Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas [Paperback]

Nancy Guthrie (Author), R. Kent Hughes (Contributor), Alistair Begg (Contributor), James Montgomery Boice (Contributor), Joseph Ryan (Contributor), John Piper (Contributor), J. Ligon Duncan (Contributor), Randy Alcorn (Contributor), John MacArthur (Contributor), Francis A. Schaeffer (Contributor), R. C. Sproul (Contributor), Joni Eareckson Tada (Contributor), George Whitefield (Contributor), Martin Luther (Contributor), Timothy J. Keller (Contributor), Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Contributor), Jonathan Edwards (Contributor), Charles H. Spurgeon (Contributor), Augustine (Contributor), J. I. Packer (Contributor), John Calvin (Contributor), Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. (Contributor), J. C. Ryle (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 6, 2008

An anthology of Advent readings collected from the writings and sermons of 22 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers.

Between purchasing presents and planning travel, enjoying holiday pageants and attending parties, it is all too easy for Christmas to silence the sacredness and crowd out a quiet anticipation of the season's truths. So when editor Nancy Guthrie decided she wanted a reflective book of Advent readings that would help her pause and consider the riches of Christ come to earth, she embarked on what she calls "a sacred adventure," putting together such a collection herself.

The result-this special volume-draws from the works and sermons of classic theologians such as Whitefield, Luther, Spurgeon, and Augustine, and from leading contemporary communicators such as John Piper, J. Ligon Duncan, Randy Alcorn, John MacArthur, Francis Schaeffer, R. C. Sproul, Skip Ryan, and Joni Eareckson Tada to beckon you and your family into the wonder of Jesus' incarnation and birth.

With its high view of Scripture and its focus on the gift of Jesus, this lovely book is sure to ready your heart and mind for a fresh experience of "Immanuel, God with us" this and every Advent season. Open the cover and discover what Christmas was meant to be…

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

NANCY GUTHRIE teaches at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, speaks at conferences around the country and internationally, and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Covenant Theological Seminary. She and her husband, David, are the co-hosts of the GriefShare video series used in over 6,000 churches around the country and host Respite Retreats for couples who have faced the death of a child. She is the author of numerous books including Holding on to Hope, The One Year Book of Hope, Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow and The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament. She is also the editor of a series of anthologies published by Crossway including Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross, Be Still My Soul, and O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Crossway (August 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433501805
• ISBN-13: 978-1433501807
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Holidays > Christmas
  • #51 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism > Sermons

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Essays from Trusted Authors October 22, 2008

By Rebecca Stark

Format:Paperback

Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus is a collection of short essays on Christmas topics from writers that Nancy Guthrie respects--"essays that reflect a high view of Scripture; and that put the incarnation in the context of God's unfolding plan of redemption."

Included are pieces from the sermons, essays or books of both historical and contemporary Christians. I've decided that listing the contributors would be more useful than anything else in helping you decided whether these are essays you would enjoy reading, so here you are, from first to last:

* George Whitefield
* 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. Ortland, Jr.
* Francis Schaeffer
* J. C. Ryle
* James Montgomery Boice
* R. C. Sproul
* R. Kent Hughes
* Joni Eareckson Tada

Impressive, isn't it?

Some of the specific topics of the reflections are Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, the wisemen's gifts, the Holy Spirit (he did, you remember, have a big role in the incarnation story), Christ's humility, his poverty, and what it means that he became flesh. As you might expect from any collection with pieces from various authors, some are easier to read than others. Some you'll whip through like a summer breeze, and for a few, you'll need your thinking cap.

And as you also might expect, some readings are better than others.... The selections are mostly (maybe always) excerpted from larger works, so when I used the word essay to describe them, that was not quite right. That they are parts of larger wholes shows more in some readings than others. If you are expecting tight packages with precise beginnings, middles, ends, and all strings knotted, you may be disappointed a few times as you read through this book.

