Discovery Place: Advent Resources

Discovery Place is open and ready to meet your needs for resources for small groups or Sunday School classes. The first Sunday of Advent is Thanksgiving weekend, so it is not too early to think about a study for Advent! Order early to avoid disappointment, as quantities are limited. Choose from the following titles:

Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas, by Adam Hamilton (2020). Jesus was known by many other names throughout his life. Learn the meaning behind the names of Christ and the difference he makes in our lives this Christmas. 4 sessions. (Also available – study books for Children and Youth.)

The Gift of the Nutcracker, by Matt Rawle (2018). Rawle
looks at this Christmas classic in a new way: through the lens of faith. He uses the iconic tale to help us understand God’s greatest gift of the Christ child and of the kingdom Christ came to build. 4 sessions. (Also available – study books for Children and Youth.)

The Case for Christmas: Evidence for the Identity of Jesus, by Lee Strobel (2018). Strobel reveals what he discovered as he sought to separate the holiday from the holy day, the facts from the fantasy, and the truth from the tradition. You will learn what the Bible says about Jesus’ birth and how you can know it is accurate. 4 sessions.

Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph, by Adam
Hamilton (2017). As the earthly father of Jesus, Joseph’s place in the Nativity story is sometimes overlooked, but contains valuable lessons for all of us. 4 sessions. (Also available – study books for Children and Youth and a large-print book.)

Who Needs Christmas, by Andy Stanley (2019). The remarkable details of the Christmas story are what make it so believable. And Andy Stanley tells us why, after so many years, it took something unexpected to get people’s attention. 4 sessions. 

The Redemption of Scrooge, by Matt Rawle (2016). Based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, this study explores the world of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Cratchits, with an eye to Christian faith. Along the way we will meet the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come and learn about living with and for others in a world blessed by Jesus. 4 sessions. (Also available – study book for Youth.)

Because of Bethlehem, by Max Lucado (2016). In this Bible
study, Lucado explores how the One who made everything chose to make himself nothing and come into our world. Jesus’ birth gives us the promise that God is always near us, always for us, and always with us. 4 sessions. 

A Different Kind Of Christmas: Living and Giving Like Jesus, by Mike Slaughter (2012). Help your group cast a vision of living and giving like Jesus, beginning with the Christmas Season and continuing through the year. This study helps participants see the traps and discontentment of consumerism and the call of God to live generously to fulfill God’s mission in the world. 5 sessions.

Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break, by James Moore (2017). As we journey through Advent, we reflect on the unbreakable gifts God has given us: hope, love, joy, and peace…and of course the greatest gift of all: Jesus. 5 sessions.

Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas, by Jorge Acevedo (2015). God sent Christ at Christmas. And Christ sends us. Each session is led by a different presenter, all of whom are clergy. Each session begins with a story about Advent or Christmas, followed by a lively discussion among the presenters. 5 sessions.

Finding Bethlehem In the Midst of Bedlam, by James Moore (2015). This study explores how God comes to us even in the midst of chaos and how we can, in turn, be light that the world seeks, especially during the Christmas Season. Christmas or confusion, Bethlehem or bedlam…which will you choose this year? 5 sessions.

To read full descriptions, go to our website, www.discovery-place.org, click on online catalog and search by title. There are several other resources from which to choose. In the online catalog choose “advanced search” and under subject, select Christmas/Advent to see a complete listing of all Advent resources we offer. God’s blessings to you as we celebrate the upcoming seasons of thankfulness, joy, and hope!

Serving Christ with you, Joni Robison