Advent is a time of light. Of hope in the darkness. Of peace on earth and goodwill toward men.
But Advent is more than a nice story about a baby in a manger.
Advent is a vital piece in a vast and cosmic narrative about a God who deserves all glory. A God who created the world. A God who condescends to us to make Himself known.
This Advent Bible reading plan showcases vital aspects of that grand narrative of God’s glory (a narrative which ultimately stretches all the way from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22).
You’ll walk through some of the great promises, prophecies, and foreshadowings in Scripture that help us understand who our Savior Jesus is and the significance of His incarnation.
We encourage you to read each day’s passages slowly, prayerfully absorbing what God is saying through His Word and dwelling deeply on His truths.
You can simply read through the daily passages, or you can scroll further down on this page for some deeper inductive study instructions and questions based on the Precept Bible Study Method. These will help you slow down and dive further into the infinite treasures of these amazing passages. We’d encourage you to go through these notes so that you can draw closer to the Lord through deeper time spent with Him.
May God use this Advent reading plan to bless you, your family, and your church as you open up the pages of His Word!
Because when people get into God’s Word, the Spirit works. And lives change.
For a deeper dive into the Advent narratives of Scripture, check out our Precept Upon Precept® Bible study on the book of Luke.
Advent Scripture Reading Plan:
Day 1: The Word Made Flesh – John 1:1-18
Day 2: The One Who Will Crush the Serpent – Genesis 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:1-15
Day 3: The Serpent Defeated – Revelation 12:7-11; 20:1-10
Day 4: All Nations Will Be Blessed – Genesis 12:1-3; 18:17-18; 22:17-18
Day 5: Blessing to Gentiles – Galatians 3:7-14; Matthew 2:1-12
Day 6: The Passover – Exodus 12:1-28
Day 7: Jesus the Passover Lamb – 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 1:19-34
Day 8: The Day of Atonement – Leviticus 16:1-22
Day 9: The Once-for-All Sacrifice for Sins (Part 1) – Hebrews 9:1-28
Day 10: The Once-for-All Sacrifice for Sins (Part 2) – Hebrews 10:1-18
Day 11: David’s Forever Kingdom – 2 Samuel 7:1-17
Day 12: David’s Son Announced – Luke 1:26-56
Day 13: The Reign of God’s Anointed – Psalm 2:1-12
Day 14: The Victorious King – Revelation 19:1-16
Day 15: David’s Suffering – Psalm 22:1-18
Day 16: Jesus’ Suffering – Matthew 27:24-54
Day 17: The Child Promised – Isaiah 7:14; 9:2-7; 11:1-5
Day 18: The Child’s Coming – Matthew 1:1, 6, 16-25
Day 19: The Suffering Servant – Isaiah 53:1-12
Day 20: It Is Finished – John 19:30-42
Day 21: The New Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31-40; Ezekiel 36:22-32
Day 22: The Mediator of the New Covenant – Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Hebrews 8:6-12
Day 23: Resurrection and Incarnation – Matthew 28:1-10; Philippians 2:1-11
Day 24: The Fullness of God in Him – Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 John 1:1-4
Day 25: He’s Here! – Luke 2:1-20
“Dig Deeper” Inductive Advent Scripture Reading Plan:
Doing a simple reading of Scripture is good and certainly has immense value to your life and faith!
But you may want to dig a bit deeper as you go through this Advent Bible reading plan—mining more of the treasures that are waiting for you there in the pages of God’s Word so that you can know Him even more.
The “inductive study” plan below helps guide you through the Scripture readings on a deeper level using the Precept Bible Study Method of observation, interpretation, and application.
That way, you can slow down and let the depths of God’s Word change your heart and life through the power of His Holy Spirit.
(Click here for more info on the inductive Precept Bible Study Method.)
Note:
The instructions in this plan for marking words in your Bible are based on the English Standard Version, but most translations will have similar wording. For examples on how to mark words in distinctive ways, you can use symbols such as a triangle for God or a cross for Christ, or you can use other marking methods such as color-coding, circling, underlining, or writing the first letter of a word or name.
Day 1: The Word Made Flesh – John 1:1-18
- In your Bible, mark every reference to Word, God, and John in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What do you observe about the Word?
- What do you observe about God?
- What do you observe about John?
- Who is the Word?
- What does the Word give to people who believe in His name?
- What was the impact of the Word becoming flesh?
- How does recognizing the glory of God in “the Word” impact your whole perspective as you live your daily life?
Day 2: The One Who Will Crush the Serpent – Genesis 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:1-15
- In your Bible, mark every reference to God, Adam (the man), Eve (the woman), and the serpent. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What does God do in Gen. 2:7-9, 15-17?
- What does God tell the man?
- What does the serpent tell the woman in Gen. 3:1-5?
- What does God tell the serpent in Gen. 3:15? What is the promise He is making?
- Why does it matter that Adam and Eve ate the fruit?
- In what ways do you find yourself tempted to disobey God, like Adam and Eve did? How can you respond to these temptations?
Day 3: The Serpent Defeated – Revelation 12:7-11; 20:1-10
- In your Bible, mark every reference to the dragon/Satan and Christ in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What is the dragon/Satan called in Rev. 12:9 and 20:2?
- What happens to Satan in Rev. 12:9, 20:1-3, and finally in 20:10?
- What do these passages teach about Satan’s relationship to mankind? What do they teach about his destiny in God’s plan?
- What connection might there be from these passages to Genesis 3 from yesterday’s reading?
- How does understanding what Satan’s final end will be give you strength and encouragement in your life today?
Day 4: All Nations Will Be Blessed – Genesis 12:1-3; 18:17-18; 22:17-18
- In your Bible, mark every reference to the Lord and Abram/Abraham in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- In your Bible, circle the words “will” and “shall” and underline the words “all the families” or “all the nations” as you’re reading.
- What promises does the Lord make to or about Abram/Abraham in these passages?
- What does the Lord say about “all the nations”?
- What do you think the Lord means by saying that all the nations will be blessed through Abraham?
- How is it comforting for you personally to think about the Lord’s faithfulness to keep His promises?
Day 5: Blessing to Gentiles – Galatians 3:7-14; Matthew 2:1-12
- In your Bible, mark every reference to faith, Christ, and the wise men in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- Who are considered sons of Abraham and why?
- What does it mean to be someone “of faith” or someone who receives “the promised Spirit” through faith, according to Gal. 3:7-14?
- What example do you see in Matt. 2:1-12 of the blessing of Abraham coming to “all the nations”? (Remember yesterday’s reading!)
- What do the wise men do when they see Jesus?
- In what ways can you tangibly express your faith in Jesus and worship Him this week, like the wise men did?
Day 6: The Passover – Exodus 12:1-28
- In your Bible, mark every reference to the Lord, lamb, and Passover/pass over in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What does the Lord tell the people to do with the lambs?
- Why do the people need to take action in regard to the lambs?
- What does the Lord say He is going to do?
- What was the significance of the shedding of the animal’s blood for the people at the time?
- How does thinking about both the Lord’s judgment and His provision for the people lead you to a deeper awe and worship of Him?
Day 7: Jesus the Passover Lamb – 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 1:19-34
- In your Bible, mark every reference to Christ, lamb, and John in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What does Paul call Christ in 1 Cor. 5:7?
- What does John (the Baptist) call Christ in John 1:29?
- Why do Paul and John refer to Jesus in this way?
- How else does John refer to Christ?
- How does recognizing that Christ took away your sin through His death give you a depth of peace in Him (if you’ve trusted in Him for forgiveness)?
Day 8: The Day of Atonement – Leviticus 16:1-22
- In your Bible, mark every reference to the Lord, Aaron, sin/iniquities, and atonement/atoning in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- For whom does Aaron have to make atonement?
- What is the process by which Aaron has to make atonement?
- What does Aaron need to do with the goat in Lev. 16:20-22?
- Why did the Lord have this requirement for the people in Old Testament times?
- How does reading about the Day of Atonement help you realize the seriousness of sin in your own life?
Day 9: The Once-for-All Sacrifice for Sins (Part 1) – Hebrews 9:1-28
- In your Bible, mark every reference to covenant, Holy Place/holy places, blood, and Christ in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- For whom did the priest need to offer sacrifices once per year, according to Heb. 9:7?
- What did Christ do in Heb. 9:12?
- What is Christ called in Heb. 9:15?
- How did Christ put away sin once for all, according to Heb. 9:25-26?
- How does all of this relate to yesterday’s reading in Leviticus?
- What does this passage tell you about the significance of what Christ did on the cross?
- How would you live differently if you truly understood that those who have trusted Christ have full forgiveness forever in Him?
Day 10: The Once-for-All Sacrifice for Sins (Part 2) – Hebrews 10:1-18
- In your Bible, mark every reference to sacrifices, sins, and Christ in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What does this passage say about whether the blood of bulls and goats in the Old Testament could truly take away sins?
- What truths about Christ do you observe?
- How many times did Christ have to offer a sacrifice for sins?
- Why do you think Christ’s sacrifice was better than the sacrifices of the Old Testament?
- How does pondering all of these truths about Christ’s sacrifice deepen your love for Him?
Day 11: David’s Forever Kingdom – 2 Samuel 7:1-17
- In your Bible, mark every reference to David/the king and the Lord in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- In your Bible, circle the word “will” as you’re reading.
- What does David want to do?
- What does the Lord say He will do for David and his offspring?
- How long will David’s throne be established, according to 2 Sam. 7:16?
- How would you summarize the Lord’s promise to David and what it meant for his royal dynasty?
- How can you express your gratitude to God for the promises He has made to believers today (see David’s response in 2 Sam. 7:18-29)?
Day 12: David’s Son Announced – Luke 1:26-56
- In your Bible, mark every reference to God, Mary, and Jesus in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What does the angel say will happen to Jesus? What will Jesus do?
- What truths do you observe about Jesus?
- How is Jesus related to the promise to David from yesterday’s reading?
- What truths does Mary proclaim about God in Luke 1:46-55?
- Did Mary understand the significance of what the angel told her? Explain your reasoning.
- In what ways can you exalt the Lord in your own life, as Mary did?
Day 13: The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed – Psalm 2:1-12
- In your Bible, mark every reference to the nations, the Lord, and the Lord’s Anointed/King/Son in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What is the attitude of the nations in this psalm?
- What do you observe about the Lord’s Anointed?
- What will the Lord’s Anointed do?
- What are the kings and rulers told to do?
- What does this psalm tell you about the character of God and His Anointed?
- Who is the Anointed? Explain your answer.
- How can thinking about the justice and power of God lead you to a response of taking refuge in Him?
Day 14: The Victorious King – Revelation 19:1-16
- In your Bible, mark every reference to God and the Lamb/Jesus in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What does the “great multitude” say about God?
- Who is the Bride at the marriage supper of the Lamb? (See Eph. 5:23-30 if you need help answering this.)
- How is Jesus described?
- What will Jesus do, and how might this be related to yesterday’s reading?
- How does recognizing the sureness of Jesus’ future victory over the nations give you confidence and assurance for your life today?
Day 15: David’s Suffering – Psalm 22:1-18
- In your Bible, mark every reference to David and God in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- How does David describe his situation? What does he say about himself?
- How does David describe God?
- What does David ask God to do?
- Why is David praying like this? What might be going on in his life?
- How can David’s prayer serve as an example for you to be honest with God through the struggles of your own life?
Day 16: Jesus’ Suffering – Matthew 27:24-54
- In your Bible, mark every reference to Jesus, crucifixion, and God in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What do the soldiers do to Jesus?
- What do the people say about Jesus? (Especially note what the people say in Matt. 27:54.)
- What does Jesus say just before He dies?
- How are the events and words used in this passage similar to what David said in yesterday’s reading?
- Why are there so many connections between Jesus and David?
- How does dwelling on the crucifixion of Christ lead you to deep gratitude at what He did on your behalf?
Day 17: The Child Promised – Isaiah 7:14; 9:2-7; 11:1-5
- In your Bible, mark every reference to conceive/being born, the “child,” and the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What is the sign mentioned in Is. 7:14? (Note that the context may not be what you’re thinking!)
- Why are the people rejoicing in the prophecy of Is. 9:2-7?
- What do you observe about the “child” in Is. 9:6-7?
- What do you observe about the “shoot” in Is. 11:1-5?
- Why is this “child”/“shoot” significant to Israel?
- How does recognizing the power of God to fulfill prophecy give you hope in whatever troubles you’re going through today?
Day 18: The Child’s Coming – Matthew 1:1, 6, 16-25
- In your Bible, mark every reference to Jesus, David, Mary, and Joseph in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- Who is Jesus related to in Matt. 1:6? How is this observation connected to Is. 9 and 11 from yesterday’s reading?
- What is said about how Jesus is conceived?
- What does the angel say that Jesus will do?
- What is the significance of the name “Immanuel”? In what way(s) is Jesus “God with us”?
- How does understanding more of the uniqueness of Jesus draw you closer in your personal relationship with Him?
Day 19: The Suffering Servant – Isaiah 53:1-12
- In your Bible, mark every reference to the sufferer being referred to in this chapter, to God, and to transgressions/transgressors/sin in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What do you observe about the one being spoken about in this chapter?
- What do you observe about God?
- What is the sufferer’s connection to sin/transgressions?
- Who is the sufferer? Explain your answer.
- How do this passage’s comments about sin help you think about specific sins you may be struggling with? Can you confess these to God and turn to Him in repentance?
Day 20: It Is Finished – John 19:30-42
- In your Bible, mark every reference to Jesus and the soldiers in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What does Jesus mean when He says, “It is finished”?
- What do the soldiers do to Jesus’ side after He has died?
- What similarities do you see between Jesus and the sufferer of Is. 53 in yesterday’s reading?
- What happens to Jesus’ body after His death?
- How does recognizing Jesus as the One who suffered for our sins help you realize that salvation from sin and hell only comes through trusting in Him alone? Have you turned from sin to trust in Him? Who in your life might need to hear His message of forgiveness?
Day 21: The New Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31-40; Ezekiel 36:22-32
- In your Bible, mark every reference to the Lord, covenant, and Israel in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- In your Bible, circle the word “will” as you’re reading
- What kind of covenant does the Lord say He is making in Jer. 31:31?
- What does the Lord say He will do for Israel?
- Why does the Lord say He will do these things?
- What does the Lord say He will do to Israel’s heart in Jer. 31:33 and Ezek. 36:26-27?Why is this significant?
- How does acknowledging the people’s need for a new heart help you think about your own inability to please God in your own strength—about your own need for His grace? In what specific areas do you need to rely on His grace today?
Day 22 – The Mediator of the New Covenant – Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Hebrews 8:6-12
- In your Bible, mark every reference to Jesus, covenant, and blood in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What does Jesus say about the cup that is poured out for His apostles?
- What do you observe about Jesus in Heb. 8:6?
- How is Jesus connected to the “new covenant” promises from yesterday’s reading?
- What does it mean that Jesus “mediates” the new covenant?
- How does dwelling on these passages give you an even deeper understanding of the significance of Christ’s death?
Day 23 – Resurrection and Incarnation – Matthew 28:1-10; Philippians 2:1-11
- In your Bible, mark every reference to the women, Jesus, and God in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What happens when the women visit Jesus’ tomb in Matt. 28:1-10?
- Why is the resurrection necessary for God’s plan? Why is it a vital part of the gospel (the good news of salvation through Jesus)?
- Turning now to considering Jesus’ incarnation (which refers to God the Son becoming a man) more deeply, how does Phil. 2:1-11 describe Jesus?
- Why does Paul connect Jesus’ incarnation to having an attitude of humility?
- What has God done for Jesus in Phil. 2:9-11?
- How does thinking deeply about Christ as God becoming a man lead you to an attitude of humility and service, both in your relationship to Him and to others?
Day 24 – The Fullness of God in Him – Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 John 1:1-4
- In your Bible, mark every reference to Jesus and God in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- What do you observe about Jesus in these passages?
- What is the significance of the phrase “all the fullness of God” in Col. 1:19? What about the phrase “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” in Heb. 1:3?
- How is God the Father’s relationship to Jesus described in these passages?
- What does John say he has seen in 1 John 1:1-4?
- How does pondering these truths about Jesus lead you to a deep awe, worship, and love of Him?
Day 25 – He’s Here! – Luke 2:1-21
- In your Bible, mark every reference to Joseph, Mary, her son/Jesus, and shepherds in distinctive ways as you’re reading. (Don’t forget to mark the pronouns for each.)
- Why do Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem?
- What happens while they are in Bethlehem?
- What appears to the shepherds in the field?
- What is the significance of what the shepherds are told in Luke 2:10-14?
- What do the shepherds do after the encounter in the field? What do they do after seeing the baby?
- What is the baby called and why?
- In light of all we’ve studied, how does being reminded of the amazing truth of Jesus’ birth impact your entire perspective in your life today?
Advent Bible Reading FAQ
What is Advent?
Advent is a time of observance on the church calendar in which Christians remember the coming of Jesus. It lasts for 25 days, culminating in Christmas.
Observing Advent gives Christians the opportunity to take a step back for an extended time and ponder the wonder of what Jesus did for us in His incarnation.
What is an Advent reading plan?
Advent reading plans are daily readings that can be used during the time of Advent to help Christians dwell on the significance of Christ and His incarnation.
The reading plans in this article are good for personal use, churches, small groups, or as an Advent reading plan for families.
