You tell yourself this December will be different. Slower. More about Jesus and less about the list. And then somewhere between the gift buying, the grocery runs, and the calendar filling up, the month slips past faster than you can catch it.
If that sounds like you too, friend, there is no condemnation here. Most of us don’t need a bigger plan for Advent. We need a simpler one: something we can open each day, read with our kids, and actually finish.
That’s what this is. A 25-day Advent Bible reading plan that walks your family from the very first page of Scripture all the way to the manger, one short passage at a time, December 1 through Christmas Day.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
Why Read the Whole Story During Advent?
It’s easy to start the Christmas story in Luke 2. But Jesus didn’t show up out of nowhere. God had been promising Him since the garden. When kids hear the promise in Genesis, the star in Numbers, the Branch from Jesse in Isaiah, and then see every one of those promises come true in Bethlehem, Christmas stops being just a sweet story. It becomes proof that God keeps His word.
- It shows kids that the whole Bible points to Jesus
- It builds trust: God keeps His promises, even the ones that take thousands of years
- It gives you one small, doable thing to do together every day
Your Free 25-Day Advent Bible Reading Plan
Print this page, screenshot it, or just pull it up each evening. Read the passage out loud from your own Bible. That’s it. If you miss a day, simply catch up or pick up on today’s reading. The goal isn’t a perfect streak — it’s a family that keeps coming back to Jesus.
| Day | Theme | Read together |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1 | In the Beginning | John 1:1-5 |
| Dec 2 | The First Promise | Genesis 3:1-15 |
| Dec 3 | A Promise in the Sky | Genesis 9:8-17 |
| Dec 4 | Abraham’s Family | Genesis 12:1-3 |
| Dec 5 | A Star Out of Jacob | Numbers 24:15-17 |
| Dec 6 | The Lion of Judah | Genesis 49:8-10 |
| Dec 7 | The Root of Jesse | Isaiah 11:1-5 |
| Dec 8 | King David | 2 Samuel 7:12-16 |
| Dec 9 | A Sign: Immanuel | Isaiah 7:10-14 |
| Dec 10 | His Name Shall Be Called | Isaiah 9:2-7 |
| Dec 11 | Little Bethlehem | Micah 5:2-4 |
| Dec 12 | A Great Light | Isaiah 9:1-2 |
| Dec 13 | Prepare the Way | Isaiah 40:1-5 |
| Dec 14 | Zacharias and Elisabeth | Luke 1:5-17 |
| Dec 15 | Gabriel Visits Mary | Luke 1:26-33 |
| Dec 16 | Mary Says Yes | Luke 1:34-38 |
| Dec 17 | Mary’s Song | Luke 1:46-55 |
| Dec 18 | Joseph’s Dream | Matthew 1:18-25 |
| Dec 19 | Zacharias Sings | Luke 1:67-79 |
| Dec 20 | The Journey to Bethlehem | Luke 2:1-5 |
| Dec 21 | No Room in the Inn | Luke 2:6-7 |
| Dec 22 | Good Tidings for Shepherds | Luke 2:8-12 |
| Dec 23 | Glory to God | Luke 2:13-15 |
| Dec 24 | Christmas Eve: Come and See | Luke 2:15-20 |
| Dec 25 | Christmas Day: The Word Became Flesh | John 1:9-14 |
How to Make It Stick With Kids
A few simple habits make a big difference, especially with little ones:
- Pick one anchor time. Breakfast, after dinner, or bedtime. Tie it to something you already do every day.
- Keep it short. Read the passage, ask one question, pray one sentence. Ten minutes is plenty.
- Ask instead of explain. “Why do you think God made a promise on such a sad day?” lets kids discover the story for themselves.
- Make it visible. A paper star on the fridge or a Scripture card on the table each day keeps the countdown in front of everyone.
- Give yourself grace. Some nights it will be one verse and a quick prayer. That still counts.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Want It All Printed and Ready?
If you’d love this plan already laid out for you, I turned it into a printable family Advent devotional called Prepare Him Room. Each day has the key verse written out in the King James Version, a short family talk kids can understand, a question to ask, a simple activity, and a prayer, plus 25 Advent Scripture cards to cut out for your countdown.
And for your own quiet time, there’s a companion journal for women, O Come, Let Us Adore Him. It follows the same 25 days with a short reflection, journal questions, and a prayer prompt, so you and your kids are walking through the same Scripture together.
Both are instant downloads you can print at home tonight.
Want both? The Advent Devotional Bundle gives you the family devotional and the women’s journal together for $12 (also on Etsy). Hosting Christmas this year? The Christmas Bundle adds the Christmas Table & Hosting Planner, with menus, a grocery list by aisle, and a cook-ahead timeline, all for $15.
Make Room for Him This Year
There was no room for Jesus in the inn that first Christmas. This December, we get to choose differently. Not by doing more, but by making a little space each day to open the Word and remember why He came.
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7 (KJV)
Start December 1. Read one passage. Ask one question. Pray one prayer. And watch how the Christmas story comes alive in your home, one promise at a time.
Want to keep Christmas peaceful for your budget too? Read How to Save for Christmas: Sinking Funds Made Simple.
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Shelby McCallum is the founder of Grace & Grit Living, a Christian lifestyle blog dedicated to helping women grow in biblical stewardship, simple living, and faith-centered motherhood. Through practical Bible study guides, encouragement for everyday life, and Christ-centered routines, she writes to help women deepen their relationship with God and apply Scripture to daily living.