FAMILY CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONS

To be used with

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D ear family,

Christmas is a joyous (and often busy!) time of year. We created these seven simple and kid-friendly devotions to help your family pause together to celebrate Jesus.

As you pull out your copy of The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible and take some time to experience together the miracles all around the birth of Jesus, we pray that you and your family will delight anew in the story of Emmanuel, God with us.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Your Friends at ChristianBook.com and Harvest House Publishers

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Devotion 1

WHEN IS IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE?

READ TOGETHER

“A Visit by an Angel” from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible, pp. 372-373.

DEVOTION TIME

H ave you ever been so frrrreeeezing cold that you turned into a snowman? Ever tasted

hot chocolate so delicious that the marshmallows were smiling? Ever been so excited about Christ-mas that your nose twinkled red and green? Of course not! That’s impossible. But when is impos-sible possible?

Zechariah was busy serving God when an angel came to tell him that he and his wife would be hav-ing a baby boy. How strange, he thought, since I’m an old man. It’s way too late for me to be a father! How can this even be possible? But that’s when he learned his lesson—the impossible is possible when God gets involved. Sure enough, Zechariah and Eliza-beth had a baby named John who grew up to show people that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

Life is filled with things that seem too big for us. But young or old, now is the time to start believing that nothing is impossible with God.

PRAY TOGETHER

Dear God, help us trust and believe your Word, even when some problems in our lives seem too hard to figure out. We believe that you are the God of the impossible. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Has God ever done anything in your life or family that seemed impossible?

2. What does that teach you about the difference between your power and God’s power?

DO TOGETHER

Draw the angel who visited Zechariah. Cut it out and put it in your room or on your Christmas tree to remind you of the God of the impossible.

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Devotion 2

A HEART OF TRUST

READ TOGETHER

“Mary Is Chosen by God” from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible, pp. 374-375.

DEVOTION TIME

H ow amazing! First, an angel promised Zechariah a son even though he was way

too old to be a father! Then an angel promised Mary a son even though she didn’t have a hus-band! God gave Mary clear instructions through his angel messenger: “You’re going to have a baby boy. You are to name him Jesus, and he is God’s Son.” Mary had to decide whether she believed that God's words would really come true. “Yes,” she agreed. “I trust it will happen just the way you told me, God.”

The first Christmas began with angel messen-gers, miracles, and people who believed that God could do amazing things. And now, more than two thousand years after that wonderful event, you can trust God just like Mary did. That’s amazing!

PRAY TOGETHER

Dear God, you’ve shown us how important it is to trust you with our whole heart, even when we feel unsure or unwilling. At times like these,

remind us of Mary’s heart of trust. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. God gave the gift of Jesus for Christmas. What gift did Mary give back to God when he asked her to do something hard?

2. How does it feel when you don’t trust God? How does it feel when you do?

DO TOGETHER

This Christmas, give your gift of trust to God. Share something with your family that you’re unsure about, and then tell God you want to trust him about it and not be afraid.

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Devotion 3

JUMP FOR JOY

READ TOGETHER

“Mary Visits Elizabeth” from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible, pp. 376-377.

DEVOTION TIME

C hristmastime is so full of good things, it makes you want to jump for joy. Don’t you just love

playing in the snow, baking cookies, singing car-ols, decorating your tree, and setting up the man-ger scene with baby Jesus right in the center of it all?

Before Jesus was ever born, his family was already celebrating. Just imagine! The Son of God had come down from heaven and was wait-ing inside of Mary to be born here on earth. John, who would one day teach others to follow Jesus, was also a baby waiting inside his mother, Eliza-beth. When Mary and Elizabeth got together, their joy bubbled over! They laughed, they hugged, and they laughed some more. Just being near Jesus was enough to make baby John jump for joy inside his mother.

Christmas is joyful because Jesus came to earth to be with us. All you need to do to be filled with joy, any time of the year, is to remember that Jesus is here!

PRAY TOGETHER

Dear Jesus, we’re so thankful that your birth gives us a reason to jump for joy. You are the best

Christmas present we’ll ever receive. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What kinds of things bring you joy at Christ-mas or other times of the year?

2. Did you know that Jesus is the giver of every good gift in your life? How does that make you feel?

DO TOGETHER

Sing “Joy to the World” with your family.

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Devotion 4

THE BIGGEST AND BEST SURPRISE

READ TOGETHER

“Joseph Listens to God” from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible, pp. 378-379.

DEVOTION TIME

M ost Christmas surprises are lots of fun—carolers singing outside your door, gin-

gerbread men waiting to be decorated, a puppy under the tree that you didn’t expect. But what about the other kind of surprise, when it seems like someone you trusted has done something wrong? That’s often when we’re tempted to believe the worst about a person.

