THE JESSE TREE

THE JESSE TREE
25 FAMILY DEVOTIONS LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS
1. BEGIN BY MAKING A JESSE TREE
A Jesse tree is simply a branch from your garden which you place in a pot and locate in your dining/lounge
room. As you use this guide you will see this branch will carry the story of Jesus. He is described in Isaiah
11:1 as the “shoot” of the “stump of Jesse”, the “branch” that “will bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1). This image is a link
between the Old Testament and New Testament elements of Gods’ work of salvation. In fact, when Jesus
was called a Nazarene in Matthew 2:23 we are told he fulfilled what was said through the prophets. Matthew
is referring to Isaiah 11:1. (The word Nazarene has the same root as the Hebrew word Branch). With
this background in mind we call this branch the Jesse tree. Each day, after you have completed the Bible
reading, hang the symbol for that day on the Jesse tree. These do not need to be fancy. Simple drawings
or cut out pictures look great. The children can take it in turns to do the pictures. If you hang these from the
bottom of your Jesse tree and work your way up then by Christmas Day you will have 25 symbols which
tell the Bibles’ story.
You could also make a Christmas Calendar. Draw up an outline of the 25 days and in each box put the
symbol for the day.
Whatever you choose to do it doesn’t need to be a major production. Children will enjoy doing something
different. But you can let them be as creative as your time and resources will allow.
2. BEGIN YOUR FAMILY DEVOTION BY READING THE KEY VERSE AND THE PASSAGES
The Bible readings for each day can also be adapted to suit your children’s ages and learning levels. On
some days large amounts of Biblical information are covered, so only selected verses are highlighted.
3. ASK YOUR CHILDREN TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
(They could take turns asking the questions.)
4. TELL EVERYONE WHAT THE DAY’S SYMBOL IS AND EXPLAIN WHY IT IS SO
5. TIE/HANG THE SYMBOL ON YOUR JESSE TREE
6. REVIEW THE STORY BY LOOKING AT THE SYMBOLS ON YOUR JESSE TREE
For example you might ask:
What does the rising sun mean?
Why did God make the rainbow?
7. FINALLY
Conclude your devotional time with prayer, committing your family to our Heavenly Father and asking him
to help you to grow in the knowledge and love of him.
The Point Community Church, 2016

December 1 - Creation
Read:
Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-5
Ask:
What was the earth like before God created anything?
What is your favourite thing God has created?
Who was with God in the beginning?
Who is the light of men? Why do you think he is called that?
Ornament:
A rising sun
December 2 - The First Sin
Read:
Genesis 3:1-10
Isaiah 53:6
Ask:
Did Adam and Eve obey God? Why not?
What is sin?
How did God show his love for us in spite of our sin?
Ornament:
Fruit & a snake
December 3 - The Flood
Read:
Genesis 6:5-8, 7:17-23
Romans 6:23
Ask:
Why did God send the flood?
What does everyone deserve? What is God’s gift?
Ornament:
Ark or rainbow
December 4 - Five Promises to Abraham
Read:
Genesis 12:1-7
Ask:
What were God’s promises to Abram?
How did Abram respond to God’s promises?
How could the whole world be blessed through Abram and his
family?
Ornament:
Tent
December 5 - Abraham’s Sacifice
Read:
Genesis 22:1-13
Joshua 1:29
Ask:
What very hard thing did God tell Abraham to do?
What does it mean to make a sacrifice?
Can you think of someone else who made a sacrifice for you?
Ornament:
Lamb
December 6 - Jacob
Read:
Genesis 28:10-17
Ask:
What did Jacob dream about?
What did God promise Jacob?
Why did Jacob call the place in his dream an ‘awesome’ place?
Ornament:
Ladder
December 7 - Joseph
Read:
Genesis 37:3-36
Genesis 50:18-21
Romans 8:28
Ask:
How did Joseph’s brothers feel about him? Why?
What did they do to Joseph?
What did Joseph know about God and his plan that help him be
able to forgive his brothers?
Ornament:
Joseph’s coat
December 8 - The Exodus
Read:
Exodus 1:6-7
Exodus 6:1-8
Exodus 12:31
Exodus 14:13-31
Ask:
Why were God’s people in Egypt?
What was God going to do?
How did he do it?
What did God reveal about himself?
Ornament:
The parted sea.

