Updated November 2026 · By the FORGED team at Honest Little Apps · Scripture: World English Bible (public domain), quoted from ebible.org
When does Advent start in 2026?
Advent 2026 starts on Sunday, November 29, 2026, and runs to Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. That is 26 days and four Sundays: November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20 (CalendarDate's 2026 Advent calendar). This plan gives you one reading for each of those 26 days.
Twenty-six short mornings, four Sundays, one story told in order.
Honest limits
- This is our plan, not a church lectionary. Many churches follow set Sunday readings. We put the story in order instead: the promises, the people who prepared, then the birth. If your church reads something else on Sunday, read theirs too.
- FORGED has no Advent plan inside it. The app is a 90-day plan for men. This page is free and stands alone; the app is for what comes after.
- Ten minutes will not fix a hard December. It gives you one fixed point in the day. That is the whole design decision: a small, dated reading you can finish, rather than a big plan you abandon.
A plan you finish beats a better plan you drop on December 9.
How the Advent reading plan for men works
- Pick your minutes above. 5 shows the key passage only. 10 adds one question. 15 swaps in a longer passage, often the full scene.
- Read the day's passage, then the verse in the box. The verse is quoted word for word from the World English Bible.
- Do the hard thing before noon. Each day ends with one plain action: a call, a phone in another room, a dish washed without a word.
Read it, answer it, do one thing about it.
Your 26-day Advent plan
Week 1 The promise Nov 29–Dec 5
Old promises of a coming King, from Eden to Bethlehem.
1Sun Nov 29Genesis 3:8–15
I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”Genesis 3:15, WEB
Ask: God asked Adam, “Where are you?” Where are you, honestly, this week?
One hard thing: Say one true sentence about where you are to someone you trust.
2Mon Nov 30Genesis 12:1–3
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”Genesis 12:3, WEB
Ask: Abram left home on a promise. What might God be asking you to leave behind?
One hard thing: Turn off one thing tonight that steals your evening.
3Tue Dec 12 Samuel 7:8–16
Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”2 Samuel 7:16, WEB
Ask: David wanted to build God a house; God promised to build David one. What are you trying to build alone?
One hard thing: Hand one task you've been hoarding to someone else.
4Wed Dec 2Isaiah 7:10–14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14, WEB
Ask: Ahaz refused to ask for a sign. What have you stopped asking God for?
One hard thing: Pray one specific request out loud, by name.
5Thu Dec 3Isaiah 9:2–7
For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6, WEB
Ask: Which of the four names in verse 6 do you need most this week?
One hard thing: Use that name when you pray today.
6Fri Dec 4Isaiah 11:1–5
A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.Isaiah 11:1, WEB
Ask: A shoot from a stump: something that looked dead grew again. What looks like a stump in your life?
One hard thing: Write down one thing you have given up on, and pray over it.
7Sat Dec 5Micah 5:2–5
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.Micah 5:2, WEB
Ask: God picked the small town. Where do you feel too small to matter?
One hard thing: Do one small, unseen job at home without mentioning it.
Week 2 Prepare the way Dec 6–Dec 12
The prophets, Zacharias and the voice in the wilderness.
8Sun Dec 6Isaiah 40:1–8
The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”Isaiah 40:8, WEB
Ask: What in your life is “grass” that withers, and what lasts?
One hard thing: Put your phone in another room for the first hour after work.
9Mon Dec 7Malachi 3:1–3
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me! The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Behold, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, is coming!” says the LORD of Armies.Malachi 3:1, WEB
Ask: A refiner's fire burns off what doesn't belong. What would you want burned off?
One hard thing: Name one habit to cut until Christmas. Tell one person.
10Tue Dec 8Malachi 4:4–6
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”Malachi 4:6, WEB
Ask: How is your heart turned toward your kids, or the young people around you, today?
One hard thing: Give one child ten minutes of full attention, no phone.
11Wed Dec 9Luke 1:5–17
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”Luke 1:17, WEB
Ask: Zacharias had prayed for years. What prayer have you stopped praying?
One hard thing: Start praying it again, once a day, until Christmas.
12Thu Dec 10Luke 1:18–22
Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”Luke 1:20, WEB
Ask: Doubt made Zacharias go quiet. Where are you talking when you should be listening?
One hard thing: In your next conversation, ask two questions before giving one opinion.
13Fri Dec 11Luke 1:57–66
His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.Luke 1:64, WEB
Ask: When his mouth opened, Zacharias blessed God first. What are your first words in the morning?
One hard thing: Make your first words tomorrow a thank-you, out loud.
14Sat Dec 12Luke 1:67–79
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”Luke 1:78–79, WEB
Ask: Where do you need “the dawn from on high” to shine?
One hard thing: Get up 15 minutes earlier tomorrow and read before anyone else is awake.
Week 3 The people who said yes Dec 13–Dec 19
John, Mary, Elizabeth and Joseph: ordinary people who obeyed.
15Sun Dec 13Mark 1:1–8
the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”Mark 1:3, WEB
Ask: John cleared a path. What is cluttering the path between you and God?
One hard thing: Clear one physical mess: the garage shelf, the desk, the truck.
16Mon Dec 14Luke 1:30–38
Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.Luke 1:38, WEB
Ask: Mary said yes without the full plan. What would saying yes cost you?
One hard thing: Say yes to one request you have been dodging.
17Tue Dec 15Luke 1:39–45
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!Luke 1:41–42, WEB
Ask: Elizabeth blessed Mary out loud. Who needs you to say something good about them?
