New England Perspectives
A regularly updated collection of articles written by New England leaders and thinkers. Looking for news articles? Click here.
Why the Genealogy of Jesus Still Matters at Christmas
Each year during Advent, my family pulls out our well-loved copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible and reads through the stories leading up to Christmas. One of my favorite parts is tracing Jesus’s family line woven throughout Scripture, watching name after name unfold until we reach the child in the manger. It strikes me every year that Christ didn’t just come to a human family, He came through one. He chose to have this particular lineage, these particular people, their DNA forming His tiny baby body. And remembering that makes the genealogy feel far less like a list and far more like a miracle of grace.
Advent: The Season of Holy Waiting
Advent is the season when the Church leans forward on tiptoe. It is the time each year when we acknowledge that the world is both beautiful and broken, both radiant with grace and aching for healing. Advent does not rush. It does not shout. It does not demand. Advent whispers. It invites. It teaches us to wait—not with resignation, but with expectancy.
Push Past False Expectations This Christmas
I have a confession. I’m turning into one of those people that loves cheesy Christmas movies. As things in life get challenging and sometimes feel out of control, there’s something comforting about these simple, predictable stories with a happy ending. It’s great mindless entertainment, as long as we don’t see it as reality. Perhaps you see movies, social media feeds, and Christmas card photos that make you feel like everyone else is having a magical Christmas, while you are sitting in the midst of your chaos and suffering. For most of us, Christmas can’t be wrapped up neatly with a bow. It’s messy and complicated, but there’s still beauty and wonder to be found.
Advent: Preparing Our Hearts for Christ’s Coming
Advent is a season of anticipation and preparation, observed during the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While it may not always be a formal part of Baptist tradition, its rich meaning and focus on Christ make it a season worth embracing. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival,” and it reminds us to reflect on the coming of Jesus Christ—past, present, and future.
Three Great Advent Devotionals For The Christmas Season
In the spirit of celebrating the greatest gift we have been given, the Lord Jesus Christ, here are three Advent devotionals to choose from for your daily time with God this Christmas season. You can follow along with any of these 3 devotionals personally or with your family as you prepare your heart to celebrate Christmas by looking back and remembering Jesus’ first coming and looking forward in hope and anticipation of his glorious return.