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Advent sermon series: hope, peace, joy and love
Four Sundays, four themes, one story: the light promised in Isaiah, the King of peace, the joy of Mary's song and the love of God who gives his Son. Its four Sundays in 2026 run from November 29 to December 20.
The hope, peace, joy and love sequence follows the four candles many churches light on an Advent wreath. Each sermon below stands on its own, and together they move from promise to fulfilment, ending on the Sunday before Christmas.
| Sunday | Date | Theme | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Sunday of Advent | November 29, 2026 | Hope | Isaiah 9:2–7 |
| Second Sunday of Advent | December 6, 2026 | Peace | Isaiah 11:1–10 |
| Third Sunday of Advent | December 13, 2026 | Joy | Luke 1:39–56 |
| Fourth Sunday of Advent | December 20, 2026 | Love | John 3:16–17 |
How to plan the series
- Fix the arc first. Promise (Isaiah) leads to fulfilment (Luke and John). Decide what you want people to carry from the first Sunday to Christmas Eve.
- Give each Sunday one sentence. If you cannot say the big idea in a sentence, the sermon is not ready. Each draft here opens with one you can borrow or sharpen.
- Plan the small groups with the sermons. Each page has six discussion questions written from the draft, so groups can follow the series week by week.
- Leave room for Christmas. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day close the series: the Word became flesh (John 1:1–14) and good news of great joy (Luke 2:1–20).
The Sunday before Advent is often Thanksgiving Sunday: see the Thanksgiving sermon on Luke 17:11–19.
Frequently asked
What are the four themes of Advent?
Many churches use hope, peace, joy and love, matching the four candles of the Advent wreath. Some traditions order them differently or use prophets, Bethlehem, shepherds and angels; the drafts here use hope, peace, joy and love.
When are the Sundays of Advent in 2026?
November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20, 2026. Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24.
Can I change the passages?
Yes. In Prepser, put a different passage in the brief and the draft follows it. Isaiah 7:10–14, Micah 5:2–5 and Luke 1:26–38 are common alternatives.
Updated October 26, 2026.