Jesse Tree Instructions

I've had a couple requests for info on how we do our Jesse Tree. There are many ways to do it, but here's the adaptation we've come up with through the years. We've borrowed heavily from The Voice.

December 1 - Set up the tree. We use a small one with tiny ornaments we've crafted out of Sculpey clay. You could use paper ornaments or have your kids make their own each day.

1 Sam 16:1-13
Isa 11:1-10

2 - Creation

ornament - the earth

Gen 1:1-2:3

3 - The first sin (man separated from God, God promises that Eve's offspring will truimph)

ornament - apple

Gen 2:4-3:24

4 - The Flood (God redeems mankind and makes a promise)

ornament - rainbow

Gen 6-9 (or just tell the story)

5 - God's promise to Abraham

ornament - stars

Gen 12:1-7

6 - God saves Isaac

ornament - ram

Gen 22

7 - Jacob receives the promise

ornament - ladder

Gen 27:41-28:22

8 - Joseph 

ornament - colored coat

Gen 27-50 (paraphrase this one. It's long!)

9 - Passover

ornament - lamb

Ex 12-14

10 - God gives the law

ornament - 10 commandments

Ex 19-20

11 - The fall of Jericho

ornament - trumpet

Josh 6:1-20

12 - Samuel crowns Saul King

Ornament - crown

1 Sam 3:1-21, 7:1-8:22, 9:15-10:9

13 - David

ornament - shepherd's hook

I Sam 16-17

14 - God proves his power to Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

ornament - stone altar

I Kings 17-18

15 - God delivers the Faithful

ornament - a tent

2 Kng 18:1-19:19, 32-37

16 - Isaiah's call to Holiness

ornament - tongs with coal

Isa 1:10-20

17 - The Exile

ornament - a tear

Jer 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:1-11

18 - Waiting

ornament - watchtower

Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19

19 - Return to Israel

ornament - city wall

Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22

20 - Mary

ornament - white lily

Luke 1:26-38

21 - Zechariah and Elizabeth await their child

ornament - tablet with "John" written on it

Luke 1:57-80

22 - Joseph trusts God

ornament - hammer

Matt 1:19-25

23 - The Wise Men come to worship

ornament - star

Matt 2:1-12

24 - The birth of Jesus

ornament - manger

Luke 2:1-20

We top off the month with another reading of the complete Christmas story. You can have another devotional on Christ using John 1:1-14 to wrap things up, if you choose.