24 Daily Scriptures for a Simple and Sacred Advent Bible Study
- Sarah Frazer Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- Updated Nov 23, 2020
My children love to play hide and seek in the dark. We buy a few glow sticks from the dollar store, wait until the sun sets, and then turn off all of the lights. They run around giggling and hiding in the dark while someone counts. Their laughter echoes through the house and I can’t help but wonder who will stub their toe first. As much as they beg and beg to play hide and seek in the dark, it’s inevitable someone will hurt themselves by running into something.
As an adult hide and seek isn’t as fun. We don’t want to be hidden, we want to be found. How do we keep the light shining in our lives?
During the Christmas season, it seems everyone is sharing bright, lovely pictures of lights and fun times. What about you, my friend? Life will simply teach us that Christmas doesn’t always feel joyful or hope-filled. Past hurts, broken families, distance, or heart wounds might cause us to just wish Christmas would be over.
For this reason, it’s truly helpful to spend time on each of the days leading to Christmas, to reflect on God and His Word. Advent means waiting, and while we wait for Christmas, we can celebrate God as our Light to fill us each day with truth and hope.
An Advent Bible Study: Celebrate the Light of the World
John 8:12 says, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus is all the light we need.
The light of the world has come! We need to take our eyes off of the darkness surrounding us and turn to Jesus. Even when your heart aches and deep hurts linger, darkness doesn’t have the final word. The Messiah has come! The prince of peace has come to show us Emmanuel, God is with us.
So, if you’re struggling to find hope, joy, and light this holiday season, here’s a super-simple Bible study for Advent that includesa suggested list of 24 scripture readings to invite sacred wonder as we daily look to Jesus, the Light of the World.
Day 1: God Made Light Shine!
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. – Genesis 1:3-5
Day 2: Only God
Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place... – Job 38:12
Day 3: God Sees What Is Hidden in the Darkness
He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. – Daniel 2:22
Day 4: God Is Always Our Guide
By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. – Exodus 13:21-22
Day 5: We Can Overcome Fear with God’s Light and His Salvation
The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1
Day 6: God Will Lead Us into Light
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. – Psalm 139:11-12
Day 7: Savior, Come! Bring Light in Our Darkness!
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. – Isaiah 9:2
Day 8: He Has Overcome
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:5
Day 9: God Pardons and Redeems
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. – Isaiah 55:6-7
Day 10: Live By the Truth
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. – John 3:21
Day 11: We Were Blind and Now We See
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” – John 9:10-11
Day 12: The Lord Is Our Everlasting Light
The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. – Isaiah 60:19
Day 13: Our Hope Is in the Lord
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me...Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. – Micah 7:7-8
Day 14: Worship Is the Perfect Response
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. – Matthew 2:10-11
Day 15: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven Is Near
...the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” – Matthew 4:16-17
Day 16: Fear Not, a Savior Has Come
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. – Luke 2:9-10
Day 17: This Baby is God’s Salvation for All People
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” – Luke 2:28-32
Day 18: Live in the Light of the Gospel
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. – 1 Corinthians 4:5
Day 19: A Heart of Peace Shines Hope
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky – Philippians 2:14-15
Day 20: Rise and Shine!
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” – Ephesians 5:13-14
Day 21: Confess and Walk in the Light
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. – 1 John 1:5-10
Day 22: Days of Sorrow Will End
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation... – Isaiah 60:20-22
Day 23: Rejoice in His Promises
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. – Isaiah 42:16
Day 24: He Is Coming Again, Glory to God!
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick.
The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. – Revelation 21:9-21
A Prayer for a Hopeful Advent Season
Christ, the great and marvelous Lamb of God, be with me. Emmanuel, come in and dwell. As I go about my day, let me meditate on your truth and your word.
Don’t let the hustle and bustle of this season erase the real meaning of salvation.
Provide for me your presence and grant to me the power to persevere.
O Christ whose glory is filled with light, may I rest in you today.
Prince of Peace, remind me that the gospel is full of glad tidings of joy.
Help my heart be free from worry, stress, and sin. Loose the bonds of shame and let me find forgiveness at the foot of your cross. Let my praise reach your ears as I lift up my heart to you this Advent season.
Jesus, fill me with anticipation for you.
With packages and gifts wrapped under the tree, let me unwrap my past and bring it to you. Give my heart rest as I trust in your provision in the present and future.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Muenz
This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!
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