Advent Bible Readings, Candle Meanings & Printables (KJV)

What is Advent, and when does it start?

Advent is the four-week season that begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and ends on Christmas Eve. The word comes from the Latin adventus — arrival. It is not a countdown to presents; it is a rehearsal of waiting.

The readings are deliberately shaped like the Old Testament: promise first, fulfilment last. That is why churches read Isaiah in December. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given" was written roughly seven hundred years before the manger — and the people who first heard it died without seeing it.

The four Advent candles and what each one means

Most wreaths hold four outer candles and one centre candle. The names vary slightly between traditions, but the shape is consistent.

Week 1 — Hope (the Prophet's Candle): the promise of a coming Messiah. Read Isaiah 9:2-7.

Week 2 — Peace (the Bethlehem Candle): the place prepared. Read Micah 5:2 and Luke 2:1-5.

Week 3 — Joy (the Shepherd's Candle, traditionally rose-coloured): the announcement. Read Luke 2:8-14.

Week 4 — Love (the Angel's Candle): God's gift of himself. Read John 3:16 and 1 John 4:9-10.

Christmas Day — the Christ Candle in the centre: read John 1:1-14.

A daily Advent Scripture reading plan

Twenty-five short KJV readings, one per day from December 1 to Christmas. Week one walks the prophecies (Isaiah 7, Isaiah 9, Isaiah 11, Micah 5, Jeremiah 23). Week two moves to the promises kept (Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:39-56, Luke 1:57-80). Week three follows the journey (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20). Week four closes with the light (John 1:1-14, Galatians 4:4-7, Titus 2:11-14).

Each reading takes three to five minutes. Light the candle first, read second, pray last — children remember the order long after they forget the words.

Advent wreath lighting readings for families and churches

A simple liturgy anyone can lead: name the candle, read the verse, say one sentence, pray one sentence.

"We light the candle of hope. 'The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light' (Isaiah 9:2). We are still a people who wait. Lord, teach us to wait well. Amen."

Repeat the pattern each week, relighting the previous candles first so the light visibly grows toward Christmas.

Free printable PDFs for Advent

Every printable is free, KJV, and cleared for church and classroom use — no signup, no watermark.

Advent verse of the day

Embed the KJV verse widget on your church homepage through the whole Advent season — free, no signup.

<iframe src="https://www.biblesundays.com/embed/verse?ref=isaiah-40-31&theme=dark&size=md" width="100%" height="260" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Advent verse of the day"></iframe>

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