Celebrate Advent With Your Family
For hundreds of years followers of Jesus have prepared themselves to celebrate Jesus’ birth by the lighting of candles.
The light of the candles is an important symbol that reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and that we are called to reflect His light into the world.
As we prepare, we remember history’s longing for a Messiah before Jesus’s birth and what it would have been like to wait and wonder. Advent is also a reminder of our anticipation of the return of Christ, when he will restore the earth to its original state and make right all wrongs.
This guide will walk you through each step.
devotionals
Use the week-by-week guide below to walk your family through each step. The guide contains scriptures, prayers, and notes for further reflection. You will also find directions for lighting each week’s Advent Candle.
We’ve also provided links below to Advent Resources for kids and a playlist to help create the right atmosphere!
candles
Traditional - If a more festive approach suits you, here’s what you’ll need:
Advent Wreath
Candleholders
Three Purple Candles (Hope, Peace, Joy: Weeks 1-3)
One Pink Candle (Love: Week 4)
One Larger White Candle At the Center (Christmas Eve)
Non-Traditional
Any Candles Will Do
Add One Candle Each Week Leading Up To Christmas Eve
Devotion
What oxygen is to the lungs; hope is to the meaning of life. —Emil Brunner
Hope is not optional for healthy humans. We need hope to survive. Without hope, we’re stuck in our circumstances and can’t see our way out of the darkness. When the authors of the bible talk about hope they are not talking about wishful thinking. It’s not, “oh, I hope that’s true.” It is a confident expectation. It is a way of anticipating the future. Let’s read together how the Apostle Paul talks about our future with Jesus.
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[ Romans 8:37-39 ]
For Paul hope is about a Person (Jesus) who makes us new. Real hope is a new heart with Jesus at the center bringing us new wisdom, a new community, and new life.
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For Families with Small Children: Read a Selection From The Jesus Storybook Bible A Christmas Collection or Read p.170-175 (Get Ready) in the Jesus Storybook Bible
Light the Candle
Tonight we are going to light our first Advent candle. This is the hope candle. The light of this fire represents the hope we have in Jesus. Let’s read what Jesus’ best friend said about Jesus
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
[ John 1:9-14 ]
Listen to, Sing, or Read the lyrics to the song O Holy Night
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees,
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born.
O night,
O holy night, O night divine.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees,
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born!
O night,
O holy night, O night divine.
Prayer Together As A Family.
Devotion
A celebration of Jesus’ birth with a sense of adoration, love, and gratitude toward the God who loved us even to the foolishness of giving us his own Son, will be to arrange our life so that the peace that only God can give may brighten it like a sun. —Oscar Romero
Last week we started our Advent season talking about the theme of hope. This week we’re talking about another big idea connected to the Christmas story, and that’s the idea of peace. Do you remember what the angels sang when they appeared to the shepherd boys after Jesus was born? That’s right. They said, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth to those with whom He is pleased.”
At beauty pageants, sometimes contestants are asked, “If you had one wish, what would you wish for?” What do they always answer? “World peace”, of course! Yes, that’s a good answer, but what is peace exactly?
The authors of the Bible use the Hebrew word, Shalom, and it does mean an end to war and conflict, but it also means “complete,” “whole,” or “everything in its right place” — maybe another way to say it is “not broken.”
Our world is broken. It’s interesting that the angels said that Jesus would come to bring peace. But how does Jesus un-break our world? How does He bring wholeness and completeness to God’s good world?
Let’s read together a passage that was written 600 years before Jesus by an ancient Hebrew prophet named Isaiah talking about a future coming of a Savior…
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[ Isaiah 9:6-7 ]
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For Families with Small Children: Read a Selection From The Jesus Storybook Bible A Christmas Collection or Read p.236-243 (The Captain of the Storm) in the Jesus Storybook Bible
Light the Candle
Tonight we are going to light our second Advent candle. Last week we lit the Hope candle. Tonight we light the Peace candle. Listen to the words Jesus left his friends:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. [ John 14:27 ]
And to the Apostle Paul’s final words to the followers of Jesus in the ancient city of Philippi:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[ Philippians 4-7 ]
Listen to, Sing, or Read the lyrics to the song Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth,
Born to give us second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Prayer Together As A Family.
Devotion
Joy is the serious business of heaven. —C.S. Lewis
Joy is a theme that runs through the whole Bible. Sometimes joy is connected to beauty or with kids or to a glass of wine. But the people who wrote the Bible talks about a kind of joy not based on happy circumstances but based on the anticipation of God’s promises.
In tonight’s Candle-Lighting, together we’re going to consider the anticipation of joy in God’s promises.
