Christmas Bible Reading Plan: 25 Days, Dec 1 to 25

This Christmas Bible reading plan runs from Tuesday, December 1 to Friday, December 25, 2026. You read 1 or 2 whole chapters a day, 43 chapters and 1,012 verses in all, about 5 minutes a day at a careful pace. It starts with God's first promise in Genesis 3, follows the line of David through Bethlehem and the prophets, and lands on Luke 2 on Christmas Eve.

Most Christmas plans give you a few verses a day, almost all from Matthew and Luke. That's a good start, but it skips the background that makes the birth of Jesus so striking: a Moabite widow gleaning in a Bethlehem field, a shepherd boy anointed king in the same town, prophets who saw a Branch, a Star and a Son of man centuries before the angels sang.

This plan gives you the whole chapters, so you read each promise in its own setting. Every day lists the verse count and the minutes it takes, computed from the King James Version text.

How this plan is different from an Advent plan

Our Advent Bible reading plan starts on the first Sunday of Advent (November 29, 2026) and gives you one short passage a day, often 5 to 15 verses. It's built for families and for anyone who wants a gentle daily rhythm.

This Christmas plan is for readers who want more context. It starts on December 1, so the dates are easy to remember, and every reading is a full chapter. You'll read all of Ruth, all of Luke 1 and Luke 2, and chapters an Advent list usually skips, like Genesis 49, Numbers 24, Daniel 7, Hosea 11 and Hebrews 1 and 2.

You can do both. Read the Advent passage with your family at dinner and the chapters on your own in the morning. Or pick one: the Advent plan if you have 5 minutes and want a question to talk about, this plan if you'd rather read the Bible the way it was written, a chapter at a time.

If you'd like your phone to hold the dates and check off each day, a reading plan app saves you from keeping a paper list.

Week 1: The promise and the line of David (December 1 to 7)

The Christmas story doesn't start in Nazareth. It starts in a garden, right after the first sin, when God tells the serpent that the woman's seed "shall bruise thy head" (Genesis 3:15). This week follows that promise through Abraham, Judah and a little town called Bethlehem.

Date	Reading	Verses	Minutes	What to look for
Tue, Dec 1	Genesis 3	24	3.5	The first promise, given in the middle of judgment (v. 15)
Wed, Dec 2	Genesis 12 and 15	41	5	"In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (12:3)
Thu, Dec 3	Genesis 49 and Numbers 24	58	7	A sceptre for Judah (49:10) and "a Star out of Jacob" (24:17)
Fri, Dec 4	Ruth 1 and 2	45	7	A family from Bethlehem, a famine and a widow who won't leave
Sat, Dec 5	Ruth 3 and 4	40	6	Boaz redeems, and the last verse names David (4:22)
Sun, Dec 6	1 Samuel 16 and Psalm 23	29	4	The youngest son, out with the sheep, anointed king
Mon, Dec 7	2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 2	41	5	A throne "established for ever" (7:16)

Two details make this week worth reading slowly. First, Numbers 24 puts a prophecy of a star in the mouth of Balaam, a foreign prophet hired to curse Israel. Matthew never quotes it directly, but readers have long connected it with the wise men who said "we have seen his star in the east" (Matthew 2:2).

Second, the book of Ruth is the Bethlehem backstory. It opens with "a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah" (Ruth 1:1) and closes with a family line: Obed, "the father of Jesse, the father of David" (Ruth 4:17). Matthew's genealogy names Ruth and Boaz too (Matthew 1:5). If you want the characters behind these chapters, read the pages on Ruth and Boaz, or the short story of Ruth and Boaz.

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

2 Samuel 7:12–13 (KJV) · The promise behind "the throne of his father David" in Luke 1:32

On Sunday, December 6, you read how Samuel found David: "There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep" (1 Samuel 16:11). The king of Israel came out of Bethlehem's pastures. About a thousand years later, the first people told about Jesus were shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem (Luke 2:8). The story of David anointed by Samuel has the full scene.

Week 2: The prophets see him coming (December 8 to 14)

Isaiah gets five days this week, because no prophet says more about the coming King. You'll read the famous Christmas verses in their own chapters, where they were first spoken to frightened kings and exiles.

