worship guide
Advent Worship Resources for Pastors: Sermons & Liturgy
Prepare meaningful Advent sermons and services in less time. Find illustrations, quotes, complete sermon series, Advent wreath liturgies, and Blue Christmas resources—free and subscription options.
Advent is a time-between-times. Our immediate-gratification, free-overnight-shipping culture isn't fond of just waiting. But, as much as we try to paper it over, life is mostly waiting. It is good that there are seasons in the life of the church that remember this, even giving it the prominence of beginning the church year with waiting.
The season of Advent invites congregations into a period of contemplative expectation and preparation for Christ's coming. Whether you are planning sermons for the four Sundays in Advent, looking for Advent liturgy and prayers (calls to worship, prayers of confession, benedictions, and more) for your Sunday services, or looking for the perfect Advent sermon illustration, this guide links you to our curated Advent worship resources, designed specifically for busy pastors.
From readings for Advent wreath candle lighting to complete sermon series, you'll find both free resources and premium content exclusive to subscribers that help you create sermons and services that invite your congregation into God's story—and save you time along the way.
Looking for Christmas Resources? See our Christmas Worship Guide.
Fresh Angles for Sermons in Advent
Free resource
Our blog contains great new angles for approaching Advent from unexpected directions. Here are some to consider:
Where is Jesus? A Question at the Heart of Advent — From his prison cell, John the Baptist had hard questions for Jesus. He was waiting—and he wouldn't live to see Jesus' triumph. What is our answer to people waiting today?
Waiting is Not Wasting Time — Simeon and Anna waited a long time. What they waited for was completely out of their control. There is a lesson here about how God can shape us through waiting.
Yearning, Three Advents of Christ — In Advent, we look for three comings of Jesus: in the past, the future, and the present. What does it mean for Christ to come in the present? By Tish Harrison.
Making Room in Advent — A contemplation of Mary's response to the angel in the Annunciation, considering applications for Christians today. By Bette Dickinson.
Which "Fear Not" Do You Need? — It seems like everyone in the story of Jesus' birth needed to be told "fear not". There's a deep point about God's perfect empathy to be found in these verses. By Bill Gaultiere.
Advent Sermon Series
Sermon Series requires Complete Package subscription
The Pastor's Workshop annually publishes an Advent series featuring resources for preparing your sermons and liturgy throughout Advent. Sermon series include commentary on each week's texts, organized around the series theme, illustrations, quotes, and liturgy. Each guide is an all-in-one Sunday starter kit.
Into the Forge | How our Character is Shaped by Waiting (2024)
The Advent Guest Book | Anticipating the Visit of God (2022)
Tear Down the Heavens | The Longing of the Human Heart for God (2020)
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Sermon and Liturgy Resources by Theme
Sermon resources accessible to all paid subscribers. Liturgy requires Complete Package subscription.