• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Recent Issues
      • September/October 2023September/October 2023
      • July/August 2023July/August 2023
      • May/June 2023May/June 2023
      • January/February 2023January/February 2023
      • March/April 2023March/April 2023
      • November/December 2022November/December 2022
      • More…
  • Authors
      • Stuart OlyottStuart Olyott
      • Tony BrownTony Brown
      • Wayne ProbertWayne Probert
      • Sophie KillingleySophie Killingley
      • Sarah EbenezarSarah Ebenezar
      • Kerry OrchardKerry Orchard
      • Tom OlsonTom Olson
      • John SnyderJohn Snyder
      • Ceri DouglassCeri Douglass
      • AnonAnon
      • More…
  • Sections
      • Bible
      • Church
      • Comment
      • Faith
      • History
      • Life
      • Mission
      • My story
      • Prayer
      • Remembering
      • Reviews
      • Theology
  • Subscribe

Book review — Repeat the Sounding Joy

Book: Repeat the Sounding JoyAuthor: Christopher AshPublisher: The Good Book CompanyRetail Price: £7.99 (buy now)
Review by Jonathan Williams1 minute readNovember/December 2020, page 28

Repeat the Sounding Joy

In this advent devotional, Christopher Ash asks whether we are overfamiliar with the Christmas story. He follows it with a challenge, ‘What if you could experience it afresh?’ The 24 daily readings focus on Luke 1 and 2, concentrating on one thought each day. He makes clear that the purpose of these readings is not to merely ‘wait’ for Christmas to arrive, but to prepare our hearts and shape us for the wonder of what Christmas really means.

Ash talks about the ‘double edge’ of Advent: the time to reflect on the arrival of our Saviour while, at the same time, waiting for his eventual return, ‘…publicly, unmistakeably, in glory and great power.’ Ash says that the more deeply we understand the first advent, the more passionately we will long for his return.

The structure of the daily readings is set out in a very helpful format. Each chapter starts with a number of verses from Luke – Ash works through each chapter in a systematic order. A few pages of devotional thoughts are followed by a well-known carol or hymn. Reading the carols and hymns in this way, following directly on from the devotional pages, brings the old lyrics to life in a refreshing way that somehow makes them seem ‘new’ and even more powerful. Each chapter finishes with a personal ‘journal’ space – room for the reader to record their thoughts. This works equally well for an individual reader, as for a family.

‘Repeat the Sounding Joy’ is a great devotional to use during advent – one which, as Ash hopes, will help us ‘…celebrate his arrival at the first Christmas.’

Found this helpful? Like, share or tweet

Want more like this? Get the latest articles direct by email every week:

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Your personal details are safe. We won’t spam you, or pass your details onto anyone else. You can unsubscribe at any time.

About the reviewer

Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams is a deacon at St Mellons Baptist Church, Cardiff.

Read next

Book review — The Little Him Book – Looking at Jesus who makes our hearts sing
by Sheila Stephen
Book review — In the Presence of My Enemies: Psalms 25-37
by Jonathan Hodgins
Book review — Embracing Complementarianism
by Jonny Raine
Book review — Teach Me to Feel – Worshipping Through the Psalms in Every Season of Life
by Sheila Stephen
Book review — Priscilla, Where Are You? – A call to joyful theology
by Sheila Stephen
Book review — The Grand Tour
by Sheila Stephen
Book review — Relationships – How do I make things right?
by Sheila Stephen
Book review — Right With God
by Sheila Stephen

Primary Sidebar

Like us on Facebook

Evangelical Magazine

Latest issue

Popular articles

  • What is ‘praying in the Spirit’ and how do we pray in this way? by Stuart Olyott
    97 likes
  • Golgotha - Why was Jesus crucified outside the city? by Mark Barnes
    32 likes
  • Success Is Our Only Option by Sammy Davies
  • Until we meet again by Alun Ebenezer
    182 likes
  • Sharing Jesus with Mormon Missionaries by Tony Brown
    48 likes

The Evangelical Magazine is published by the Evangelical Movement of Wales.
Waterton Cross Business Park, South Road, Bridgend CF31 3UL.
Registered charity number 222407. View our privacy policy.