Growing Believer
Letters and Living Wisdom.
James and Thessalonians, with the Song of Solomon.
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Why this plan
Two very different kinds of writing, as the name says: practical, pastoral letters (James, then 1 and 2 Thessalonians, among the earliest New Testament writings) beside the Hebrew love poetry of the Song of Solomon.
What you'll read
2 streams, read side by side.
Letters
James → 1 Thessalonians → 2 Thessalonians
Living Wisdom
Song of Solomon
Week by week
The plan for the next 3 weeks.
Every reading, in the order the app gives them. When one stream finishes, the others carry on until the plan is done.
Week 1James 1 – James 5
- Day 1James 1 · Song of Solomon 1
- Day 2James 2 · Song of Solomon 2
- Day 3James 3 · Song of Solomon 3
- Day 4James 4 · Song of Solomon 4
- Day 5James 5 · Song of Solomon 5
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 21 Thessalonians 1 – 1 Thessalonians 5
- Day 61 Thessalonians 1 · Song of Solomon 6
- Day 71 Thessalonians 2 · Song of Solomon 7
- Day 81 Thessalonians 3 · Song of Solomon 8
- Day 91 Thessalonians 4
- Day 101 Thessalonians 5
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 32 Thessalonians 1 – 2 Thessalonians 3
- Day 112 Thessalonians 1
- Day 122 Thessalonians 2
- Day 132 Thessalonians 3
- Rest dayReflect on the plan you've just finished
Weekly rhythm
Five days to read. One to reflect.
Each reading day has one reading per stream. On your rest day, look back over the week. You choose your rest day in the app: Saturday, Sunday or the whole weekend. Your place only moves on when you mark a reading done, so a missed day never leaves you behind.
How to read
Read, Reflect, Respond.
The same three steps every day, in any plan. Fifteen to thirty minutes is plenty.
- 1
Read
Read slowly and on purpose, with a pen in hand. Mark the words and verses that stand out, the big words to look up, the repeated ideas, and the connecting words like therefore and because.
- 2
Reflect
Ask why you marked what you did. What did it mean to the people it was first written to? What does it mean for you today? What does it show you about God?
- 3
Respond
Turn it into prayer: thanksgiving, praise, repentance, or asking for help, using the words you marked. Optionally, write down one thing to carry into the day.
Optional, in the app
Add a companion reading.
Alongside this plan, you can add a short daily reading. Turn on any of them, or alternate the Psalm and Proverb from day to day.
Psalm of the Day
One psalm a day, working through the whole Psalter.
Proverb of the Day
One chapter of Proverbs a day, cycling every 31 days.
Gospel of the Day
This plan doesn't include a Gospel, so Gospel of the Day keeps you reading the words and works of Jesus alongside it, one Gospel at a time.
Companion readings need a free account in the Standfirm app.
When you finish
Read another, then go deeper.
Each Growing Believer plan covers different books, so reading another before you move on gives you more ground to stand on. When you're ready, step up to Mature Believer. It's your choice, not a test.