Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Luke 2:8

Every year, during the Christmas season (and at times outside of the season), Christmas carols can be heard on high rotation in shopping centres, on the radio, in homes, and in churches. Songs that are so familiar that friends and family who are not Christians still know the lyrics and the melodies. These Christmas carols have become so familiar in society that sometimes it can seem like we are singing them by rote, forgetting the message of the Gospel that inspired the words we are singing. We hope in this plan, you have time to reflect on the lyrics of these songs that bring joy, hope, and life in Christ.

The Christmas story is found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. An Angel visits Mary to tell her that she would give birth to the Son of God. Jesus is born in Bethlehem. The shepherds come to see him, and the Magi from the east follow a star to Jesus.

You may have heard the Christmas story before, but what if there was more to this story than you realized? Why did Jesus come to earth as a baby? Why did He choose to live among His creation at all? This 5-day plan dives deep into the miraculous events of that holy night to reveal the real purpose of Christmas.

As Bible teacher Dr. R.C. Sproul observes, the Christmas story is so familiar to many that “the words just slip over us.” These profound Advent readings, taken from Sproul's sermons, delve into the details of the first Christmas and reflect on how they impact our lives now, combining scholarly detail with heartwarming application. Each day includes a prayer written by a well-known Bible teacher of our own day.

By mid-December, many already hate Christmas. We are tired of the carols and the parties, and our tree is starting to die. There are a lot of reasons that people hate Christmas. But, what if all of the hatred is because what we hoped for isn’t reality? This year, set aside the hate and come expecting something new as we dive into Advent themes of the season.

Prepare your heart for the Christmas season with this 5-Day Advent Devotional from Worship Together.

Would you like to welcome this Christmas with something special? Read this special Christmas devotional from Our Daily Bread for 5 consecutive days, entitled O' Holy Night. May this reading help prepare your heart to experience the true meaning of Christmas, which is far greater than just a beautiful event on a holy night.

In the midst of a busy, often stressful holiday season, these short Advent reflections, questions, and prayers will bring hope to parents like you and help you stay rooted in anticipation of Christ’s arrival. Advent is an invitation to reexamine how God has worked and will work in our lives as we wait for the light of Christ to illuminate every shadow.

Christmas is one of the most refreshing and enjoyable times of the year yet so often, we get lost in the marketing maze of buying more and having the newest. This small Christmas devotional plan is designed to refocus us on the meaning of the season—the love of a Father, the gift of a Son, and the advent of a heavenly Kingdom in our midst.

This Christmas look at the amazing announcement of the greatest news in the history of world and see how it helps us in our sports.

Christians are different. They can’t help it. When you’re in Christ and filled with the Spirit, it changes you. This leads to weird ideas and alternate beliefs about reality. This series of 5-day plans uses classic Christian Creeds as a vehicle to explain the Christian worldview compared to the world’s, and help us see reality through Jesus’s eyes

Amazing Stories is a series of animated videos featuring Bible stories that share God’s redemptive narrative across all Scripture. A short, animated video about how Jesus showed his humanity while he was on Earth tells a New Testament story for each day of the five-part plan.

The music we sing at Christmas helps us to remember the story of Jesus and fills our hearts with hope, peace, love, and joy. This 5-day plan will encourage your heart as you learn inspiring stories behind some of our most beloved Christmas songs, including O Holy Night, Joy to the World, and Silent Night.

Celebrating Christmas is a tradition many of us look forward to all year. We play music, decorate trees, and throw parties all through December. This Advent reading plan aims to help in those celebrations by exploring the themes of the Christmas story. This plan can be read with friends or as a family (kids too!). Use the “Application Questions” for groups to center the conversation on Jesus. And, for families, use “Next Steps”, to find creative ways to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

This Advent season, anticipate the celebration of Christmas with oral Bible stories. Listen to a story based on Scripture, reflect on its themes and journal with the Lord. May you be encouraged as you prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of our King Jesus!

Exploring the four angelic appearances found in the Christmas story and what they can teach us about our own call this Advent season.

In the busy holiday season, it’s easy to feel like something is missing. Inspired by the short film "Have You Any Room?", this 5-day plan invites you to slow down and think about what really matters. Through simple devotionals and Bible verses, discover what it means to make space for Jesus, even in a crowded life. This isn’t about doing more but finding peace and purpose in the middle of everything. Join us to rediscover the heart of Christmas.

This five-day plan explores various angelic encounters that announced the arrival of the Messiah. We’ll consider Zechariah's doubt, Mary's humility, Joseph's obedience, and the shepherds' exuberance. Angels should not be worshiped, but they model true worship when they sing, “Glory to God in the highest!” This Christmas, marvel with the angels at the Savior born in the city of David who is Christ the Lord.

We all know how easy it is to get swept up in Christmas planning, shopping, decorating, and countless gatherings. These things are exciting and festive, but they can sometimes pull us away from what Christmas is truly about—the arrival of Emmanuel, “God with us.” The Good News is that, in a world filled with so much uncertainty, He is our Hope. He is our Love. He is our Peace, our Joy, our Light. This is the gift of Christmas, for each and every one of us.

Does thriving through the holidays feel impossible? If the Christmas season has you feeling overwhelmed, lonely, and fighting for joy, there’s hope for you, Military Wife. Grab a cup of something warm and join us as we celebrate the season's most powerful source of joy: Jesus Christ. Discover the unexpected, simple, and extraordinary ways to thrive through the holidays!

Twice in Luke 2, Mary is described as treasuring what she witnessed in Jesus's life. She pondered the sacred moments God brought her into. In this five-day reading plan, Brittany Rust explores those moments and how we might both treasure and ponder God's work and Person.

Wondering if your Christmas could get any better or struggling through this season? Join us in digging into the timeless wisdom of the Bible to discover what makes Christmas not just merry, but also, truly meaningful.

Journey to a Manger is a six-day plan that helps you discover the deeper story of Christmas. Each day contains a short (1–2 minute) audio message that ties into the journey theme. It was not an easy path. You will see how God used surprise encounters and even quiet shepherds to bring His Son into the world. These lessons connect to real-life stories to show how we can follow God today. No matter what you’re facing, Christmas reminds us that God is near, working in big and small ways. Let this journey draw you closer to Jesus.

Does your family have a nativity set? Nativities can be more than toys or decorations—they can teach our children about the people God invited to join heaven in celebrating Jesus' birth. Join us for this six-day Advent plan for families featuring devotions from the CSB One Big Story Bible. Each day will focus on a key person at the nativity and a key truth we learn about God from them.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year – it’s the celebration of our Savior’s birth! But it can also get a little crazy for parents. Sometimes in the midst of all the activities, shopping, toy-induced tantrums, financial pressure, obligations and family dynamics, we can lose track of the joy of it all. Let these 6 lessons help you make the holidays a warm, wonderful experience for your family this year.