Advent Spirituality
John the Baptist: Humility/Repentance
1. Inhabit the Story:
Cycle through these seven passages, one per day, during Advent:
Sunday, Psalm 51
Monday, Romans 12:1-21
Tuesday, Matthew 5
Wednesday, 1 Corinthians 13
Thursday, Galatians 5:16-26
Friday, Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Saturday, 1 John 3:11-24
2. Develop the Discipline
Memorize John 3:30
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
Memorize Philippians 2:1-11
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death --
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Challenge yourself with an Advent Fast; perhaps fast from something cultural during the Holiday Season like sweets, gift buying, Christmas music, noise, etc.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death --
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Challenge yourself with an Advent Fast; perhaps fast from something cultural during the Holiday Season like sweets, gift buying, Christmas music, noise, etc.
3. Love Others:
Connect your practice of humility/repentance with your relationships in any way you choose...