In the Bible story we just read, Joseph suf-fered such a sad surprise that he almost walked away from the woman he wanted to marry. But everything changed when he listened to God. He found out that God planned to let Joseph and Mary play a part in the biggest and best surprise the world has ever known. The birth of Jesus!

Whenever you feel hurt or disappointed in someone, just wait and listen carefully to God.

Ask him to help you trust him but not judge the person. If you do that, God may include you in some awesome surprises too!

PRAY TOGETHER

Dear God, the next time we feel hurt by someone, help us listen and trust that you have a good plan or even a great surprise in mind for us both. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Who is the world’s biggest and best surprise?

2. Who got to be part of God’s big surprise? What was the important thing he did that changed everything from a bad surprise to a good one?

DO TOGETHER

Make a Christmas card for someone in your neighborhood and leave it on their doorstep. Just imagine how surprised they’ll feel when they dis-cover it!

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Devotion 5

LIGHT UP THE WORLD

READ TOGETHER

“His Name Is John” from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible, pp. 380-381.

DEVOTION TIME

I t’s so exciting to decorate the tree with all your favorite ornaments. But once the lights are

plugged in, that’s when it really feels like Christ-mas! Did you know that Jesus was born to light up the world, and so were you? He made sure you would be the one and only you. Your eyes would be this color. Your voice would sound like that. But best of all, if you chose to say yes to God’s spe-cial plans for your life, you would sparkle with the love of Jesus to everyone around you.

When Zechariah and Elizabeth’s baby boy was born, everyone thought his parents would name him Zechariah Junior. But no, God had some-thing special in mind. They named him John—a boy born to show the love of Jesus to the world. Like when you turn on your Christmas lights in a dark room, John did everything he could to help people see Jesus, the Light of the World.

PRAY TOGETHER

Dear God, we believe you created us in a special way to shine the light of Jesus on

the people around us. Help us discover the good plans you have for our lives. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What was the special reason God made John?

2. How do you think God might want to use you to light up the world for Jesus?

DO TOGETHER

Gather around your Christmas tree and share something you love most about Jesus.

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Devotion 6

THE KING CAME DOWN

READ TOGETHER

“Jesus Is Born” from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible, pp. 382-383.

DEVOTION TIME

T he emperor thought he was ruler over every-one. He decided to count all the people in

his Roman empire. Joseph and Mary would have to travel far away to be counted. They packed up their donkey and started the long trip. Tired and sore, they arrived just as their baby was about to be born, and they needed a place to stay. Joseph knocked on every door, but not one room was available. So he took the only spot he could find, an animal stable, and that’s where Jesus was born.

Very few people realized that the KING OF KINGS had come down from heaven to earth. He didn’t choose to be born in a fancy place, even though he was a king. And even though he was the Son of God, he was willing to start his life on earth as a baby.

Whenever you see a manger scene this Christ-mas, remember humble King Jesus. He came down from heaven to earth to show us that he loves us all the same.

PRAY TOGETHER

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming down from heaven to earth. You are

the KING OF KINGS. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think Jesus was born in a manger with animals instead of a fancier place?

2. Does God love all people the same—young and old, rich and poor?

DO TOGETHER

Is there some way your family can help a child, an older person, or someone who might need food or clothing this Christmas? Plan a time and place to give what you can and share the humble love of Jesus.

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Devotion 7

WORLDWIDE NEWS

READ TOGETHER

“The Shepherds’ Story” from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible, pp. 384-385.

DEVOTION TIME

M ost news stories only last for a few days. But the Christmas story, even though it

began in a small town long ago, has been world-wide news for more than two thousand years!

First, God sent an angel down to earth with the birth announcement of his Son. Next, he filled the sky with a whole choir of worshipping angels to make sure that even shepherds in the fields saw and heard the big news. “Head into the city,” the announcing angel told the shepherds. “You’ll find Jesus in a manger right down there.” They raced from the hilltops through the city streets, finding the baby exactly where the angel said he would be. Then the shepherds carried the joyful message of Jesus’ birth to everyone who would listen. After that, the good news spread on and on and on…

From God, to the angels, to the shepherds more than two thousand years ago, the world-wide message of Jesus and the first Christmas has traveled all the way to you and your family today!

PRAY TOGETHER

Dear God, thank you for sending a messenger angel, a choir of angels, and shepherds to share

with us about Jesus. Help us to spread this good news to the people in our lives. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear about the news of Jesus and why we celebrate Christmas?

2. What is the most loving way for you to tell them about him?

FAMILY ACTIVITY

Write the name of one person you know who might not have heard about Jesus. Begin to pray for an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with them.

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These Family Christmas Devotions are copyright © 2021 by Harvest House Publishers. All rights reserved.

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