New to Faith – PYM
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New to Faith

You've said yes to Jesus — now what?

The first step is to connect with a local church. Faith was never meant to be a solo journey. The New Testament pictures the church not as a building to attend, but as a family to belong to — a community where you are known, loved, challenged, and shaped. It's where you'll find people to pray with, share life with, and grow alongside. No church is perfect, but being part of one is one of the most important things you can do as a new follower of Jesus.

Please contact us if you would like any help finding a local church near you.

Along with regular connection to a local church, these resources will help you grow roots and start living it out day to day.

Section One
Free Resources
Everything below is completely free — great starting points for growing in faith without spending a thing.
30 Days bible.alpha.org/30days A one-month daily reading plan led by Nicky Gumbel, unpacking 30 key passages from across the Bible. A gentle, structured way to begin building a daily habit of reading Scripture. Short enough to finish in a month, rich enough to keep you coming back. Visit →
Dive On In Breakthrough A practical Bible reading resource from the Breakthrough team, designed to help new Christians get started with reading the Bible daily. It removes the intimidation factor and gives you simple, structured guidance to begin engaging with Scripture at your own pace. Visit →
The Prayer Course prayercourse.org An 8-week journey through the Lord's Prayer, guided by Pete Greig of the 24-7 Prayer movement. It covers the full range of prayer — from honest conversation with God to sitting in silence and learning to listen. Ideal for anyone who finds prayer awkward, confusing, or just hard to sustain. Visit →
Long Story Short longstoryshort.co Now that you've said yes to Jesus, Long Story Short is a brilliant way to see how your story fits into the bigger one. This video series — filmed across the globe including right here in NZ — traces the Bible's grand narrative from beginning to end, showing how every part points to Jesus. Perfect for new believers wanting to understand the whole Bible, not just the bits they've heard so far. Visit →
The BibleProject bibleproject.com Beautifully animated videos tracing the big themes of Scripture — from Genesis to Revelation — showing how the whole Bible tells one unified story pointing to Jesus. Created by scholars, designed for everyone. A brilliant resource for visual learners who want depth without jargon. Visit →
Practicing the Way practicingtheway.org An 8-session course on what it actually means to follow Jesus as an apprentice — not just believing the right things, but slowly becoming the kind of person he was. Draws on ancient spiritual practices adapted for everyday modern life. One of the most practical discipleship resources around right now. Visit →
Chazown life.church/chazown Chazown (Hebrew for "vision") is a 6-session experience helping you discover God's unique purpose for your life. It draws together your core values, spiritual gifts, and past experiences to help you see the bigger picture of what you're made for. Ideal once you've found your feet in faith and are asking "what's next?" Visit →
Section Two
Apps
Free apps to keep faith, prayer, and Scripture close — wherever you are.
Engage: Bible Reading App sunz.org.nz A Bible reading app created right here in New Zealand by Scripture Union NZ, designed specifically for teenagers. It meets Kiwi teens where they are — with age-appropriate content, short daily readings, and a format built for young people rather than adapted from adult resources. A brilliant choice if you're a teen wanting to build a Bible reading habit that actually feels relevant to your life. Visit →
Bible App youversion.com One of the most downloaded apps in the world, the YouVersion Bible App gives you access to hundreds of Bible translations, reading plans, and devotionals — all free on your phone. A great companion for building a daily Bible reading habit, whether you have five minutes or fifty. Visit →
Lectio 365 lectio365.com A free daily prayer app from the 24-7 Prayer movement, guiding you through Scripture, reflection, and prayer each morning and evening in about ten minutes. It follows the ancient practice of lectio divina — slow, prayerful reading of the Bible — adapted for everyday modern life. Visit →
Section Three
Worth Paying For
These resources cost a little but are well worth the investment — tried, tested, and genuinely transformative.
The Field Guide to the Bible biblesociety.org.nz Published by Bible Society New Zealand, this short book is an excellent starting guide for anyone trying to get the most out of the Bible. It gives you the lay of the land — how the Bible is structured, what the different books are, and how to actually read it well. A perfect first companion for a new believer picking up Scripture for the first time. Visit →
Freedom in Christ ficm.org.uk A course focused on understanding your identity in Christ and breaking free from the habits, thought patterns, and hurts that hold you back. Grounded in Scripture, it works through forgiveness, spiritual authority, and renewing the mind. Particularly helpful if you carry baggage from your past into your new faith. Visit →
The Purple Book thepurplebook.org A 12-chapter Bible study working through the core foundations of Christian faith — salvation, the Holy Spirit, prayer, church, and more. Designed to be worked through with a mentor or small group, giving your faith solid roots from the start. Think of it as a foundation course for new believers. Visit →
A Life Worth Living shop.alpha.org.nz A 10-part study diving deep into Paul's letter to the Philippians — one of the most joyful and personal books in the Bible. It explores themes of contentment, peace, and purpose, especially in the middle of hard seasons. A great first deep-dive into a single book of Scripture. Visit →
Not quite there yet?
Exploring Faith
Still working out what you believe? Check out our Exploring Faith page for resources designed for people with honest questions.
Exploring Faith →
Want help finding a local church or choosing where to start?
We'd love to help — no question is too big or too small.
Contact us →