The Family Tree

of Jesus

A Family Advent Reading Plan

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Welcome to the Advent Reading plan!
What is Advent?
Advent is the title given to the lead up to Christmas.
It’s a time of expectant waiting for Christians. A
time to reflect on and celebrate the birth of a
baby; no ordinary baby, but the one who would
save us all. Christians also look forward to his
promised return one day.
We know that Christmas is a very busy season with
present buying, parties, events and get togethers. It
can be easy to lose sight of what it’s all about. We
pray that as you work through this booklet and take
the time each day to open the Bible together as a
family it will help prepare your hearts. We pray it will
keep your whole family focused on the truth that
God came to be with his people. That’s the
greatest gift we can ever receive and something
truly worth celebrating this Christmas!

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What’s this booklet about?
This plan is designed to be used from 1st December through to
Christmas Day. It will take you on a journey through the Bible,
by looking at key people in Jesus’ family tree. The hope is that
you’ll see that the story of the whole Bible is full of real people
(some who do amazing things and some who do terrible
things) who God used to bring about his plan to save his
people. In the stories you’ll see in all the highs and lows that
God was always working, working, working, to bring about his
plan of salvation. We hope you’ll be reminded that through
Jesus all people are invited to be part of God’s family.
You can read Jesus’ full family tree in Matthew 1 and Luke
3:23-38.
This reading plan is a little more than what you might do for a
usual day-to-day family reading; it’s designed to help you get
excited about the true meaning of Christmas- that our King,
came as a real baby, who grew into a man and died to save
us!
We hope it might inspire you to start the year ahead with
great family habits of reading the word and praying together
daily!

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So how does it work?
There are 25 devotions included in this booklet. Each one
includes a story from the Bible to read and something to pray
about. There is also an activity suggested each day. The
activities are designed to help you reinforce the story you’ve
just read, to spend time together as a family or to think about
how you can share Jesus with others this Christmas. If you
don’t have time for the activity each day, that’s ok; still read
the passage together and pray! Some of the passages are
longer, and others are shorter. Most days a YouTube video is
also included as a suggested way to cover the passage;
these are great summaries and great fun for kids, as well as
being chosen for being Biblically accurate.
Some of the activities involve different kinds of preparation or
being able to do them at different times of the day. It might
be worth having a look ahead.
There is also a ‘character card’ for each person you look at in
Jesus’ family tree. These have some questions that should help
facilitate discussion and act as a reminder that who you read
about are real people- just like Jesus! Why not create your
own ‘family tree of Jesus’ display at home?!

Different aged kids

With the readings, do what works for the age of your
child(ren); if they’re younger try your favourite children’s
storybook Bibles. If they’re older, open up the Bible together-
the ICB or CEV are great translations for children.
Alternatively, there is the YouTube video suggested most
days, which is great for a variety of ages.

There are a few questions each day on the character cards.

Your children may be able to answer all of them, only one of
them, or may not even be old enough to talk yet- that’s ok!
It’s great to read the Bible with our children no matter their
age. Use the questions as a guide.

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1st December- God the creator
Read: Genesis 1:1-27
Watch: “Creation (Genesis 1-2)” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he is the mighty creator of the world. Thank
him for being the King. Pray that we will worship him as our king.
Do: Set up your Christmas tree and decorate your house for
Christmas. As you set up the tree remember that God is powerful
and made everything and it’s him we celebrate. If you’ve already
set your Christmas tree up spend some time creating in some way
(eg duplo, playdough, art) and remember the creator who
created out of nothing.

2nd December- Adam

Read: Genesis 2:7-8, 2:15-23, 3:1-24
Watch: “Adam and Eve Sin” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he is loving and forgiving. Spend some time
saying sorry for the times we don’t obey him. Thank him that he
always had a plan to save us. Pray that as we lead up to
Christmas that God will remind us of who he is and help us to know
and love him more.
Do: Choose your favourite fruit inspired recipe (Pavlova? Banana
and raspberry bread? Cherry Pie? Strawberry and Apple muffins?),
crank up the Christmas tunes (see page 15 for a playlist if you
want some inspiration) and spend time cooking together. Why not
make some extras and drop them to your neighbour or a friend
with an invitation to carols or Christmas services?

