If you want your children to understand why we celebrate Christmas, help them understand Advent first.
Advent, the 40-day period leading up to Christmas, is a season of watching and waiting for what Christmas delivers—the arrival of the Savior.
In 25 short stories with traditional artwork, this picture storybook for use during Advent shows children and families why Jesus came and why He is the reason for rejoicing.
The stories tell of creation, the fall, the flood, God’s promises to Abraham, the growth and struggles of God’s people the Israelites, messages through the prophets about a new and everlasting kingdom of God, and finally, the birth of God’s promised Son.
“The Promised Son came to rescue all people—Israelite or not, rich or not. Jesus came to bring joy, hope, and peace. He came to be our sacrifice, to die in our place for our sin. He came to be our King—to defeat evil and death, and make everyone and everything good and new again!”
The story titled “The Suffering Hero,” based on Isaiah 53, especially helps children make the connection between the Jesus of Christmas, born in Bethlehem, and the rescuer God had promised for Israel—and for us.
Not all churches observe Advent, but anyone can walk through God’s redemption story in the weeks before Christmas to understand the real meaning of what we celebrate on December 25.
The Advent Storybook: 25 Bible stories showing why Jesus came
written by Laura Richie, illustrated by Ian Dale
published by David C Cook (2018)
hardcover picture book, 64 pages, 8.25 x 0.5 x 10.25 inches
Making God’s wonders known to the next generation,