This creative exploration of Advent guides readers to rediscover the power of the events leading up to the birth of Christ. The four questions of Luke chapter 1, as posed by Zechariah, Mary, Elizabeth, and the people in the Temple, spur readers to personal reflection on disappointment, inadequacy, openness, and trust.

In Exploring Advent with Luke: Four Questions for Spiritual Growth, Timothy Clayton deftly shows how Luke composed this first chapter of his gospel to deepen understanding of the birth of Jesus and how meditation on the four questions posed by its main characters can help resolve issues that hinder the joy of Christmas. Designed to be used on a weekly basis through Advent and during the Twelve Days of Christmas, this reflective guide is ideal for individual and small-group use. Clayton’s insight is reminiscent of Henri Nouwen or Thomas Merton and brings the story of Christ’s birth to life anew.