We want to make Christmas count. Our home is not exempt from the Christmas crazy, and with calendars overbooked, the Christmas season is too often exhausting instead of exhilarating. Twenty-four days in December fly by, and suddenly we are opening Christmas presents and have missed the point of all of it: worshiping and treasuring Jesus.

So last year, we determined to celebrate Christmas on purpose with our Christmas Countdown. Every day we read Scripture surrounding the Christmas story and spent time together as a family doing something fun, like making a manger craft or driving around to find the best lights display or acting out Luke 2.

It is Dec. 1, the start of Advent. There is still time to put on the brakes before the busyness breaks your sanity! Consider how you may lead your family in focusing on the Greatest Gift. Here is a list of Scriptures to read together (or to use as a personal devotion plan) to prepare for Christmas, as well as fun, simple activities to enjoy. Or, quick download a ready-made advent-ure, like Truth in the Tinsel, to help connect younger children to the beauty and reality of Jesus being born in a stable in Bethlehem. Our family will be counting down to Christmas this year with Truth in the Tinsel, and I will be sharing our Christmas experiences here on the blog.

Christmas Countdown Advent Scriptures 

• Day 1 – Isaiah 40:1-5
• Day 2 – Isaiah 52:7-10
• Day 3 – Isaiah 40:9-11
• Day 4 – Psalm 89:1-4
• Day 5 – Isaiah 11:1-10
• Day 6 – Zechariah 6:10-11
• Day 7 – Micah 5:2-4
• Day 8 – Malachi 3:1-6
• Day 9 – John 1:1-8
• Day 10 – John 1:9-18
• Day 11 – Mark 1:1-3
• Day 12 – Luke 1:5-13
• Day 13 – Luke 1:14-17
• Day 14 – Luke 1:18-25
• Day 15 – Luke 1:39-45
• Day 16 – Luke 1:46-56
• Day 17 – Luke 1:57-66
• Day 18 – Luke 1:67-80
• Day 19 – Isaiah 7:10-14
• Day 20 – Luke 1:26-35
• Day 21 – Isaiah 9:2-7
• Day 22 – Matthew 1:18-25
• Day 23 – Luke 2:1-20
• Day 24 – Matthew 2:1-12

Christmas Family Activity Ideas

• Candy treasure hunt
• Baking birthday cakes for Jesus
• Christmas sing-off
• Marshmallow snowmen
• Craft-stick mangers
• Paper snowflakes
• Christmas Lights Adventure
• Church Christmas Musical
• Family movie night in the fort
• Glow stick fun
• Play dough nativity scenes
• Ice cream sundaes
• Felt board Christmas Trees
• Pipe cleaner candy canes
• Hand print wreaths
• Christmas Parade
• Christmas shopping for each other
• School Christmas program
• Footprint reindeer
• Acting out the Christmas story
• Board game night
• Form an angel choir
• Christmas tree ornaments