Advent for Everyone: A Journey With the Apostles

by Tom Wright

‘Tom Wright is simply crucial; his writing can transform one’s life.’ Anne Rice

Join Tom Wright on a journey with the Apostles, exploring the New Testament themes of thankfulness, patience, humility and joy.

Within each of these themes, Wright offers a week of daily readings and meditations, beginning with the Sunday reading in the Revised Common Lectionary and ending with stimulating questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

Drawing on key passages in his popular For Everyone series of commentaries, these sparkling reflections take you on a journey of spiritual enlightenment, guiding you towards the wonder and joy of Christmas.

‘Tom Wright is, as always, brilliant at distilling immense scholarship into vivid, clear and accessible form.’
Rowan Williams

Genres: Devotional, Christmas, Nonfiction, Christianity, Christian, Theology, Christian Living

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2017

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

He also publishes under N.T. Wright.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had some ideas that struck me and I liked that it focused on the story of the birth of Jesus from Luke. Not sure if it changes every year or not, but the Bible readings at my church this Advent all came from Luke, so it was nice to have the re-iteration of what I was reading.

What I didn't like had nothing to do with this book. This year, the fourth week of Advent was also Christmas Eve, so the last week of reading had to get smooshed into a much shorter timeframe. I'm afraid I was so rushed with the reading that I missed a lot of the point of the last week, though honestly, I HATE the story of the Prodigal Son.

Yes, I understand it's significance and that I AM the Prodigal Son and that I WANT my Heavenly Father to be like the father in the story, but I really think the son who stayed got the short end of the stick when it came to his brother coming back. So ending the readings on that story ended this book on a rather lower note for me then I would have liked.

But that's a personal preference and is most likely me reading this book wrong.

3, this wasn't bad but I wish the church calendar allowed me more time to read the last week of this, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Westminster John Knox Press for an eARC of this book to read and review.

[Jeanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only when we remind ourselves of God's holiness do we fully appreciate the significance what Jesus achieved. The appropriate response to all this is gratitude and worship. True gratitude both for the present world and for the world to come, is the deepest and truest form of worship, reaching places which the entire sacrificial system never could.

Advent is about worship. Anticipating what God will do and waiting for what is to come. Advent is broken down into 4 weeks.

A time of Thanksgiving
A time for Patience
A time for Humility
A time for Joy

I appreciate that each week is centered around worship, it prepares our heart for what God is doing and who he is.

A short devotion to prepare our hearts not only for the Advent season but anytime when we may be reminded of what worship really is.

A Special Thank You to Westminster John Knox Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good read during the Advent season. It's nice to have something to read and mull over during the busy holiday season. To take time to rest in the Word. While this didn't replace my Bible reading for the day, it did enhance it and helped me to focus on something I may not have otherwise.

When I was first reading this, it seemed to go too quickly, then after Christmas had already past and there were still readings to read, it felt like it moved somewhat slowly. That was the impression that I had, but I do think having a few readings after Christmas was helpful, as it subtly points out that just because the day of Christmas has come and gone, doesn't mean the story is over and we are still supposed to anticipate the final coming of the Lord.

This book definitely made me take time to slow down and think, which is not a bad thing. The only negative is I was reading this alongside of another Christian religious book and I think that book may have overshadowed this one in my mind. This was not a bad book, far from it, but I think it may have lost something in comparison to the other. The other one is not Advent centered and was written more robustly, so seemed to have more to say. They both had different things to say, not more or less than the other. That was a mistake on my part.

I would recommend this for the Advent season with the Bible and not while reading other religious works if you can help it. This is a gentle, more quiet work and needs to be read without other books to distract from it. Only my opinion however, take it however you like. Due to the unintentional comparison, this is a 3.5 star book for me, rounded down to 3 stars. I am sure for others it will be higher and on a re-read, which this book deserves, it will be higher for me as well. This is to be set aside for next Advent, definitely.

