Christmas & Advent Devotionals for the Whole Family
Inside: A roundup of recommended Christmas & Advent resources for individuals and families.
Christmas is near, and I know it will be on the mind of many of you to find a good devotional for your own personal use or one to read together as a family. You may even enjoy giving them as a gift during the Christmas season.
If you’d like more advent resources, check out Celebrating Advent: Looking Back and Looking Forward – A List of Resources for the Whole Family here at the blog.
Below are a mix of devotionals our family has used and some new to us this year. As always, please leave your favorites with us in the comments too.
Christmas & Advent Devotionals:
Recapturing the Glory of Christmas: A 25-Day Advent Devotional by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
I’m reading Recapturing the Glory of Christmas this season, and it’s been such a meaningful way to focus on Christ during Advent. This Christ-centered devotional beautifully blends deep theology with the wonder of Christmas, guiding us to worship and draw our hearts closer to Jesus each day, whether on our own or together with family.
Journey to Bethlehem: A Treasury of Classic Christmas Devotionals by Leland Ryken
Journey to Bethlehem by Leland Ryken is a thoughtfully curated Advent devotional that brings classic hymns, poems, and writings from Christian history into focus. Each day’s reading provides rich insights and helps us experience the wonder of Christ’s incarnation with a fresh sense of awe and appreciation, making it a wonderful companion for the Christmas season.
The devotions, edited from R.C. Sproul’s talks, each focus on a keyword from the Christmas story. Each devotion is accompanied by prayers from authors such as Tim Challies, Sinclair Ferguson, and Joni Eareckson Tada.
Love Came Down at Christmas: A Daily Advent Devotional & The Dawn of Redeeming Grace: A Daily Advent Devotional by Sinclair Ferguson
Sinclair Ferguson is one of my favorites to turn to in any season, but his Advent devotionals are ones to put on your list if you haven’t read them yet. You can use them with the whole family too.
Joy to the World: Daily Readings for Advent by Charles Spurgeon is sitting next to my reading chair this year.
The Christmas We Didn’t Expect: A Daily Advent Devotional (Devotions for Christmas reflecting on the wonder of Jesus’ incarnation) by David Mathis
Repeat the Sounding Joy A Daily Advent Devotional on Luke 1 – 2 (Devotions for Christmas reflecting on the experiences of those who witnessed the birth of Jesus) by Christopher Ash
Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional by Paul David Tripp – I picked this one up in 2017, and it still gets read during Christmas.
Tim Chester has three Advent Devotionals that have 24 devotional readings and ideas for reflection, prayer, and meditation. The One True Story: Daily Readings for Advent from Genesis to Jesus, The One True Gift: Daily Readings for Advent to Encourage and Inspire, and The One True Light: Daily Advent Readings from the Gospel of John.
John Piper has two that are also free at Desiring God in a PDF download (the PDFs are linked here: The Dawning of Indestructible Joy and Good News of Great Joy) and they are ones you’ll return to again and again. If you’d like to purchase a physical copy, click the links below. The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent and Good News of Great Joy: 25 Devotional Readings for Advent.
The Coming of the King: 25 Devotional Readings for Advent by J.C. Ryle
Gifts of Grace: 25 Advent Devotions (Devotional for Christmas reflecting on a few short verses each day that will help you meditate on Christ) by Jared C. Wilson
Children & Families:
Manger in Danger: A Family Christmas Tradition by Grant & GraceAnna Castleberry
Manger in Danger is a unique Advent devotional that beautifully combines a fun, interactive tradition with a theologically rich focus on the true meaning of Christmas. It guides families to reflect on the incredible reality of Christ’s birth and how it points to the Gospel, making this a memorable and Christ-centered way to celebrate the season.
To learn more about how Manger in Danger can become a Christ-centered tradition for your family, be sure to check out this wonderful post by GraceAnna Castleberry: A Christ-Centered Christmas Tradition for the Whole Family.
Promised Made Promises Kept: A Family Devotional for Christmas by Marty Machowski
Promises Made, Promises Kept by Marty Machowski is a beautiful way to walk through the Christmas season as a family, exploring how Jesus fulfilled God’s promises of a Savior. With 14 engaging Bible stories, thoughtful questions, and stunning illustrations, this book will become a cherished tradition for the weeks surrounding Christmas.
The God of Amazing Gifts: Family Devotions For Advent (Christmas devotional to help the whole family get excited about God’s greatest gift – Jesus) by Lizzie Laferton – I picked up this one this year for my daughter and her family.
Barbara Reaoch has two books out that are both great for family devotions: A Jesus Christmas: Explore God’s Amazing Plan for Christmas (An Interactive Family Advent Devotional Complete with Parent Guide, Discussion Questions, Activities, and Space for Journaling) and A Better Than Anything Christmas: Explore How Jesus Makes Christmas Better (An Interactive Family Advent Devotional Complete with Parent Guide, Activities, and Space for Journaling)
Marty Machowski is a favorite in our home to read to our grandkids, and his advent books will be ones all ages in your family will enjoy. Check out Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional and The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional
Ed Drew’s The Adventure of Christmas: 25 Simple Family Devotions for December (An Easy-to-Use Family Advent Devotional) had great reviews.
Christmas Hymn Devotionals:
Spending more time in the Christmas Carols of the season is something I’d love to do as a family, and David & Barbara Leeman’s Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season looks like a helpful resource to do just that.
Brightest and Best: 31 Advent Devotions on Jesus by Philippa Wilson is built around well-loved Christmas carols.
Leland Ryken has a beautiful book on favorite hymns covering the whole year. It’s a great year round resource to have on hand – 40 Favorite Hymns for the Christian Year: A Closer Look at Their Spiritual and Poetic Meaning
