Advent Bible Reading Plan for Families – Free Printable

Enjoy this free Advent Bible Reading Plan.

The season of Advent is a beautiful season of waiting and hope. It marks the anticipation of Christ, reminding us that even in the busyness of the season, we can pause and remember the coming of the promised Messiah and the Christmas story.

Preparing Your Heart for the Season of Advent

I think preparing for advent this time of year can be intimidating because there is so many options, activities, guides.. almost too many options. I have really had to slow down and see the rhythm of the season for my family, and that is how this guide was created.

We have used this same rhythm for our family over the past four years. The daily activities this guide includes allows for connection and rest, but also prompts the family unit to prepare for the holiday season, like buying presents for each other and making Christmas cookies. And it also give ideas to serve together, like delivering cookies to friends and making card for nursing home residents.

Advent is traditionally celebrated in the month of December, beginning four Sundays before Christmas Day. It’s a sacred time to look back at God’s people longing for the coming of the Messiah, while we ourselves look forward with great expectation for the return of our Newborn King. The light of the world who stepped into the land of deep darkness to bring redemption.

Related Post: Meaningful Christmas Morning Traditions for Families

About This Advent Reading Plan

This printable Advent Reading Plan follows the story of the birth of Jesus Christ through key Scripture passages in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It’s designed as a simple plan, easy enough for families with younger kids, yet rich enough for adults or small groups to use for Bible study or advent reflections.

Each day’s reading traces the story of God unfolding through history, from prophecies about the coming Messiah to the birth of John, and finally to the story of Jesus Himself. By following the days of readings in chronological order, your family will move through the entire nativity story with clear connections to God’s promises and the good news proclaimed in the Gospels of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke.

It’s a great way to bring focus and meaning to the holiday season, drawing your family closer together around Scripture every day and through the Sunday’s of advent.

How to Use This Advent Plan with Your Family

This Advent Bible Reading Plan is designed for flexibility and peace, not pressure. You can start your daily Bible readings on December 1st and continue through Christmas Eve, or begin a few days earlier to allow extra margin for rest.

Here’s how we use it in our home:

Gather at the dinner table each evening with candles lit on your advent wreath or candles on the table.
Open the Jesus Storybook Bible or your favorite translation of Scripture.
Read the day’s daily Scripture readings together and pause for discussion or prayer.
Let little hands color or hang ornaments on your advent calendar as a visual reminder of each story.

Our children love this tradition. It’s a great light in the darkness of winter evenings, helping us slow down and prepare our hearts for the celebration of His birth.

What You’ll Need to Begin:

To get started, simply print out the free Advent Bible Reading Plan.

Items to Gather:

Printed Advent plan and ornaments
A Bible or the Jesus Storybook Bible
Four candles for your advent wreath
Coloring supplies for younger kids
Add the Christmas Advent Guide playlist on Spotify. All the songs are in orde.r
Optional: a journal for your advent reflections or quiet time

Lighting candles, reading Scripture aloud, and reflecting on the story of Christ together has truly become one of our family’s most meaningful rhythms of worship.

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Why Advent Readings Matter

When we open God’s Word each night, we are reminded of the story of God written across centuries. The promise, the waiting, and the fulfillment in the birth of Christ. The advent readings help us slow down and see the connection between the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament fulfillment.

We begin with the story of creation, the fall of man, and the promise that a coming Messiah would crush darkness. We trace the story of Jesus through the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, who spoke of a great light shining in the land of deep darkness. Then, as we move through the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we watch the birth of John pave the way for the birth of Jesus Christ, leading to that night in Bethlehem when the wise men came to worship the newborn King.

Each daily reading centers our hearts on the story of Christ, helping us and our children remember the true meaning of Christmas… the arrival of Emmanuel, “God with us.”

Advent Study Ideas and Reflection Questions

If you’d like to go deeper, you can use this as an advent study for your family Bible time or small groups. Here are a few reflection ideas to guide your discussion:

What do these Bible verses and passages teach us about God’s promises and His faithfulness?
How does this story reveal the coming of the Messiah and God’s plan for salvation?
What can we learn from the humility of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds in the nativity story?
How can we carry this message of good news into our neighborhoods this Christmas?

Even setting aside ten minutes of quiet time each evening makes room for worship and gratitude amid the busyness of the season.

The True Meaning of Christmas

As the days of readings lead you to Christmas Eve, your family will have walked through the entire story of Jesus, from the first promise to the celebration of His birth.

This journey through the entire Bible, from Genesis to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, reminds us that the Bible is one cohesive story pointing to the birth of Christ.

The story of God is not just history. It’s a living hope for us today. As you gather around your dinner table, candles glowing on your table, may your heart overflow with the wonder of the birth of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, who came to rescue and redeem us all.

So as you hang the final ornament and whisper “Merry Christmas,” may you rejoice in the good news of our promised Messiah, the Savior who fulfills every prophecy and promise.

Download your Free Advent Bible Reading Plan for Families here:

Enjoy this Free Advent Reading Guide

Whether you use it for family Bible time, a Bible study with friends, or to guide your own advent reflections, I pray this plan becomes a gentle rhythm of worship in your home during the Christmas season.

Let’s embrace this special season with great expectation, remembering the miracle of Christ’s birth, the hope of the coming Messiah, and the joy of walking in the light of His love.