How To Use This Reading Guide

A passage of scripture, prayer, or song is provided for each day of the week, Monday–Saturday, with Sunday as a day to reflect on the sermon. You may either read and sing these on your own, or have them read and sung to you by a member of our congregation. To access this content, please follow us on social media (www.facebook.com/cornerstonewla or @cornerstonewla  on Instagram). Lyrics for a second weekly song are also provided, and this can be sung each day of the week as well.

You may notice that some of the selected scripture passages feel more connected to the Christmas story than others. But all are intended to set your mind on the hope we have in Jesus. As you ponder the meaning of this Advent season, we encourage you to meditate each day on these three questions: 

1. What does this teach or remind us about what is true of God?
2. What does this teach or remind us about what is true of ourselves?
3. How does this encourage us to set our hope on Christ? This can be done alone or in community (as part of your community group, or with family, neighbors, roommates, or friends).

We recommend that you read the daily passage or prayer (or listen to the song), reflect on the three questions above, and then sing the weekly song. Some people also choose to light a candle to commemorate the time of Advent. For extra resources to guide your devotional time in this season, see the “Expanded Resources” section at the end, including sermons, albums, and books.

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 14th

Isaiah 64:1-9

God’s power is proclaimed by a people confessing their sin before Him. As they pray for deliverance, they appeal to God as their Creator and Father. 

Tuesday, December 15th

Psalm 103

A psalm praising God as a compassionate father, steadfast in love and mercy. 

Wednesday, December 16th

Song: O Come All Ye Faithful

Thursday, December 17th

Iohn 1:1-13

John opens his gospel by speaking of the true light who comes into the world and gives us the right to become children of God. 

Friday, December 18th

Revelation 21:1-7

John closes his last letter with a vision of the eternal protection and provision that will be in heaven for those who accept the saving grace of Christ. 

Saturday, December 19th

The Prayer of Love, The Valley of Vision, p. 149

GRACIOUS LORD,
Thy name is love,
 in love receive my prayer.
My sins are more than the wide sea’s sand,
 but where sin abounds, there is grace more abundant.
Look to the cross of thy beloved Son,
 and view the preciousness of his atoning blood;
Listen to his never-failing intercession,
 and whisper to my heart, ‘Thy sins are forgiven,
 be of good cheer, lie down in peace.’
Grace cataracts from heaven and flows for ever,
 and mercy never wearies in bestowing benefits.
Grant me more and more to prize the privilege of prayer,
 to come to thee as a sin-soiled sinner,
 to find pardon in thee,
 to converse with thee;
 to know thee in prayer as
 the path in which my feet tread,
 the latch upon the door of my lips,
 the light that shines through my eyes,
 the music of my ears,
 the marrow of my understanding,
 the strength of my will,
 the power of my affection,
 the sweetness of my memory.
May the matter of my prayer be always wise, humble, submissive,
 obedient, scriptural, Christ-like.
Give me unwavering faith that supplications are never in vain,
 that if I seem not to obtain my petitions
 I shall have larger, richer answers,
 Surpassing all that I ask or think.
Unsought, thou hast given me the greatest gift,
 the person of thy Son,
 and in him thou wilt give me all I need.

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be?
Which inspire your heavenly songs?
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid,
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Saviour’s birth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!