Date	Reading	Verses	Minutes	What to look for
Tue, Dec 8	Isaiah 7 and 9	46	6.5	Immanuel (7:14) and the child with four names (9:6)
Wed, Dec 9	Isaiah 11 and 12	22	3	A rod "out of the stem of Jesse" (11:1)
Thu, Dec 10	Isaiah 40	31	4	"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness" (v. 3)
Fri, Dec 11	Isaiah 42	25	3.5	The servant who will be "a light of the Gentiles" (v. 6)
Sat, Dec 12	Isaiah 52 and 53	27	4	Why a Christmas plan reads about the cross
Sun, Dec 13	Isaiah 60 and 61	33	5	Kings bringing "gold and incense" (60:6)
Mon, Dec 14	Jeremiah 23 and 31	80	12.5	The righteous Branch (23:5) and Rachel weeping (31:15)

Monday, December 14 is the longest day of the plan (80 verses, about 12 minutes). If that's too much on a work night, read Jeremiah 23 on Monday and Jeremiah 31 on Saturday, December 19, which is a lighter weekend day.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

A few connections to watch for. Isaiah 40:3 is the verse Mark uses to introduce John the Baptist (Mark 1:3). Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1 about Jesus (Matthew 12:18). Isaiah 60 speaks of nations coming to Israel's light with gold and incense, and Simeon calls the baby Jesus "a light to lighten the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32). And when Jesus read Isaiah 61 in the synagogue at Nazareth, he said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:21).

Jeremiah 31 holds two promises. Verse 15, Rachel weeping in Ramah, is quoted in Matthew 2:18 after Herod's attack on Bethlehem's children. Verse 31, the "new covenant", is quoted in Hebrews 8:8. Christmas, read this way, is the start of that new covenant.

For a full list of these texts and where the Gospels cite each one, see prophecies about the birth of Jesus. The book summary of Isaiah is a good companion for this week.

Week 3: Who was coming (December 15 to 20)

This week finishes the Old Testament with three short prophets and Daniel, then turns to the New Testament writers who explain what happened at Christmas. These are the chapters that answer the question behind the manger: who is this child?

Date	Reading	Verses	Minutes	What to look for
Tue, Dec 15	Hosea 11 and Micah 5	27	4	"Out of Egypt" (Hosea 11:1) and Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2)
Wed, Dec 16	Malachi 3 and 4	24	4	The messenger who prepares the way (3:1)
Thu, Dec 17	Daniel 7	28	4.5	"One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven" (v. 13)
Fri, Dec 18	John 1	51	5	"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (v. 14)
Sat, Dec 19	Philippians 2 and Galatians 4	61	6	He "took upon him the form of a servant" (Phil. 2:7)
Sun, Dec 20	Hebrews 1 and 2	32	4	God "hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (1:2)

Micah 5:2 is the verse the scribes quoted to Herod when the wise men asked where the King was born (Matthew 2:5-6). Hosea 11:1 was first about Israel coming out of Egypt, and Matthew applies it to Jesus returning from Egypt (Matthew 2:15). Reading both whole chapters shows how Matthew reads the Old Testament: Jesus lives out Israel's story.

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament in our Bibles, and it ends with a promise of "the Sun of righteousness" rising "with healing in his wings" (Malachi 4:2). After that, the next book you turn to opens with a family tree.

Daniel 7 might look out of place in a Christmas plan. It's here because "Son of man" became the title Jesus used for himself more than any other, and at his trial he quoted this vision: "ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62).

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7:13–14 (KJV)

The weekend readings move from prophecy to explanation. Paul writes that "when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman" (Galatians 4:4). Hebrews 1:5 quotes both Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14, two chapters you read on December 7. By now you'll recognize them.

Reading whole chapters for 25 days is easier when something keeps count for you. In the app, the plan tracks your streak, and a short quiz after each reading helps the details stick.

The birth: December 21 to Christmas Day

The last five days are the Gospel accounts and two letters that look back on them. You read Luke 1 and Luke 2 whole, so you see the scenes most people know only from Christmas cards in their full setting.

Date	Reading	Verses	Minutes	What to look for
Mon, Dec 21	Luke 1	80	8	Gabriel's two visits, Mary's song and Zacharias's song
Tue, Dec 22	Matthew 1 and Psalm 110	32	3	Joseph's dream, and David calling his descendant "my Lord"
Wed, Dec 23	Colossians 1 and 1 John 1	39	4.5	"The image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15)
Thu, Dec 24	Luke 2	52	5.5	The shepherds, Simeon, Anna and the boy Jesus in the temple
Fri, Dec 25	Matthew 2 and Revelation 22	44	6	The wise men, and "the bright and morning star" (Rev. 22:16)

Psalm 110 sits next to Matthew 1 on purpose. Matthew's genealogy calls Jesus "the son of David". Later, Jesus asked the Pharisees how David could call his own son "Lord", quoting Psalm 110:1 (Matthew 22:42-45). The baby in David's line is also David's Lord.

On Christmas Eve, read Luke 2 aloud if you can, with family or friends. It's 52 verses, about 5 minutes. Then notice what most Christmas readings leave out: Simeon and Anna in the temple (Luke 2:25-38) and the 12-year-old Jesus in his "Father's business" (Luke 2:49).

