How Does Advent Work ?
Each week of Advent, gather around your candle holder and light the candle for that week. Begin with the darkest candle and move to the progressively lighter candles as you advance toward Christmas.
Read through the content online about each candle's meaning—Hope, Peace, Joy, or Love and take a moment to pray together, asking the Lord to form that truth in your hearts as you prepare for Christ’s coming.
On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, light the large center “Christ Candle”, celebrating the arrival of Jesus, the Light of the World.
Let this simple weekly rhythm help your home slow down, reflect, and worship as you anticipate His coming.
Read through the content online about each candle's meaning—Hope, Peace, Joy, or Love and take a moment to pray together, asking the Lord to form that truth in your hearts as you prepare for Christ’s coming.
On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, light the large center “Christ Candle”, celebrating the arrival of Jesus, the Light of the World.
Let this simple weekly rhythm help your home slow down, reflect, and worship as you anticipate His coming.
Christmas Advent Devotional
Read This Together:
Christmas is a story we wait for every year. Kids wait for gifts. Families wait for gatherings. But the very first Christmas came after hundreds of years of waiting. God’s people had been watching, hoping, and trusting that He would keep His promise.When Jesus finally arrived, His birth wasn’t random or sentimental. The stable, the manger, the shepherds—every detail was intentional.
From the very beginning, God was making something clear: Jesus didn’t come to become the sacrifice. Jesus came as the sacrifice.The manger is not separate from the cross. It’s deeply connected. Christmas is the moment God gives us His perfect gift—the Better Lamb—who would take away our sin and restore our relationship with Him.
Scripture:
Luke 2:4–14 (NIV) (You may read the full passage together or select verses 7, 11–12, and 14.)
A Short Reflection:
Long-awaited moments carry deep meaning. Birth stories are told and retold because waiting makes arrival sweeter. And Jesus’ birth had been awaited longer than any other.
From Genesis onward, God promised that He would provide a Lamb. Abraham spoke it in faith. Isaiah described Him clearly. Micah even named the town where He would be born.
Bethlehem—known for shepherds and sacrificial lambs—became the birthplace of the Better Lamb. Jesus was wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger, just as spotless lambs were carefully prepared for sacrifice. Shepherds, who understood lambs better than anyone, were the first invited to see Him.
From the very beginning, God made Jesus’ purpose clear:
He did not arrive as a conquering hero over us, but as a sacrificial Lamb for us.
That’s why the angels didn’t tell people to analyze or explain the moment—they invited them to worship.
Christmas isn’t just a story to remember.
It’s a Savior to adore.
Talk About It Together:
For Kids:
What do you think it felt like to wait for Jesus to be born?
Why do you think God chose a manger instead of a palace?
What does it mean that Jesus is God’s special gift to us?
For Teens:
Why do you think God planned Jesus’ birth so carefully?
How does knowing Jesus came as a sacrifice change how you see Christmas?
What does worship look like beyond singing songs?
For Adults:
How does seeing Christmas through the lens of sacrifice deepen your gratitude?
In what ways can our family respond to Jesus with worship this season?
What distractions might keep us from truly honoring Christ at Christmas?
A Simple Prayer:
Jesus,Thank You for being the Lamb God promised long ago.
Thank You for coming not just to be admired, but to be worshiped. Help our family remember that Christmas is about You—Your love, Your sacrifice, and Your peace.
May our lives bring You glory, just like the angels did that night.
Amen.
