Use this page to plan Sunday school or a children’s message for each Sunday from Advent to the Baptism of the Lord, matched to that day’s gospel reading. This is a Sunday-by-Sunday guide to free Advent and Christmas Sunday school lessons for churches that follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It is for Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and other liturgical churches. Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, and starts Year B, the year of Mark’s Gospel. Each Sunday below gives the gospel reading, one line for kids, and lessons that match it.
Free Advent lesson for kids: The Promise of a Great Light
Start with our free Advent lesson, The Promise of a Great Light (Isaiah 9:2-7). It is a complete Week 1 lesson for kids ages 6 to 12, as a print-ready PDF. Isaiah 9:2-7 is also the first reading for Christmas Eve in the Revised Common Lectionary.
- A “Great Light!” opening game and “The Promise Box” object lesson
- A scripted Bible story with stage directions and a full-color picture of Isaiah
- “Candle Talk” discussion questions and a repeat-after-me prayer
- A “Four Names Card” craft, a coloring page, a connect-the-dots puzzle and a parent take-home page
- A memory verse poster (John 3:16), a short teacher devotion and supply lists
Lutheran and Methodist teachers write to us about their classes. One Lutheran children’s leader told us her Sunday school keeps screens to a minimum, and flannel boards are still a favorite. A Methodist teacher said she has three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and they don’t all come every week. Every lesson below can be printed or read right from the page.
Advent and Christmas 2026 lectionary lessons for kids (Year B)
The gospel readings below follow the Revised Common Lectionary, Year B. Use them when you want the class to hear the same gospel as the sermon.
First Sunday of Advent, November 29: Mark 13:24-37
- For kids: Jesus promised to come back, so we watch for Him with hope (Mark 13:26, 37).
- Sunday school lesson: Parable of the Fig Tree (Mark 13:24-37) · another Fig Tree lesson on Ministry-to-Children
- Children’s message: Jesus Is Coming (Mark 13:24-37)
Second Sunday of Advent, December 6: Mark 1:1-8
- For kids: John got people ready for Jesus, and Jesus is the good news (Mark 1:1-8).
- Sunday school lesson: John the Baptist Prepares the Way (Mark 1:1-8) · John the Baptist (Mark 1:1-8) on Ministry-to-Children
- Children’s message: Good News: John the Baptist Points to Jesus (Mark 1:1-8)
Third Sunday of Advent, December 13: John 1:6-8, 19-28
- For kids: John was not the light. He pointed everyone to Jesus, the true Light (John 1:8-9).
- Sunday school lesson: John Testifies about the Light (John 1:6-8, 19-28) · Power Comes From Where? God’s Love and Christ’s Light (John 1:5)
- Children’s message: Adopted by God object lesson (John 1:1-18)
Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20: Luke 1:26-38
- For kids: Nothing is impossible with God. He kept His promise and sent Jesus (Luke 1:31-37).
- Sunday school lesson: Angel Foretells Jesus’ Birth to Mary (Luke 1:26-38) · Elizabeth and the Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1)
- Free printable lesson: Angels Announce the Birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38; 46-55), free at the Sunday School Store
- Children’s message: Believe and Obey (Luke 1:26-38)
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24-25: Luke 2:1-20 and John 1:1-14
- For kids: The angel’s good news is for everyone: a Savior is born, Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). The Word became flesh and lived among us (John 1:14).
- Sunday school lesson: The Birth of Jesus Announced to the Shepherds (Luke 2:1-14) · The Bethlehem Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)
- Free printable lesson: The Birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:1-20), free at the Sunday School Store
- Children’s message: The Star of the Nativity Scene (Luke 2:1-20)
First Sunday after Christmas, December 27: Luke 2:22-40
- For kids: Simeon and Anna waited a long time, and God kept His promise. They saw the Savior (Luke 2:25-30, 38).
- Sunday school lesson: Simeon and Anna Rejoice to See the Savior (Luke 2:22-40) · Jesus Presented (Luke 2:22-40)
- Children’s message: Simeon and Anna at the Temple (Luke 2:22-40)
Second Sunday after Christmas, January 3, 2027: John 1:10-18
- For kids: Everyone who receives Jesus becomes a child of God (John 1:12).
- Sunday school lesson: New Year, New Life in Christ (John 1:10-18)
- Children’s message: the Adopted by God object lesson (John 1:1-18) fits this Sunday too.
Epiphany, January 6, 2027: Matthew 2:1-12
Epiphany falls on a Wednesday in 2027. Some churches move it to Sunday, January 3.
- For kids: Wise men came from far away to worship Jesus. He is the King for all people (Matthew 2:2, 11).
- Sunday school lesson: Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12) Sunday School Lessons and Activities
Baptism of the Lord, January 10, 2027: Mark 1:4-11
- For kids: God spoke from heaven about Jesus: “You are My beloved Son” (Mark 1:11).
- Sunday school lesson: John Baptizes Jesus (Mark 1:4-11)
- Children’s message: New Life in Baptism (Mark 1:4-11)
What the Advent candles mean
Most Advent wreaths hold four candles in a circle, one for each Sunday of Advent. A white Christ candle often sits in the middle and is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
- Names: many churches call the four candles hope, peace, joy and love. Others use names like prophecy, Bethlehem, shepherds and angels. The order is not the same in every church.
- Colors: many wreaths have three purple candles and one pink, with the pink lit on the third Sunday. Some churches use blue candles instead.
- In class: follow your own church’s names and order, so kids hear the same words they see in worship.
There are plenty of fantastic Christmas crafts, but as we look to Advent as the season of preparation for Christ, we are focusing on activities that look to the importance of this time in the church.
Tony Kummer, founder of Ministry-to-Children, writing in 2007
Advent for Kids: a 5-week Advent series that follows the candles
The free lesson above is Week 1 of Advent for Kids, our 5-week Advent Sunday school curriculum. Weeks 1 to 4 follow the hope, peace, joy and love candles. Week 5 lights the Christ candle with the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12).
- Hope: The Promise of a Great Light (Isaiah 9:2-7)
- Peace: Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-17)
- Joy: Zechariah Sings for Joy (Luke 1:57-79)
- Love: Jesus Is Born (Luke 2:1-16)
- Christ candle: The Wise Men Worship Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12)
The series says to teach Week 1 on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. In 2026 that is November 29, and Week 5 lands on December 27. It works with your church’s Advent wreath or with none, and no real candle is lit in class. It comes in a Kids edition (ages 6 to 12) and a Preschool edition (ages 3 to 5).
Its Bible stories follow the candle themes, not the lectionary readings. If you want the class to match the sermon, use the Sunday list above. If you want one story line for five weeks, use the series. See the full Advent for Kids series.
More free Advent and Christmas resources
- Christmas Sunday School Lessons and Activities: free Christmas lessons, crafts and coloring pages in one place
- Advent Coloring Pages and Activities for Kids
- Advent for Kids Bible videos for Advent and Christmas
How does your church match Sunday school to the readings? Share what works for your class in the comments.