What’s interesting when the people who wrote the biographies of Jesus life talk they bookend his life with joy. We’re told Jesus was into our world with an angel broadcasting, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” [ Luke 2:10 ]
Before leaving our world, Jesus makes a promise to his friends, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” [ John 15:11 ]
Jesus arrives in joy, departs in joy, and calls us to great joy through relationship with Him.
There is a tiny village called Rattenberg in Austria. It is the smallest village in Austria and it is getting smaller every year. It has lost 20 percent of its population in the past two decades, and as of 2005 it had only 440 residents. Why? Because Rattenburg is dark. Literally.
The village is nestled behind Rat Mountain—a 3,000 foot peak that blocks out the sun for 120 days each year—November through February. It is dark, and people can’t stand it. We aren’t designed to live in darkness.
So an Austrian company came up with a plan. They are going to install 30 heliostat mirrors onto the mountainside. The mirrors will grab light from reflectors on the sunny side of the mountain and will shine it back into the village.
This will not be cheap, but for the residents of Rattenberg, having light in the darkness is priceless. In the same way joy acts as a heliostat mirror it opens us up to the light in the midst of our darkness. It allows us to see the world thru a brighter lens.
We come from joy, we are purposed for joy and we are headed for joy. May we choose light over darkness.
Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” [ John 8:12 ]
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For Families with Small Children: Read a Selection From The Jesus Storybook Bible A Christmas Collection or Read p.176-183 (He’s Here!) in the Jesus Storybook Bible
Light the Candle
Tonight we are going to light our third Advent candle. So far we have lit the Hope and Peace candles. Tonight we light the Joy candle. The Apostle Paul says this about Joy, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” [ Philippians 4:4 ]
Paul just thinks…that’s worth repeating. He doesn’t add anything to it. Be joyful always…you know what I’ll say that again, be joyful! Paul’s commanding it. Which means we can choose joy. And when we choose joy we are simply partnering with what Jesus is already doing in us. Which means you have the choice to resist Jesus and close yourself to joy.
Let’s choose the joy Jesus promises!
Listen to, Sing, or Read the lyrics to the song Joy to The World
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Prayer Together As A Family.
Devotion
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! —Hamilton Wright Mabie
Jesus told us love is the meaning of life. The greatest commandment, He says, is a commandment to love. But there’s a problem.
In English, we use the word love for a whole lot of things. It’s not a very precise word. We love our friends. But we might also love a particular sports team. We love our family. But we also love Netflix. We love God. But we also love ice cream. See the issue? If love is the greatest commandment, what does love actually mean?
The word love in the Bible is often associated with breathtaking acts of trust and sacrifice. In fact, the first time the word love is used in the Bible, God puts Abraham’s love to the test by asking him to make an unthinkable sacrifice.
He says, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, and offer him as an offering.” Of course, we know Abraham passed the test. But the point is that in the Bible, love is not just a feeling. Love is an act, a sacrifice you make, a gift you give.
The Apostle Paul talks about this kind of love when he writes, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
[ Ephesians 5:1-2 ]
Imitate God, mimic God and here is what it looks like—love. It is never appropriate to not love someone. And not just love but humbly, sacrificially, self-giving, the other person more important than yourself kind of love. If you want to know when you should love it’s simple: every time you take a breath. It is always the right time to love.
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For Families with Small Children: Read a Selection From The Jesus Storybook Bible A Christmas Collection or Read p.184-191 (The Light of the Whole World) in the Jesus Storybook Bible
Light the Candle
Tonight we are going to light our last Advent candle before Christmas Eve. We’ve already lit the candles for Hope, Peace, and Joy. Tonight we light the Love candle.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
[ 1 John 4:7-12 ]
Christmas is the celebration of love becoming a person in Jesus. This is the epicenter of our faith. You can argue about a lot of things when it comes to faith, spirituality, and the bible but we can’t argue this. Jesus came to bring something brand new to the world for the world...love.
Listen to, Sing, or Read the lyrics to the song O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above:
Glory to God,
all glory in the highest!
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord!
For He alone is worthy,
For He alone is worthy,
For He alone is worthy,
Christ the Lord.
Prayer Together As A Family
Tonight we will read the Christmas Story and light the center candle (Christ Candle).
MARY’S GOOD NEWS
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore, the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
JOSEPH’S DREAM
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband, Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.
JESUS IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM
In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. And he called His name Jesus.
SHEPHERDS WORSHIP
And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
WISE MEN WORSHIP
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him,
“In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found Him, bring me word, that I, too, may come and worship Him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose, went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
JOSEPH’S WARNING
Now when the wise men had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy Him.” And he rose and took the child and His mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt, I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and His mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that He would be called a Nazarene.
And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon Him.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.