Adore - the Teen Girl's Guide to AdventSample

In Preparation for Advent

When you think of Advent, what do you picture?

Most of us picture the Christmas season - with candles, gifts, chocolate, and pretty decorations. But guess what? Advent didn’t start as a Christmas tradition at all!

Advent, or adventus, is an old Latin word that means “coming.” Dating back to the 6th century, Roman Christians began celebrating Advent, or the “coming,” of Jesus. It was a 40-day tradition to prepare for Jesus’s second coming into the world, not the first. Advent had absolutely nothing to do with Christmas Day or Jesus’s birth at all!

As Christmas rose to popularity, Advent became associated with the birth of Jesus. It signified a time of light and joyfulness. During this time, Advent candles are lit to commemorate 4 different aspects relating to the season:

• Hope
• Faith
• Joy
• Peace

Nowadays, you and I celebrate Advent as a month-long tradition filled with festivities, candles, trees, delicious chocolate, and Christmas lights. Advent is now a reminder of Jesus’s first “coming” into the world as a baby nearly 2,000 years ago. However, Advent should be reflected upon all year long.

In this study, we are going to dive into the heart of Advent and the meaning of the four Advent candles. We will discuss how it’s not only a reminder of baby Jesus’s birthday, but also a reminder of what we are really waiting for: Jesus’s second coming into the world! You will learn what it means to Adore Jesus as you wait symbolically for Christmas Day, and as you wait for His second coming someday in the future.