Download a PDF to print for everyone in your family: “Christmas Devotional Outline for Families.”
This outline is divided into three parts for use throughout Christmas day. For example, complete one part before eating Christmas dinner, another part before opening presents, and so on. However you use this outline, be intentional about having a Christ-centered Christmas.
Part I
PSALM 96 (RESPONSIVE READING)
1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12–13 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
All: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
CAROL: “JOY TO THE WORLD” (VERSES 1 & 2)
1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing
2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
THE CHRISTMAS STORY: LUKE 2:1–20. The Leader may read from the family Bible.
PRAYER OF PRAISE. This prayer may be read by the Leader or by the whole family in unison.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory, O Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. You that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. You that takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You that sits at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For you alone are holy, you alone are the Lord, you alone, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
FAMILY PRAYER. The family may bow their heads for a time of extemporaneous prayer.
Part II
PRAISES. Take turns going around the room, with each person finishing this sentence: “I’m thankful that Jesus was born at Christmas because…”
CATECHISM QUESTION. The Leader asks the question. Everyone reads the answer.
Q. How did the Son of God become incarnate for us and for our salvation?
A. In the fullness of time, the Son of God took human nature in the womb of the blessed virgin, so that two whole and perfect natures—the Godhead and manhood—were joined together in one person, never to be divided, so that there is one Christ, truly God and truly man.
CAROL: “JOY TO THE WORLD” (VERSES 3 & 4)
3 No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.
Part III
GIVING “GIFTS” TO JESUS. Take turns going around the room, with each person finishing this sentence: “Because God sent his Son, I will honor him next year by…”
CAROL: HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel. [Refrain]
3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth. [Refrain]
COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. Almighty God, you have given us your only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin; grant that we, being regenerate, and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit, through the name our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
