Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus features twenty-two devotional readings perfect for Advent. Contributors include George Whitfield, Joseph "Skip" Ryan, Martin Luther, John Piper, Tim Keller, Martyn-Lloyd-Jones, J. Ligon Duncan III, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Saint Augustine, J.I. Packer, John Calvin, Alistair Begg, Randy Alcorn, John MacArthur, Raymond C. Ortlund Jr., Francis Schaeffer, J.C. Ryle, James Montgomery Boice, R.C. Sproul, R. Kent Hughes, and Joni Eareckson Tada.

Each entry is short--two to four pages in length--which make them perfect reading for this busy season when every minute seems spoken for. Each entry is Scripture-focused which makes for a great reminder each and every day to keep our hearts and minds on Christ during this Christmas season.

This is a gem of a book I'm happy to recommend.

This is a beautiful little book to read during the Christmas season. It is broken up into 22 readings, each written by an important thelogian. Each reading is only a few pages long so they do not take a lot of time to read, but they are filled with wonderful thoughts to meditate on during the Advent season. I have enjoyed every one of the readings so far and am looking forward to finishing it soon.

I've read many Advent devotionals over the years, and this might be my new favorite. Nancy Guthrie has compiled sermons and chapters from various authors and pastors on Advent - from contemporary authors to those who lived hundreds of years ago. This variety made me eager every day to read the next chapter because I knew I'd get to hear sound wisdom from a different person in a different time period on the importance of Christ's birth for our salvation.

These are the gifts that come in the package of Christmas-vulnerability for intimacy, strength for suffering, passion for justice, and power over prejudice. And you are blessed if you open this gift and take into your life. If you do, you'll be blessed, you'll be transformed.

This devotion prepares your heart for the season of advent. Twenty-two chapters compiled with different Christian teachers and authors. Each chapter gives the reader Jesus, the long expected Jesus. It takes away the distractions of this world and gives us the world to come. It is heaven on earth when we make room for Jesus in our heart

Each chapter starts with scripture and in engages you to want your heart longs for. As a Christian, our hearts long for the presence of God. That is the promise of the Christmas.

This book is not only for advent but anytime our hearts are dry. I highly recommend.

A Special Thank you to Crossway and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

This is a selection of 22 writings or sermons by great theologians and Bible teachers like John Piper, R.C. Sproul, Tim Keller, J.C. Ryle, and more. Each one focuses on a part of the Advent story like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the gifts, the wise men. Some of the readings were easier to understand than others but they all were very biblical and deep. This book is definitely geared more towards believers who would understand a lot of the biblical terminology.
The Christmas season is so full of so many things that can distract us from the real meaning of Christmas. These writings helped me to focus in on what is really important. While each had good things to say, I’ll share one thought from Tim Keller’s writing that stood out to me.
“We sometimes wonder why God doesn’t just end suffering. But we know that whatever the reason, it isn’t one of indifference or remoteness. God so hates suffering and evil that he was willing to come into it and become enmeshed in it…The gift of Christmas gives you a resource—a comfort and consolation—for dealing with suffering, because in it we see God’s willingness to enter this world of suffering to suffer with us and for us” (location 331).
I like to read Advent articles as we approach Easter as well as at Christmas, as Easter is the culmination of why Jesus was born. I will definitely come back to this book again and again. Thank you to Crossway for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

In Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Nancy Guthrie has compiled a selection of readings and meditations about Christmas from both past and present theologians. She has chosen from the work of Martin Luther, John Piper, Tim Keller, Martin Lloyd-Jones and various other well known authors.

Given the time span from which these meditations were taken, the language varies greatly from chapter to chapter. Some of the topics covered are giving to the poor, considering what motivates how you spend your time, how Christmas is the end of people thinking they are better than others- because none of us are good enough, and what we can learn from the wise men.

Due to the diversity of writing styles not every chapter may appeal equally to the reader, but there will certainly be something in this anthology for everyone.

I would rate this book a four out of five stars. I received a complimentary copy from Crossway Publishers in order to write an unbiased review.