Advent Resources for the 2016 Christmas Season

Book Recommendations

Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ by Timothy Keller

Christmas Playlist: Four Songs that bring you to the heart of Christmas by Alistair Begg

God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

From Heaven: A 28-Day Advent Devotional by A. W. Tozer

The One True Story: Daily Readings for Advent from Genesis to Jesus by Tim Chester

Recommended Articles on Advent

What is Advent? by Justin Holcomb

http://justinholcomb.com/2012/11/30/what-is-advent/?utm_source=hootsuite

The History of Advent by Ryan Reeves PH.D

https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/ryanreeves/2016/11/27/the-history-of-advent/

The Advent of Humility by Timothy Keller

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/december/20.51.html

Why Celebrate Advent? by Timothy Jones PH.D

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-celebrate-advent

Recommended Advent Sermons and Lectures

Advent Sermons series, messages and Q&A from Dr. John Piper of DesiringGod.org

Advent sermon messages from Pastor Matt Chandler of the thevillagechurch.net

The Purpose of Advent from Pastor Alister Begg of TruthforLife.org

Advent and Christmas sermons from Dr. John MacArthur of gty.org

The Advent of Christ lecture from Dr. R.C. Sproul of Ligonier.org

The Hope of Christmas from Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback.com

Recommended Advent Devotional Guides

The Village Church Advent Guide

http://thevillagechurch.net/mediafiles/uploaded/h/0e5628674_1479154968_home-recommended-resources-advent-guide-2016.pdf

Jesus Storybook Bible Printable Advent Calendar for families  

http://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/

Desiring God Advent Devotional

http://www.desiringgod.org/advent

Desiring God Good News of Great Joy Advent Devotional

http://document.desiringgod.org/good-news-of-great-joy-en.pdf?1479878227

Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast - Leading Up, Part 2

Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast - Sharpening Your Communication Skill...

God's Infinity - Dr. Carl R. Trueman

The Holy Spirit and Organic Inspiration

Half-Hearted Surrender

Jesus Did Not Insist on His Rights

Learn How To Do Apologetics in the Twenty-First Century with Ravi Zacharias

Happy Thanksgiving 2016 from the Van Tine Family

On behalf of my family and I, we hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving holiday. There was simply so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving that I found myself overwhelmed with a deep sense of thankfulness and gratitude. I had a chance throughout the Thanksgiving Holiday to write down a few thoughts on Thanksgiving and gratitude which I would like to share with you here. 

Worshiping over your Thanksgiving Table

This Thanksgiving drink good drink, eat rich food, laugh deeply and love well and do it all as worship!

When we receive everything we have as gifts from God, we worship. We can drink without getting drunk and we can eat without being gluttons because we don’t enjoy things as an end in themselves but as a platform for worship.

So worship over your thanksgiving table, worship with your family, worship with your food, your drink and your friends. Let your praise fill your heart with deep gratitude.

Giving Thanks to Whom? 

To whom should we give thanks?
The universe "itself" isn't a person, nature doesn't function with divine agency, and even people have limited impact on our lives? Deep thankfulness requires recognizing supreme governance and sovereign agency.The good news this Thanksgiving is that we don't live in a random universe spiraling out of control but there is a gracious, sovereign, almighty God! He is a limitless source of energy, vitality, power, and blessing. He never wearies, He is never surprised and He is never out of control. He gives us all things richly to be enjoyed. We can know this God objectively, historically and personally in creation, in providence and foremost in the person of Jesus. The true depth of Thanksgiving joy is found in the worship of God through the gifts he has given us.

Choosing Contentment for Thanksgiving 2016

"Contentment is a choice. You will never find true contentment in your circumstances because your circumstances will always be changing. Lets choose contentment and gratitude this Thanksgiving!

Listen to this special Thanksgiving message on your commute or workout to prepare your heart for Thanksgiving. https://t.co/1stMnrIvEY

6 Good Questions to Ask Your Family/Friends Around the Dinner Table this Thanksgiving.

6 Good Questions to Ask Your Family/Friends Around the Dinner Table this Thanksgiving. 

Let's Cultivate Hearts of Gratitude in 2016!

1. What’s the one experience for which you are most thankful this year?

2. What’s the one book, article, or blog post for which you are most thankful this year?

3. What’s the one thing you’ve learned this year for which you are most thankful?

4. If you could thank one person today—near or far, living or dead—for their influence on your life, who would that person be?

