Begins Monday, November 24th
This is the family version of our Advent devotional. The goal is for parents to engage their children spiritually throughout Advent though scripture reading, discussion, and a craft. You can get the craft at the children's area.
This is the family version of our Advent devotional. The goal is for parents to engage their children spiritually throughout Advent though scripture reading, discussion, and a craft. You can get the craft at the children's area.
Week 1: Hope
Psalm 8: What is man?
Psalm 8:3-5 (NIRV)
3 I think about the heavens. I think about what your fingers have created. I think about the moon and stars that you have set in place. 4 What are human beings that you think about them? What is a son of man that you take care of him? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels. You placed on them a crown of glory and honor.
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen all the stars? Maybe youâve thought, Wow⌠Iâm so small! King David felt the same way. He looked at the huge sky that God made and said, âWhy would God even think about someone like me?â
Psalm 8: What is man?
Psalm 8:3-5 (NIRV)
3 I think about the heavens. I think about what your fingers have created. I think about the moon and stars that you have set in place. 4 What are human beings that you think about them? What is a son of man that you take care of him? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels. You placed on them a crown of glory and honor.
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen all the stars? Maybe youâve thought, Wow⌠Iâm so small! King David felt the same way. He looked at the huge sky that God made and said, âWhy would God even think about someone like me?â
But then David remembered something amazing: even though we are small, God cares about us! He made us special, in His image. He gave us a job to take care of His world. God never forgets about usânot for one second.
Advent reminds us that God didnât just think about us, but He came to us. And hereâs the most surprising part: When God came to earth, He didnât come as a powerful king or a giant hero. He came as a tiny baby in a manger. The God who made the stars became small, just like us. He cried, He needed to be held, and He grew up just like us.
Why? Because God wanted to show us that Heâs not too big or too far away to understand us. He became small so that we would know His love in a way we could see, touch, and understand.
Advent reminds us that God didnât just think about us, but He came to us. And hereâs the most surprising part: When God came to earth, He didnât come as a powerful king or a giant hero. He came as a tiny baby in a manger. The God who made the stars became small, just like us. He cried, He needed to be held, and He grew up just like us.
Why? Because God wanted to show us that Heâs not too big or too far away to understand us. He became small so that we would know His love in a way we could see, touch, and understand.
Thatâs where the Hope of Advent begins:
- God does not stay far away from us.
- God remembers us.
- God comes close to save us.
Advent hope is the confident expectation that the same God who noticed David under the stars has stepped into our story to fix what sin broke.
Think About It
- What makes you feel small sometimes?
- How does it help you to know that God became small too?
- Why does Jesusâ birth give us hope?
Dear God,
Thank You for making this big, amazing worldâ and still caring about little people like me. Thank You for becoming small in Jesus, so we could know Your love and have hope. Help me remember that You are always near. Amen.
Thank You for making this big, amazing worldâ and still caring about little people like me. Thank You for becoming small in Jesus, so we could know Your love and have hope. Help me remember that You are always near. Amen.
Week 1 Craft: Starry Night Sky
Children place silver star stickers on the dark blue paper and one gold star sticker in the middle to remind them that God notices and cares for them. Write the word âHOPEâ under that star. Connection: âThe same God who made the stars came close to us.â
Children place silver star stickers on the dark blue paper and one gold star sticker in the middle to remind them that God notices and cares for them. Write the word âHOPEâ under that star. Connection: âThe same God who made the stars came close to us.â
Week 2: Peace
Psalm 24 âWho Can Ascend?â
Icebreaker Question: What is your favorite Christmas song that makes you feel calm or happy?
Psalm 24 âWho Can Ascend?â
Icebreaker Question: What is your favorite Christmas song that makes you feel calm or happy?
Read Psalm 24 (NIRV)
The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it. The world belongs to him. And so do all those who live in it. 2 He set it firmly on the oceans. He made it secure on the waters. 3 Who can go up to the temple on the mountain of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place? 4 Anyone who has clean hands and a pure heart. Anyone who does not trust in the statue of a god. Anyone who doesnât use the name of that god when he makes a promise. 5 People like that will receive the Lordâs blessing. When God their Savior hands down his sentence, it will be in their favor. 6 The people who look to God are like that. God of Jacob, they look to you. 7 Open wide, you gates. Open up, you ancient doors. Then the King of glory will come in. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, who is strong and mighty. The Lord, who is mighty in battle. 9 Open wide, you gates. Open wide, you ancient doors. Then the King of glory will come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord who rules over all. He is the King of glory.
The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it. The world belongs to him. And so do all those who live in it. 2 He set it firmly on the oceans. He made it secure on the waters. 3 Who can go up to the temple on the mountain of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place? 4 Anyone who has clean hands and a pure heart. Anyone who does not trust in the statue of a god. Anyone who doesnât use the name of that god when he makes a promise. 5 People like that will receive the Lordâs blessing. When God their Savior hands down his sentence, it will be in their favor. 6 The people who look to God are like that. God of Jacob, they look to you. 7 Open wide, you gates. Open up, you ancient doors. Then the King of glory will come in. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, who is strong and mighty. The Lord, who is mighty in battle. 9 Open wide, you gates. Open wide, you ancient doors. Then the King of glory will come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord who rules over all. He is the King of glory.
In Psalm 24, David asks a big question: âWho can go up to Godâs holy place?â Heâs asking, âWho is good enough to be close to God?â Itâs a hard question because none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. We have all sinned. That created a separation between us and God.
But hereâs the amazing part: God didnât wait for us to climb the mountain to reach Him. He came down to us. Thatâs what Advent is all about. God sent Jesus, His Son, to bring peace between us and God.