3rd December- Seth

Read: Genesis 4:1-16 & 4:25-26
Watch: “Storytellers: Cain & Abel” by Crossroads Kids’ Club
Pray: Praise God that he is always working out his plans to save his
people, even working through sinful people. Thank him for his
forgiveness. Pray that you’ll love and serve him.
Do: Over December, as a family aim to memorise Isaiah 9:6. Start
today by reading it together and helping all to understand what
it’s about. Write it out and decorate it. Then put it somewhere
you’ll all see it often to help with memorisation.

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4th December- Noah
Read: Genesis 6:5-22, 9:1-16
Watch: “Noah’s Ark” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God for his kindness and grace in saving Noah. Thank
him for his kindness and grace in saving us through Jesus.
Do: Craft day- In a way that suits your family (for example collage,
clay creation, playdough, painting) artistically represent the Noah
story. You may choose to focus on the rainbow, or the animals
and ark. Whatever you choose, as you create together reflect on
the story.

5th December- Abraham

Read: Genesis 12:1-7 & Genesis 15:1-6
Watch: “Abram to Abraham (Genesis 15-21)” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he is a promise keeping God. Thank him that
we can trust him. Thank him for Jesus and that in Jesus all his
promises are kept.
Do: Start a thankfulness system! Throughout December each day
have each member of your household say something they’re
thankful to God for. Keep track of them somehow (eg. write on a
post-it note and put it on the wall; write them on strips of paper
and put them in a jar; keep a thankfulness journal; cut up stars to
write them on- so it also reminds you of God’s promises to
Abraham and the bright star on the 1st Christmas). However you
do it, enjoy the process of seeing your thankfulness grow.

6th December- Sarah

Read: Genesis 17:1-8, 17:15-19, 18:1-15, 21:1-7
Watch: “Sarah Laughs- Stories of the Bible” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he is a miracle working God. Thank him that
through ordinary people he was working, working, working to
bring a saviour into the world because he loves us.
Do: Start making (or writing if you’ve already bought some)
Christmas cards. Think about a Bible verse or Christian message
you can include.

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7th December- Isaac
Read: Genesis 22:1-18
Watch: “Abraham's Big Test - Bible App for Kids” by LifeKids
Pray: Praise God that he gave Abraham and Sarah a child even
when it seemed impossible. Pray that God will give us faith to trust
him in all things.
Do: How is memorising Isaiah 9:6 going? Today get your body into
it- come up with some actions together to help with memorisation.

8th December- Jacob

Read: Genesis 25:19-34, 35:23-26
Watch: “Jacob and Esau - Stories of the Bible” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he chose to work through broken and sinful
people to bring about his promises and plans. Thank him that he
uses us too. Pray that we will be a witness to him in our community
and families this Christmas season.
Do: Christmas can be a tough time for some families. If you can,
head to the shops to get a gift or some non-perishable items to
donate to a local collection point for those in need this year.

9th December- Jacob’s 12 sons

Read: Genesis 37:1-36
Watch: “Joseph and His Coat (Genesis 37)” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he loves his people and always has a plan.
Thank God that he used even the bad times in Joseph’s life to
save his people. Thank him that he had a plan all along to save
us!
Do: Invite some friends over for lunch or dinner today (or meet
somewhere for a picnic).

10th December- Jacob’s 12 sons

Read: Genesis 42:1-28 & 50:15-23
Watch: “Joseph Forgives (Genesis 42-45)” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Thank God for the example in Joseph forgiving his brothers
and trusting God. Pray that we will be people of forgiveness.
Do: Spend time as a family singing praise songs.

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11th December- Moses
Note: Nahshon is actually mentioned in Jesus’ family tree- he was
the brother-in-law of Moses’ brother and the leader of the tribe of
Judah. He lived during the time of Moses and the Exodus.
Read: Exodus 2:1-4:20 (lots of kids Bible’s will summarise this well)
Watch: “Moses and the Exodus- Stories of the Bible” by
Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he always sees and hears his people. Pray
that we will be people who faithfully pray to him with joy and
thanksgiving, presenting our requests to God always.
Do: Share a Passover meal as a family. A traditional Passover has
been adjusted slightly to suit the Christmas timing (rather than
closer to Easter) and is included in your envelope. It may be
helpful for your family as you work out how to celebrate.

12th December- Aaron

Note: Nahshon is actually mentioned in Jesus’ family tree- he was
Aaron’s brother-in-law.
Read: Exodus 32
Watch: “God’s Story: 10 commandments and Golden Calf” by
Crossroads Kids’ club
Pray: Pray and say sorry to God that we sometimes ignore him and
his good rules. Pray that we will obey him and live his way.
Do: How is memorising Isaiah 9:6 going? Today get your body into
it- there are many musical versions of it available on streaming
services/online. Choose one and sing and dance along together.
Alternatively come up with your own tune/chant.

