Biblical Advent Calendar: Countdown to Christmas Idea

When my son was young, we had an Advent Calendar which hung on the wall. It had a series of 2 inch square pockets and was made from green cloth, five pockets across and five down. It had a little gray mouse face attached to a red cloth body that fit in the pockets with the head sticking out. The Mouse traveled from pocket to pocket every day. In December my son moved the mouse and opened a present after supper, every night. If we weren't going to be home we took the mouse and presents along.

The first two years that we had that calendar, I was very good about filling the pockets with small, wrapped presents and it became a family tradition for to give him a present every night. December 1st comes right on the heels of Thanksgiving, and by the third year I discovered that there was no way that I was going to be able to find 25 small nice presents in time. Besides my son was getting old enough to know what Christmas was really about. That year I had a brilliant idea. I would put pieces of candy along with appropriate Bible verses in the pockets of the calendar. I organized the verses into an order that would present the Christmas story gradually. I printed them out, cut them apart and put them in the pockets. As we brought out our Bible each night to read the verses it seemed to help us remain focused on what we were really celebrating.

In these tight times, this is an ideal way to celebrate Christmas. Feel free to utilize my list of verses, or if you prefer other verses or a different order, adjust the list to suit yourself. If you don't have a special calendar, put the verses in separate numbered envelopes, or allow your child to cross the verse off of a list. It is nice to have a quiet moment to take a breath in the bustle of the holidays. I hope this provides it for you.

Dec. 1 John 1: 1-5
Dec. 2 Isaiah 9: 2-7
Dec. 3 Isaiah 11: 1-10
Dec. 4 Jeremiah 33: 14-16
Dec. 5 Luke 1: 5-10
Dec. 6 Luke 1: 11-17
Dec. 7 Luke 1: 18-25
Dec. 8 Luke 1: 26-38
Dec. 9 Mathew 1:18-21
Dec. 10 Matthew 1: 22-26
Dec. 11 Luke 1: 39-45
Dec. 12 Luke 1: 46-56
Dec. 13 Luke 2: 1-5
Dec. 14 Luke 2: 6-7
Dec. 15 Luke 2: 8-12
Dec. 16 Luke 2: 13-14
Dec. 17 Luke 2: 15-18
Dec. 18 Luke 2: 19-20
Dec. 19 Micah 5: 2-5
Dec. 20 Matthew 2: 1-2
Dec. 21 Matthew 2: 3-6
Dec. 22 Mathew 2: 7-8
Dec. 23 Matthew 2: 9-12
Dec. 24 John 1:14