Come, Thou long expected Jesus
We do something profound and unique during the Advent season.
We stand right in the middle of two realities: Jesus has come, but we know that’s not the end of the story—he’s coming again.
The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning coming or arrival. The word is deliberately ambiguous.
We stand right here, looking back, and celebrating what has already happened—the birth of the Christ, this long-awaited Messiah, God in the flesh, sent by the love of the Father, empowered by the Holy Spirit to interrupt human history forever.
And, looking forward, hoping, longing, preparing for that great and glorious Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns in glory.
Advent, by its very nature, is a time of preparation and a time of hope.
It is a time of expectation, waiting, and patience. As followers of Jesus, we are a people filled with longing and expectation. Not an empty waiting, but a firmly-founded hope, resting in God’s faithfulness fueling our hope for the future. We know what we see isn’t all there is. We look back in remembrance and we look forward with anticipation. A people with angst, holy discontent, a righteous stirring.
A people with hope.
A people with peace.
A people with joy.
A people with love.
This is advent.
Sundays with Anthem
Our weekly gatherings include a time of worship in singing, teaching from the Bible, and a response time through giving, prayer, and communion.
9:00 am & 11:00 am
390 Arcturus Rd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
Advent Devotional
This guide is a collaborative effort between Anthem Camarillo, Arise Ventura, and Anthem Thousand Oaks. Inside you will hear the voices of people from different churches, different walks of life, and different felt experiences with the Advent themes.
We are using the classic hymn “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley to frame our time working through the Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and King. Each week we’ll use a line from the song as a springboard to examine our own hearts and longings, and then a passage of scripture to point us to how Jesus ultimately satisfies those longings.
The 5 weeks will look like this:
Week 1: Jesus is our Hope
Week 2: Jesus is our Peace
Week 3: Jesus is our Joy
Week 4: Jesus is our Love
Week 5: Jesus is our King
Following the Sunday teachings during Advent, use the different components in this booklet to help you, and those around you, engage meaningfully this Advent season.
Each week includes:
Devotionals
This incorporates a devotional entry from a church member and then 4 prayer prompts to use throughout the week.
Discussion
This includes a synopsis and discussion questions to be used in Community Group as well as “Dinner Table Questions” to be used by families or friends.
Do Something
This provides a few fun ideas to employ within homes, with your kids, or with friends, incorporating both an activity and some discussion points.
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