My thanks to NetGalley and Westminster John Knox Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advent For Everyone is one great book for Advent – in fact it is the one book I will be using for my Advent with my family – this season – after all the ones I have read this is the one I chose to read – why you ask? Well for instance in the forward it said that, " Advent means "coming "or "arrival " isn't that so interesting ? I never knew that. Then the authors book goes like this – Scripture which is standard – when they go on and talk about the Scripture – A talk like that tells you some good information on it – then they tell you a personal story about the subject and it is the few pages long – which is unusual for Advent books we read , but no questions or reflections – that is the end , I still enjoyed it so very much – so will you. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.

if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com

[Cha Cha Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical advent progression. Instead focusing on preparing for the Second Coming - wild and insightful.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Wright is undoubtedly one of the greatest living public theologians - his writing is accessible to everyday Christians, but he sacrifices neither theological integrity nor depth. He continues to provide solid scholarship. I particularly appreciate that the former bishop is both an evangelical and mainline Church of England clergy. Each of his daily devotions are insightful, particularly into the early church, as many of the scripture readings he has chosen are from the epistles. However, these devotions do not seem to have much to do with the traditional Advent themes like waiting and preparation for the Incarnation. In fact, his reference to Advent in the last devotion almost came as a jolt - having had few other explicit references to the Advent season. So, if you are looking for an Advent devotional that focuses on themes commonly connected to Advent, you might go away disappointed. Nonetheless, it provides theologically sound and insightful commentary.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all other books by N.T. Wright, this one is also 5-star. This volume, an Advent devotional for Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary focuses on 3 of the Epistle lessons, and one Gospel, for each Sunday. From each reading comes a theme for the week - Thanksgiving, Patience, Humility, and Joy. The daily readings which follow each week are from random biblical texts that focus on each weekly theme.

These daily bible reflections are largely rewritten from chapters in his famous "For Everyone" series. Still, when pulled together in such a manner, the lessons are fresh and ever insightful.

I have said it over and over - you will never go wrong or be lead astray with anything written by N.T. Wright. So I would highly commend this to anyone who is seeking a helpful, insightful and anticipatory daily devotional or reading for the Advent season.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theologian and biblical scholar NT Wright provides a brief devotion (scripture translation, commentary, and exploratory question) beginning on the First Sunday of Advent and concluding up to Christmas. The books are great for groups or individual journeys towards Advent. What I enjoyed about these devotions is Wright’s ability to lay some theological depth within a short time with weekly them and each day questions ultimately building up for us to answer for ourselves the question “Who is this Jesus – for me, for the church, for everyone? And how am I ever-deepening that experience?”
The Apostles version is open to any liturgical year and varies from the classical scripture for this season. As a result, I found this one to be my favorite.

Week One: A Time for Thanksgiving
Week Two: A Time for Patience
Week Three: A Time for Humility
Week Four: A Time for Joy

[Anam Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many Advent studies out there. This is not one I think is good for Advent.

The author has a theme for each week and a scripture reading for each day followed by a short commentary on the verses.

This book probably should have a different name as it is not simply what we call "Advent." While I have not read it, I suspect the the author has revamped his book "Matthew for Everyone" and retitled it "Advent for Everyone" This book has almost nothing to say about the period of time leading up to Christ's birth or the Nativity itself. Instead, he uses Jesus's teachings, His crucifixion, and the Great Commission. In fact, only on the fourth Sunday of Advent is the Nativity referenced.

It is fine as commentaries go, but I find the title misleading.

[Brandon Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love NT Wright, and I’ve done his Lenten devotions before, so I really expected to enjoy this Advent one. Unfortunately I did not. Several of the readings seemed only tenuously connected to each other or to Advent in general.

I think part of my issue with this book was using it for Advent 2020. Along with everything COVID, my family and I have had a rough year in general. I think what I needed this year was something more comforting than challenging, and this book is more of the latter. Of course my personal feelings and situation aren’t anything to do with NT Wright. Perhaps I’ll try it again some year down the road and see what I think of it.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the discipline of an Advent devotional during the lead-up to Christmas, but it's hard to find one that doesn't leave me feeling bored, like it's walking over familiar territory without pausing to really look. Wright's devotional was so much more - familiar, and not difficult to read, but his words led me to stop and look beyond the familiarity of the words. The only reason I didn't rate this as 5 stars is because I didn't always follow the connection to Advent. That being said, this is an excellent devotional for any time of year.
Review based on copy from Netgalley.

[Melinda M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advent for Everyone by N.T. Wright is a good way to prepare for Christmas. It is an inspirational guide to help focus on the reason for Christmas and to forget at least for a few minutes every day about the commercialization of Christmas and the rushing around. It is well written and includes a short scripture and a little discuss of it. I highly recommend this as a way to prepare for Christmas.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Rachel Quinlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Advent daily reflection going through the four weeks of Advent. Looking at and reflecting upon thanksgiving, patience, humility and joy. The bible reading choices were relevant and the text thought provoking.
For me the only criticism is that the first Sunday of Advent was not four weeks before Christmas, which is why I finished the book almost a week late.
That said, it was great to finish the reflections up beat and looking at joy in the new world to come.

