The Christmas We Didn’t Expect: A Daily Advent Devotional
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. But the most unexpected and significant event in the history of the world actually happened over 2000 years ago when God himself became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ.
These Advent reflections, written by David Mathis, help us to lift our eyes to the wonder of the incarnation and worship the one who came to save us.
Be amazed once more by the unexpected details of Jesus' unique birth and saving work with these short daily devotions and prayers, and renew your worship of our humble, generous, and loving Saviour.
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- Opens readers’ eyes to the wonder of the incarnation and worship the one who came to save
- Explores the unexpected details of Jesus’ unique birth and saving work
- Seeks to help readers keep Jesus as the central and greatest treasure of the Advent season and Christmas
- Preface: A Season of Waiting
- Introduction: God Came Down
- A Christmas Carol for the Weak
- The Eternity Before Christmas
- The Glory of His Virgin Birth
- What Child Is This?
- The Word Became Flesh
- Jesus Is Fully Human
- Glory to God in the Lowest
- The Arrival of Great Joy
- Hark, the Long-Lost Verses Sing!
- We Three Kings of Orient Aren’t
- The Irony of the Epiphany
- Exceeding Great Joy
- Jesus Obeyed His Parents
- God Grew Up in a Forgotten Town
- How God Became a Man
- You Were Made for Christmas
- Learning the Habit of Christmas
- Christmas Doesn't Ignore Your Pain
- Christmas Tests Our Treasure
- Words Are the Greatest Gifts
- Loving Hard People at Christmas
- Swaddling God
- The Real Festivus Miracle
- The Day Heaven Kissed Earth
An Unexpected Birth
The Unexpected Child
Unexpected News
Unexpected Guests
An Unexpected Town
Unexpected Joy
Our Unexpected Part
That Unexpected Day
Epilogue: The Permanence of Christmas
I sometimes worry that daily devotional books, while being strong on devotion, give up something in terms of theology. It does not need to be this way, and David Mathis, in this Advent devotional, proves that true devotion arises out of theologically rich truth. We are to ‘grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’—I think this excellent little book helps us to do just that.
—Mark Jones, Pastor, Faith Vancouver PCA; Author, Knowing Christ
Christmas is a time in which we tend to find joy in traditions. But traditions are not static, and we benefit from sometimes examining and updating them. Perhaps it is time to update your personal or family traditions with this wonderful series of Advent devotionals. They are fresh, applicable, and deeply biblical. They may just become a precious part of your Christmas tradition this year and in the years to come.
—Tim Challies, Blogger; Author
No Advent calendars for sale this Christmas can offer what lies behind the windows David Mathis opens in The Christmas We Didn’t Expect. True to its title, it is full of surprises. So, buy it, and carefully unwrap each Advent treat (no more than one a day, or you may spoil your appetite). Then let it melt slowly on your spiritual taste buds and enjoy what Isaiah (the Christmas prophet) called ‘rich food’!
—Sinclair Ferguson, Author; Ligonier Teaching Fellow