Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Matthew 1:20

By mid-December, many already hate Christmas. We are tired of the carols and the parties, and our tree is starting to die. There are a lot of reasons that people hate Christmas. But, what if all of the hatred is because what we hoped for isn’t reality? This year, set aside the hate and come expecting something new as we dive into Advent themes of the season.

Would you like to welcome this Christmas with something special? Read this special Christmas devotional from Our Daily Bread for 5 consecutive days, entitled O' Holy Night. May this reading help prepare your heart to experience the true meaning of Christmas, which is far greater than just a beautiful event on a holy night.

Christmas is one of the most refreshing and enjoyable times of the year yet so often, we get lost in the marketing maze of buying more and having the newest. This small Christmas devotional plan is designed to refocus us on the meaning of the season—the love of a Father, the gift of a Son, and the advent of a heavenly Kingdom in our midst.

As we look towards Christmas, can you feel that festive feeling building on the inside? This devotional is an advent based devotional, as we look with anticipation towards the birth of Christ. All of the Christmas festivities we know and treasure are founded on our expectation and hope in Christ, and what joy it is to celebrate his coming on Christmas Day!

Advent fills us with anticipation leading up to Jesus' miraculous birth. In this plan, discover how the need for a Savior was part of God's "perfect plan" all along. We find hope in the lineage of Jesus, recognize that God is our perfect Father, understand the need for humility, and take full confidence that the Peace of Christ goes with us this Christmas season and beyond.

As you rediscover Christmas in these devotions, you will find your heart opening to the wider field of God’s Love, empowering you to participate in the new Creation Story launched at Christmas and extending far beyond the Christmas season.

The Christmas season serves as a time to remember the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Usually, when our calendar flips to December, our first reaction is to start listening to our favorite classic Christmas carols. But have any of us stopped to think about the depth of the lyrics that we’ve been singing every year since we were little? Join us as we adventure through “Melodies of Hope,” a series of Christmas carols that dive deep into the scriptures that inspired them.

Celebrating Christmas is a tradition many of us look forward to all year. We play music, decorate trees, and throw parties all through December. This Advent reading plan aims to help in those celebrations by exploring the themes of the Christmas story. This plan can be read with friends or as a family (kids too!). Use the “Application Questions” for groups to center the conversation on Jesus. And, for families, use “Next Steps”, to find creative ways to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

This Advent season, anticipate the celebration of Christmas with oral Bible stories. Listen to a story based on Scripture, reflect on its themes and journal with the Lord. May you be encouraged as you prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of our King Jesus!

This Advent, spend time in the opening verses of John’s Gospel reflecting on what these verses reveal to us about who Jesus is.