The Biggest Story Advent Reading Plan
Instead of recounting familiar scenes full of shepherds, angels, and wise men, The Biggest Story Advent focuses on the prophecies leading up to the Christmas story. You might think of it as the story before the story—or, better yet, as a fuller version of the Biggest Story.
This reading plan features short Scripture readings highlighting twenty-four promises from the Old Testament about the coming Messiah, plus a final passage from Matthew 1 for the birth of Christ. Many of the Old Testament prophecies will be well-known to most Christians. Other prophecies will be less familiar. Both kinds of promises are important in showing not only that the birth of Christ was directly predicted, but also that the coming of the Deliverer fulfilled the larger story of God’s redemptive purposes for his people.
Or download an excerpt of the first seven days of full readings from The Biggest Story Advent to read together with your family.
Twenty-five brand new advent devotions by Kevin DeYoung teach children how the hope of salvation entered the world, starting from Genesis and building toward Christ’s birth.
Day 1
Reading: Genesis 3:14–15
Prayer: Dear Lord, we are trapped in sin and must be rescued. Thank you for sending the Snake Crusher to save us. Amen.
Day 2
Reading: Genesis 15:1–6
Prayer: Dear God, we praise you for blessing us, and the whole world, through the promised child of Abraham. Amen.
Day 3
Reading: Genesis 49:8–10
Prayer: We stand in awe of you, Lord, for you are holy, glorious, and mighty to save. Amen.
Day 4
Reading: Numbers 24:15–19
Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for the morning star of Christ’s love and glory to rise in our hearts. Amen.
Day 5
Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15–19
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the Word made flesh—for sending your Son, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.
Day 6
Reading: 2 Samuel 7:8–13
Prayer: Dear God, you are a great King. Thank you that, because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can be a part of an eternal kingdom. Amen.
Day 7
Reading: Psalm 2:7–12
Prayer: We pray, O Lord, that you would make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. Amen.
Day 8
Reading: Psalm 8:1–9
Prayer: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Thank you for creating us and for sending your Son. Amen.
Day 9
Reading: Psalm 72:8–14
Prayer: Dear Lord, please receive our gifts—our time, our talents, our treasure, and, most of all, our very selves. Amen.
Day 10
Reading: Psalm 110:1–4
Prayer: O Lord, you are the King of righteousness and the King of peace. You are also our faithful high priest and sacrifice for sin. We love you. Amen.
Day 11
Reading: Isaiah 7:10–14
Prayer: What a promise, O Lord, and what a sign! We thank you for the baby born of Mary. Amen.
Day 12
Reading: Isaiah 9:2–7
Prayer: You have kept your promise, O Lord. The child has been born! The zeal of the Lord of hosts has done it, and we are grateful. Amen.
Day 13
Reading: Isaiah 11:1–9
Prayer: We thank you for the little leaf from Jesse that sprang up in our world. We thank you for the massive tree of blessing he is for all who trust in him. Amen.
Day 14
Reading: Isaiah 40:3–8
Prayer: Our warfare is ended, and our sins have been forgiven. We thank you, Lord, for making a way to be with us. Amen.
Day 15
Reading: Isaiah 42:1–9
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you never get tired of coming to our aid when we ask for help. Amen.
Day 16
Reading: Isaiah 49:5–7
Prayer: We praise you, the Holy One of Israel, for being a Deliverer for all peoples! Amen.
Day 17
Reading: Isaiah 53:1–6
Prayer: O Lord, we give thanks that you were cut off from the land of living so that we might live forever with you. Amen.
Day 18
Reading: Jeremiah 23:3–6
Prayer: Dear God, help us to live rightly as we follow our righteous King. Amen.
Day 19
Reading: Jeremiah 31:10–17
Prayer: We pray for everyone who has ever lost a baby boy or girl. Thank you that we have a good King who cares for us and can wipe away all our tears. Amen.
Day 20
Reading: Daniel 7:13–14
Prayer: We praise you, O God, for your power and glory are forever and ever. Amen.
Day 21
Reading: Hosea 11:1–4
Prayer: We praise you, O God, for rescuing your people from Egypt, for sending your Son to earth, and for redeeming us from our sins. Amen
Day 22
Reading: Micah 5:1–4
Prayer: Dear Lord, Bethlehem may have been too small to be one of the clans of Judah, but we thank you that we are not too small for you to save us. Amen.
Day 23
Reading: Zephaniah 3:14–20
Prayer: You have turned our mourning into laughter. We praise you. Amen.
Day 24
Reading: Malachi 4:1–2
Prayer: Thank you, God, that you fulfill all your promises—in your perfect timing. Help us to wait and to keep watch. Amen.
Day 25
Reading: Matthew 1:18–23
Prayer: O Lord, we sing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Amen.
