Inspiration for Advent Preaching

As we anticipate, wait, and hope for Advent, I offer a selection of quotations for your preaching and personal reflections.

You'll find wise, witty, and wonderful quotes with insights from a range of folks, from Dietrich Bonhoeffer to Ann Weems, and Miles David to George Bernard Shaw, loosely organized into three themes.

Anticipation is the Music of Advent

Sadly, the music of Advent is often seen, if at all, as the warm-up act to Christmas carols.

Yet music is just as important to both seasons.

And music itself is foundational to our expression of faith.

The music of Advent can help us live in joyful anticipation.

For example, Alice Parker wrote:

The song does not exist until it is sung, or re-created, by a human voice. Every incarnation is different, and no one sound is the only right one. This is a paradox. A page of music seems to present a finished product, yet it contains no sound. (Hold it up to your ear: can you hear it?) The song doesn't live until it comes off the page and resumes its natural state as sound. The page can no more substitute for living sound than a recipe can for edible food. 

Isn’t this just as true of our hymnals? Of our sermons? Of evangelistically-shy Christian communities baptismal-bound to share the Good News?

Or what about Miles Davis who famously wrote, “Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.”

Don’t we play, sing, dance, speak Jesus who is here, but not yet here?

Waiting is the Experience of Advent

We live in expectation. In knowledge that our world does not live up to our ideals. Suffering fear or grief or decay or longing.

Into this world enters Christ.

5th Century Saint Peter Chrysologus describes this beautiful phenomenon:

God saw the world falling to ruin because of fear and immediately acted to call it back with love.

Where can we bear witness to the suffering world? How does waiting in the imperfect present shape us and prepare us for Christ’s arrival?

Hope is the fruit of Advent

We emerge from Advent full of hope that comes from anticipating the arrival of love.

Dr. Maya Angelou writes:

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

Advent reminds us that this earth does not yet exist in heavenly perfection. And yet, with the birth of Jesus, we can still taste and even usher in moments on earth as it is in heaven.

Our hope will not be disappointed.

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You can download the full collection of Advent inspiration for free. I hope these quotes bring as much joy to your spirit as they do to your preaching.