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10–11 (KJV)

Christmas Day pairs Matthew 2 with the last chapter of the Bible. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus says, "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." You started this plan with the Star out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17) and the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10). The Bible's last chapter ties them together, and its last prayer looks ahead to his second coming: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

If you want the two Gospel accounts side by side, read where the Christmas story is in the Bible. The story pages on the birth of Jesus and the visit of the wise men each end with a short quiz.

The whole plan on one list

Copy this into your notes app or print it. Total: 43 chapters, 1,012 verses, 26,146 words by our count of the KJV text.

Dec 1: Genesis 3
Dec 2: Genesis 12, 15
Dec 3: Genesis 49; Numbers 24
Dec 4: Ruth 1, 2
Dec 5: Ruth 3, 4
Dec 6: 1 Samuel 16; Psalm 23
Dec 7: 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 2
Dec 8: Isaiah 7, 9
Dec 9: Isaiah 11, 12
Dec 10: Isaiah 40
Dec 11: Isaiah 42
Dec 12: Isaiah 52, 53
Dec 13: Isaiah 60, 61
Dec 14: Jeremiah 23, 31
Dec 15: Hosea 11; Micah 5
Dec 16: Malachi 3, 4
Dec 17: Daniel 7
Dec 18: John 1
Dec 19: Philippians 2; Galatians 4
Dec 20: Hebrews 1, 2
Dec 21: Luke 1
Dec 22: Matthew 1; Psalm 110
Dec 23: Colossians 1; 1 John 1
Dec 24: Luke 2
Dec 25: Matthew 2; Revelation 22

The minutes in the tables assume a careful 200 words per minute, the slower pace we use for older KJV English in how long it takes to read the Bible. At the 238 words per minute adult average cited there, the full plan takes about 110 minutes.

How to stick with it in December

December is the busiest month of the year for a lot of young adults: finals, work parties, travel, family. A plan that only takes 5 minutes still needs a time and a place.

Pick an anchor. Read with your first coffee, on your lunch break or before you open your phone at night. The same time every day beats the perfect time.
Front-load the weekend. Saturdays and Sundays are a good place to catch up. December 5, 12 and 19 are all under 6.5 minutes.
Don't restart if you miss a day. Read the day's chapters and move on. If you miss three or more, skip ahead to today's date. Our guide to falling behind on a reading plan has a simple catch-up method.
Write one line. After each reading, write one sentence: what did God promise, and how did Jesus fulfill it? By Christmas you'll have 25 lines that trace the whole story. The SOAP method works well if you want a little more structure.
Read with someone. Text a friend the day's reference. Small groups can use this plan alongside our 4-week Christmas Bible study.

When December 25 is over, you've read 43 chapters from 21 books of the Bible. That's a good start for January. The Bible reading plan for 2027 picks up from there.

If you want to test yourself on the Christmas chapters, try three questions from Luke:

Quick quiz: Luke

To whom does Luke dedicate his Gospel?

To whom does an angel announce the Savior’s birth on the very night Jesus is born in Bethlehem?

Which tree does Zacchaeus climb to see Jesus?

Continue the quiz

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start a Christmas Bible reading plan?

Start on December 1 if you want 25 readings that end on Christmas Day. In 2026, December 1 is a Tuesday and Christmas falls on a Friday. If you'd rather follow the church calendar, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29, 2026, and our Advent plan starts that day with shorter passages.

How long does this Christmas reading plan take each day?

About 5 minutes on an average day. The whole plan is 26,146 KJV words, which takes about 131 minutes at a careful 200 words per minute, or about 110 minutes at the 238 words per minute adult average. The shortest day (Psalm 110 with Matthew 1) is about 3 minutes; the longest (Jeremiah 23 and 31) is about 12.

What chapters of the Bible tell the Christmas story?

The birth of Jesus is told in Matthew 1 and 2 and in Luke 1 and 2. John 1:1-18 describes the same event from heaven's side: "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Mark's Gospel has no birth account; it begins with John the Baptist. This plan reads all five of those chapters.

Why does a Christmas plan include the Old Testament?

Because the New Testament writers point back to it again and again. Matthew alone quotes Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Hosea 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:15 in his first two chapters. Reading those prophecies in their full chapters shows what God's people were waiting for and why the birth of Jesus was good news "to all people" (Luke 2:10).

Can I use this plan with my small group or youth group?

Yes. Give everyone the list on December 1 and meet once a week to talk about the four weekly themes: the promise, the prophets, who was coming and the birth. Each table's "What to look for" column works as a discussion question. For a guided study with questions, use our 4-week Christmas Bible study.

Is this plan in the King James Version?

The verse counts and minutes come from the KJV text, and the quotes on this page are KJV. You can follow the same chapters in any translation; chapter divisions match across nearly all English Bibles (KJV, ASV, NIV, ESV and others), though word counts and reading times will differ a little.