25 Days of Christmas - 25 Names of Christ (An Advent Idea)

OK folks! Tomorrow is December!  Can you believe it?  I can't!  Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that I was sick for practically the entire month of November.  Ugh!  Thankfully, I'm feeling better!  Anyway, with Christmas approaching, I thought I'd share a wonderful idea that I found on Pinterest - an advent for the month of December featuring 25 ornaments each with a name of Jesus!

I try very hard to make sure that my little one grows up understanding the true meaning of Christmas - that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth and was born as a baby.  That He grew up, lived a perfect life, and died to save us from our sins.  Now, don't get me wrong.  We have a Christmas tree.  We exchange presents.  We have lots of snowmen decorations, etc.  But we try to also fill the house with things that remind us of Jesus - like nativities, decorations with Bible verses, etc.  So when I saw this idea I knew we just had to do it! 

Now, my little one is only 2 years old, so this year will be very basic.  I wrote the 25 names that I picked (There are lots of names of Jesus to choose from!) on the ornaments along the a corresponding Bible verse for each.  If your child is older, you can have fun doing this together. 

I didn't even buy new ornaments!  We already had sets of red, gold, and silver Christmas balls that we used on our tree, so I just grabber a mixture of those!  (I think I'll look for more colors after Christmas when they are on sale and possibly re-do them.)  You don't even have to use all Christmas balls!  You could use star-shaped ornaments, flat ornaments, square ones - as long as you can write on it, it will work.  You could even make your own using Homemade Salt Dough, cookie cutters of different shapes, and either paint or food coloring to color them!

So, if you'd like to join me in this fabulous, easy, meaningful Christmas project, here's what you'll need:

 

25 Christmas Balls (or various ornaments that you can write on)

A Permanent Pen/Marker

A pair of Scissors

Fishing Line, String, or Ribbon to hang the ornaments

 

 

1.) Simply write one of Jesus' names on the front of each ornament and a corresponding Bible verse on the back.

2.) Use the scissors and fishing line or ribbon to attach a loop for hanging each ornament.

3.) Each day, pick an ornament, read the Bible verse about Jesus, talk about the name and what it means, and let your child hang the ornament on the tree.

 

That's it!  Simple.  Easy.  And a great way to focus on Jesus and His many wonderful attributes throughout the Christmas Season!

 

Now, you can do like I did and scan through all of the names of Jesus and pick the 25 that you would like to use, or you can simply use the 25 that I am using.  Here's the list that I have made:

1.) The Son

I John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

(I started with this one because this verse explains the meaning of Christmas PERFECTLY!)

 

2.) Savior

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

(Talk about what a savior is/ why we need a savior.)

3.)    Christ

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (Apostle John)                         (Talk about the meaning of "Christ."  Its actually a title and not a name.  It means "Anointed."                                                                                                                                              To modern readers the name Christ doesn't mean anything other than it being the surname of Jesus, but in the time that the Bible was written it was a commonly understood title of the rightful king of Israel. - http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Christ.html)

4.)    The Word

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(Talk about Jesus being the Word, and about the fact that He was there from the beginning - That He is God, etc.)

5.)    Immanuel

Matt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

(Talk about the meaning of this name - "God with us" - and what that means.  What a comfort!  And what an honor!!!)

6.)    Wonderful

Isa 9:6 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.

(There is some debate about whether Wonderful and Counselor are 2 terms or 1.  I have decided to take them as 2.  You can decide how you'd like to handle this for yourself.  If you choose to do as I did and take Wonderful as a name by itself, then discuss the meaning of "wonderful" - "a miracle, a wonder, a marvel."  Discuss what a miracle is and how miraculous Jesus' birth was.)

 

7.)    Counselor

Isa 9:6 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.

(Talk about how a counselor gives advice and how Jesus' teachings in the Bible are the BEST advice that we can take!  What are some of the things that He taught us?)

8.)    The Mighty God

Isa 9:6 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.

(The Hebrew word for God here is "El" which literally means "Strength."  But then the writer has added the adjective "mighty" in front of it.  So we have "Mighty Strength."  Seems like quite an emphasis on Jesus' power!  Talk about what the terms "mighty" and "strong" mean.

Sing:

"My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do
He made the trees
He made the seas
He made the elephants too
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do"

9.)    The Everlasting Father

Isa 9:6 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.

(Talk about what "everlasting" means - forever, having no beginning and no end.  Talk about what a father is.  What does your earthly father do?  Provide shelter, provide protection, provide necessities, love you, teach you, etc.  God does these things too!)

10.)  The Prince of Peace

Isa 9:6 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.

(Talk about what a "prince" is - a ruler.  Talk about what "peace" is.  How does Jesus give us peace?)

11.)  Redeemer

Isaiah 44:24 - Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

(Talk about what a redeemer is - "someone who redeems or buys back."  Talk about how we were separated from God by our sin and Jesus died to redeem/buy us back.)

12.)  The Lord

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(Discuss the meaning of the term "Lord" - "master."  Talk about what it means to let Jesus rule over you as Master.)

13.)  Alpha and Omega

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

(Talk about what Alpha and Omega mean - "Beginning and End."  Talk about Alpha and Omega begin the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet.  Talk about what it means to be the Beginning and the End.  He knows the past (all my past wrongs - and yet still loves me) and He knows the future (so I don't have to be afraid).

Sing: "God can do anything, anything, anything,
God can do anything but fail;
He can save, He can keep, He can cleanse, and He will,
God can do anything but fail.
He's the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
God Can do anything, anything, anything,
God can do anything but fail."

14.)  Lamb of God

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

(Talk about the sacrifices using lambs.  Jesus made Himself a sacrifice for us!)

15.)  Good Shepherd

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

(Talk about how Jesus is the Shepherd and we are his sheep.  What does a shepherd do?  He watches his sheep, he feeds his sheep, he protects his sheep, etc.  But Jesus took it even farther.  He gave His life for His sheep!)

16.) Servant

Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

(Talk about what a servant is.  How can Jesus be a servant and a king/ruler?  Why did Jesus choose to be a servant?  What kind of example does that set for us?)

17.)  The Way, the Truth, and the Life

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

(Talk about these 3 terms and what they mean.  Jesus is the "Way" we get to God, the "Truth" that expressed Who God is, and the "Life" we receive from God.  We can ONLY get to God through Jesus.)

18.)  The Vine

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

(Talk about a vine and branches.  If the branches are cut off from the vine, they can't make fruit.  They die.)

19.)  The Bread of Life

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

(Just like we need food to live physically , we also need Jesus (the Bread of Life) to life spiritually.  We have to eat everyday.  We also need to spend time with Jesus everyday.  What are some ways we can do that?)

20.)  The Light of the World

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

(Talk about light and how we can't see without it.  Jesus is our Light.  He illuminates the truth.)

21.)  The Advocate

I John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

(What is an advocate? - "Someone who pleads for or in behalf of another; an intercessor."  Who is accusing us?  Satan.  But Jesus pleads to God for us!  What a blessing and an honor!)

22.)  The Deliverer

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
(What does Deliverer mean? - "one that saves from danger or destruction."  We are in danger of hell, but Jesus can deliver us!)

23.) Jesus

Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
(What does "Jesus" mean? - Savior.  What did Jesus save us from?  How did He save us?)

24.)  King of Kings

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
(What is a king? - A Ruler.  If Jesus is the King of Kings, then He is King over every other king!  Discuss this.  How do you treat a king?  You honor him, respect him, obey him...)

25.) Unspeakable Gift

2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
(I saved this name for last because its the perfect name for December 25th!  Read this verse and discuss before opening all those wonderful Christmas presents.  This will remind everyone that Jesus is the ULTIMATE GIFT.
What does "unspeakable" mean? - Its something SO WONDERFUL that it can't be described with words.  Jesus is the most marvelous Gift we could ever receive!)