A Family Bible Reading Plan to Begin With Mark
A good family Bible reading plan begins with the Gospel of Mark, one chapter a day, and then moves on to the other Gospels, a few short letters and the Psalms. Mark has sixteen chapters, so a family that reads a chapter each day will finish it in a little over two weeks.
If you are wondering where to start reading the Bible with your children, this plan gives you an order, a pace and a reason for each step. It is a plan any family can finish. We start with the Gospels because we want our children to meet Jesus Christ first and then read everything else in the light of Him.
Start with Mark, one chapter a day
Mark opens with these words, “The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). It is the shortest of the four Gospels and it moves quickly, so children can follow it. Begin with the session for Mark chapter 1, which has a prayer, a hymn to sing, the chapter, questions and a closing prayer ready for you. Then take one chapter a day through to chapter 16, where the Lord Jesus rises from the dead.
If a chapter is long, split it over two days, because the plan is there to help the family.
Why the Gospels come first
The Gospels tell us who Jesus is and what He did. Luke says that the risen Lord “explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27), and that is how we want our children to read the whole Bible. John explains why his Gospel was written, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Once a child knows who Jesus is, the Old Testament and the letters make more sense.
What to read after Mark
After Mark, choose the next book that fits where your family is. A sensible order is the Gospel of John, the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of Matthew. Next come short letters, such as 1 John (five chapters) and Titus (three chapters), and then the Psalms, which your family can sing as well as read. You can try the session for 1 John chapter 1, where John writes about walking in the light and being forgiven.
Every book and chapter of the Bible is open on the worship page. Some chapters have a full written session, and the others give general prompts for reading, reflecting and praying, so you can follow your plan wherever it leads.
How much to read each day
One chapter is a good pace, and a shorter passage is fine with young children. Paul tells Timothy that “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). There is no hurry. Reading a book slowly, with time to talk about it, teaches more than racing through three.
Keeping the family Bible reading plan going
- Read at the same time each day.
- Mark off each chapter on a chart on the fridge.
- If you miss a day, pick up with the next chapter. Do not try to catch up.
- When you finish a book, thank the Lord together, and choose the next one.
The reading plan and the gospel
The aim of the plan is that every member of the family would know Christ, who died for sinners and rose again, and who calls us to turn from sin and trust in Him. Parents, tell your children this plainly, and call them kindly and often to repent and believe. We read so that we hear His voice. We do not assume that anyone is saved because they have read a book of the Bible, and we keep asking the Lord to give each of our children a new heart.
Questions parents ask
Should we start in Genesis?
Genesis is a good book. Starting with a Gospel lets your children know Jesus first, and you can read Genesis later.
Do we need to read the whole Bible in a year?
No. Family worship is short, and a slow, steady plan is better than a rushed one. Taking several years to read through the whole Bible is fine.
What if the children are different ages?
Choose a passage the youngest can follow, and ask each child a question that fits their age.
Begin with Mark chapter 1 tonight. The Family Worship App is free, a ministry of Cornerstone Reformed Baptist Church, and if the plan helps your family you can give here so that more families can use it. May the Lord give you a lasting love for His Word.