Certain holidays bring the crazy out in us, am I right? Christmas is one of those and I am trying to keep my kids (and myself!) focused on the important stuff. Enter 25 Christmas Bible verses for kids!

This is my effort to bring my kids closer to God during a season that is selfish, fake (Hallmark movie enthusiast here!), and much more about getting than giving.

This round-up of Christmas Bible verses for kids is meant for all ages and includes Old Testament prophecies as well as their fulfillment in the New Testament. I believe it is important that kids get the full picture and see the cohesiveness of scripture.

If you have younger kids, I have included a section of short Christmas Bible verses near the end of this post that might be perfect for them.

How to Choose Christmas Bible Verses for Kids

The story of Jesus’s birth, which is what we celebrate on December 25 (though there is no Biblical evidence of that being the correct day) is found in Matthew chapters 1 and 2 as well as Luke chapters 1 and 2.

These chapters are usually the main emphasis this time of year. However, the promise of a Messiah, a savior of the world, began thousands of years before and is a beautiful story of hope penned by dozens of faithful servants of God.

As I said earlier, I think it is important that children understand the cohesiveness of the Old and New Testaments. As soon as man sinned, God promised a redeemer so our first Christmas verse actually comes from Genesis.

The significance of Jesus’s birth is that he is that promised redeemer. He is the one that came to reconcile us to Himself, to pay our debt, and save us from our sins. All through history we see man’s need for a redeemer. While going over these Christmas Bible verses for kids, we need to emphasize that they too need a savior and encourage them toward salvation.

You might also be interested in “Easter Bible Verses for Kids: Short Devotions for Resurrection Sunday”.

Old Testament Bible Verses about Christ

So, this post is kind of a hodge podge of verses in an effort to give a full picture. Of course, reading the four chapters from the gospels with your children is a wonderful idea, but f that is too much reading for your family, these selections will give you the perfect amount for family devotions, memorization etc.

Scripture is full of beautiful prophecies about the coming savior! These Old Testament Bible Verses about Christ will give your kids a well-rounded story of the significance of the birth of Jesus.

Genesis 3:15

God is speaking to the serpent here after he tempts Adam and Eve leading to their demise.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

Genesis 12:3

God promises Abraham that He would make of him a great nation. Part of that promise included that through him all nations of the earth would be blessed. This points to the redeemer of the world being born of the Jews.

I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

Isaiah 7:14

The savior will be born of a virgin. This is fulfilled in Luke chapter 1. I almost hesitate to include this one because you will be forced to explain the concept of a virgin. When my kids are young, I simply say an unmarried woman and that has always sufficed until they were old enough to truly understand the miracle.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Micah 5:2

The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. This is fulfilled in Matthew chapter 2.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me. The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

Isaiah 40:3-5

The Messiah would have a forerunner. This is fulfilled by John the Baptist in John chapter 1.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

Hosea 11:1

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus escape to Egypt to avoid Herod’s killing spree. Hosea prophecied of it several hundred years before.

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. (Hosea 11:1)

Bible Verses about the Birth of Jesus

Luke 1:30-35

Jesus was born of a virgin.

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  (Luke 1:30-35)

Matthew 2:1-2

Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)

Luke 2:4-7

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4-7)

John 1:6-9

John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. (John 1:6-9)

Luke 2:8-12

Jesus’s birth is announced by the angels.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)

Luke 2:15-16

The shepherds are overjoyed and go to see this new baby.

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. (Luke 2:15-16)

The lesser recited part of the Christmas story. I love these verses because they just show how God confirmed that it was indeed the Messiah that had been born. While it didn’t occur the night of his birth, it does happen when he is 8 days old and a beautiful portion of scripture to include in these Christmas Bible verses for kids.

Luke 2:25-32

 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,  he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32)

Matthew 2:1-2

Now for the wise men. There is some controversy over when they actually came to visit baby Jesus. Some believe it was the night of his birth, others believe it was a week later, and still others believe that it was a year later (because Herod ruled that all boys under 2 years old be killed).

Regardless of when, we do know they followed the star God put above Judah and that they brought gifts.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)

Matthew 2:9-11

Herod, being power hungry and suspicious, wants to know where the baby is to be born and consults the scribes, who know the prophecies and declare that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11)

Matthew 2:12-15

If you wish to go into the story of Jesus as a baby further, it is worth showing how God protected him from Herod. First, by warning the wise men not to tell Herod that they had found the baby and secondly by telling Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. (Matthew 2:12)

 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,  and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Matthew 2:13-15)

Matthew 2:16-18

If your child is old enough, teaching the disturbing part of the story in which Herod has all of the boys under two years of age killed, will further enforce the concept of good vs evil, satan vs God, and show how God always triumphs in the end.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18)

To truly understand the importance of Christ’s birth, we must understand his work on the cross. It was not his birth that saved us from our sins, but his death and resurrection.

Bible Verses for Advent Calendars

All of the Bible verses listed here are great for advent calendars, reading together as a family to mark the days leading up to Christmas. As I said earlier, these verses help us focus on Christ during a busy and somewhat selfish season.

Advent Calendar Story

I have fond memories of opening the next tab on my advent calendar and popping a little chocolate candy into my mouth each evening in December. Have you ever wondered where the advent calendar originated?

Like many Christmas traditions, it began in Germany. As early as the 19th century it was common for parents to mark the passing of December days with a piece of chalk, but it was Gerhard Lang who made the first printable calendar in the early 20th century.

Production stopped during WW2 (with the exception of the Nazi’s twisted version) but Richard Sellmer had it back up and running by 1946. The 1950’s brought it to the US and it has been a fun tradition ever since. When Cadbury joined the game in the 1970’s it got even better and by the 90’s chocolate advent calendars were seen everywhere during December.

Now advent calendars come in all shapes and sizes and are made from every material you can think of. Putting a Christmas Bible verse for kids behind each door or an activity suggestion are also great ideas.

Short Christmas Bible Verses

These short Christmas Bible verses are perfect for memorization. They are also great for Christmas cards and crafts. For more great verses to write on cards check out “25 Christmas Bible Verses for Christmas Cards to Share the Love of Christ”

Luke 1:28

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28)

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing will be impossible. (Luke 1:37)

Luke 2:14

The angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)

Matthew 1:23

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

You might also be interested in “38 Short Bible Verses for Kids”.

Let’s end this post with a few verses about salvation through Christ. After all, celebrating His birth is fun, but pointless if we are not teaching our kids to make a personal commitment and form a relationship with him.

Acts 4:12

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Romans 10:9-10

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

Romans 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Romans 2:8)

So, there you have it! 25 Christmas Bible verses for kids. Let’s raise the next generation of strong men and women of faith!