Advent starts early this year (Sunday, Nov. 28, to be exact). Are you ready? It’s a season that can easily be hectic and unbearable—a blur of consumer excess and bloated merriment. But if we’re intentional with how we practice Advent, it can be a season of rich spiritual vitality.
Here’s a collection of newly released Advent resources—books, music, and more—to help you make the most of this treasured season in the Christian calendar.
TGC’s 2021 Advent Playlist
You can find TGC’s brand-new, 100-song Advent playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
New Albums
Advent Songs by The Porter’s Gate. The Isaac Wardell-produced collections from The Porter’s Gate are always strong—musically rich and lyrically thoughtful. This new Christmas collection, recorded this year in Paris, is no different. Features artists like Liz Vice, Jonathan Ogden, Tenielle Neda, Paul Zach, and more.
Hymns II by Poor Bishop Hooper. The second hymns EP released by Poor Bishop Hooper in 2021, Hymns II (releasing Nov. 26) is focused on classic Christmas hymns, including “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming” and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.” Also, check out PBH’s Firstborn EP (2018) and newly released study.
Jesus, Coming Light by 1517 Music. This is a great new four-song EP from 1517 Music, which hosts hymn sings and seeks to supply theologically sound and musically accessible resources for every season of the church calendar.
A Soulful Holiday by Liz Vice. The title of this EP captures it well. You’ll want to include these fun, soulful takes on familiar standards in your Christmas party playlists!
Tell Me the Story by Jonathan and Emily Martin. Produced by Asher Peterson and heavily influenced by the Martins’ home church, Immanuel Nashville, this new Christmas album beautifully reflects on the birth, humility, and mission of Christ.
New Books
The Adventure of Christmas: 25 Simple Family Devotions for December by Ed Drew (The Good Book Company). These simple 10-minute family devotions for Advent, featuring graphic-novel illustrations, explore the Gospel accounts of the first Christmas in an engaging way, and will help families keep Christ at the heart of their celebrations.
The Expected One, Revised and Updated: Anticipating All of Jesus in the Advent by Scott James (B&H). Great for a family devotional during Advent, this book brings to light the many promises of Christ―from birth to ascension―that demonstrate his love for us during this Christmas season.
Good News of Great Joy: 25 Devotional Readings for Advent by John Piper (Crossway). If you’re looking for a straightforward, Scripture-based daily devotional for Advent this year, Piper’s newest devotional volume is a great option.
Is Christmas Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the World’s Most Famous Story by Rebecca McLaughlin (The Good Book Company). This book shows there is a rational basis for the belief that the world’s most famous story is fact, not fantasy—and how those events in history can infuse our lives today with meaning and joy.
The Promise and the Light: A Christmas Retelling by Katy Morgan (The Good Book Company). Written for children ages 8–12, this 25-chapter book (one for each December day leading up to Christmas) will help families step inside the hearts and minds of key figures in the Christmas story.
The Weary World Rejoices: Daily Devotions for Advent (TGC). Though the print run of TGC’s new Advent devotional is already sold out, you can still pick up the ebook version, which is now discounted 50 percent.
More
AWANA’s Free Family Advent Devotional. Every week for five weeks (including one week after Christmas), those who sign up will receive email with a video lesson, devotional, Scripture reading, age-appropriate activities, and questions to spur on conversation.
Center for Christianity, Culture, and the Arts Advent Project. For each day between the first day of Advent (Nov. 28) through Epiphany (Jan. 7, 2022), this multimedia devotional features a Scripture passage, written devotion, work of visual art, poem, and a piece of music.
The Gospel Coalition