O Come Emmanuel: An Advent Study

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, Advent is often treated as little more than an extended celebration of Christmas. In this short study, Alex Thompson examines the season of Advent as a distinct and important part of the Christian story as it looks forward both to Christ’s arrival and his return in glory. Using the rich imagery of the classic Advent hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” he explores the way the New Testament draws on the Old Testament to express the longing for God’s deliverance in Jesus. Individual readers and small groups alike are invited to reclaim Advent as a Christian season that captures the longing of the church and invites them into deeper commitment to Jesus as Emmanuel, God with us.

Alex Thompson is a professor at Tennessee Wesleyan University and ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as a pastor of Niota and Cedar Springs UMC. His current research focuses on the New Testament, resurrection, and the intersection of pop culture and theology. He lives in rural Tennessee with his wife Mary and their two boys.