Advent Resources for All
November 30, 2023 |
The SHC Staff has put together a list of advent resources for all ages. We pray you will find some of these useful during this Advent season!
General Resources
Advent Bible Reading Project by The Advent Project
This manageable Advent Bible reading plan kicks off on December 1, and takes you through to Christmas Eve on December 24. It also includes readings for the four Sundays of Advent. Drawing from both Old and New Testaments, these readings are aimed to help us remember the promises God has made to come to his people and establish his kingdom. Save the provided picture to your phone or print it out to use as a resource throughout Advent.
Advent Journal and Liturgy Writing Guide by Every Moment Holy
This four week journal serves as a great reminder of the constant presence of God in the Advent season. The first week of Advent we look back to the incarnation, to the hope that came to us when God took on human flesh and dwelt among us. In the second week of Advent, we look forward in faith to the great hope of Christ’s return. In the third and fourth weeks of Advent we dwell on the joy and peace that are a present outworking of that great Hope, and that will be ours in full measure at its fulfillment. As this weekly journal and liturgy writing guide leads you through the themes of Advent — those of Hope, Faith, Joy, and Peace — may you be reminded of the constant, loving presence of God.
Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World by Hannah Anderson
This book contains 25 meditations on the natural elements of the Christmas story. Accompanied by Nathan Anderson’s distinctive artwork, the entries gradually move you from hope to faith to joy to peace.
Shadow and Light by Tsh Oxenreider
Suitable for adults or a family with pre-teens/teenagers to read together, this book includes a short Bible passage and reflection for each day of Advent. There is a dedicated Spotify playlist with a song and a website with a piece of art (created by diverse artists across time periods) for each day.
Waiting on the Word by Malcolm Guite
For every day from Advent Sunday to Christmas Day and beyond, Guite chooses a favorite poem from across the Christian spiritual and English literary traditions and offers incisive seasonal reflections on it. In the spirit of the season, he blends the familiar and the new, ranging from from spiritual classics such as Edmund Spenser, John Donne, George Herbert and Christina Rossetti, to contemporary voices Luci Shaw and Scott Cairns. His own acclaimed sequence of sonnets for the great Advent antiphons are also included.
Is Christmas Unbelievable? by Rebecca McLaughlin
Intended for new believers and seekers, this concise book outlines historical evidence for the first Christmas.
Family Resources
The Advent Storybook by Laurie Richie
Beginning with Creation, this picture book moves through 25 Bible stories, tracing God’s faithful promises to send a Rescuer, Jesus. Simple stories are followed by a question for family discussion. Ideal for families with preschool- elementary age children.
The Expected One: Anticipating All of Jesus in the Advent by Scott James
This short family devotional focuses on the promises of Jesus – from birth to ascension – that demonstrate His love for us during the Christmas season.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Advent by Ann Voskamp
Longer selections retelling Old Testament connections to Jesus’ coming (suitable for older elementary kids). There are also ornaments to color and hang for each day. You could even hang these ornaments on a “Jesse” tree leading up to Christmas!
The Adventure of Christmas by Ed Drew
Designed to take less than 10 minutes each day, this book includes Bible passages from Luke and Matthew with questions for kids ages 3-high school. There are also a few suggested fun activities for each day. Accompanying advent calendars are also available for separate purchase.
Way to the Manger: Family Advent Devotional by Jeff Land
Engages families with the biblical truth of Christmas through 25 Advent devotions that direct children and families to their need for a Savior and the amazing gift of Jesus Christ.
The Advent Project: A Challenge to Journal, Reflect, and Celebrate Christ’s Birth
This easy, interactive study takes only a few minutes per day! Although it is meant as a companion for the Advent Project book, the toolkit comes with a reading plan with cards for each day, a printout with 25 ways to share Christ at Christmas, 12 questions cards with conversation starters on Christmas traditions, and 2 calligraphy coloring pages.
The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Guide by Sally Lloyd-Jones
This PDF includes 25 printable ornaments to accompany stories in the Jesus Storybook Bible, leading to Jesus’ birth. Also included are Advent coloring pages and a link to an Advent Spotify playlist. (Note: You need the Jesus Storybook Bible to accompany this).
The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Guide by Sally Lloyd-Jones
A companion to the Jesus Storybook Bible, this book journeys through Old and New Testament Bible stories that lead to Christmas. It includes 24 days of crafts, songs, recipes, and activities to celebrate Advent. It also includes perforated inserts with punch-out Jesse Tree ornaments that correspond with the stories of Advent.
Wonders of His Love: Finding Jesus in Isaiah by Champ Thornton
A 4-week devotional using pictures of Jesus from Isaiah’s prophecies- the Light, The Branch, the Shepherd, the Savior-to celebrate His arrival as Messiah at Christmas.
Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski
A gospel-focused family devotional includes Bible readings, activities, songs, and an original Christmas story.
The God of Amazing Gifts by Lizzie Laferton
Discover how God’s generosity to us prompts us to praise Him, fills us with joy and shapes us to be generous too. This includes a variety of questions for different ages (ages 7-14).
Advent Blocks
The short book The King is Here! is paired with 25 wooden blocks to help families retell the story of the Bible, beginning with Genesis, in a beautiful and tactile way. Suitable for families with children 3-10 years of age. (PDF copies of the book available at the Kids’ Welcome Desk)
Lifeway Family Advent Guide
Christmas is an exciting time where families can see how God has given us peace, joy, hope, and love! Each week this free resource will explore one of these themes as you open the Bible as a family and read a part of the Christmas story. After you read the story, discussion questions are included to help get the conversation started and connect this story from Scripture to your kids’ lives.
RightNow Media Resources
RightNow Media offers a number of great video resources for the Advent season. Check out the videos already loaded on the SHC shelf or find one from the vast library that RightNow Media has to offer. To sign up for a free RNM account, click here.