Luke 1:25-56 and the cultural assumptions and weaknesses it reversed. We specifically look at the way Christ's coming changed the treatment of women and elevated and honored their status in society and everyday life. The coming of Christ truly changed everything, and it has the same power to change us today as well.

Links Mentioned:

FREE TOOL: Preparing for Christmas

BOOK: Prepare the Way: An Advent Devotional by Susannah Baker

BOOK: Biblical Critical Theory by Christopher Watkin

BOOK: Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland

Connect with Susannah:

Website: susannahbaker.com.

Books and Bible Studies: www.susannahbaker.com/resources/

Instagram: @baker.susannah

As we prepare for the second Sunday of Advent, we draw hope and encouragement from Mary's song and response to Elizabeth's greeting in Luke 1:25-56. We see how the coming of Christ changed everything, not only for Mary, but also for us. It challenges the ways we think about the Christmas story and how we apply humility to our daily decisions as well as the way we treat people in our daily lives.

Links Mentioned:

FREE TOOL: Preparing for Christmas

BOOK: Prepare the Way: An Advent Devotional by Susannah Baker

BOOK: Biblical Critical Theory by Christopher Watkin

Connect with Susannah:

Website: susannahbaker.com.

Books and Bible Studies: www.susannahbaker.com/resources/

Instagram: @baker.susannah