What is Advent? | GotQuestions.org

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In today's video I'll answer your question, what is Advent? Then afterward, as always,

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I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end. Advent is the season of year leading up to Christmas.

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It's observed with various traditions and rituals by Catholics and other liturgical groups such as Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists.

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In recent years, Advent celebrations of one type or another have been added to many evangelical services as well.

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The word Advent itself means arrival, or an appearing, or coming into place.

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Christians often speak of Christ's first Advent and second Advent, that is, His first and second comings to earth.

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His first Advent would be the Incarnation, Christmas time. The Advent season lasts four

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Sundays. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, or the nearest Sunday to November 30th.

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Advent ends on Christmas Eve and thus is not considered part of the Christmas season. The Advent celebration is both a commemoration of Christ's first coming and an anticipation of His second coming.

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As Israel longed for their Messiah to come, so Christians longed for their Savior to come again.

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The Eastern Orthodox Church does not observe Advent per se, but they do keep a long fast before Christmas.

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In the West, Advent has developed a more festive tone, although many churches also keep a fast and focus on prayer and penitence, akin to what takes place during the

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Lenten season. Sometimes Advent is even called Little Lent. Advent is seen as a time to prepare one's heart for Christmas and for the eventual return of Christ and the judgment

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He will bring to the world. Churches that observe Advent usually decorate their sanctuaries in the liturgical color of Advent, purple, or in some cases, royal blue.

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Some churches change the color to rose on the third or fourth Sunday of Advent to signify a greater emphasis on the joy of the season.

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One of the most common Advent traditions involves the use of evergreen wreaths, branches, and trees.

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On the first Sunday of Advent, churches and homes are decorated with green to symbolize the eternal life that Jesus brings.

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An Advent wreath, an evergreen circle with four colored candles surrounding a white one in the middle, is placed in a prominent spot.

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The candles are then lighted one at a time on successive Sundays. The first candle is the candle of hope or expectation.

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The three remaining candles on the perimeter are given various meanings, depending on the church. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the center white candle is lighted.

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This is the Christ candle, a reminder that Jesus, the light of the world, has come. Advent calendars used to count down the days until Christmas are popular in many homes.

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An Advent calendar contains a number of covered windows that are opened one a day, until Christmas Day. Each open window reveals a picture related to the season or a poem or a

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Bible verse or a treat of some kind. Many parents find that an Advent calendar is a good way to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas, although there are secular versions of the calendars, too.

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Should Christians Observe Advent? This is a matter of personal conviction. Here is the biblical principle.

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One person considers one day more sacred than another. Another considers every day alike.

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Each of them should be fully convinced, in their own mind, whoever regards one day as special does so to the

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Lord. Romans 14, verses 5 and 6. There is certainly nothing wrong with commemorating

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Jesus' birth and anticipating His return. Such commemoration and anticipation should be an everyday part of our lives.

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Are Christians required to observe Advent? No. Does observing Advent make one a better Christian or more acceptable to God?

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No. Can celebrating Advent be a good reminder of what the season is truly all about?

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Yes. And therein lies its greatest value. Want to learn more? Subscribe so you don't miss the next video!

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Visit GotQuestions .org for more great content. And check out the details section below this video, there you'll find one book I recommend, along with links to several related questions.

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