Advent is one of the richest seasons in the Christian calendar—yet many small groups treat it as an afterthought.
Between holiday plans, family obligations, and church events, the weeks leading up to Christmas often become crowded instead of contemplative. But Advent was designed for the opposite purpose: to create space for reflection, longing, and renewed faith.
When used intentionally, Advent can help your small group grow deeper in discipleship and stay centered on Christ amid the noise of the season.
Rediscovering the Meaning of Advent
Advent means “coming.” It’s the season when Christians prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ—both the celebration of His birth in Bethlehem and the anticipation of His return in glory.
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.”
RELATED: 3 Great Advent Ideas for Your Small Group
In a culture that prizes instant gratification, Advent invites waiting, hoping, and watching. These are discipleship lessons in themselves.
When your small group embraces Advent, you’re learning together how to slow down, live in expectation, and notice the presence of God breaking into ordinary life.
Using Advent to Form Habits of the Heart
Advent provides a natural structure for four weeks of meaningful gatherings. Each week carries a traditional theme—hope, peace, joy, and love. These themes offer a simple but powerful framework for spiritual formation in your small group.
Week 1: Hope
Focus on the promises of God that sustain us in uncertainty. Reflect on prophecies like Isaiah 9:2–7, and discuss how hope shapes your response to personal or global challenges.
Week 2: Peace
Read Luke 2:8–14. Talk about what it means for Christ to bring peace—not as the world gives, but as reconciliation with God and with one another.
Week 3: Joy
Explore how joy differs from fleeting happiness. Let Philippians 4:4–5 guide your discussion: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
Week 4: Love
Close the season by reflecting on 1 John 4:9–11, where God’s love becomes both the model and the motivation for our own.
Each meeting could include a Scripture reading, a brief reflection, group discussion, and a simple practice that reinforces the theme—writing a letter of encouragement (hope), reconciling with someone (peace), serving a neighbor (joy), or giving sacrificially (love).
