Christmas
Resources
The Coming of the King - 25 Devotional Readings for Advent
For most of us, Advent is synonymous with Christmas. After all, don't our Advent calendars count down to December 25th? Isn't Advent a time to think about the birth of the baby in the manger, the angels and the shepherd? It certainly is.Advent means the coming of the special baby who was laid in a manger in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.
But J.C. Ryle would also remind people of the 'Second Advent' when Jesus will come again. On that day, Jesus will return to our world, not as a baby but as the unmistakable King of kings and Lord of lords.
These readings, all from Ryle’s Expository Thoughts from the Gospels, contrast Jesus’ first coming with his second and lead us to consider both “Advents” of the Lord Jesus. Get the book
Love Came Down at Christmas - Daily Readings for Advent
Love is at the heart of Christmas—it's the reason behind all our gathering and gift-giving at this time of year. In this Advent devotional, Dr Sinclair B Ferguson refreshes our hearts as we reflect on the source it all—love incarnate, Jesus Christ.
Over the course of December, this devotional walks through 1 Corinthians 13 phrase-by-phrase, showing us that "love is" the Lord Jesus himself.
Sinclair Ferguson brings the rich theology of the incarnation to life with his trademark warmth and clarity. Drawing on stories from the Gospels, we'll see what “love” looked like in the life of Christ, and be challenged to love like him during the Christmas season. Each day's reading finishes with carols and hymns for reflection and prayer.
However you're feeling—weary or frantic, lonely or lovesick—your heart will be refreshed as you wonder again at the truth that love came down at Christmas in the person of Jesus Christ. Get the book
Advent devotionals
Sign up for ‘Gospel in Life’ Advent videos
from Tim and Kathy Keller here
The Adventure of Christmas
- Book, advent calendar, free downloads
Family, Children & Youth
These simple 10-minute family devotions for Advent, written by Ed Drew, with graphic-novel-style illustrations, explore the Gospel accounts of the first Christmas in an engaging way, and will help families keep Christ at the heart of their celebrations.
With all the Bible passages and questions already laid out, you can lead these devotions without needing any extra time to prepare, making family devotional time an achievable joy, not an unrealistic burden. There are different sets of questions for 3-4s, 5-7s, 7-12s, teens and even parents, so the whole family can enjoy looking at the Bible together. There is an accompanying advent calendar available complete with stickers. Buy the book Buy the advent calendar
The Names of Jesus Advent Calendar
will help you spend time each day reflecting on Jesus and the different aspects of his character.
Turn a calendar card each day to reveal a different name or title of Jesus – each one drawn by hand lettering artist Lara Beeston.
It has all you need in a 16 x 11.5 x 2cm box:
24 beautifully hand designed cards
24 natural wood pegs
Access to download a list of Bible verses appropriate for each day.
A daily email reflection to give insight into the name & meaning.
The Unexpected Gift Storybook
“Once, something that might seem impossible really happened. God – who made the stars and planets, and mountains and trees, and you – God became a baby.”
Unexpected Gift tells the story of how Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men all responded to the wonderful truth that God became a baby.
The storybook can be enjoyed all at once or it can be read a page a day alongside the corresponding activity book.
4-7 Years
For the whole family
Is Christmas Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the World's Most Famous Story.
Many people assume that the story of the baby in the manger at Bethlehem is just another made-up fantasy for kids.
In this concise book, respected apologist Rebecca McLaughlin outlines the evidence that Jesus was a real person, explaining the reliability of the Bible’s accounts of his life and why believing in a virgin birth is not as ridiculous as it might sound.
This book shows that there is a rational basis for the belief that the world’s most famous story is fact, not fantasy—and how those events in history can infuse our lives today with meaning and joy.
Rebecca McLaughlin gained a PhD from Cambridge University and a theology degree from Oak Hill Seminary in London before working at The Veritas Forum. She is the author of the award-winning Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion and a regular contributor for The Gospel Coalition. Get the book