Introduction
From December 1 to 24, this calendar gives you one verse a day, in the order of the Christmas story in the Bible. It unfolds in four stages of six days: waiting and the promises, preparing the way, the announcement to Mary and Joseph, then Bethlehem and the light. Each day includes the text from the World English Bible, one sentence to remember and a link to the full chapter. Open the page each morning, or go straight to the day you want: each date has its own direct link, handy to share.
December 1 to 6: Waiting and the Promises
December 1: Genesis 3:15
"I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."
From the very first pages of the Bible, God announces that evil will not have the last word, so you can begin December by thanking him for this promise. Read all of Genesis 3.
December 2: Genesis 12:3
"I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you."
A blessing meant for all the families of the earth, and so for yours too: today, bless someone close to you with a word or a gesture. Read all of Genesis 12.
December 3: Numbers 24:17
"I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth."
Long before Christmas, a star announced a coming king, so tonight step outside for a moment, look up at the sky and let it invite you into waiting. Read all of Numbers 24.
December 4: Isaiah 7:14
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Immanuel means God with us, and that is the promise of December: today, identify one place in your day where you need his presence. Read all of Isaiah 7.
December 5: Isaiah 9:6
"For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Among all the names given to this child, choose one, such as Prince of Peace, and ask for it in a tense situation in your life. Read all of Isaiah 9.
December 6: Isaiah 11:1
"A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit."
God brings a shoot out of the stock of Jesse: think of what seems dried up in your life, and entrust it to the one who knows how to bring new life. Read all of Isaiah 11.
December 7 to 12: Preparing the Way
December 7: Isaiah 40:3
"The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God."
Preparing a way begins with clearing the path, so today spot one thing that clutters your heart or your schedule and set it aside. Read all of Isaiah 40.
December 8: Isaiah 40:4-5
"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. Yahweh’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it."
Valleys filled in, hills brought low: ask God to help you lay down whatever lifts you too high or drags you down right now, whether pride or discouragement. Read all of Isaiah 40.
December 9: Malachi 3:1
"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies."
A messenger was to go before the Lord, and you can be a messenger in your own way by sending a warm word to someone who has not heard from you. Read all of Malachi 3.
December 10: Luke 1:17
"He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord."
This verse speaks of the hearts of fathers turned back toward their children: today, give full attention for a moment to a child, a parent or a relative in your family. Read all of Luke 1.
December 11: Luke 1:76-79
"And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Zechariah speaks of a rising sun come from on high to guide our feet toward peace: today, tell God which direction you need to be guided in. Read all of Luke 1.
December 12: Luke 3:4
"As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight."
A voice cries out in the desert calling for the way of the Lord to be prepared, so take five minutes of silence, without a screen, to make room for him. Read all of Luke 3.
December 13 to 18: The Announcement to Mary and Joseph
December 13: Luke 1:28
"Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"
The angel greets Mary as one who has already received grace, before asking anything of her: remember today that God looks at you with the same kindness. Read all of Luke 1.
December 14: Luke 1:30-33
"The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."
Faced with Mary's fear, the angel answers with a promise: name out loud a worry of the moment and hand it over to God. Read all of Luke 1.
December 15: Luke 1:38
"Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her."
Mary says yes without understanding everything: ask yourself which small act of obedience God is inviting you to live today, a service, a forgiveness or a prayer. Read all of Luke 1.
December 16: Luke 1:45
"Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
Elizabeth declares Mary happy for having believed that God's word would be fulfilled: choose a promise from the Bible for your day and write it on a piece of paper. Read all of Luke 1.
December 17: Matthew 1:20-21
"But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."
In a dream, Joseph learns that the child will save his people from their sins: accept this forgiveness for yourself today, then offer it to someone else. Read all of Matthew 1.
December 18: Matthew 1:24
"Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;"
Joseph wakes up and does what the angel commanded him: today, choose a decision you have been putting off and make it with God's help. Read all of Matthew 1.
December 19 to 24: Bethlehem and the Light
December 19: Micah 5:2
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times."
God chooses a small town to bring forth the promised king: what seems small in your life is never insignificant in his eyes. Read all of Micah 5.
December 20: Luke 2:4-5
"Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant."
Mary and Joseph make a long journey to Bethlehem, so use one of your trips today, on foot or by transport, to pray for someone. Read all of Luke 2.
December 21: John 1:5
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it."
Light a candle tonight, alone or with others, and let it remind you that the light of Jesus shines in the darkness of this world. Read all of John 1.
December 22: John 1:14
"The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth."
The Word lived among us, so today, listen with real attention to someone who is speaking to you, as God took the time to come near us. Read all of John 1.
December 23: Luke 2:8-9
"There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified."
The shepherds keep watch over their flocks in the middle of the night when God's glory surrounds them: he also comes into your ordinary days, so notice him tonight. Read all of Luke 2.
December 24: Luke 2:10-11
"The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
A Savior is born for all the people: tonight, share this good news with someone by sincerely wishing them a merry Christmas. Read all of Luke 2.
How to Use This Bible Advent Calendar
As a family with children, open the page in the morning or at dinnertime and have the verse read aloud, taking turns. For the youngest, keep only the sentence of the day: each child can draw what they imagine, stick a star on a large poster or light a candle. Ten minutes is enough, and the daily meeting matters more than its length.
As a couple, read the verse of the day with your spouse at the end of the day, then ask them what this text changes for you today. Finish with a short prayer aloud, each taking a turn. This few-minute appointment quickly becomes a moment of calm amid the busy preparations of the year's end.
In a small group or at church, read the verse at the start of the meeting, or on Sunday for the coming week, then let each person share what they took from it. A leader can project the page, include it in the newsletter or hand out printed copies. Each day has its own direct link, which makes it easy to invite everyone to read the same verse at the same time.
Print the page and stick it on the fridge, with a cross beside each day completed. You can also send the verse of the day each morning to a loved one, a colleague or a neighbor, with a link to the page. If you fall behind, do not catch up all at once: simply pick up again at today's date.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you start an Advent calendar?
A classic Advent calendar opens on December 1 and ends on the 24th, with one verse a day. If you discover it late, do not try to catch up on the missed days: start on the day matching today's date and continue until Christmas Eve. You can reread the first days later.
What is the difference between the Advent calendar and Advent?
Advent is the season of preparation that begins four Sundays before Christmas, on November 29 in 2026, and its date changes every year. The Advent calendar, for its part, counts the days from December 1 to 24 with one verse for each day, regardless of when Advent begins.
How do you live an Advent calendar with children?
Keep the moment short and regular: one verse read aloud, the sentence of the day explained in simple words, then a small gesture such as lighting a candle, drawing or placing a star on a poster. Let them ask questions, and do not worry if they do not remember the whole text.
Do you have to follow the 24 days in order?
The reading follows the biblical account of Christmas, from the promise to the birth, so the order helps understanding. But nothing stops you from going at your own pace or returning to a verse that touched you. Each day has its own direct link, useful for sharing with a loved one.