Teaching in a Christian school often comes with many assumptions: every student understands his faith in the same way, all families have the same goals for their children as I have for their children, God means the same to all of us.

The reality is much different than that. Students make their way into my classroom coming from a variety of  backgrounds. They join our family with many different takes on life, many different struggles that they face, and different views on who God is and what role He wants to play in their lives.

Advent Calendar

These differences are often the driving force behind many of the decisions I make regarding my classroom. What content gets the most attention? How do I present that material? How do I share my faith through it all?

Fortunately, my teaching team views their teaching role similarly. This week, we start a combined Bible unit focusing on Advent. What is it? Why is it important? How do we make it part of our lives?

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When students are asked to explain Advent, they often respond with comments regarding their family’s advent calendar. Many in my classroom, did understand that there was a driving force behind the chocolate filled window that they opened daily during December. A few students did have verses connected with their daily chocolate. Some did not have any prior knowledge of Advent.

What is Advent?

I do not have a strong opinion regarding the use of an Advent Calendar. Many families use this as a tradition. My family has used them some years and other years did not.

What I do feel strongly about is celebrating the meaning behind the original Advent Calendar. The use of the calendar dates back to the 1800’s. It initiated within the Protestant movement and was used to build anticipation for Christmas Day. 

Advent is a Latin term meaning “coming”. The Advent season is set aside with the purpose of anticipating and looking forward to to coming of Christ. There are three “comings” that are anticipated in the Christian faith: the initial coming through his birth, coming into our lives personally and the final coming predicted in Revelation.

Making Advent Real

As Christians how do we celebrate Christmas? Notice that I did not ask “why” we celebrate Christmas. Like my students, we do understand the why. However, we sometimes get distracted with the “how”.

This week in middle school Bible, we will be sharing with our students “how” to celebrate Christmas through the Advent season (see attached resources at the end of the blog entry). I would encourage you to also consider “how” you celebrate Christmas. Advent is a perfect tool to help focus in that area.

The Four Parts of Advent

Hope. Peace. Joy. Love.

Hope- To desire something with confident expectation of its fulfillment (Life Application Study Bible)

Peace- A state of calm; freedom from strife or discord; harmony in personal relationships (Life Application Study Bible)

Joy-Emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune; gladness or delight (Life Application Study Bible)

Love- an expression towards items most valued

Each component of Advent leads us closer to our Savior. When we focus our hope on Him, He fulfills. When we focus our lives in Him, He will provide peace. When we focus our joy toward Him, He gives us reasons to be joyful. When we focus our love on Him, He fulfills His love through us. He also provides each of those in our lives. He becomes each part. 

Christmas is meant to be a season of refocus in our lives. A refocus of our hope, peace, joy and love. Take some time this week to embrace the Advent season. Begin this week with hope. Where do you place your hope? What are you hoping for? 

“but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

Advent Resources

Advent Unit Resources