I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. – Luke 2:10
If you are going through this devotional with your family, you can go to onethingalone.com/advent and print out the questions and Scripture readings on separate slips of paper and distribute them among your family members in order to involve everyone. Most of these components are simple enough for even small children to read alone or with help.
Open in prayer.
Light the first three candles on your Advent wreath.
Read the following verse aloud:
“Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.”
– Psalm 97:11-12
Someone asks:
Why do we light the third candle?
Someone responds:
The third candle reminds us that Jesus’ birth brings joy to all who believe in Him, so we join all of creation in celebrating Him.
Read the following verses aloud:
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”
– Matthew 2:10-11a
Take turns reading through this part of the Christmas story:
Luke 2:1-7
Discussion Questions:
- When Jesus was born, God sent angels to announce Jesus’ birth and also a star to celebrate. The wise men saw the star and traveled a long way to find and worship Jesus. What do these acts tell us about God?
- How does the birth of Jesus give us joy?
- In what ways can we spread the joy of Christmas to others?
Sing the following carol together:
Joy to the World
As you read your daily devotions this week, light three candles and thank Jesus for being our Joy.
Download the Advent PDF here.
This excerpt originally appeared in Unwrapping the Name of Jesus: An Advent Devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu.
Asheritah Ciuciu is a writer, speaker and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries – an online community of women who find joy in Jesus through creative spiritual disciplines. She’s also the author of several books, including her newest, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional (Moody, October 2017). Asheritah grew up in Romania as a missionary kid and lives with her high school sweetheart and spunky children in northeast Ohio. Her passion is leading busy women deeper with Jesus in the midst of their everyday lives both in her local church and online at www.OneThingAlone.com