“That deep ache you feel isn’t something to fix—it’s a holy longing for the Savior your soul was made to know.” In this special Advent series kickoff, Nicole Unice invites listeners to rediscover the heart of one of the most beloved Christmas hymns, O Come, O Come Emmanuel. With a blend of Scripture, history, and reflection, Nicole explores how this ancient song—written over 1,200 years ago—echoes the human ache for redemption and the promise of “God with us.” Learn how the minor-key melody captures our longing for restoration, how its lyrics draw from 29 different Bible passages, and how Emmanuel’s arrival transforms our grief into hope.

Main Takeaways / Learning Points


Advent invites longing: The season begins with honest reflection on our need for a Savior before celebrating His arrival.


Scripture weaves through song: The six verses of O Come, O Come Emmanuel reference nearly 30 Bible passages, from Isaiah’s prophecies to the Gospels.


Exile and redemption: Israel’s captivity mirrors humanity’s spiritual exile—and Emmanuel’s coming brings true homecoming.


God with us today: Jesus’ name, Emmanuel, assures us that we are never alone. His presence transforms sorrow, fear, and uncertainty into peace and courage.


Worship deepens memory: When we sing truth, it roots in our hearts—anchoring our minds to God’s promises long after the song ends.

Bible Verse References (linked)


Isaiah 7:14 — “The virgin will conceive... and call him Emmanuel.”


Isaiah 35:10 — “The ransomed of the Lord will return to Zion with singing.”


Isaiah 9:2 — “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”


Luke 1:78–79 — “The dayspring from on high has visited us.”


1 Corinthians 15:54–57 — “Death is swallowed up in victory.”


Galatians 4:4 — “When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son.”

Calls to Action (CTAs)


Download Nicole’s free Christmas Eve Family Liturgy:nicoleunice.com/christmas


Subscribe to How to Study the Bible for more Advent reflections.


Share this episode with friends or your small group to spark hope-filled conversation.


Follow Nicole on YouTube for video versions and bonus reflections each week.

Relevant Links / Resources


NicoleUnice.com/christmas — for a Free Family Liturgy


LifeAudio.com — Explore other faith-based podcasts

&ldquo;That deep ache you feel isn&rsquo;t something to fix&mdash;it&rsquo;s a holy longing for the Savior your soul was made to know.&rdquo; In this special Advent series kickoff, Nicole Unice invites listeners to rediscover the heart of one of the most beloved Christmas hymns,&nbsp;O Come, O Come Emmanuel. With a blend of Scripture, history, and reflection, Nicole explores how this ancient song&mdash;written over 1,200 years ago&mdash;echoes the human ache for redemption and the promise of &ldquo;God with us.&rdquo; Learn how the minor-key melody captures our longing for restoration, how its lyrics draw from 29 different Bible passages, and how Emmanuel&rsquo;s arrival transforms our grief into hope.
Main Takeaways / Learning Points
<ul data-start="1171" data-end="1895">
<li data-start="1171" data-end="1300">
Advent invites longing: The season begins with honest reflection on our need for a Savior before celebrating His arrival.
</li>
<li data-start="1301" data-end="1460">
Scripture weaves through song: The six verses of O Come, O Come Emmanuel reference nearly 30 Bible passages, from Isaiah&rsquo;s prophecies to the Gospels.
</li>
<li data-start="1461" data-end="1590">
Exile and redemption: Israel&rsquo;s captivity mirrors humanity&rsquo;s spiritual exile&mdash;and Emmanuel&rsquo;s coming brings true homecoming.
</li>
<li data-start="1591" data-end="1756">
God with us today: Jesus&rsquo; name, Emmanuel, assures us that we are never alone. His presence transforms sorrow, fear, and uncertainty into peace and courage.
</li>
<li data-start="1757" data-end="1895">
Worship deepens memory: When we sing truth, it roots in our hearts&mdash;anchoring our minds to God&rsquo;s promises long after the song ends.
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="1897" data-end="1900">
Bible Verse References (linked)
<ul data-start="1943" data-end="2730">
<li data-start="1943" data-end="2065">
<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/7-14.html" data-start="1945" data-end="2008">Isaiah 7:14</a> &mdash; &ldquo;The virgin will conceive... and call him Emmanuel.&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="2066" data-end="2198">
<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/35-10.html" data-start="2068" data-end="2133">Isaiah 35:10</a> &mdash; &ldquo;The ransomed of the Lord will return to Zion with singing.&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="2199" data-end="2324">
<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/9-2.html" data-start="2201" data-end="2262">Isaiah 9:2</a> &mdash; &ldquo;The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="2325" data-end="2452">
<a data-start="2327" data-end="2403">Luke 1:78&ndash;79</a> &mdash; &ldquo;The dayspring from on high has visited us.&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="2453" data-end="2600">
<a data-start="2455" data-end="2560">1 Corinthians 15:54&ndash;57</a> &mdash; &ldquo;Death is swallowed up in victory.&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="2601" data-end="2730">
<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/galatians/4-4.html" data-start="2603" data-end="2670">Galatians 4:4</a> &mdash; &ldquo;When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son.&rdquo;
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="2732" data-end="2735">
Calls to Action (CTAs)
<ul data-start="2767" data-end="3149">
<li data-start="2767" data-end="2894">
Download Nicole&rsquo;s free Christmas Eve Family Liturgy: <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/christmas/" data-start="2826" data-end="2892">nicoleunice.com/christmas</a>
</li>
<li data-start="2895" data-end="2969">
Subscribe to How to Study the Bible for more Advent reflections.
</li>
<li data-start="2970" data-end="3064">
Share this episode with friends or your small group to spark hope-filled conversation.
</li>
<li data-start="3065" data-end="3149">
Follow <a href="https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice">Nicole on YouTube</a> for video versions and bonus reflections each week.
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="3151" data-end="3154">
Relevant Links / Resources
<ul data-start="3190" data-end="3435">
<li data-start="3190" data-end="3282">
<a href="https://nicoleunice.com/christmas/" data-start="3192" data-end="3258">NicoleUnice.com/christmas</a> &mdash; for a Free Family Liturgy
</li>
<li data-start="3283" data-end="3366">
<a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com" data-start="3285" data-end="3327">LifeAudio.com</a> &mdash; Explore other faith-based podcasts
</li>
</ul>

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do! But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:
💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible 💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life 💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!) 💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more 💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life 💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture
To find more from Nicole, visit <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">https://nicoleunice.com/</a>.

How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible Study Lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and More
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do! But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:
💡 Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible 💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life 💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!) 💡 Topical Bible Study Lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and More 💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life 💡 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture
To find more from Nicole, visit <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">https://nicoleunice.com/</a>.

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