I’ve always loved anticipating Christmas. As a kid, months before any decorations were up at the mall, I would be scouring our toy magazines, circling items that caught my eye. My excitement only grew once the Christmas music, the decorating, the baking, and—in full disclosure—the present peaking began (I’m not sure why my mom thought the guest room was a good place to hide gifts. So obvious.).
Well, now I’m an adult with my own children, and it’s time to get them excited for Christmas! I don’t think I’ll have a hard time getting my two- year old to follow in his mother’s footsteps. He was asking for Christmas music before Thanksgiving. But I don’t want him to just be excited about Christmas lights, snowmen, and presents.
I pray that the time leading up to Christmas will help our sons grow in their excitement and understanding of the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, the Savior of the world.
Using an advent calendar is a great way to build anticipation and teach at the same time. I’ve put together a list of 25 sets of verses to use (along with chocolate of course) in an advent calendar for our family.
I have the list of verses below as a resource. Each day focuses on a simple sentence about who Jesus is or why he came. The last couple of days focus on the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. I just put each day’s worth of verses in a small envelope or bag (see picture).
In addition to this advent calendar, we also read through God is in the Manger, a book of advent readings by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Each reading is accompanied by a passage of scripture.
If you have teenagers in your home, this book would be a great way to get them involved.
I pray you have a wonderful season of anticipation!
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DECEMBER 1: We anticipate Jesus’ birthday—just like Simeon anticipated Jesus’ birth over 2,000 years ago!
Isaiah 11:1 – A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Luke 2:25-26 – And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
DECEMBER 2: Jesus is God’s Son
2 Peter 1:17 – For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.”
DECEMBER 3: Jesus came because God loves us.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
DECEMBER 4: Jesus came because we are sinners separated from God.
Genesis 3:6-7 – When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Isaiah 59:2 – But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
1 Timothy 1:14 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst.
DECEMBER 5: Jesus paid the price for our sins.
Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Hebrews 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
DECEMBER 6: Jesus wants to show us the way to eternal life with the Father.
John 14:6-7 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.
John 3:36 – He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
DECEMBER 7: Because of Jesus, we can have peace!
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
DECEMBER 8: Because of Jesus, we can have hope!
1 Peter 1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
DECEMBER 9: Because of Jesus, we can love!
1 John 4:19 – We love, because He first loved us.
DECEMBER 10: Because of Jesus, we can have true joy—right now!
John 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 17:13 – But now I come to you; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
Psalm 16:11 – You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
DECEMBER 11: He is the Alpha and Omega.
Revelation 1:8 – “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 21:6 – And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”
Revelation 22:13 – I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
DECEMBER 12: He is the Lamb of God.
John 1:29 – The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
DECEMBER 13: He is the Door.
John 10:9 – I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
DECEMBER 14: He is the Good Shepherd.
John 10:14-15 – I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
DECEMBER 15: He is the light of the world.
Isaiah 9:2,6 - The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land. The light will shine on them. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
DECEMBER 16: He is the Bread of Life.
John 6:35 – Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:51 – “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
DECEMBER 17: He is the King of Kings.
Revelation 19:16 – On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
DECEMBER 18: Jesus is the greatest gift!
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
DECEMBER 19: Jesus’ mother was Mary.
Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Luke 1:30-33 – The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
DECEMBER 20: Mary was to be married to Joseph.
Matthew 1:20-23 – An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.“
DECEMBER 21: Angels announced the good news that the Savior was born.
Luke 2: 8-14 – In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
DECEMBER 22: Shepherds came to worship Jesus.
Luke 2:15-20 – When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who had heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
DECEMBER 23: Simeon finally sees His savior!
Luke 2:27-35 – And he [Simeon] came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
DECEMBER 24: Wisemen came to worship Jesus.
Mathew 2:9-11 – The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they say the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
DECEMBER 25: Today we celebrate Jesus, our Savior’s, birthday!
Isaiah 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is give, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Revelation 22:16 – I, Jesus have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.
Luke 2:11 - For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
