This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. – 1 John 4:10

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 four candles on your Advent wreath.

Read the following verse aloud:

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

– Isaiah 9:2

Someone asks:

Why do we light the fourth candle?

Someone responds: 

The fourth candle reminds us that God demonstrated His love by sending His Son Jesus to be born in a manger and suffer and die for our sins, so we may live forever with Him.

Read the following verse aloud:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

– John 3:16

Take turns reading through this part of the Christmas story:

Luke 2:8-20

Discussion Questions

  1. God could have wiped out all humans and started over, but He chose to sacrifice Jesus so He could rescue us. What does this tell us about God?
  2. How does the birth of Jesus show us God’s love?
  3. In what ways can we allow God’s love to pour out through us into the lives of others?

Sing the following carol together:

Away in a Manger

As you read your daily devotions this week, light four candles and thank Jesus for being our Love.

Download the Advent PDF here.

This excerpt originally appeared in Unwrapping the Name of Jesus: An Advent Devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu.


Asheritah Ciuciu headshotAsheritah 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