Advent Bible Reading Plan 2026: 25 Days of Scripture to Christmas (Free PDF)
By Shadush Sachiska· 9 min read
In this article
Advent is the season of waiting and preparing for Christmas. The word comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” For centuries, Christians have used these weeks to remember how long God's people waited for the Messiah, and to celebrate that He came.
This plan gives you one short Scripture reading for each day from December 1 to Christmas Day. It doesn't start in Bethlehem. It starts in Eden, so that by the time you reach the manger, you'll see the whole story of promise and fulfillment that makes Christmas so wonderful.
Download the free printable PDF
How the 25-day Advent plan works
- One reading a day, December 1–25. Each passage is short, usually 5 to 15 verses.
- Four weeks, four movements: the promise (Genesis to David), the prophets, the announcements to Zechariah, Mary and Joseph, and the birth of Jesus.
- A family question every day. Use it at dinner, at bedtime or in the car.
- Works for anyone: on your own, as a couple, with children or in a small group.
If you want to light candles on the Sundays of Advent, the themes are listed further down the page.
Advent 2026 dates at a glance
| First Sunday of Advent | Sunday, November 29, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Plan begins | Tuesday, December 1 |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 |
The 25-day Advent Bible reading plan
Week 1: The Promise (December 1–7)
Advent starts at the very beginning. Even as sin entered the world, God promised a Savior, and He kept repeating that promise through Abraham, Judah and David.
| Day | Reading | What it's about |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1 | Genesis 3:8–15 | The first promise. Right after the first sin, God promises that the woman's offspring will crush the serpent. |
| Dec 2 | Genesis 12:1–3 | A blessing for all nations. God promises Abraham that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him. |
| Dec 3 | Genesis 49:8–12 | A king from Judah. Jacob foretells that the scepter will not depart from Judah. |
| Dec 4 | Numbers 24:15–19 | A star out of Jacob. Even a foreign prophet, Balaam, sees a star rising from Israel. |
| Dec 5 | 2 Samuel 7:8–16 | A forever throne. God promises David a son whose kingdom will last forever. |
| Dec 6 | Isaiah 7:10–14 | Immanuel. A virgin will bear a son called Immanuel, “God with us.” |
| Dec 7 | Isaiah 9:2–7 | Unto us a child is born. A great light dawns, and a child is born who is Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God and the Prince of Peace. |
Family questions for this week
- Dec 1: Why do you think God made a promise at the darkest moment?
- Dec 2: How is Jesus a blessing to every nation?
- Dec 3: Jesus is called “the Lion of the tribe of Juda” (Revelation 5:5). What does that tell us about Him?
- Dec 4: What do stars help travelers do?
- Dec 5: What makes Jesus' kingdom different from earthly kingdoms?
- Dec 6: Where do you need to remember that God is with you this week?
- Dec 7: Which of these names of Jesus means the most to you right now?
Week 2: The Prophets (December 8–14)
Through the prophets, God filled in the picture: who the coming King would be, where He would be born, and how He would save His people.
| Day | Reading | What it's about |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 8 | Isaiah 11:1–10 | A branch from Jesse. A shoot grows from the stump of Jesse, and the Spirit of the Lord rests on Him. |
| Dec 9 | Isaiah 40:1–11 | Comfort ye my people. A voice cries in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord, who will tend His flock like a shepherd. |
| Dec 10 | Isaiah 53:1–12 | The suffering Servant. The promised Servant is wounded for our transgressions. The baby in the manger came to carry our sin. |
| Dec 11 | Jeremiah 23:5–6 | The righteous Branch. God promises a righteous King called “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” |
| Dec 12 | Micah 5:2–5 | Born in Bethlehem. Seven hundred years ahead, Micah names the little town where the Ruler will be born. |
| Dec 13 | Zechariah 9:9–10 | Your King is coming. The King comes humble, riding on a donkey, bringing peace to the nations. |
| Dec 14 | Malachi 3:1–4; 4:5–6 | The messenger. The last Old Testament prophet promises a messenger to prepare the way. Then heaven goes quiet for about 400 years. |
Family questions for this week
- Dec 8: What would a world of perfect peace look like?
- Dec 9: How can we “prepare the way” for Jesus this Christmas?
- Dec 10: Why is the cross part of the Christmas story?
- Dec 11: What does it mean that Jesus is our righteousness?
- Dec 12: Why might God choose a small, ordinary town?
- Dec 13: How is Jesus' humility different from the way the world sees greatness?
- Dec 14: What is it like to wait for something for a very long time?
