Advent Devotions

Advent Devotions

The Board of Christian Education Adult Sub-Group wishes to thank all contributors of devotional writings. Your personal stories and touch give this series greater meaning. Special thanks to Dr. Tom Graves for his selection of scripture passages for each day and gracious willingness to edit. Wishing you a blessed Advent and Christmastide.

How to access the devotions:

Online

Devotions will be posted below daily at 5:00 a.m. You can access this page at rrcb.org/devotions.

Email:

If you would like to receive the devotions via email, click here to sign up. Devotions will be delivered to your inbox daily at 5:00 a.m. Please note: if you receive the e-Spire every Tuesday, you will receive daily devotions November 28-December 4, 2021. However, beginning December 5, 2021, you will only receive devotions via email if you have signed up at the link above.

Print:

A limited number of printed devotions will be in the Narthex on Sunday, November 28, 2021. If you would like a copy, please contact the church office.

PDF:

Click here to open a PDF of the devotions to download or print.

 

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Share Abundantly

Today's Scripture: John 10:10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV) As I write this, my father is in the hospital and seriously ill. Like the thief that comes in the night, it seems...

Do Something New

Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!  (NRSV) As I ponder this passage, the following words come to mind: forgiveness, beginnings, endings, closing out...

Joy

Today's Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test...

Contact an Old Friend

Today's Scripture: Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (NIV) “Make new friends, but the keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold” is a line from a Girl Scout song that I learned as a child.  It is so true:...

Sing Out Loud!

Today's Scripture: Psalm 98:1-9 4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;     break forth into joyous song and sing praises. This psalm tells us to sing a new song of praise to our God, for God has done marvelous things. Many psalms tell of sadness, happiness,...

Watch the Sunrise

Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (NIV) Whenever I have read this passage, the part that stands out to me more than anything is "new every...

Think It Through

Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  (KJV) This well-known verse has the wonderful term “glass” instead of “mirror” as is found...

Play Like a Child

Today's Scripture: Mark 10:15 15 "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (NIV) "We must receive the kingdom of God as little children; we must stand with simplicity, faith, humility and love to Christ and...

Watch for Newness

Todays' Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 19 I am about to do something new; this moment it will unfold.  Can you not perceive it?  Even through the wilderness I shall make a way, and paths in the barren desert. (Revised English Bible) Again and again the Scriptures remind the...

Peace

Today's Scripture: Mark 1:1-8 8“I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you will the Holy Spirit.” (NIV) I don’t know how many times I have read this scripture, but I do know that this thought crosses my mind every time I read it. Ever since I can remember, I...

Give In Secret

Today's Scripture: Proverbs 19:6 6 Many seek the favor of the generous, and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts. (ESV) This is the season of giving. There are packages everywhere, all brightly wrapped and ribboned, just waiting to get into the hands of the...

Pray for Peace

Today's Scripture: Psalm 122: 6-9 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” 8 For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” 9 For the sake of the...

Show Love

Today's Scripture: John 13:34-35 34 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NRSV) “It’s so easy...

Dress Carefully

Today's Scripture: Colossians 3:12 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (NRSV) Hand me down clothes are a blessing to many parents. I was always excited when my friends passed clothes...

Don’t Worry

Today's Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (NRSV) Anyone who knows me knows...

Choose Life

Today's Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19-20 19  ...I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God... (NRSV) As you may have noticed, my generation, dubbed “The Millennials” or...

Finding Hope

Today's Scripture: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 7 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine that we may be saved. (NRSV) When I was growing up, my mom’s standard catch phrase was, “Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”  As a child of the Depression, Mom...

Witnesses to the Resurrection

Matthew 28:1-10 There are three great witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The first witness is the Christian Church itself. The resurrection was what founded the Church. If Jesus Christ had not been raised from the grave, there would never have been a...

“Pieta”

Each Saturday and Tuesday during Lent, the devotion will consist of visual or musical works of art for you to contemplate.  There might be a brief quote or statement for you to consider as you view/listen to the material; there may be notes from or about the artist or...

Eli Eli Lama Sabachtani?

Matthew 27:27-50 Abandonment is one of the most powerful feelings – it can begin early in our lives and continue to haunt us literally until our death. Huge spiritual issues arise from feelings of abandonment – Am I worthy? Am I loved? Jesus is not only mocked and...

The Divine Use of Power

John 13:1-17 In verse three Jesus is described as “knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands.”  That is, all worldly power was within his grasp. Then, after making that amazing claim, we are told that Jesus grabbed a towel and began to wash the...

A New Commandment

John 13:21-38 This passage is one of the saddest and most gripping scenes in scripture. It begins by saying that Jesus “was very troubled in spirit.”  It was during this last supper with his disciples that Jesus tells them, “one of you will betray me.” Then Judas is...

“O Lamb of God Most Holy”

The River Road Church, Baptist, Chancel Choir directed by Bob Gallagher sang “O Lamb of God Most Holy!” by Nicolaus Decius. Listen (again) to this beautiful work. Words are given below.

Nothing Can Separate Us

Romans 8:31-39 The Apostle Paul had his own personal conflicts at various times in his life, but Paul is at his best in these verses from the eighth chapter of Romans. He starts out by saying, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Of course in this earthly life...

Today Is Palm Sunday

Matthew 21:1-11 You’ve seen military parades. The parades were intended to be stirring, to instill a sense of wonder. The King enters Jerusalem. He rides a rental donkey. There is not well-placed tickertape or regalia. The crowd’s reaction is spontaneous and spur of...

“Les rameaux”: The Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem

With his rendition of Poèmes Évangélique: “Les Rameaux” (“The Palms”) by Jean Langlais (1907-1992), our own Bob Gallagher, Minister of Music, will be featured at the beginning of “With Heart and Voice” on WCVE this Sunday evening, April 13, at 10 p.m. Listen to a preview of this beautiful organ piece.