Summary:
The following Scripture Reading Plan for the month of December, drawing from the theme of wonder and aligning with Mesa’s Christmas message series, “Wonder.” This reading plan will focus on Scriptures that highlight the Wonder of Prophecy, the Incarnation, and our Salvation. Each passage will help prepare your heart to celebrate Christmas as you reflect on the story of Christ's birth and its significance—both historically and personally.
How to Use This Reading Plan:
- Personal Reflection: Read the daily scripture passages in the morning or evening, spending time reflecting on the wonder of God’s story in your own life.
- Family Devotions: For families with children, consider reading the daily passages together, with discussion questions or a short prayer after each reading.
- Group Discussion: This can be a great tool to keep everyone in your small group unified in their focus on the Wonder of Christmas.
How to Use This Reading Plan:
- Personal Reflection: Read the daily scripture passages in the morning or evening, spending time reflecting on the wonder of God’s story in your own life.
- Family Devotions: For families with children, consider reading the daily passages together, with discussion questions or a short prayer after each reading.
- Group Discussion: This can be a great tool to keep everyone in your small group unified in their focus on the Wonder of Christmas.
You can interact with the devotional by clicking a week- or if you would prefer, you can download the entire plan below!
Week 2: The Wonder of the incarnation
DECEMBER 8:
John 1:1-14 – The Word Became Flesh
"In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son."
Question: How does the reality of Jesus being fully God and fully man stir awe in your understanding of His mission on earth?
John 1:1-14 – The Word Became Flesh
"In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son."
Question: How does the reality of Jesus being fully God and fully man stir awe in your understanding of His mission on earth?
DECEMBER 9:
Philippians 2:5-11 – Christ’s Humility in the Incarnation
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
Question: What does Jesus’ willingness to humble Himself teach you about living a life of humility and service?
Philippians 2:5-11 – Christ’s Humility in the Incarnation
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
Question: What does Jesus’ willingness to humble Himself teach you about living a life of humility and service?
DECEMBER 10:
Colossians 1:15-20 – The Supremacy of Christ
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross."
Question: How does the fact that all things were created through Christ add to the wonder of His coming as a child?
Colossians 1:15-20 – The Supremacy of Christ
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross."
Question: How does the fact that all things were created through Christ add to the wonder of His coming as a child?
DECEMBER 11:
Luke 2:8-14 – The Angel’s Announcement to the Shepherds
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Question: How does the angel’s message to the shepherds bring a sense of joy and wonder to the Christmas story for you?
Luke 2:8-14 – The Angel’s Announcement to the Shepherds
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Question: How does the angel’s message to the shepherds bring a sense of joy and wonder to the Christmas story for you?
DECEMBER 12:
Matthew 1:22-23 – "Immanuel" – God With Us
"All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’"
Question: How does the name "Immanuel" deepen your understanding of God’s closeness and presence in your life?
Matthew 1:22-23 – "Immanuel" – God With Us
"All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’"
Question: How does the name "Immanuel" deepen your understanding of God’s closeness and presence in your life?
DECEMBER 13:
John 1:9-13 – The Light Shines in the Darkness
"The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God."
Question: How does the light of Jesus coming into the world dispel the darkness in your own life and the world around you?
John 1:9-13 – The Light Shines in the Darkness
"The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God."
Question: How does the light of Jesus coming into the world dispel the darkness in your own life and the world around you?
DECEMBER 14:
Hebrews 2:14-18 – Jesus Sharing in Our Humanity
"Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested."
Question: In what ways does knowing that Jesus shares in our humanity bring comfort and wonder to your faith?
Hebrews 2:14-18 – Jesus Sharing in Our Humanity
"Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested."
Question: In what ways does knowing that Jesus shares in our humanity bring comfort and wonder to your faith?