The Christmas Cabinet
The Christmas Cabinet is an Advent Calendar that creates a nativity scene. Starting December 1, open each day’s numbered drawer. Read the story on the bottom of the drawer or use the booklet kept in the slot in the back of the cabinet.. You may want to open the drawers with your family each night after dinner and discuss the questions in the book. You may even decide to look up the Bible verses included in each reading to learn more about the stories.
Use the figures from the drawers to complete your own nativity scene. When arranging the figures, consider placing the angels on top of the cabinet or hanging the star and heavenly host from a drawer knob. Be sure to put Bethlehem under the star! The underside of each figure is numbered so that you can return the figures to the proper drawer for use next Christmas.
Listen
Story    
Go DeeperDecember 1
Zechariah
Over two thousand years ago in the hills of Judea, there was a man named Zechariah who loved God faithfully. . .
(opens in a new tab)December 2
Mary
Mary was a young Hebrew woman living in Nazareth. She loved the Lord with all her heart. God chose her to be. . .
(opens in a new tab)December 3
Gabriel
Gabriel was the angel that visited both Mary and Zechariah. Gabriel told each of them not to be afraid. . .
(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)December 4
Joseph
Mary’s betrothed husband, Joseph, was upset when he learned Mary was going to have a baby. He loved her very much but. . .
(opens in a new tab)December 5
Angel of the Lord
An angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. . .
(opens in a new tab)December 6
Elizabeth
Remember Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth? They both faithfully loved God. Even though everyone thought Elizabeth. . .
(opens in a new tab)December 7
John the Baptist
When Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son John grew up, he told people how to know God and how to love Him. John reminded. . .
(opens in a new tab)December 8
Caesar Augustus
Nazareth, the town where Mary and Joseph lived, was controlled by the far away Empire of Rome. The Emperor. . .
(opens in a new tab)December 9
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a little town in Judea, a few miles south of Jerusalem. Joseph’s family was from Bethlehem. . .
December 10
Manger
Mary gave birth to her son in Bethlehem. She wrapped Him in soft cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there. . .
December 11
Jesus
The baby born to Mary was Jesus, the Son of God, the promised Savior of the World. . .
December 12
Shepherd
In the same region of Bethlehem, shepherds were in the fields watching over their flock by. . .
December 13
Angel
Suddenly, an Angel of the Lord appeared before the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were. . .
December 14
Heavenly Host
Then a very large number of angels, a heavenly host, appeared with the angel of the Lord and they praised God. . .
December 15
Sheep
When the angels were gone, the shepherds said, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing. . .
December 16
Magi
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the days when Herod was king. After His birth, several Wise Men, or Magi, made their way. . .
December 17
Herod
When King Herod heard there might be a new king, he and all of Jerusalem were disturbed, for they understood that a. . .
December 18
Magi
Herod found out from the Magi the exact time the special star appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem: “Go and search. . .
December 19
Star
After speaking with King Herod, the Magi went their way to find Jesus. The star, which they had seen in the East, went on before them. . .
December 20
Gold
When the Wise Men found Jesus held in Mary’s arms, they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures. . .
December 21
Frankincense
The second gift was frankincense, a type of very expensive incense made from the sap of a tree. During worship in the temple. . .
December 22
Myrrh
The third gift was myrrh. This type of incense, made from the sap of a thorny bush, was used in the temple for anointing. . .
December 23
Wise Man
The Wise Men traveled from far away in the East because they knew from charting the stars that a great King was about. . .
December 24
Gift
God sent Jesus as the best gift that anyone would ever receive. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only. . .
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas! You may have noticed that there is not a drawer with a figure for December 25th. No drawer can contain today’s figure, but our hearts can! Jesus was born so we could know him personally. . .
