O Come, O Come, Immanuel
Read: Isaiah 7:3-17; Matthew 1:20-23 They shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). (Matt. 1:23) One of the most familiar and best-loved of all Advent hymns is
Rev. David Bast December 1, 2023
Christmas carols hold a special place in our hearts during the holiday season. They have a unique ability to evoke nostalgia, joy, and a sense of wonder. However, as we sing the familiar words and hum the familiar tunes, it’s easy to overlook the profound lessons embedded in these songs.
This Advent season, prepare your heart for Christmas with the daily devotional series, Carols and Lessons. Modeled after the traditional service of Carols and Lessons, this daily devotional series matches carols with readings from across the Bible. By uncovering the historical and spiritual context in which they were written, Rev. David Bast introduces us to the carols once again.
Each day, you are invited to sing or listen to a carol and read a lesson to help you prepare your heart for Christmas. You will deepen your appreciation for the familiar songs of Christmas, and engage with the full story of the Gospel from Genesis to Revelation.
With its emphasis on reflection, Carols and Lessons allows us to embrace the joy, hope, and redemption found in the Christmas story. It beckons us to engage not only in the act of singing but also in the act of contemplation, inviting us to ponder the significance of these carols and their lessons in our own lives.
Included with this series is Carols and Lessons for Kids, a 5-lesson series for young families. Organized around the simple act of setting up a nativity scene, Carols and Lessons for Kids helps parents and teachers share the Christmas story with young children. Each lesson includes a simple and familiar carol to sing or share, a Bible passage focused on the Christmas story, a devotional lesson, and suggested activities. Included in the series is a printable nativity scene to color and set up with your children.
Listen along with these playlists:
Carols and Lessons – 25 Days of Carols
Carols and Lessons for Kids – 5 Days of Songs and Resources
Read: Isaiah 7:3-17; Matthew 1:20-23 They shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). (Matt. 1:23) One of the most familiar and best-loved of all Advent hymns is
Read: Psalm 130 I wait for the Lord . . . and in his word I hope. (v. 5) ”I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is a poem written by one of
Read: Isaiah 11:1-9 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse. (v. 1) This lovely German carol dates from the 14th century. The biblical verse on which it
Read: Matthew 1:1-17 So all the generations . . . were fourteen generations. (v. 17) Charles Wesley, measured by both quantity and quality, was the greatest hymn-writer in church history. He wrote something
Read: Psalm 98 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. (v. 4) ”Joy to the World” has been a popular carol, right from when it was written. One
Read: John 3:13-16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son. (v. 16) ”Of the Father’s Love Begotten” is the best-known hymn of Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, a
Read: Genesis 3:22-24 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! (Ps. 34:8) ”You have made us for yourself,” prayed St. Augustine famously, “and our hearts are restless until
Read: Mark 1:1-8; John 1:6-8 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 3:2) In one way or another, each of the four Gospels starts with John, that
Read: Philippians 2:5-11 He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant. (v. 7 NIV) Have you ever seen a painting of the manger scene by one of
David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, including God of My Days,Why Doesn't God Act More Like God,Christ in the Psalms, andA Gospel for the World.
Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.