This four-week Advent family devotional by best-selling author Marty Machowski combines devotions on the theme of light and darkness with the story of eleven-year-old Mia and her grandmother as they prepare for Christmas. Grandma loves to share her faith, especially at Christmas time, and although she is blind, she can see the light of Jesus shining bright and helps Mia and children of all ages to do the same.
Every year, Mia loves to spend the month of December with Grandma getting ready for Christmas. This year, they read a special devotional, The Light Before Christmas, together. Machowski brings families into their devotional time, sharing the story of Christmas. Through a Bible study of light and darkness, readers will discover how the theme of light weaves its way through the Christmas story and God's plan of salvation.
The Light Before Christmas contains thirteen devotionals three for each of the four weeks of Advent and one more for Christmas. Each devotional includes a Scripture for the day, an object lesson, a focus Scripture, a question to discuss as a family, a song to sing together, and a prayer.
Also available is a four-week downloadable curriculum, The Light Before Christmas: An Advent Sunday School Curriculum.
"Almost every family I know is looking for fresh help in keeping the focus of Christmas where it belongs on the birth of Jesus. That's what makes The Light Before Christmas so special. Now parents and churches have a way to team up to recapture the wonder and excitement of the moment when heaven came to earth and Jesus was born."
Bob Lepine, Pastor, Redeemer Community Church; longtime cohost of FamilyLife Today®; author of Build a Stronger Marriage
"Advent provides a wonderful time for families to gather around God's Word and to teach children essentials of the faith. I think 'light' is one of the key themes running through the promise and coming of Jesus, so I am delighted to see this devotional provide a way for families to explore this rich theme together."
Ray Van Neste, Dean and Professor of Biblical Studies, School of Theology and Missions, Union University
"Marty Machowski's devotionals have been a staple in our home for years. Marty's books are theologically meaty, gospel-centered, focused on getting families into the Bible, and provide helpful discussion questions to generate meaningful conversation. The Light Before Christmas is a valuable tool to help your family focus on what matters most this Christmas season and I highly recommend it!"
Josh Mulvihill, Executive Director, Renewanation; family discipleship author at GospelShapedFamily.com
"Marty Machowski has mastered the art of teaching the vast and wonderful truths of God's Word in a way that connects with the hearts of believers young and old. Use this Advent devotional to prepare you and your family to celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus and marvel at God's grace to us in Christ."
Colin Smothers, Executive Director, Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood; pastor, First Baptist Church of Maize; adjunct professor, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"I love how this devotional and curriculum point families to Jesus as the light of the world! They're rich in Scripture, with stories, crafts, carols, and activities to help make concepts more relatable. I'm looking forward to using these resources with my family this Christmas to help re-center us on the real meaning of Christmas. Highly recommend!"
Sarah Reju, Author of Jesus Saves
"My friend Marty Machowski beautifully captures Scripture's abundant light and darkness motifs in The Light Before Christmas family Advent devotional and its accompanying Sunday school curriculum. As always, Marty's accessible, winsome style provides parents, caregivers, and kids ministry workers a great resource. It's a fun, easy-to-use, activity-filled teaching tool that most importantly shines a bright light on the incarnated Son of God."
Joshua Cooley, New York Times bestselling author whose books include the Heroes of the Bible Devotional, Creator, Father, King: A One Year Journey With God, and The One Year Devotions with Jesus
"As a father and pastor, I immediately saw the benefit of these resources for the church and family. So often the statement I hear from parents and teachers is, 'I just don't know what to do!' Marty has spelled out everything in the devotional and curriculum. Best of all, the content, whether the devotions, singing, or activities, are gospel centered. You will be blessed!"
Scott LaPierre, Teaching Pastor; author; speaker
Every Christmas we do a devotional from Marty Machowski, and this one was a real treat! Highly recommend for advent!
Every Christmas we do a devotional from Marty Machowski, and this one was a real treat! Highly recommend for advent!
My family is looking forward to doing this Advent devo this year as we have other books by Marty Machowski and each is done so welll! Children young, older, and old (because age doesn't matter) each enjoy his writings.
Beautiful story! Our school is using this as a guide for Advent-themed prayer services.
Beautiful story! Our school is using this as a guide for Advent-themed prayer services.
Do you have an advent wreath or calendar? We have an advent wreath and use an old devotional with it that my husband used growing up that is for kids. My kids still like lighting the candles at dinner even though they are teenagers. I thought it was fun to read through a new Advent devotional. This is a good devotional for a busy family with three devotionals for each week rather than one daily. I love that it starts with a craft – making your own Advent wreath. If you have never done an Advent devotional before, this is a great way to set the scene and get started. Each week of Advent starts with a story of Mia and her Grandmother. I love that the story uses the Grandmother’s blindness to focus on how she can still feel the faith and see the light of Jesus, even thought she is blind. It is an engaging story that teaches an important lesson. I thought the devotionals themselves were also great ones to use as a family. I like how they have on object, such as a lamp with a clear bulb where you can see a filament, to use as a focal point to start the introspection and the discussion. I liked the questions too and they prompt good discussion. My daughter loves to sing Christmas songs and I enjoyed that classics such as O Come O Come Emmanuel were included as well as a brief history of the origins of the song. This devotional would work best with preschool and grade school kids, but it can also work through teenage years as well. There is also a great curriculum that you can use for your church Sunday school that goes along with this devotional. “This two-level (preschool and elementary) curriculum consists of lessons that include Scripture readings, dramas, object lessons, discussion questions, activity pages, crafts, and songs.” I like that there is a script as well as printables to use for your Sunday School class. Until recently, I led a Children’s Liturgy as my church and this would have been great to use.
