Witness to the Light

About this book

When the night is long, the light still comes. Find hope this Advent through the words of the prophets. For many, Advent and Christmas are celebrated in the darkest time of the year. The experience of waiting and longing for the first glimmer of sunlight over the horizon serves as a poignant and perennial metaphor for the human quest to find hope amid sorrow, hardship, and fear. The prophets knew this feeling well and spoke hope to God's people with the power to sustain them--and us--through uncertain times. Some sang of God's faithfulness, some spoke of a messiah, all cast a vision for when current trials were no more because God's kingdom will have come to earth. As we await the birth of Jesus, our Messiah, we carry the heaviness of daily life and listen for the voices of those witnessing to the light. This Advent study features the words and stories of prophetic figures in Scripture, from Major Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist to lesser-heard voices like Miriam, Joel, Ezekiel, and Anna. Weekly themes--reveal, renew, rejoice, and return--guide readers through an Advent practice that speaks ancient comfort to modern souls, turning our heads toward the signs of life these biblical heroes proclaimed: flowing water in the desert, a vibrant branch from a felled stump, a virgin with child, a dawn to shine in the darkness. Each week's chapter includes daily readings and study questions to facilitate group discussion, and readers will find helpful resources in the back of the book for congregational worship, mission, and fellowship.