[Gil Michelini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of my spiritual mentors have spoken highly of N.T. Wright but I have never read any of his works. I appreciated his insight on several of the topics covered in this study. There were a couple of anti-Catholic jabs that were not needed but overall I believe my advent was better because of this. I would gladly do another study by him.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed going through this during the Advent Season of 2020. I appreciate Wright’s approach and found these readings and short comments gave me many appropriate things to think upon during this Season.

[Nick Paine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One for the best advent readings I’ve come across (not that I have read many of them thus far, given my unaffiliated, non-denominational, non-liturgical background). I thoroughly enjoyed both the theological depth and practicality of these short readings. I also very much enjoyed that Wright avoided being repetitive (the bane of some advent readings). I highly recommend!

[Audrey Ateca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

As usual NT (Tom) Wright provides much food for thought. This is nit a feel good advent devotional though it is full of good news. The thoughts demand that I think and meditate and act on what God is saying and doing. How will I respond?

[Matthew Colvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like some ghostwriter recycled Wright's observations from his "For Everyone" series of popular commentaries and arranged them with readings from a lectionary for Advent.

[George Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Advent devotional. Thoughtful, helpful - what you would expect from N.T. Wright.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good meditations, although they might have been shorter given the stresses of the season

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love N.T. Wright and his writing, but this one just failed to keep my attention. I think it was on me and I was the one distracted, but I really struggled to finish this book. Great themes in here, though, and a wonderful Advent reminder of the coming of Christ during Christmas and in the future.

[Amy Jacobsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good devotional just not specifically as strong of Advent themes as I was hoping for.

[Christian Wermeskerch]

Not Christmas, but ended a few days early anyway.

[Shayla R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to follow

It was easy and conversational text that made interpretation of the scriptures for all. Nice for groups to use in studies.

[Aden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Advent devotional from N.T. Wight!

[VeeInNY · Rating 4 out of 5]

N T Wright's commentary on the familiar seasonal Scriptures provide depth and perspective worthy of pause and reflection. He has become a welcome companion in pre-dawn readings.

[Scott Firestone · Rating 4 out of 5]

While we often think about focusing on Lent in preparation for Easter, we're often less intentional with Advent. We light a new candle each week, and dive into the craziness and busyness of the season. N.T. Wright's new devotional gives us a chance to slow down and consider Christ's arrival, and what it means for all of us. I'm a big Wright fan, so I was inclined to like this anyway. But it's another solid, approachable, and thoughtful approach to this important season. Definitely recommended.

[Marcas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advent For Everyone is an encouraging short book on Advent from the maestro, NT Wright.
The great scholar calls for cultivation of the virtues, especially for the virtue of patience, by looking to the end, or point, of the Christian story and taking inspiration.

Tom overturns anxious fears of God's 'absence' and decision not to come back immediately to seperate the wheat from the chaff. By focusing on His presence with us as we make our decisions and live out the long obedience in the same direction, like a race that needs to be run. He reminds us of the freedom we have to love and serve real people with real problems and to address together interesting questions. Ultimately, to live lives filled with meaning in freedom.

We can do this by spending quality time with family and in deep enduring friendship, on adventures, and with persons whose darkness may well reflect the darkness of Advent nights in winter, but for whom a light and warmth lies in wait at home, ready for their return. Basically, through it all, be a Sam to Frodos that you know.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read any of my other reviews, you already know that I believe N.T. Wright is one of the greatest theologians, pastors and writers of our era. That opinion is only solidified upon reading this newest of his 3 Advent devotional books, this one for Year C. Admittedly, much of the materials for this volume are recapitulations from sections in his earlier "Everybody" series. Still, there are tweaks and additions specifically for Advent preparations. And, as always, Wright's insights and observations are spot on, and most helpful in helping followers of Christ celebrate his birth and prepare our own lives for going forth from Bethlehem.

Highly recommended Advent resource; while written to correspond to Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary, this could really be used any year for and Advent resource.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theologian and biblical scholar NT Wright provides a brief devotion (scripture translation, commentary, and exploratory question) beginning on the First Sunday of Advent and concluding up to Christmas. The books are great for groups or individual journeys towards Advent. What I enjoyed about these devotions is Wright’s ability to lay some theological depth within a short time with weekly them and each day questions ultimately building up for us to answer for ourselves the question “Who is this Jesus – for me, for the church, for everyone? And how am I ever-deepening that experience?”
The Luke version is for Liturgical Year C (last time was 2018-2019)
Week One: A Time for Encouragement
Week Two: A Time for Renewal
Week Three: A Time for Justice
Week Four: A Time for Celebration