5 Ways to Have Advent Conversations With Your Family

I grew up in a family that worked hard every single day, but on Christmas we celebrated all day long. It was always a wonderful time. We ate mom’s delicious Swedish tea ring and played games until midnight. While we loved our Christmas traditions, we didn’t celebrate Advent. 

It was Miss Sue, my childhood Sunday school teacher, who introduced me to Advent. One Sunday in late November, she brought an Advent wreath with colorful candles to our small basement classroom and explained to us that Advent is a season of worshiping Jesus, the promised Savior who has come — and will come again. 

In Psalm 78, the author reminds us to tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done … so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments (Psalm 78:4, 7).

As we show our children God’s plan of redemption through a promised Savior, we pray they will see the glorious deeds of the Lord. When we read about the multitude of angels, shepherds and magi worshiping Jesus, we show our children the might of our King. When we praise God for sending us Jesus, to save us from our sins, we can marvel with our children at the wonders He has done in saving us while we were yet sinners.

Let’s use the season of Advent to lead our children in setting their hope in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments. Let’s start a new tradition – even better than tea rings and late night board games – and set aside time each week around the table, before bed or even in the car to lead your family in purposefully reflecting on God’s greatest gift, our Savior, Jesus Christ! 

Five ways to have Advent conversations with your family

1.  Decorate your kitchen or dining room with an Advent calendar, a homemade paper chain or an Advent wreath to count down the days until Christmas. Each day, when you sit down to eat together, open the doors, tear off the chains or light the candles, and pray together and thank God for sending Jesus to save us from our sins. 

2.  Before bed, read Scripture passages in the Old Testament that remind your family of how God kept His promise when He sent Jesus to be our Messiah. Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-6, 11:1-10, 42:1-9 and 59:20 are great places to start! Explain to your children that God will continue to keep His promises, as you read about Christ’s future return in Revelation 21:1-7.

3.  Younger children can color or paint Christmas pictures while you read about Christ’s birth from Luke 2. Include their creations in Christmas cards you send to friends and family.

4.  As you drive to events this December, listen to Christ-centered Christmas music. Sing praise to God for sending His son to Earth to be Immanuel, God with us. Look for outdoor nativity scenes or light displays on your way to and from activities.

5.  Are you looking for a comprehensive resource to help? Join us for our Advent family devotional series, “The Promise of a Savior.” Together, we’ll follow God’s promises from the Garden of Eden to the manger in Bethlehem and celebrate the Savior who came to conquer sin and will one day come again. This five-week series includes a family discussion guide, time for prayer and Scripture memory, and activities to keep little and big kids engaged all week long. We’ve compiled everything you need to lead your family in a journey through Advent that can be customized to your unique schedule.

December is notoriously the busiest month of the year. Christmas programs at school and church, family gatherings, and last-minute preparations seem to crowd out any free time. But think of the impact we can have on our families if we commit to intentionally leading them in the celebration of our Savior.

Do you celebrate any Advent traditions? Tell us about them in the comments.