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The Story of Christmas: Bible Reading for Kids (Printable KJV)

Where the Christmas story is in the Bible, in order, with a free printable King James reading of Matthew 1, Luke 2 and Matthew 2 for families and programs.

All ages

The Story of Christmas: Bible Reading for Kids (Printable KJV)
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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages
Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6), Youth (7–12), Whole Family
Time
10 minutes to read aloud
Scripture
Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 2:1–20; Matthew 2:1–12
Bible story
The Birth of JesusThe Shepherds and the AngelsThe Wise Men

The Christmas story is in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2. Luke tells it from Mary's side: the angel Gabriel, the trip to Bethlehem, the manger and the shepherds. Matthew tells it from Joseph's side: his dream, the name JESUS, and the wise men who followed the star. Read them together and you have the whole story.

The Christmas story in order

  1. Gabriel visits Mary in Nazareth and tells her she will have a son and call His name JESUS (Luke 1:26–38).
  2. Mary visits Elisabeth, and Elisabeth's baby leaps for joy (Luke 1:39–56).
  3. An angel speaks to Joseph in a dream: Mary's baby is from the Holy Ghost, "and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:18–25).
  4. Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem because of Caesar Augustus' decree, and Jesus is born and laid in a manger, "because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:1–7).
  5. Angels tell the shepherds, who hurry to Bethlehem and find the baby, then tell everyone what they heard (Luke 2:8–20).
  6. Jesus is named and brought to the temple, where Simeon and Anna thank God for Him (Luke 2:21–38).
  7. Later, wise men from the east follow the star to the house, worship the young child and give Him gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:1–12).

The printable reading

The PDF prints three King James readings with verse numbers, one per page, ready for family devotions or a narrator at your Christmas program:

  • 1. Joseph's dream (Matthew 1:18–25, KJV)
  • 2. Jesus is born (Luke 2:1–20, KJV)
  • 3. The wise men (Matthew 2:1–12, KJV)

Talk about it

Read Luke 2:11 together. Ask: what did the angel call the baby? (A Saviour, Christ the Lord.) Jesus is God's gift to us: Matthew 1:23 says His name Emmanuel means "God with us."

The Christmas story sets: the lessons, crafts, coloring pages and puzzles for The Birth of Jesus (memory verse Luke 2:11), The Shepherds and the Angels (Luke 2:10) and The Wise Men (Matthew 2:10) follow this same story.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Christmas story in the Bible?

In two Gospels. Matthew 1–2 tells of Joseph's dream and the wise men. Luke 1–2 tells of the angel's visit to Mary, the birth in Bethlehem, the shepherds, and Simeon and Anna in the temple.

What is the main Christmas verse?

Luke 2:11: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." It is the memory verse of our Birth of Jesus story set.

Were the wise men at the manger?

No. The shepherds came to the manger the night Jesus was born (Luke 2:16). The wise men came later to "the house" and saw "the young child" (Matthew 2:11). The Bible doesn't say how many wise men there were, only that they brought three kinds of gifts.

Can we read this at our Christmas program?

Yes. Print it for your narrator. The three readings take about ten minutes together and fit between carols or scenes of a skit.

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