Week 3: The Announcements (December 15–21)
After centuries of silence, God speaks again. Angels visit an old priest, a young woman in Nazareth and a carpenter named Joseph.
| Day | Reading | What it's about |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 15 | Luke 1:5–25 | An angel visits Zechariah. Gabriel announces that elderly Zechariah and Elizabeth will have a son, John. |
| Dec 16 | Luke 1:26–38 | An angel visits Mary. Gabriel tells Mary she will bear the Son of God. She answers, “be it unto me according to thy word.” |
| Dec 17 | Luke 1:39–56 | Mary's song. Mary visits Elizabeth, and her song of praise celebrates God's mercy to the humble. |
| Dec 18 | Matthew 1:18–25 | Joseph's dream. An angel tells Joseph not to be afraid. The child will be called Jesus, “for he shall save his people from their sins.” |
| Dec 19 | Luke 1:57–80 | John is born. Zechariah's voice returns, and he praises God for the “dayspring from on high.” |
| Dec 20 | John 1:1–14 | The Word became flesh. The eternal Word, who made all things, became a human being and lived among us. |
| Dec 21 | Galatians 4:4–7 | The fullness of time. At exactly the right time, God sent His Son so we could become His children. |
Family questions for this week
- Dec 15: Is anything too hard for God?
- Dec 16: How can you say “yes” to God like Mary did?
- Dec 17: What is one thing you can praise God for today?
- Dec 18: What does the name Jesus mean?
- Dec 19: Who prepared the way for you to know Jesus?
- Dec 20: Why is it amazing that God became a baby?
- Dec 21: What does it mean to be adopted into God's family?
Week 4: The Savior Is Born (December 22–25)
The promises come true. In a stable in Bethlehem, the Savior of the world is born.
| Day | Reading | What it's about |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 22 | Luke 2:1–7 | Born in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem, and Jesus is born and laid in a manger. |
| Dec 23 | Luke 2:8–14 | Good tidings of great joy. Angels announce the birth to shepherds and fill the sky with praise. |
| Dec 24 | Luke 2:15–20 | The shepherds visit. The shepherds hurry to find the baby, then spread the news and return praising God. |
| Dec 25 | Matthew 2:1–11 | The wise men worship. Wise men follow the star and bring gifts to the King. (They likely arrived some time later, but their worship completes the story.) |
Family questions for this week
- Dec 22: Why do you think Jesus was born in such a humble place?
- Dec 23: Who would you most like to tell the good news to?
- Dec 24: How can your family “glorify and praise God” this Christmas Eve?
- Dec 25: What gift can you give Jesus this year?
Advent Sunday themes and candle readings
Many families and churches light one more candle on an Advent wreath each Sunday. If you do, read the verse for that week as you light it. You can also read it on the Sunday if you're following the daily plan.
| Sunday | Theme | Candle verse (KJV) |
|---|---|---|
| November 29 | Hope | Isaiah 9:2: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” |
| December 6 | Peace | Isaiah 9:6: “…and his name shall be called… The Prince of Peace.” |
| December 13 | Joy | Luke 2:10: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” |
| December 20 | Love | John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” |
| Christmas Day | Christ | John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” |
Candle names and colors vary between churches. Many use three purple candles and one pink, and some use four blue or four red. The meaning matters more than the colors.
How to use this plan with your family
- Pick a time and keep it. Breakfast, dinner or bedtime all work. Ten minutes is plenty.
- Read the passage aloud. Let older children take turns reading.
- Ask the question. There are no wrong answers; the goal is conversation.
- Pray briefly. Thank God for one promise from the day's reading.
- Mark it off. Children love ticking the box on the printable plan or adding a sticker.
Want a daily prayer to go with it? Try our morning prayer for your family.
Tips for a meaningful Advent
- Don't rush to the manger. The early weeks of promises make Christmas morning richer. Waiting is part of Advent.
- Read Isaiah slowly. Week 2 leans on Isaiah. Our Isaiah chapter summaries give each passage its context.
- Catch up without guilt. If you miss a day, read two the next day, or simply carry on.
- Add a small act of kindness. Many families pair each reading with a way to serve someone, reflecting the gift of Jesus.
- Keep going after Christmas. Start the new year with our chronological Bible reading plan, which takes you through the whole Bible in 365 days.
Why read the Old Testament during Advent?
Jesus Himself taught that the Old Testament points to Him. On the road to Emmaus, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Reading those promises during Advent helps us feel the long wait of God's people and see how precisely God kept His word. As Paul wrote:
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV)
To see how these promises begin, read our Genesis chapter summaries.
Frequently asked questions
When does Advent start in 2026?
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The four Sundays of Advent are November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20.
What should I read during Advent?
Traditional Advent readings trace God's promises of a Savior: Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7 and 9, Micah 5:2, then the Christmas story in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2. This plan covers all of these in 25 days.
How long does each Advent reading take?
Most readings are 5 to 15 verses, about 3 to 5 minutes to read aloud. With a family question and a short prayer, each day takes about 10 minutes.
Is this Advent plan suitable for kids?
Yes. The readings are short, and each day includes a simple question children can answer. For younger children, read from a children's Bible and use the same passages.
What are the themes of the four Advent candles?
Many churches use hope, peace, joy and love for the four Sundays, with a white Christ candle on Christmas. Some traditions use different names, such as faith or preparation.
Can I start the plan late?
Yes. Start on today's date and read the earlier days when you can, or read two days at once to catch up. Nothing is lost by starting late.
