Horizon Church Christmas Advent Bible Reading Plan: The Joy of Every Longing HeartSample

The First Sunday of Advent

Every one of us, without exception, knows what it means to long for someone or something. But like snow at Christmas Time, the earthly things we long for eventually fade away, fail to satisfy, or possibly never come to fruition at all. That’s because the deep-rooted longing of every human heart can only be satisfied by the God who created us and came to us. He is the One we’re longing for.

Advent is a season for preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Alongside the men and women of the Old Testament who looked forward to the promised Messiah and those in the early Church who lived on alert for His promised return, we look to the only One who will never change, never fail us, never fade away.

In this season marked by a longing for material things, begin your Advent journey by examining exactly what it is you’re longing for. Ask yourself what your heart truly desires. And as you journey with us through the lyrics of this old hymn and the ancient, timeless words of Scripture, ask the God who came to dwell with us to align your longings with His and satisfy your heart in Him.

This reading plan was made with you in mind. May you anticipate and be satisfied by the God who came to us as a baby and will one day return in glory—Jesus, the joy of every longing heart.

For the remainder of this reading plan, we will spend the Sundays before and after Christmas lingering in the longing, waiting, and expectation of the season by reading a short passage from Scripture.