Advent - Preparing our Hearts

Preparation for Christmas is an important theme for Advent, but more is involved. Advent gives us a vision of our lives as Christians and shows us the possibilities of life. The vision of life that Advent gives us is twofold; it looks back to the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem, and it looks to the future when Christ will come again. In the interval between these two events we find meaning for our life as a Christian.


We encourage you to take the opportunity this year to prepare your hearts for the celebration of His birth. Below we have listed several tools you can use to help align your life with Christ. Take a look and find one or two that might fit you and your family: 

  • Free Daily Advent Reading

    Keep your heart centered on Christ this holiday season with an email devotion written by Crestview attenders and delivered to you every morning. You won't regret it! Simply click here to sign up.

  • Unwrapping the greatest Gift

    This is a Wendt family favorite. Person by person, story by story, retrace the lineage of Jesus. Fall in love with Him all over again as you experience God’s plan of salvation for us―from the Garden of Eden to the manger and beyond. Get a better glimpse of this Advent book here.  (Family Friendly)

  • Weekly Personal Study and Family Devotions

    This advent guide is published by The Village Church, each week there is a personal study concerning the advent season and there's also a step-by-step lesson that you can easily lead your family through. Take a look! (Family Friendly)



  • Youversion Bible App Reading Plan

    Download the YouVersion Bible App on your favorite tablet or smartphone and dive into the Word daily with one of these advent reading plans: Countdown to Christmas, The King is Coming, Christ is Coming or browse their reading plans and find one that will fit you!

  • Use Christmas Cards as Prayer reminders

    As Christmas cards arrive during December, place them in a basket in a noticeable area. Once a day, pull out one card and pray for that person or family together. Keep the Christmas card basket out all year and pray regularly for other families. You may want to write the person a note signed by your family that says, "We prayed for you today." (Family Friendly)

  • Read through the Life of Jesus

    Get centered on Jesus by reading through his life with the Gospel of Matthew. There are 28 chapters, so if you start chapter 1 on Monday, Nov. 28, then you'll read about Christ's resurrection to life on the day we celebrate His birth. You won't regret it!

  • Make a Prayer Garland

    Cut out 24 green and red construction paper strips. On each strip, write the name of a family member, friend or ministry. Staple the strips as links into one long garland. Hang the garland in your apartment or house as a decoration. Every day in December, have a family member remove one of the paper strips. As a family, pray for the person or ministry whose name is on that strip of paper. (Family Friendly)

  • Reverse Advent Calendar

    Very simple and meaningful. The picture says it all: Each day you add an item to the box and then you donate the contents to our community food bank, Flint Hills Breadbasket. Click here for the location and times they are open... note: they are not open on Christmas Eve, but they are on Dec. 23! For more details on this activity, read this blog post. (Family Friendly)