13th December- Rahab

Read: Joshua 2:1-24, 6:1-27
Watch: “God’s People: Rahab” by Crossroads Kids’ club
Pray: Praise God that he provided for his people even though they
weren’t always faithful to him. Thank him that as his followers
today we can look forward to the promise of life in Heaven with
him forever because of Jesus.
Do: Construction and destruction... Have some fun together
building an epic wall (pillows/cushions/blocks/cups/boxes…
whatever you have that works!). Then have a heap of fun trying all
different ways to crash it down (throw balls at it, push it, crash your
body through it… the possibilities are endless).

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14th December- Ruth
Read: Ruth 1
Pray: Praise God that he cares for his
people. Thank him that in hard times he
is still good and loving and in control.
Do: Using wooden pegs make your own
stars. You can put them on your tree,
around the house or add to someone’s
present as part of the wrapping. See the
picture for inspiration.

15th December- Boaz

Read: Ruth 2-4
Watch: “Ruth and Naomi- Stories from the Bible” by Saddleback
Kids
Pray: Praise God that he redeemed Ruth and Naomi through
Boaz. Thank him that he redeems us through Jesus. Pray for people
you know who aren’t yet friends with Jesus that they will come to
know him.
Do: Attend ‘Carols on the Corner’ and invite friends and family to
join you!

16th December- King David

Read: 1 Samuel 8:19-22, 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-13 & 2 Samuel 5:1-5
Watch: “God’s People: David” by Crossroads Kids’ Club
Pray: Praise God that he is the true and loving King. Thank God
that we can trust him to rule us perfectly. Acknowledge that we
can be like Israel and want to follow other things and people
more than God. Thank him that he was always planning to send
Jesus as the true King to save us. Pray we’ll live for him.
Do: With the gift season fast approaching have a look around
your house- are their clothes and toys you don’t need any more
that you can donate to the local Anglicare?

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17th December- King Solomon
Read: 1 Kings 3:2-15, 1 Kings 4:29-34
Watch: “Solomon asks for wisdom” by Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he is the true and living God who is worthy of
all our praise and glory and honour. Pray that we will be wise and
seek his good ways, not the ways of the world.
Do: Have an extended prayer time together. Focus on praying
through different emotions. Have a family member choose an
emotion and each person shares something recently that has or is
making them feel like that and pray for each other. Also think
about people in your wider family, church family or community
who may be feeling that emotion for different reasons this
Christmas and pray for them too. Go through as many or few
emotions as you have the time and energy for.

18th December- Rehoboam

Note: Rehoboam was the first king of the southern kingdom of
Judah after the nation of Israel was divided because of sin and
disobedience.
Read: 1 Kings 11:41-43, 1 Kings 12:1-20, 2 Chronicles 12:13-14
Watch: “Unit 12 Lesson 3 Solomon's Sin Divided the Kingdom” by
Jeffrey Wilson
Pray: Praise God that he is a loving and good king. Thank him for
leading his people, through kings and still today through leaders.
Pray for leaders of our area, country and world.
Do: Go looking at Christmas lights!

19th December- Ahaz

Note: Ahaz was an evil king who worshiped other gods. He
received a prophecy through Isaiah that the saviour- Immanuel -
would come from Ahaz's own family line.
Read: 2 Kings 16:2-3a, Isaiah 7:10-14
Watch: “Unit 15 Lesson 2 Isaiah Confronted Ahaz” by Jeffrey Wilson
Pray: Praise God that Jesus is ‘God with us’. Thank him that he
came and lived a perfect life and died to save us. Thank him for
the Holy Spirit.
Do: Take some time today to call, message, visit or drop an invite
into people’s letterbox inviting them to celebrate Christmas with
you at one of church’s Christmas services this year.

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20th December- Hezekiah
Note: Hezekiah was a good king of Judah. He lead the people to
turn back to true worship of God.
Read: 2 Kings 18:1-7a, 2 Chronicles 29:3-6, 2 Chronicles 30:1-2
Watch: “God’s Story- Hezekiah” by Crossroads Kids’ Club
Pray: Praise God for good leaders. Pray for our church staff team
and church link missionaries.
Do: Write an email or card to someone you know who has moved
to a new area to serve God and/or one of our church’s
missionaries. Encourage them in the work they’re doing.