One hard thing: Tell one person specifically what you respect about them.
18Wed Dec 16Luke 1:46–55
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,Luke 1:46–47, WEB
Ask: Mary's song starts with God, not her problems. What would your song start with?
One hard thing: List three things God has done for you this year.
19Thu Dec 17Matthew 1:18–19
Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.Matthew 1:19, WEB
Ask: Joseph was hurt and still protected Mary's name. Whose name could you protect?
One hard thing: Refuse to join one complaint or joke about someone today.
20Fri Dec 18Matthew 1:20–25
Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;Matthew 1:24, WEB
Ask: Joseph got up and obeyed. What do you already know you should do?
One hard thing: Do it before lunch.
21Sat Dec 19Matthew 1:1–6
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.Matthew 1:1, WEB
Ask: Jesus' family line has liars, outsiders and failures in it. What does that say about yours?
One hard thing: Call or text a relative you have not spoken to in a while.
Week 4 He came Dec 20–Dec 24
The birth, the shepherds and what it means. Five days to Christmas Eve.
22Sun Dec 20Luke 2:1–7
She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.Luke 2:7, WEB
Ask: No room in the inn. Where is there no room for Jesus in your week?
One hard thing: Block 20 minutes on your calendar for Christmas week, just for prayer.
23Mon Dec 21Luke 2:8–14
For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.Luke 2:11, WEB
Ask: The news went first to men on the night shift. Who is working tonight that you could thank?
One hard thing: Thank one person who works while others rest.
24Tue Dec 22Luke 2:15–20
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.Luke 2:20, WEB
Ask: The shepherds went back to the same job, praising. What changes if you go back the same way?
One hard thing: Do your next ordinary job today without grumbling once.
25Wed Dec 23John 1:9–14
The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.John 1:14, WEB
Ask: “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” Who needs you to show up in person?
One hard thing: Show up in person for someone instead of sending a text.
26Thu Dec 24Philippians 2:5–11
but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.Philippians 2:7, WEB
Ask: Jesus took the form of a servant. Where can you serve tonight?
One hard thing: Serve first at the Christmas Eve table: plates, dishes, chairs.
Missed days? Read this
If you miss a day of an Advent reading plan, skip to today's date and keep going. Do not try to catch up on five passages in one night; that is how plans die. Read the missed passages on a Sunday afternoon if you want them, or let them go.
Here is the mid-December pattern most men know: a good first week, one late night at work, two missed mornings, then the plan quietly disappears. The fix is not more willpower. It is a smaller target. If a week goes sideways, switch the chooser to 5 minutes and keep the date.
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.Proverbs 24:16, WEB
Missed days are a box to skip, not a verdict.
Advent plan vs a 90-day plan
| This Advent plan | FORGED 90 days | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 26 days, dated | 90 days, any start |
| Daily time | 5, 10 or 15 min | About 10 min |
| Each day | Passage, question, action | Challenge, passage in plain English, prayer timer |
| Cost | Free, printable | Day 1 free; Days 2–90 Premium |
If you finish Advent and want to keep going: start FORGED on New Year's Day and Day 90 lands on March 31, 2027.
Advent gets you to Christmas; the 90 days are for the year after it.
Advent reading plan FAQ
What should men read during Advent?
Read the promises of a coming King (Genesis, Isaiah, Micah, Malachi), then the people who prepared for him (Zacharias, John, Mary, Joseph) in Luke 1 and Matthew 1, then the birth in Luke 2 and John 1. This plan follows that order over 26 days.
How many days are in Advent 2026?
Advent 2026 has 26 days if you count from Sunday, November 29 through Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. The length changes each year because Advent always starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
Can I start the plan late?
Yes. Open the plan, find today's date and start there. The page highlights today's reading automatically between November 29 and December 24.
Which Bible translation does the plan use?
Every quoted verse is from the World English Bible, a public-domain modern English translation, copied from ebible.org. You can read the passages in any translation you own.
Do I need the FORGED app to use this plan?
No. The plan on this page is free and works on paper. FORGED is a separate 90-day plan for men if you want a daily routine after Christmas.
Inside FORGED
FORGED gives you one ten-minute day at a time: a practical challenge (Gentle, Standard or Challenging), one passage explained in plain English, and quiet time for prayer. Missed days never erase what you've earned. No account needed.
Who should pick something else
- If your church gives out an Advent devotional, use that one. Reading with your own people beats reading alone.
- If you want a liturgical calendar with daily Mass readings, use your church's lectionary instead of this story-order plan.
- If you have never opened a Bible, start with a Gospel. Luke's first two chapters cover most of this plan anyway.
Keep reading
- A 90-day challenge for Christian men, with a printable planA free 90-day challenge for Christian men: pick a start date and level, get milestone dates, 13 weekly WEB passages and a printable 90-box tracker.
- Accountability partner questions for men, as a printable cardAccountability partner questions for men, built into a printable 5-question card: pick weekly or monthly, your struggles and your tone. Plus Wesley's 22.
- The armor of God, piece by piece (Ephesians 6)A plain-English glossary of the armor of God in Ephesians 6: each piece in WEB and KJV wording, its Old Testament roots, and a 3-tap quiz.
- How to pray as a man: six myths and a 3-minute prayer timerHow to pray as a man, without polished words: six common myths checked against Scripture, a 3, 5 or 10-minute live prayer timer and a prayer builder.