Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Matthew 1:23

Anticipate and celebrate the joy of Christ's birth by taking a closer look at Isaiah's prophecy regarding the coming Messiah in Isaiah 9:6-7. There is no more extraordinary Christmas gift than the gift of Jesus Christ. Joy to the World, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace has come!

Not many people knew about the first Christmas when Jesus was born physically on earth. Just a handful of people celebrated the first Christmas and were blessed. Even today, while many people celebrate Christmas, not everyone is blessed during this season. Let's take time to learn how to position ourselves for heaven's attention this Christmas.

Christmas is a time to pause, ponder, and praise the gift Jesus. Rather than succumbing to the unwanted burden of financial and social obligations, we must intentionally seek stillness to hear the voice of God. Much of our loss of peace comes with the financial pressures we feel when the emphasis of the season is on buying gifts.This plan will help you focus on what really matters at Christmas.

Does comparison steal your holiday joy? Do you feel constant pressure to look better, be better, or have better things during the holiday season? If you've ever felt discouraged after scrolling social media or disheartened after learning about a friend's fabulous holiday--stress not! This plan is for you. Author and podcast host Heather Creekmore takes you on a 4-day practical and relatable journey to help you enjoy a comparison-free Christmas.

Christmas is a time to celebrate the greatest gift of all, Jesus. Looking at the story of Christ's anticipated arrival at Christmas reminds us that Jesus came to be the fulfillment of God's promises and faithfulness. All our hopes and prayers are answered in the presence of Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.

At Christmastime, Advent calendars serve as tangible reminders of expectation slowly moving toward fulfillment. Likewise, the Old Testament records how the failures and weaknesses of God’s people created a longing and a need for a perfect King to come. This four-day plan reminds us that Jesus’ birth wasn’t an isolated event but the fulfillment of God’s promise to establish His kingdom forever. In Christ alone we find our long-expected, perfect King.

It’s easy to feel small in a world filled with seven billion people, especially when there are people with titles like president, king, or even influencer. But most of the people in the Christmas story weren’t all that powerful or famous, and yet they played a part in one of the greatest stories ever told! This four-day devotional will remind us that everyone has a role in God’s story.

A four-day Christmas-themed devotional with Chris Tomlin, based around four songs off his project, ‘Emmanuel: Christmas Songs of Worship.'

The Bible tells the wonderful story of Jesus' birth – but what was happening behind the scenes? Have we added to the story? Believed things that aren't true? Let’s take a look at scholars’ further scrutiny of God’s Word and into the customs of the times to learn even more about the cast of characters and our Savior’s entrance into the world on that amazing night.

Discover the wonder of the Christmas story with fresh eyes - looking deeper at the tough experiences, challenging settings, and real people it's made up of. At its heart, the Nativity isn't a cute kids' play: it's the gritty, wondrous story of Jesus entering the mess and madness of the human world.