Isaiah 2:20

As Christ-followers we acknowledge that Jesus is not only our Savior, but also our Lord. We recognize that everything belongs to Him and that we’re only stewards of His good gifts. Through this plan’s devotional content and brief Scripture readings, you’ll discover that being a good steward of those gifts requires that we become more and more like Him—the essence of conformity.

As we head into the season of Advent, it’s easy to be swept away with all the plans of Christmas, family times, food, and gifts. It's also full of emotions, pain, and loss for many of us. Advent is a season of waiting. Trusting in a good God who holds our times and seasons. Advent. Wait. Hope.

In the beginning was the Word … but what came next? This plan is for anyone who wants a better understanding of the Bible. It provides a chronological reading program that endeavors to place all biblical passages in their date order. Part Seven of this twelve-part one-year reading plan is titled ‘Israel’s Exile, Judah’s Further Decline: 730 BC–615 BC’.

This Advent Guide comes from students, faculty, and staff at Belmont University. Advent is that season of waiting that carefully and purposefully helps us to realign our priorities and to glimpse, anew, our place before God. Our humble hope is this guide helps people focus more fully on Jesus Christ through the Advent season.