Jesse Tree Ideas

Each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, we get out our “Jesse Tree” and begin our focus for the Advent season.

Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

What is a Jesse Tree?

Basically, a Jesse Tree is a way to teach how Jesus is the branch from the stump of Jesse (King David’s father).

Isaiah 11:1 says “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,  And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.”

How to Use

Each day we study a different person or event from Biblical history which led to the birth of Christ.  At some websites that are no longer available, I printed out pictures that represent what we’re studying.  I laminated them and they are the “ornaments” which we put on our Jesse Tree each day. But, I found a couple of other options: Proverbial Homemaker has Jesse Tree Brick Challenge (Lego) with printable ornaments here (you can use coupon code PHChristmas40 to get 40% off!) and Love at Home has Jesse Tree Devotional Copywork with graphics you can cut out for ornaments here.

On the back of each printable ornament, I wrote which Scripture to read about each day, laminated them, and punched a hole to put a yarn tie through.  I bought a tabletop artificial Christmas tree to put the “ornaments” on.  I researched several different websites and came up with my own version of what we would study each day.  Here it is:

Jesse Tree–My version

1.  Tree    Intro to Jesse Tree    Isaiah 11:1-10, Jer. 23:5-6, I Samuel 16:1-13

2.  Earth    Creation   Gen. 1 and 2

3.  Apple    The Fall    Gen. 3

4.  Ark    Noah/Judgment   Gen. 6:5-22, 7:17- 8:12, 8:20, 9:1, 9:8-9:13

5.  Field of Stars    Abraham/Covenant    Gen. 12:1-7, 15:1-6

6.  Ram    Isaac   Gen. 22:1-19

7.  Ladder    Jacob   Gen. 27:41   28:22

8.  Coat    Joseph  and Judah    Gen. 44:33, 45, 49:10

9.  Ten Commandments    Moses   Ex. 2:1 , 4:23, 12, 13:21-31, 19:1 , 20:20

10.  Trumpet    Joshua and Rahab   Josh. 1:1-11, 2, 6:1-20

11.  Sack of Grain    Ruth    book of Ruth

12.  Crown    Samuel (anointed kings)   I Sam. 3:1-21, 7:1 , 8:22, 9:15- 10:9

13.  Star of David    David/Kingdom Established    I Sam. 16:1-23, 17:58, II Sam. 5:1-5, 7:1-17

14.  Temple    Solomon/Temple Built     1 Kings 5:1-6, 6:11-14

15.  Hot Ember      Isaiah/Call to Holiness            Isa. 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7

16.  Tears       Jeremiah/Exile                            Jer. 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22 – 9:11

17.  Wall    Nehemiah    Neh. 1:1 , 2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22

18.  Dove    John the Baptist   Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-20, 7:18-30

19.  Mom and Baby    Mary   Luke 1:26-38

20.   Hammer    Joseph    Matt. 1:18-25

21.  Stable    Jesus is Born    Luke 2:1-7

22.  Shepherd’s crook   Shepherds   Luke 2:8-20

23.  Star    Magi    Matt. 2:1-12

Other Versions of Jesse Tree

Of course, there are lots of different versions of the stories to tell and Scriptures to use for a Jesse Tree. I love the ornaments created by Gospel-Centred Parenting and their use of the Jesus Storybook Bible!

If you’d like some gorgeous hand-made ornaments made of wood, be sure to take a look at these:

Related Posts:

• How to Replace Your Regular Curriculum with Holiday-Themed Curriculum in December
• Scrabble Tile Christmas Ornaments
• Christmas Printable Set
• How to Experience the Music of Christmas (even if you have no time)

 

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.)