This year Christmas will be celebrated on a Sunday. That’s always a challenge for family activities and Christian worship.

Actually, genuine worship and preparation for it are always a challenge.

How can you get ready for Christmas?

Here’s how I plan to do so. I hope you will follow me or find a definite plan to prepare for a great time of worship as we celebrate God’s coming to our world.

As with almost everything in life, I want to center my worship and celebration around the Word of God. God gave us His Word to reveal Himself. When we read God’s Word, we see how God has worked in the past and how God has made Himself known. Christmas is a great time to see God’s handiwork of making Himself known.

As I prepare for Christmas, I want to read three kinds of Scripture. First, I want to read passages that prepare me for God’s revelation in Christ. These include a number of passages from the Old Testament, particularly of the prophets. I also want to read those passages that tell the events of Christ’s birth, what you and I call the birth narrative. These are found primarily in Matthew and Luke. Finally, I want to read New Testament passages that tell me what the coming of Christ means.

I begin December 1 and conclude Sunday December 25. Here’s my schedule.

Thursday, December 1–Isaiah 9, particularly verses 1-7

Friday, December 2–Philippians 2:1-11

Saturday, December 3–Isaiah 11:1-16

Sunday, December 4–Psalm 110

Monday, December 5–Malachi 4:1-6

Tuesday, December 6–John 3:1-36

Wednesday, December 7–John 1:1-13

Thursday, December 8–John 1:14-28

Friday, December 9–John 1:29-42

Saturday, December 10–John 1:43-51

Sunday, December 11–Isaiah 7:1-17

Monday, December 12–Jeremiah 23:1-8

Tuesday, December 13–Psalm 22

Wednesday, December 14–Jeremiah 31:31-34

Thursday, December 15–Micah 5:1-15

Friday, December 16–Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Saturday, December 17–Ezekiel 36:1-38

Sunday, December 18–Luke 1:1-25

Monday, December 19–Luke 1:26-56

Tuesday, December 20–Luke 1:57-80

Wednesday, December 21–Matthew 1:18-25

Thursday, December 22–Matthew 2:1-12

Friday, December 23–Matthew 2:13-23

Saturday, December 24–Luke 2:1-14

Sunday, December 25–Luke 2:15-52

May God bless you as you contemplate God’s great work for you.

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