Do you have an advent wreath or calendar? We have an advent wreath and use an old devotional with it that my husband used growing up that is for kids. My kids still like lighting the candles at dinner even though they are teenagers. I thought it was fun to read through a new Advent devotional. This is a good devotional for a busy family with three devotionals for each week rather than one daily. I love that it starts with a craft – making your own Advent wreath. If you have never done an Advent devotional before, this is a great way to set the scene and get started. Each week of Advent starts with a story of Mia and her Grandmother. I love that the story uses the Grandmother’s blindness to focus on how she can still feel the faith and see the light of Jesus, even thought she is blind. It is an engaging story that teaches an important lesson. I thought the devotionals themselves were also great ones to use as a family. I like how they have on object, such as a lamp with a clear bulb where you can see a filament, to use as a focal point to start the introspection and the discussion. I liked the questions too and they prompt good discussion. My daughter loves to sing Christmas songs and I enjoyed that classics such as O Come O Come Emmanuel were included as well as a brief history of the origins of the song. This devotional would work best with preschool and grade school kids, but it can also work through teenage years as well. There is also a great curriculum that you can use for your church Sunday school that goes along with this devotional. “This two-level (preschool and elementary) curriculum consists of lessons that include Scripture readings, dramas, object lessons, discussion questions, activity pages, crafts, and songs.” I like that there is a script as well as printables to use for your Sunday School class. Until recently, I led a Children’s Liturgy as my church and this would have been great to use.
Are you looking for a new Advent devotional to read with your family this year? Marty Machowki’s The Light Before Christmas is an amazing 4-week advent devotional that our family loves. It weaves a story of Mia and her blind grandmother that will captivate the hearts of your children and open up meaningful conversations with your children. It has a little bit of everything from Scripture, reflections, music, crafts, object lessons, and many activities. It’s a great way for your family to celebrate the birth of Christ together. There is also a curriculum for Sunday Schools that is wonderful! Advent devotionals are a wonderful way to help your family focus on what matters most this Christmas season, and we highly recommend this one! I have received this product from New Growth Press in exchange for my honest and unbiased product review; all opinions are my own.*
Marty Machowski writes some of the best family and children devotionals I have ever read! Machowski’s latest release, The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional continues that sentiment. The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is written in the same vein as Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional. The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is part story and part devotional. Within the devotional is the story called, The Light Before Christmas. The Light Before Christmas tells the story of a Grandmother and her Granddaughter. During the Advent season, the Grandmother shares with her Granddaughter The True Light of Christmas. In between the chapters of the story are Advent devotion entries. There are 13 devotion entries total–3 devotion entries for each of the weeks of Advent. Each entry revolves around a different object lesson that corresponds around that particular day’s devotion, a Bible reference, both a “Think About It” and “Talk About It” section, and a “Sing Together” section (where there is a suggested Christmas carol to sing), and a prayer. Marty Machowski comes up with the most creative ways to help engage the reader’s family into the Advent Season and it’s meaning and The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is a great example of this. I loved the story aspect between the Grandmother and Granddaughter and it Ministered to me. I love the object lessons that are in the book and am inspired to use them in Ministry. I also love the flexibility the devotional allows. I believe that you and your family will get a lot out of The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional and it’s truth. There is also a supplemental Curriculum that is based on The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional that would be a good option for your Church. If you are looking for an Advent devotional for the season, then I highly recommend The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional by Marty Machowski!
Marty Machowski writes some of the best family and children devotionals I have ever read! Machowski’s latest release, The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional continues that sentiment. The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is written in the same vein as Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional. The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is part story and part devotional. Within the devotional is the story called, The Light Before Christmas. The Light Before Christmas tells the story of a Grandmother and her Granddaughter. During the Advent season, the Grandmother shares with her Granddaughter The True Light of Christmas. In between the chapters of the story are Advent devotion entries. There are 13 devotion entries total–3 devotion entries for each of the weeks of Advent. Each entry revolves around a different object lesson that corresponds around that particular day’s devotion, a Bible reference, both a “Think About It” and “Talk About It” section, and a “Sing Together” section (where there is a suggested Christmas carol to sing), and a prayer. Marty Machowski comes up with the most creative ways to help engage the reader’s family into the Advent Season and it’s meaning and The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is a great example of this. I loved the story aspect between the Grandmother and Granddaughter and it Ministered to me. I love the object lessons that are in the book and am inspired to use them in Ministry. I also love the flexibility the devotional allows. I believe that you and your family will get a lot out of The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional and it’s truth. There is also a supplemental Curriculum that is based on The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional that would be a good option for your Church. If you are looking for an Advent devotional for the season, then I highly recommend The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional by Marty Machowski!