21st December- Josiah

Note: Josiah became king of Judah at 8 years old. He led the
people well and called them to repent and live faithfully to God.
Read: 2 Kings 22:1-20, 2 Kings 23:1-3
Watch: “Josiah (2 Kings 22)” by Crossroads Kids’ Club
Pray: Spend some time saying sorry to God for the times we get it
wrong and don’t live his way. Thank him for his forgiveness.
Do: Have a family games night!

22nd December- Mary

Note: God chose Mary - an unmarried, teenage girl who had
never had a baby before - to be the mother of His Son! Jesus
came into the world, and He came through the most unexpected
family imaginable… as we’ve seen all month through many
unexpected people.
Read: Luke 1:26-38
Watch: “God’s Story: Mary” by Crossroads Kids’ Club
Pray: Praise God for his love. Praise him for Jesus. Praise him for the
Holy Spirit. Pray that in the next few days we will celebrate and
remember who Jesus is and why he came. Pray that we will be
shining stars to all around us.
Do: Bake some gingerbread men cookies together. Decorate
them as the characters from the nativity. If you’re super keen
make some gingerbread sheep or other animals as well.

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23rd December- Joseph
Note: Joseph was the great, great, great, great grandson of King
David. Just like God chose an unexpected mother to bring His Son
into the world, God chose an unexpected man to be His Son's
earthly father.
Read: Matt 1:18-25
Watch: “The Story of Christmas (Mary and Joseph)” by
Saddleback Kids
Pray: Praise God that he is our saviour. Praise him for his holiness.
Praise him for his strength and mercy. Praise him for ruling over all
things.
Do: Put together a small Christmas gift for your neighbours and
drop it off in their letterbox or at their door to wish them a Merry
Christmas.

24th December- Jesus

Read: Luke 2:1-7 & Isaiah 9:6
Watch: ‘Children's Bible Story "From Adam to Jesus". Video with
Lineage of Jesus Christ.’ By Elena Bay
Pray: Praise God for Jesus! Praise him for sending the saviour that
people had been waiting a long time for. Thank him for his love
and forgiveness shown in Jesus.
Do: Bake and decorate a birthday cake together; but don’t eat it
today! Save it for tomorrow!

25th December- Us!

Note: We’re all invited to be part of Jesus’ family
Read: Romans 8:15-17 & Ephesians 1:4-6
Watch: “Come Along, Christmas 2023” by Faith in Kids
Pray: Praise God for the gift of his son. Thank him that because of
Jesus we can be part of his family. Pray that today we will focus on
him and remember the truth of the celebration.
Do: Eat your birthday cake together remembering that it’s Jesus’
birthday. You may even want to sing ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’
together as a family.

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Extras
MUSIC
Want some Christmas tunes to
play at home or in the car? Scan
the QR code to be taken to a
playlist on Spotify. It includes songs
for adults and kids alike.

RETELL THE NATIVITY STORY

If you want a tool for retelling the nativity story then the
following link takes you to a resource to cut, laminate,
attach to paddle pop sticks… whatever works for you.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3uNEVAAKowpMU9tZXJ
jWFp0bDg/view?resourcekey=0-
OwVNp4TqK25FWEaMnu2xIA

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE LITTLE ONES

For those with kids at the younger end of the range here
are some additional suggestions that you might enjoy
doing together. It’s great fun to play through Bible stories
with our kids to help them explore them further. It helps
grow their love of the Bible and their understanding.
 Print out pictures from the different stories and hide
them around the house. Have your child(ren) search
to find them.
 Use playdough and together create parts of the story
or retell them together.
 Paint pictures such as the key characters on stones.
Allow your child to play with them and use as
prompts for retelling the story.
 Play memory or bingo using pictures from the
Christmas story
 Colouring sheets and activities- lots are available free
on the internet, including https://bibleappforkids.com
and faithinkids.org

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 Final Reflections
After Christmas take some time to reflect on what
you’ve learnt together. Have each member of your
family think about the following questions. Encourage
them to express their answers in the way they choose.
Some options are:
-Do a drawing/artwork
-Write a rap
-Act it out
-Do a dance
-Create a cartoon strip
-Write a journal entry or newspaper article

QUESTIONS:
-How did reading the Old Testament stories grow your
understanding of why Jesus came?
-What stood out to you about people in Jesus’ family
tree?
-What is something new that stood out to you about
the Christmas story?
-What is the best thing about being part of Jesus’
family?

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