Behold: An Advent Reading Plan
Every December I read through the gospel of Luke. Luke has 24 chapters, making it easy to divide throughout the season of Advent. Of all 4 Gospels, only Matthew and Luke recorded stories of Jesus’ birth. The Nativity of Jesus in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2 is often studied and preached on at Christmastime, for it is indeed His marvelous incarnation that we are celebrating!
For this reading plan, I assigned a chapter of Luke to each day along with a few cross-references that speak to the main points of the reading. Please feel free to use this plan simply as a starting place. Linger on each chapter and add to the cross references either by memory or by using a search engine. Spend time reading commentaries or listening to sermons on the verses that stick out to you.
My hope for this plan is that we would behold Christ while we read about his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection, all while looking forward to his second coming with great expectation. This is truly “good tidings of great joy”!
Day 1
“He has filled the hungry with good things”
Luke 1, Matthew 1:18-24, John 6:35, Isaiah 55
Day 2
“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart”
Luke 2, Isaiah 9:1-7, Leviticus 12
Day 3
“The voice of the one crying in the wilderness”
Luke 3, Isaiah 40:3-5, Matthew 3
Day 4
“For I was sent for this purpose”
Luke 4, Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 2:17-18, James 2:19, Daniel 2:44, Isaiah 61:1
Day 5
“Follow me”
Luke 5, Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah 1:18, Acts 5:31
Day 6
“Blessed are you who are poor”
Luke 6, Hosea 6:6, James 2:5, 2 Corinthians 7:9, Isaiah 66:2
Day 7
“Your sins are forgiven”
Luke 7, Isaiah 35, Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 1:18, 1 John 2:12
Day 8
“Those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience”
Luke 8, 1 Timothy 5:25, John 3:16-20, Colossians 1:27, James 1:11, Psalm 107:28-30
Day 9
“Let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”
Luke 9, 1 Corinthians 15:31, 2 Timothy 2:12, Philippians 2:6-11
Day 10
“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven”
Luke 10, Revelation 20:11-15, Isaiah 11, Colossians 1:24-29
Day 11
“This, then, is how you should pray”
Luke 11, Matthew 6:9-13, Acts 2:38, Romans 8:32, Jonah 3:1-10
Day 12
“Fear not, little flock”
Luke 12, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Psalm 145:15-16, 1 John 2:23, Hebrews 13:5
Day 13
“Unless you repent you will all likewise perish”
Luke 13, 1 Peter 4:17-18, Acts 13:9-10, Revelation 21:8, Psalm 91:4
Day 14
“He who humbles himself will be exaulted”
Luke 14, Revelation 19:6-9, Acts 20:24, Revelation 12:11
Day 15
“I have found my sheep that was lost”
Luke 15, Ezekiel 34, Psalm 100:3, John 10:11, Ephesians 2:1-10
Day 16
“No servant can serve two masters”
Luke 16, 1 John 2:15-16, Psalm 17:14
Day 17
“Whoever loses his life will keep it”
Luke 17, Malachi 4:1-2, 2 Peter 2
Day 18
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
Luke 18, 1 Timothy 1:12-16, Matthew 6:19-21, 1 Timothy 6:18-19
Day 19
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost”
Luke 19, Luke 5:31-31, John 18:36, Psalm 21:8-13
Day 20
“Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living”
Luke 20, Acts 2:22-24, Acts 4:11, Romans 6:10-11, Psalm 110:1
Day 21
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”
Luke 21, Revelation 6:9, 1 Peter 4:12-14, Joel 2
Day 22
“For what is written about me has its fulfillment”
Luke 22, Isaiah 53
Day 23
“Certainly this man was innocent!”
Luke 23, 1 Peter 2:23, Romans 5
Day 24
“The Lord has risen indeed”
Luke 24, Acts 1:3, 1 Corinthians 15, Galatians 2:20
Christmas Day
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”
Luke 1-2, Isaiah 9:2-7, Isaiah 55
May this plan be a blessing to you this Advent season! If you feel so compelled, please leave your thoughts and reflections on the readings in the comments below. I’ll be sharing my reading on my instagram stories throughout the month as well. I pray your December is filled with simple joys, peace, and wonder. Christ the Lord has come!