5. Who’s one person you’ve never thanked for their contribution to your life, but would like to?

6. For what do you feel most grateful to God today?

CARE Groups 11/20/2016 - Summit View Church - Margins Series

Church Intensive Introduction

Read Scripture: Philippians

First Things: Russell Moore Erasmus Lecture

Deny Yourself for Greater Joy

Rosaria Butterfield on What Most Surprised Her about Christians When She...

Out of Nothing, Nothing Comes

"Nearer, My God, to Thee" - Doxology Music Video From Southern Seminary

Community in Non-Optional For Disciples to Jesus

Summit View Church - Margins: "Sabbath Rest" - Pastor Kyle Van Tine

Growing Deeper - Heritage Park Campus (Margins:Sabbath) 

Statistics show Americans work more hours than any other country in the industrialized world. What heart motivations are at play in our hectic and cut-throat culture of chronic overworking and overspending?

Is overworking typically seen as a virtue or a vice in your social circles?

Discuss this statement: Margins create space between your load and your limit.

The Creation of the Sabbath (Genesis 2:1-3)

God doesn’t rest due to physical fatigue; why does He rest, and what can we learn from it?

God’s blessing of the Sabbath day sets it apart as a day for both rest and worship. Using the framework of rest and worship, which activities do you find most restful and most worshipful?  

The Command of the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11)

How is taking a day to Sabbath an exercise of your faith? How can taking a nap be an act of worship?

What major distractions, habits or hang ups might prevent you from resting on the Sabbath?  

How can resting well help us to work more effectively?

The Completion of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8)

What does Jesus mean when He declares Himself to be the Lord of the Sabbath?

In what ways does a believer have rest in Jesus? How do these Gospel truths give us weapons to fight against anxiety, fear and insecurity?  

Family Life Conference 40th Celebration

Holding Fast to the Whole Counsel of God Under Cultural Pressure to Conform

Expositors Summit 2016: Session 5 - R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Reformed According to the Word of God

Join Ravi Zacharias in a Prayer for America

Greg Laurie Interview with Special Guest Eric Metaxas

Francis Chan: We Are Church - Church Together, October 2016

Every President Will Be a Footnote

How Should Churches Teach?

The Historical Case for Jesus Christ | John Warwick Montgomery, PhD

Economics Has Consequences: Liberty, Tyranny and the Impact on Christianity

Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast - Sharpening Your Communication Skill...

CARE Group Coaching for Sunday, November 6th at Summit View Church

The Atheist Delusion Movie (2016) HD

Why Sexual Metaphors of Jesus and His Bride Embarrass Us // Ask Pastor John

Death and Life in Jesus: 1 Corinthians 15 and the Ailing Christian | Nab...

Overcoming Fear of Evangelism

Nehemiah #7 "Persistent Leadership" (Nehemiah 6:1-16)

Summit View Church: Heritage Park Campus

Nehemiah Week #7 "Persistent Leadership" (Nehemiah 6:1-16)

Download or Listen to "Persistent Leadership" here

Summit View Church: Heritage Park Campus - Video for Nehemiah Week #7 "Persistent Leadership"

Care Group Coaching Video

Nehemiah Week #7 "Persistent Leadership" 

Nehemiah: Vision, Leadership and Togetherness 

Sunday, October 30th

"The Persistent Leader" (Nehemiah 6:1-16)

Growing Deeper

Read Nehemiah 6:1-4

Nehemiah saw a trap and wisely declined the invitation to meet with Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem. Notice that even if the meeting was well intended, Nehemiah didn’t let a good opportunity distract him from the great work God called him to do.

What great works has God called you to do? What distractions do you face in the midst of your great work? What are some best practices to guard your time and priorities? What can we learn from Jesus' example? 

Read Nehemiah 6:5-9

Why does Sanballat send an open letter instead of a private, sealed letter (Nehemiah 6:5)? What impact do you think the unsealed letter intended to have on the public at large and on the ruling of the Persian king? What was Nehemiah’s response? What can we learn from Nehemiah when we face slander? What can we learn from Jesus' example?

Read Nehemiah 6:10-16

What was the prophecy of Shemaiah intended to do? How did Nehemiah discern that Shemaiah was a false prophet? What are some false prophecies that lead God’s people into sin in our day? Something may sound right, but how can we discern if it is right? Nehemiah lead the people to rebuild the wall in only two months! How can we better recognize and celebrate God’s work in our family and/or Care Group?