Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Why Christmas?

Rate this book
Why do we celebrate Christmas? Most children do not know the true answer to that question or why God sent Jesus to live on earth. Why Christmas? is a helpful daily devotional with Scripture reading, memory verse, Christmas carol and questions to direct your child’s heart towards God. The readings, which begin on the first day of December, are Biblical, short, and effective. Colorful illustrations illuminate the events of the incarnation. This book will provide parents with the assistance they desire for leading their child to the Christ of Christmas.

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2012

4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read

About the author

Barbara Reaoch

10 books27 followers
Barbara Reaoch says, "Nothing thrills me more than to see the great truths of the gospel change kids lives. I love to give adults tools to disciple the next generation. I want every parent and teacher to know that God's Word has power to enable their children to discover the joy of loving God."

Teaching cross-culturally changed Barbara’s perspective. She says, "Living overseas I learned in a new way that God's Word can reach children in every situation. No matter what reasons people think they cannot disciple their children - they can! I've seen the power of God's Word help children around the world — from Africa to Asia, India to the Alps, poor or rich. Whatever the challenge - God has given parents the privilege and power to reach their children with the transforming truth of his Word."

Barbara and her husband lived in Michigan before moving to Cape Town, South Africa, to teach Bible Study Fellowship classes. They also worked with the Rafiki Foundation to train young women in job and life skills. With her grandchildren far away, Barbara began to write Bible studies for them to bridge the distance. She drew her first two books, “Why Easter” and “Why Christmas" from those studies. Barbara’s most recent book is “A Jesus Christmas.”

After returning to the US, Barbara directed the Children’s Division of Bible Study Fellowship International. Barbara now lives in Minneapolis, MN, where she is learning to love snow again! She and her family are privileged to be a part of the wonderful body of believers at Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
16 (76%)
4 stars
3 (14%)
3 stars
2 (9%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Profile Image for Matthew Manchester.
953 reviews95 followers
December 26, 2019
This is a hard book for me to review.

Ultimately, my kids find it boring. Their attention spans don't handle the format or structure well. However, this is the most theological family Advent devotional I have found. I expect many R.C. Sproul fans use this book. I liked how it used certain songs to help children memorize the story of Christmas.

But I feel this might be better for older children/pre-teens.

Three stars.
Profile Image for Jalynn Patterson.
2,220 reviews41 followers
March 27, 2015
Why Easter?Why Christmas?

About the Books:

Easter is a celebration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But how many children know why Jesus died and came to life again? This illustrated devotional contains 28 lessons—one for each day of the four weeks leading up to Easter—in a short, focused format designed to help parents show the Christ of Easter to their children.


Why do we celebrate Christmas? Most children do not know the true answer to that question or why God sent Jesus to live on earth. Why Christmas? is a helpful devotional with Scripture reading, memory verse, Christmas carol and questions to direct your child’s heart towards God. The readings, which begin on the first day of December, are Biblical, short, and effective. Colorful illustrations illuminate the events of the incarnation. This book will provide parents with the assistance they desire for leading their child to the Christ of Christmas.


About the Author:

Barbara Reaoch is Bible Study Fellowship International's Director of children's programs. For nearly twenty years, she taught women s BSF classes in the U.S. and South Africa. Barbara also worked at the Rafiki Girl s Center in South Africa, teaching the Bible and life skills to young women. She has been married to Ron for 40 years; they have three grown children and four grandchildren.


My Review:

The perfect teaching tool for children, is something that can teach them again and again. Why Christmas? and Why Easter? are devotionals for children but it doesn't stop there. You can literally teach your children or Sunday school class from either text. Both are very easy to use. There are 7 items listed on each lesson that are used to apply these devotionals or lessons. These include Pray, Read, Listen, Truth, Discuss, Memorize, and Sing. Why Christmas/ has 25 different lessons to be used 24 days before Christmas and Why Easter? is to be used 4 weeks before Easter Sunday.


Each lesson or devotion is short, simple, and straight to the point. My boys are enjoying the Easter lessons already and I plan on using these very helpful books to teach my preschool Sunday school class, as well. Gone is the time in our household where we commercialize these holidays, my children need to know what these two holidays stand for and my husband and I intend on sharing that with them and emphasizing it each and every holiday. We are blessed to live in a country where we can freely worship our Savior and this is something I plan to teach my children as long as I can. These books are perfect for this!


**Disclosure** These books were sent to me free of charge for my honest review Cross Focused Reviews.
Profile Image for Create With Joy.
682 reviews169 followers
March 23, 2015
On Christmas day, we celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus and the reason He came into the world.

In a culture where the commercialization of Christmas has flourished, does your child understand the true reason for the season?

Equally as important, do you feel equipped to teach your children why the birth of Jesus is far more significant than the arrival of Old St. Nick?

If not, Bible Study Fellowship International's Director of Children's Programs, Barbara Reaoch, is here to help!

In her book Why Christmas?, Barbara arms you with everything you need to tackle this important educational task!

Why Christmas? is an illustrated devotional from Shepherd Press that provide families with a meaningful and Scriptural way to communicate the true meaning of Christmas to their children.

Although this book can be read anytime during the year, it is specifically designed to be used during the 4-week period leading up to Christmas.

Why Christmas? contains 28 beautifully illustrated lessons that are divided into several parts:

• Bible Reading
• Devotion
• Truth
• Discussion Questions
• Memory Verse
• Hymn or Christmas Song (lyrics provided in the back of book)
• Discussion Topic

Because of the interactive nature of this book, Why Christmas? works particularly well as a family devotional. You can use the book each year as part of your family’s holiday tradition and watch how your child’s knowledge and faith grows each year!

Why Christmas? makes a wonderful addition to your family’s library and should hold particular interest to homeschooling parents!

To read this review in its entirety, visit Create With Joy.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Gail Welborn.
609 reviews18 followers
November 21, 2012
***A family devotional that celebrates the Christ of Christmas***

Why Christmas? teaches families and children there’s more to Christmas than Santa Claus. The devotional format begins with the first day of December and ends twenty-four days later on Christmas Eve. These inspirational family devotions bring families together for what could become an anticipated family tradition in subsequent years.

Devotions begin with a brief reading that “lead children to the Christ of Christmas.” Gauge devotional time, long or short, by youngster’s attention span. The first devotion is drawn from Luke 2: 8-16, the announcement of Christ’s birth.

The next part, “listen” incorporates questions and answers on the Scripture reading that explain what’s happening in the story. For example if a child asks if the shepherds were excited to see the angels, the explanation would be the shepherds were very afraid when they saw the bright light, heavenly beings and crowded skies…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/ct5u5cw
Profile Image for Jeanie.
3,093 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2015
Why Christmas is for everyone that desires to connect to why we celebrate Christmas and what it means in our everyday choices. A family 25 day devotion that engages in the Gospel by reading scripture, a truth to ponder, questions to discuss, scripture to memorize and a hymn to sing. It also includes a discussion on the hymn which to me is very refreshing.

This devotion is designed for participation and to think deeply on the truths of God that we may simply read past. I appreciated how the Old Testament reveals the New Testament and the coming savior. Why the Angels came to the Shepherds? Why did God choose Mary as Jesus’ mother? I love how these questions lead to other questions. These questions and the answers share the gospel that you see the goodness and the salvation of God.

The devotional is relational in application and a great resource for parents.

A complimentary review copy was provided to me by Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews