Advent Bible Reading Plan for 2023 (Free Printable)

Add a new activity to your Advent traditions this year by lighting candles and going through an Advent Bible reading plan!

These 25 days of Scripture readings will help you as a family, whether you have younger kids or big kids, to keep Christ as the center, even in the busyness of the season.

You can download a free PDF of this Advent Bible reading plan at the end of this post, as well as a printable Advent banner that you can use with your family this Christmas season!

What part of the Bible should I read during Advent?

At the beginning of the Advent season, we commonly read from the book of Isaiah, and one of the gospels. This book highlights the call to repentance, the explanation of the suffering servant, and God’s promises through the Messiah.

I had a friend ask me this several years ago. She knew our church observed Advent and was interested in reading some verses that corresponded to this time of year with her family.

Because Advent is focused on both Jesus first coming to Bethlehem in the flesh and his majestic Second Coming as a victorious King, there are many great passages you can read in the Bible during Advent. 

It’s a great way to lead up to the Christmas story by weaving together passages from the Old and New Testaments so your family can understand how the whole Bible points to Jesus. 

Take for example this Old Testament prophecy about Jesus:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! Luke 2:10-11

Then, after the birth of Christ, Simeon saw the child in the temple with his parents and said:

Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

Reading the Bible during the season of Advent will help your kids understand Scripture in more meaningful ways.

Getting into God’s Word with your family during this busy season is a simple way to keep the focus where it should be. 

Even if your children have heard the story of Jesus many, many times, taking a look at it in a fresh way brings it alive. Sometimes you learn things you’d never considered before, even if you’ve read the Scripture passages in the past. 

Extra Activity with Advent Wreath and Advent Candles 

One thing you can do to make this Advent Bible reading plan part of your family time and bring some extra reverence to the season is to purchase an Advent wreath and candles to light along with your Bible reading plan.

We do this every year and it’s a family tradition that our kids love. (Below is my youngest son with our Advent wreath!)

What are the 4 themes of Advent?

There are normally four, but sometimes five, Advent candles for your wreath. 

Each Advent candle represents a different theme that begins on the Sundays of Advent:

• First Week of Advent: Prophecy Candle (Purple)
• Second Week of Advent: Bethlehem Candle (Purple)
• Third Week of Advent: Shepherds Candle (Pink)
• Fourth Week of Advent: Angels Candle (Purple)
• Optional, Christmas Day: Christ Candle (White) 

Once you have your wreath, each day, you’ll:

• Light the coordinating candle (listed in the plan below) during your daily Advent reading
• Keep the candle lit through the reading of the passage
• Take prayer requests from your family and end your devotional time with prayer

Now I’m excited to share our Advent reading plan!

There are actually two sets of Bible reading plans that you can use. The first plan is for the month of December ONLY and has Scriptures that match each weekly theme or candle. 

These Advent readings can be used throughout the month of December, from the first day of the month to Christmas Day.

25 Advent Scriptures | Advent Bible Reading Plan: December 1-25

December 1 – Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (Prophecy Candle)

December 2 – Mark 1:2-3

Dec 3 – Isaiah 11:1-2

Dec 4 – Isaiah 61:1-2

Dec 5 – Matthew 24: 36-44

Dec 6 – Jeremiah 33:14-15

Dec 7 – Zechariah 6:12-13

Dec 8 – Micah 5:2 (Bethlehem Candle)

Dec 9 – Matthew 2:1-2

Dec 10 – Matthew 2:3-6

Dec 11 – John 1:1-3

Dec 12 – John 1:4-5

Dec 13 – Luke 2:4-5

Dec 14 – John 7:42

Dec 15 – Psalm 80:1-3 (Shepherds Candle)

Dec 16 – Isaiah 40:11

Dec 17 – Ezekiel 34:11-16

Dec 18 – Psalm 23:1, 1 Peter 2:25

Dec 19 – John 10:10-18

Dec 20 – Luke 2:15-20

Dec 21 – Jeremiah 23:5-6

Dec 22 – Psalm 89:5, Psalm 148:1-2 (Angels Candle)

Dec 23 – Matthew 1:20-25

Dec 24 – Luke 1:30-35, Luke 2 Birth of Jesus Christ

Dec 25 – Galatians 4:4-5, 1 Peter 1:13

Would you like to print these Scriptures out on a banner and hang it in your home? You can find our free printable Advent Scripture Banner in this post!

Advent Bible Reading Plan 2023: The Promised One

If you want to remain true to the seasonal dates for Advent, which can range anywhere from 23-28 days, you can follow the daily devotional readings below for the current year.

Advent 2023 Dates: Sunday, December 3 to December 24

Because of the way the Advent calendar dates for 2023 fall, the Angels Candle week starts on Christmas Eve. If you want to read by date, you’ll need read all the Angels Candle readings in one day this year!

An alternative idea is to read through the whole week of Christmas (Dec. 24-30) using the Angels Candle Scripture passages.

December 3 – Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (Prophecy Candle)

December 4 – Mark 1:2-3

December 5 – Isaiah 11:1-2

December 6 – Isaiah 61:1-2

December 7 – Matthew 24: 36-44

December 8– Jeremiah 33:14-15

December 9 – Zechariah 6:12-13

December 10 – Micah 5:2 (Bethlehem Candle)

December 11 – Matthew 2:1-2

December 12 – Matthew 2:3-6

December 13 – John 1:1-3

December 14 – John 1:4-5

December 15 – Luke 2:4-5

December 16 – John 7:42

December 17 – Psalm 80:1-3 (Shepherds Candle)

December 18 – Isaiah 40:11

December 19 – Ezekiel 34:11-16

December 20 – Psalm 23: 1, 1 Peter 2:25

December 21 – John 10:10-18

December 22 – Luke 2:15-20

December 23 – Jeremiah 23:5-6

December 24 – Psalm 89:5 (Angels Candle)

December 24 – Psalm 148:1-2

December 24 – Matthew 1:20-25

December 24 – Luke 1:30-35 

December 24 – Luke 1:46-55

December 24 – Isaiah 60:1-3

December 24 – Luke 2 Birth of Jesus

December 25 – Galatians 4:4-5, 1 Peter 1:13

Is Advent in the Bible?

Though Advent is not specifically named in the Bible, it is a long-standing tradition celebrated in the early centuries of the Christian church. History tells us that it began sometime around the fourth century in response to the rise of heresies. 

The term Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which referred to the coming of Christ as an infant in the manger as well as His second coming. 

Advent celebrations and frequent church services (originally, people would attend every day between December 17 and 25!) focused on both of these Scriptural accounts.

So when the church celebrates the Advent season, the focus is on not only the promises God made about the coming of the Messiah as a baby but also the second coming of Jesus as the victorious King.

I hope this Advent plan is helpful to you and your family!

Download the free 2023 Advent Bible reading plan by subscribing by email in the form below. This printable PDF plan will arrive in your email shortly after you subscribe and confirm your subscription: