In our home, we use the Christmas season as an opportunity to keep ourselves intentionally fettered to the Messiah, despite the mayhem. America has done a marvelous job marketing the holiday gift-giving and food while being tragically surrounded by death, pain, and sin. This world is desperate for Christ, but doesn’t even know it. As believers, we should be burdened for the lost (Romans 9:1—5) and be a light to a dark world. There’s nothing more this world needs than to know Christ and to have Him rooted deeply within the soul.

Between now and December 25, I will publish brief, daily readings so we don’t fail to use this sacred season to be still and reclaim the quiet.

There’s no formula or configuration for how to best celebrate Christ. That’s the beauty of worship: God didn’t specify how to worship; He simply provided Scriptural examples of worship. In John 4:24, we’re told to worship in Spirit and in truth. What a relief to know we don’t need to make this a legalistic list of to-dos! This Christmas study of Christ’s birth and salvation isn’t designed to dictate–it was prayerfully created to guide you in establishing cherished time to reflect on Christ Jesus. To be still.

For the majority of the days, we’ll be in the book of either Matthew or Luke, studying the verse-by-verse story of Jesus’ birth. Toward the end, we’ll glean from a few verses that speak to the character of Christ Jesus, the wickedness of mankind, Jesus’ righteousness, and the merciful gift of His grace.

If you’re new to verse-by-verse studies (you can sign up to receive weekly Bible studies at the bottom of this page), it’s an edifying approach for the following reasons:

• We are to proclaim the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27, NKJV)—not just pieces and parts.

• Verses are left in context and each verse can be considered in light of the surrounding verses.

• It allows us to stay focused on one emphasis over a period of time as opposed to jumping from topic to topic.

• It encourages you to do your own Bible study. You don’t have to be a pastor or teacher to study the Word!

Each day there is a reading (in the New International Version, unless otherwise noted), reflection, and response. Again, my encouragement to you is to make the reflection and response your own. What I’ve penned is scripted from my heart to yours; you must then choose to ponder its application for yourself.

For households or fellowships with wee ones, I’ve included a brief Tot Time section, which consists of explanations and/or questions to help reinforce the Scripture. It’s imperative to not dilute the Gospel when teaching children. Help them listen to the Bible verse, just as you would, and then work with them to clarify. We’re prompted in Deuteronomy 6:7 to teach God’s Word to the children, talking about it when we sit at home, walk around, lie down, and wake up.

No matter how you choose to celebrate Christ this season, let the Messiah–not the mayhem–reign in your heart.