Simple Advent Devotions for Families
As the holidays draw near, providing an advent devotion for families in your church is a great resource. It helps prepare hearts, reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas, and allows families to spend time with one another. The following are 2 simple advent devotions to brighten the Christmas season with God's promises and joy!
Joy
Spend this December exploring the joy that Jesus brings to the world! Begin by creating a countdown until Christmas. Write down numbers 1 to 25 on paper, a whiteboard, or a chalkboard. Every day, invite one family member to cross off a number (starting with the biggest and moving to the smallest) and announce how many days are left until Christmas. Gather together as a family each Sunday and read these small devotionals.
Sunday, Dec. 4th - Read Romans 15:13
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
What gives us joy this Christmas season? What gives us joy during the rest of the year? There is a gift that lasts all year long and forever. It is not a present that you unwrap from paper. Presents are great, but they don't last forever. Joy, however, can last forever. This joy comes from letting go of sin and accepting Jesus into our hearts. When we do this, we are filled with what Romans 15:13 says, "all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." When we trust God, we are given the gift of joy! This is because we know that we are in a close relationship with God and will one day be in heaven with Him. As you think about joy this holiday season, remember Jesus and how he came to this earth as a gift for you and me to have everlasting joy in Him!
Family activity:
Sing or listen to Joy to the World as a family as you decorate for the season! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFQzala2WXk&ab_channel=AnneMurray-Topic
Sunday, Dec. 10th – Read 2 Corinthians 9:15
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
What is the gift of Jesus? Jesus came to this earth to save us from our sins, which had separated us from God. The ultimate separation and result of sin is death. When we accept the gift of Jesus, the fear of death is no more. We are given the promise of heaven and eternal life. The sorrow and fear of death become the joy and peace of life in Jesus! What could be a more meaningful gift than this? We can give God thanks for his indescribable gift. We can be joyful because we know where we are going. We can have joy now because our relationship with God begins today…and lasts forever!
Family Activity:
Take time praying together. Spread the joy with others and volunteer as a family at a local shelter, hospital, or church outreach event.
Sunday, Dec. 17th- Read Matthew 2:10-12
"When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. 11 The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So, they returned to their country on a different road."
The wise men were WISE to trust God. Do you ever feel uncertain about trusting God? It isn't easy to trust and know you are safe sometimes. The amazing thing about God is that HE ALWAYS DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO. This is the definition of being trustworthy. God is perfect and we can trust Him. When the wise men followed the star, they found Jesus there. They trusted God, and God did what He said He would! Then, the wise men were filled with joy! When we trust God, we can let go of our fears. We can rest in His arms and know that He will do what He promises that He will do. As a result, we will be filled with joy, just like the wise men were. So, let's be wise too. Let's trust God so that our fear can go away and it can be replaced with joy!
Family Activity:
Make Christmas star-shaped cookies together. Talk about how we can follow the Holy Spirit's leading and the Word of God like the Wisemen put their faith in God and followed the star.
Sunday, Dec. 24th- Read Luke 2:8-11
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."
The shepherds were terrified when they saw these powerful great angels from God. But the angels told them right away, DO NOT BE AFRAID! They were there to bring good news that would give everyone great joy. The savior Jesus was born, and he is the Messiah. Messiah means promised deliverer of our sins. God's promise had come, and Jesus was finally there for the shepherds to see. They must have felt even more excited than we do on Christmas morning when we bound down the stairs and run to see all the Christmas gifts. Christmas presents are fantastic, don't get me wrong, but can you imagine how it would feel for God's angels to tell you that He has come to save you because of how much He loves you?! Amazing. This is what Christmas is all about. This is why we celebrate and give gifts to one another… to remember God's incredible gift: the gift of our relationship with Him and the promise of heaven!
Family Activity:
Drive around your local community in the evening and look at all the Christmas lights and decorations. Another great idea is Christmas caroling around your neighborhood with family, friends, and neighbors.
Christmas Story Daily Verse
Change it up this year by hiding an elf from the book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. When kids wake up each morning in December, they will have the exciting time of finding where the elf is hidden. Take this opportunity to hide the elf next to the Bible in different places around the house each day. Then read the verse and question of the day. This daily reflection will begin December 1st and go to December 20th, just five days before Christmas!
December 1st Luke 2:1 What is a census?
December 2nd Luke 2:2 What authority did a governor have in Syria? (See https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001749)
December 3rd Luke 2:3 What town are your parents from?
December 4th Luke 2:4 Who was David? (See 2 Samuel 5:1-5)
December 5th Luke 2:5 Who was the father of Mary's child? (See Luke 1:30-38)
December 6th Luke 2:6 Do you know any babies who were recently born? Or do you remember a sibling being born?
December 7th Luke 2:7 What animals do you think lived in the barn where Jesus was born?
December 8th Luke 2:8 What is a shepherd's job?
December 9th Luke 2:9 What do you think it is like to see an angel?
December 10th Luke 2:10 How do you think the shepherds felt to be the ones getting this announcement?
December 11th Luke 2:11 What does Messiah mean? (Hint: Other names for Jesus.)
December 12th Luke 2:12 How will the shepherds know they found the right baby? Where will he be?
December 13th Luke 2:13 How many angels do you think is a multitude/host? (Hint: A LOT!)
December 14th Luke 2:14 What are the angels doing? (Hint: When we sing in church.)
December 15th Luke 2:15 Did the shepherds obey God's messengers, the angels?
December 16th Luke 2:16 Would you hurry too? Would you be excited after you saw those angels?
December 17th Luke 2:17 Why is it important to tell others about Jesus?
December 18th Luke 2:18 Jesus is God's gift to us! Are you amazed when you receive a good gift?
December 19th Luke 2:19 What does ponder mean?
December 20th Luke 2:20 Did God keep his promise and do what He said He would do?
