Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Matthew 1:22

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.

Together, let's take a closer look at our illuminated Messiah. What did He represent in days past? What does He mean for us today, and more importantly, eternity? Every Messianic theme from Genesis to Revelation has an illuminated portrait of Jesus alongside a treatise, explaining the theology behind every brushstroke that illustrator Tim Gagnon crafted. May they capture your heart and help you discover more about our Jesus.

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

This five-day plan explores various angelic encounters that announced the arrival of the Messiah. We’ll consider Zechariah's doubt, Mary's humility, Joseph's obedience, and the shepherds' exuberance. Angels should not be worshiped, but they model true worship when they sing, “Glory to God in the highest!” This Christmas, marvel with the angels at the Savior born in the city of David who is Christ the Lord.

The story of Christ's birth is central to our celebration of Christmas. This reading plan chronicles the humble beginnings of a Savior the world had been anticipating for centuries. This short collection of readings connects us to the arrival of Emmanuel, a God who is with us.

Join us on this journey to deepen your relationship with Jesus. This is part one of eight in the "Jesus, I Need You" series by Thistlebend Ministries. See also Jesus, I Need You (companion prayer).