Peace doesnât just mean no fighting or quietness. Peace means everything is made right again; our hearts, our relationships, and our connection with God. Jesus brought that peace by loving us, forgiving us when He died on the cross, coming back to life and showing us the way to live.
When we remember that Jesus came to bring peace, we can feel safe and secure in our relationship with God and even share that peace with others by being kind, helping, and showing love.
Think About It
- Why canât we reach God on our own?
- How does Jesus bring peace between us and God?
Dear God,
Thank You for sending Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Thank You for coming down to be with us and to make everything right. Help me to share Your peace with my family and friends. Amen.
Thank You for sending Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Thank You for coming down to be with us and to make everything right. Help me to share Your peace with my family and friends. Amen.
Week 2 Craft: Add the Hills and Stable
Cut out the green paper hills and glue them across the dark blue paper. Then place a stable sticker on the bottom of the page and write âpeaceâ under it.
Cut out the green paper hills and glue them across the dark blue paper. Then place a stable sticker on the bottom of the page and write âpeaceâ under it.
Week 3: Love
Psalm 89: âMy Chosen Oneâ
Icebreaker Question: What is your favorite Christmas gift youâve ever received?
Psalm 89: âMy Chosen Oneâ
Icebreaker Question: What is your favorite Christmas gift youâve ever received?
Psalm 89:1-5
1 Lord, I will sing about your great love forever. For all time to come, I will tell how faithful you are. 2 I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever. I will tell them that you are always faithful, even in heaven itself. 3 You said, âHere is the covenant I have made with my chosen one. Here is the promise I have made to my servant David. 4 âI will make your family line continue forever. I will make your kingdom secure for all time to come.â â
Psalm 89 reminds us that Godâs love is forever. It never stops, it never forgets, and it never fails. Long ago, God made a special promise to His chosen one, King David. He promised that Davidâs family line would last forever and that one day a king would come who would bring Godâs love to the world.
At the time, that promise might have seemed impossible. Kings donât live forever, and people make mistakes. But Godâs love is stronger than anything. He kept His promise! Many years later, Jesus was born into Davidâs family. Jesus is Godâs chosen One â the forever King â and His life shows us Godâs love in the most amazing way.
Have you ever felt really loved? Maybe your family gave you a hug, or a friend helped you when you needed it. Love feels safe, warm, and special â and the best part is, Godâs love is even bigger than just those feelings!
Advent is a season of waiting and celebrating. We wait for Christmas to remember that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to be with us. And every day, we get to share Godâs love with others â our friends, our family, and even people we donât know yet!
Think About It
Think About It
- What is something someone has done for you that made you feel really loved?
- How does that remind you of Godâs love for you?
- God promised to send a forever King from Davidâs family. How did He keep that promise?
- What is a way our family can show someone Godâs love this week?
Dear God,
Thank You for sending Jesus, Your Chosen One, to show us Your love. Thank You for choosing me and loving me. Help me to share Your love with everyone I meet this season. Amen.
Thank You for sending Jesus, Your Chosen One, to show us Your love. Thank You for choosing me and loving me. Help me to share Your love with everyone I meet this season. Amen.
Week 3 Craft: Add a manger sticker and Baby Jesus sticker to the stable. Write âloveâ next to it to remember who Godâs love came close in Jesus.
Week 4: Joy
Psalm 98: âSing for Joy!â
Icebreaker Question: What is your favorite part of Christmas morning?
Psalm 98:1-6
Psalm 98: âSing for Joy!â
Icebreaker Question: What is your favorite part of Christmas morning?
Psalm 98:1-6
1 Sing a new song to the Lord. He has done wonderful things. By the power of his right hand and his holy arm, he has saved his people. 2 The Lord has made known his power to save. He has shown the nations that he does what is right. 3 He has shown his faithful love to the people of Israel. People from one end of the earth to the other have seen that our God has saved us. 4 Shout for joy to the Lord, everyone on earth. Burst into joyful songs and make music. 5 Make music to the Lord with the harp. Sing and make music with the harp. 6 Blow the trumpets. Give a blast on the ramâs horn. Shout for joy to the Lord. He is the King.
Psalm 98 is like a big, joyous party in words! What words would you use to describe a BIG celebration! David writes about singing, shouting, and playing instruments to celebrate God because He has done amazing things!
Psalm 98 is like a big, joyous party in words! What words would you use to describe a BIG celebration! David writes about singing, shouting, and playing instruments to celebrate God because He has done amazing things!
Joy is a feeling that makes your heart want to jump, clap, and sing. Advent is about waiting for Jesus, Godâs greatest gift of joy. When Jesus was born, Angels appeared in the sky to celebrate His birth and worship! The shepherds rushed to find baby Jesus and then had to tell everyone they saw that the Messiah was born! Jesus would bring joy to the world through peace, love, hope, and the promise that God is always with us.
Advent joy is something we can share with others too! We can sing songs, smile at people, help those in need, and tell everyone about Jesus. This Advent, we can celebrate Jesusâ coming by remembering all the ways He brings joy into our lives and sharing it with the people around us.
Think About It
Think About It
- What makes you feel really happy inside?
- How can you share the joy of Jesus with others this Advent?
Dear God,
Thank You for sending Jesus to bring joy to the world. Thank You for loving us so much that You gave us Your Son. Help me to celebrate Him and share His joy with others every day. Amen.
Thank You for sending Jesus to bring joy to the world. Thank You for loving us so much that You gave us Your Son. Help me to celebrate Him and share His joy with others every day. Amen.
Week 4 Craft: Add Angels, shepherds, Mary, and Joseph stickers to the manger scene. Write âjoyâ at the top.