As I read, I marked two essays with an X, which is my indication that didn't like it or strongly disagreed with it, and one I marked with a question mark because I am unsure whether its whole premise stands. About half of the rest I enjoyed but didn't love, and I thought nine out of the twenty-two were quite wonderful. I won't be telling you which ones are which, since I read this book over a few weeks and have a hunch I didn't judge consistently over time.

I will tell you that my favorite reading was the last one, A Christmas Longing, by Joni Eareckson Tada. Christmas, Joni says, is still a promise, even for those who live on our side of the first Advent.

"Every Christmas is still a "turning of the page" until Jesus returns. Every December 25 marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment."

Ah yes! We don't reflect on this often enough, do we? Christmas calls us to celebrate a glorious event of the past, but it is (and maybe more so) a call to celebrate what is to come.

All in all, Nancy Guthrie gets a blue ribbon from me for her editing choices. The shortcomings in Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus are minor, and not really shortcomings at all, but rather, the unevenness that comes in any collection of essays, particularly when the selections are taken from many authors and from different centuries. I can't think of a Christmas anthology that is better than this one. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have - for Christmas or anytime! December 1, 2008

By Kristine

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to fully embrace the spirit of Christmas. This is a great anthology featuring insight by many highly esteemed authors and theologians. The variety of perspectives offer insight into the birth of Christ that one may have never considered. This book allowed me the chance to slow down my thoughts a bit, moving away from the commercial aspects of Christmas and really reflecting upon the significance of Christ's birth and the relevance of Christianity.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Eclectic collection features gems of wisdom December 12, 2008

By katesmom

Format:Paperback

In this collection Nancy Guthrie has brought together classic and contemporary Christian authors. She has arranged the 23 advent sermons in order according to the Christmas story. It makes a wonderful early morning companion or family dinner devotional throughout the season of preparing for Christmas. The writings chosen range from the complex to the simple, from the modern to the ancient, but all point the way to the arrival of Jesus as God's loving solution to man's dilemma. Reading one selection at a time, I am discovering authors whose work I will explore further. Well done!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars a great tool for family and personal reflection at Advent February 14, 2011

By J. Greer VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Guthrie's edited anthology of Advent writings from a selection of mostly contemporary Protestant Reformed, theologians and pastors is a great tool for personal and family reflection at the Advent season. There are 22 readings, and unlike many books like this, they are not categorized by a suggested date of reading. Each reading can stand on its own as a reflection and spiritual teaching about a particular part of the Christmas season.

This is a contemporary set of readings, with 12 of the 22 authors still living. The strongest of the writings, I believe is Timothy Keller's excerpt of a sermon from December of 2001, with its references to gift, hurt, pain and God's work with the least of these, showing, tenderly, I think, that everyone is part of the least of these. The sermon was initially given as New York City was dealing with the aftermath of 9/11, and so it is particularly rooted in the shadow of that event.

It would have been great if this book had included some Puritan expositions of the beginning chapters of Matthew or Luke. Otherwise, the only pre-18th century authors here are Augustine, Luther & Calvin. So the depth of this book, from the conservative contemporary Reformed tradition is strong; but it might have greater reach if more older works were included or works from early Medieval or church fathers period were included.

This collection of writings is rich in Biblical exposition of the Advent of Christ and is recommend. The richness of gospel teaching will be a welcome antidote to the frenzy of the secular observances of Christmas.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Blessing December 22, 2009

By midlife reader

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

It is now 3 days before Christmas and I have been reading this each day for the past 20 or so days. The chapters are all written by wonderful Christian thinkers. Jesus has been glorified in my heart, mind and soul and I thank Nancy Guthrie for all the work she put into editing this book. I am going to order several more and give them as gifts next year--at Thanksgiving--so people can have them to prepare their hearts for Christmas.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars good January 14, 2009

By Elaine Wilbur

Format:Paperback

if you are thinking of buying this book, chances are you don't need this review to convince you. this is a good christian perspective on the birth of jesus and christmas. if you are looking for something (like i was) to reorientate your thinking regarding the holiday season, this is a great tool. i would recommend it. it is not light reading. but the excerpts are relatively short.