New / Young Believer
First Steps.
Mark and Philippians — the classic first pairing.
Companion App
Take it with you.
Reading plans for every stage of faith, an optional Psalm, Proverb or Gospel of the Day, and questions and tips as you read. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Why this plan
Mark is the shortest, most action-paced Gospel: the whole story of Jesus in sixteen chapters. Philippians is short and relentlessly warm. Narrative alongside a short, encouraging letter is the most often recommended place to begin.
The two books are read side by side in their own order, so a first-time reader can follow Mark's story as it unfolds. Mark then carries on alone through the road to Jerusalem, the cross and the empty tomb.
What you'll read
2 streams, read side by side.
Mark
Mark
Philippians
Philippians
Week by week
The plan for the next 4 weeks.
Every reading, in the order the app gives them. When one stream finishes, the others carry on until the plan is done.
Week 1Mark 1 – Mark 5
- Day 1Mark 1 · Philippians 1:1–11
- Day 2Mark 2 · Philippians 1:12–26
- Day 3Mark 3 · Philippians 1:27–30
- Day 4Mark 4 · Philippians 2:1–11
- Day 5Mark 5 · Philippians 2:12–18
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 2Mark 6:1–29 – Mark 9
- Day 6Mark 6:1–29 · Philippians 2:19–30
- Day 7Mark 6:30–56 · Philippians 3:1–11
- Day 8Mark 7 · Philippians 3:12–21
- Day 9Mark 8 · Philippians 4:1–9
- Day 10Mark 9 · Philippians 4:10–23
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 3Mark 10 – Mark 14:1–31
- Day 11Mark 10
- Day 12Mark 11
- Day 13Mark 12
- Day 14Mark 13
- Day 15Mark 14:1–31
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 4Mark 14:32–72 – Mark 16
- Day 16Mark 14:32–72
- Day 17Mark 15
- Day 18Mark 16
- 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 already reads Mark, so Gospel of the Day waits until you've finished that part of the plan, then picks up where you left off.
Companion readings need a free account in the Standfirm app.
When you finish
Read another, then go deeper.
Each New / Young 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 Growing Believer. It's your choice, not a test.