December 9 - Moses & The 10 Commandments
Read:
Exodus 20:1-20
Exodus 32:15-16
Psalm 119:11
Ask:
Who wrote the stone tablets & what was written on them?
How many of the Ten Commandments can you remember?
Why do God and our parents give us rules?
How can God’s word keep up from sinning?
Ornament:
Tablets
December 10 - The Promised Land
Read:
Numbers 13:1-2
Numbers 17:23,27
Psalm 103:2
Ask:
Would Canaan be a good land to live in? Why or why not?
What are some of God’s blessings to your family?
Ornament:
Grapes
December 11 - King David
Read:
1 Samuel 16:1-13
2 Samuel 97:8-16, 18-29
Ask:
What was King David’s background?
What promise does God make to King David?
What does David say God is like?
Ornament:
Crown
December 12 - Josiah
Read:
2 Kings 22:11-13
2 Kings 23:1-3
Psalm 119:105
Ask:
What had happened to God’s word before Josiah’s time?
What did King Josiah so when he found the book?
What should we read the bible?
Ornament:
Scroll
December 13 - Judgement and Exile
Read:
Ezekiel 18:30
Isaiah 1:1-4
Isaiah 2:12, 17-18
2 Kings 25:8-12
Ask:
What has the people of Israel failed to do?
What was God’s response to their actions?
Why were God’s people taken into exile?
What was the significance of God’s people being taken into exile?
Ornament:
Scales
December 14 - Return
Read:
Jeremiah 23:3, 33:10-11
Jeremiah 33:10-11
Micah 7:18-20
Ask:
What is God like according to these verses?
What promise does the Micah verse refer to?
Why will God bring his people out of exile?
Ornament:
A group of
people
December 15 - New Covenant
Read:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Ask:
Who is making the covenant?
Whom is he making it with?
What will God do & what is our part in this?
Ornament:
Heart
December 16 - Prophecy: Shoot from Stump of Jesse
Read:
Isaiah 11:1-5
John 1:14
Ask:
Who was Jesse the father of?
How is Jesse like a stump, and who is the new branch growing
out of him?
What will this person be like?
Why does our world need a righteous judge like Jesus?
Ornament:
Shoot growing
from a tree
stump

December 17 - Prophecy: Prince of Peace
Read:
Isaiah 9:6-7
Ask:
What different names is Jesus called in these verses?
In what ways does the world need a Prince of Peace?
Ornament:
Dove and crown
December 18 - Prophecy: Lion and Calf
Read:
Isaiah 11:-10
Revelation 21:1-4
Ask:
Why will all the animals be able to play safely together?
When will this happen?
What do you think you will enjoy about heaven?
Ornament:
Lion and a calf
December 19 - Prophecy: Gentle Shepherd
Read:
Isaiah 40:10-11
Psalm 23:1-2
John 10:27
Ask:
What are some ways in which a shepherd cares for his sheep?
How are we like sheep?
How does Jesus act like a shepherd to us?
Ornament:
Sheep and
shepherds crook
December 20 - Prophecy: Suffering Servant
Read:
Isaiah 53
John 3:16
John 10:14-15
Ask:
What was God’s plan for Jesus? Why did Jesus have to die?
Why was Jesus willing to die?
How should we respond to him?
Ornament:
Cross
December 21 - Prophecy: Bethlehem
Read:
Isaiah 7:14,
Micah 5:2,
Luke 2:1-7
Ask:
What did the Old Testament prophets know ahead of
time about Jesus’ birth?
How did they know?
Ornament:
Bethlehem
Skyline
December 22 - Angel Visit’s Mary
Read:
Luke 2:1-7
John 3:16-17
Ask:
Who sent Jesus into the world?
Where did Jesus live before earth?
Why did Jesus come to earth? Do you believe in Him?
Ornament:
Manger
December 23 - Announcement to the Shepherds
Read:
Luke 2:8-20
Ask:
What was the angel’s message to the shepherds?
What were the different reactions of the shepherds?
Why was everyone amazed?
Ornament:
Angel
December 24 - Wise Men Follow a Star
Read:
Matthew 2:1-12
Ask:
Who saw the star in the east and why did they follow it?
Did King Herod want to worship Jesus? Why or why not?
Ornament:
Star
December 25 - Jesus - The Light of the World
Read:
John 8:12
Luke 2:25-32
Ask:
What was Simeon waiting for?
What did Simeon say about Jesus?
How is Jesus the light for the whole world?
How do we walk in the light that Jesus gives?
Ornament:
Candle