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Free tools for studying Scripture

Read the Word. Be formed by it. Together.

Guided Bible study, Koine Greek, and tools for leaders, built to help people read Scripture carefully, understand it faithfully, and live it out in community.

Start studying Lead a group
Free, no adsNothing to installNo account needed to study

Not sure where to start? See how it all fits together or browse the how-tos.

New to faith? Start here

The Gospel: First Steps

A 12-week guided study for new believers. Part 1 walks through the good news; Part 2, the new life that follows, including baptism, Communion, prayer and the church.

12 weeksShort readingsOn your own or with a group
Begin week 1
The tools

Three tools, one account, one aim.

Each works on its own, and together they cover the whole journey: personal study, deeper understanding, and leading others.

Study

Guided Bible study For anyone, on their own or in a group

Learn to observe, interpret and apply any passage, one guided step at a time.

  • Courses, including the Gospel course for new believers
  • Journal, memory verses and printable study sheets
  • Join a group and share the answers you choose
Open Study →

Greek

Koine Greek For curious readers and students

Learn to read the language of the New Testament, starting from the first letter.

  • Short lessons with quick checks
  • Flashcards, verb charts and a reading lab
  • Erasmian pronunciation, with read-aloud
Open Greek →

Lead

For pastors and leaders For small group leaders, pastors and teachers

Build a course, lead your groups through it week by week, and run your church space.

  • Course studio: passage, teaching, video, Greek words
  • See who’s ready before each meeting
  • Printable meeting guides with shared answers
  • Lead meetings live, in the room or on a call
  • Church spaces: every group and leader in one place
Open Lead →
For individuals

Learn to read the Bible for yourself.

No group needed. Study guides you one step at a time, from noticing what a passage says to living it out.

  1. 1

    Pick a place to start

    Begin with The Gospel: First Steps, learn the method in Learn to study the Bible, or open any passage you choose.

    In Study
  2. 2

    Study it step by step

    Observe, interpret, apply. Short coaching at each step helps you see what’s there and what it meant before asking what it means for you.

    In Study
  3. 3

    Keep growing

    Keep a journal, memorize verses, and learn the Greek behind key words. Sign in, and your work follows you to every device.

    In Study and Greek
Start studying
For small groups and classes

Study during the week. Go deeper when you meet.

Everyone prepares on their own with the same passage and questions, so the conversation starts further in.

  1. 1

    The leader builds the course

    Pick the passages, write a short teaching, add a video or a Greek word. Or start from a ready-made course.

    In Lead
  2. 2

    Everyone prepares

    Members join with a link and work through the week’s study on their phone or computer. Answers stay private unless they share one.

    In Study
  3. 3

    The group meets

    In the room or on a video call, the leader leads from one screen while everyone’s Study follows along, with the answers people chose to share.

    Together
What leaders get Open Lead
For churches

Bring your church’s groups together.

A church space gathers every group and leader in one place, with one page people can use to find a group.

  1. 1

    Request a church space

    A pastor asks for one in Lead. We check each church before its space opens. It’s free.

    In Lead
  2. 2

    Gather your leaders

    Invite leaders with one link. They start groups under the church or bring in the groups they already lead.

    In Lead
  3. 3

    Share one link

    Your church page lists your groups so people can ask to join. Pastors see how the church is growing, never anyone’s answers.

    Your church page
Why church spaces Request a church space
Our mission
We help people read Scripture carefully, understand it faithfully, and live it out together.

Formation Initiative builds free, simple tools for individuals, small groups, churches and classrooms, because being formed by God’s Word is meant to be shared.

Scripture first

The tools teach you to look closely at the text before reaching for commentary. Outside resources are labeled with their tradition.

Private by default

Your notes are yours. Nothing reaches a leader or group unless you choose to share that one answer.

Free, with no ads

No ads, no tracking scripts, no selling data. An account is optional and only used to sign you in.

Works where you are

Nothing to install. Use it on a phone, tablet or computer, and pick up where you left off.

What’s ahead

Built to grow with the church.

The pieces are in place for individuals, groups and churches. Next: a shared library of reviewed courses, more ways for churches to shepherd their groups, and Greek that takes you all the way to reading the New Testament.

Here today

Guided study and courses

Observe, interpret, apply, with courses for new believers and beyond.

Koine Greek

From the alphabet to reading simple New Testament sentences.

Groups and Lead

Invite a group, build its course, see who’s ready, print the meeting guide.

Your work on every device

Sign in by email link or passkey, and your study follows you.

Church spaces

A church page in your own colours, leaders in one place, and a weekly view of every group, with a QR code, flyer and slide to share it.

Live meetings and cohorts

Lead a meeting on screen while everyone’s Study follows along, with call links, calendar invites, sign-ups, spots and a waitlist.

Shelf, seasons and announcements

Courses your church recommends, church-wide seasons when every group studies the same book, and announcements that reach every group.

Coming next

Open your Bible. We’ll walk with you.

Start a study in a minute, on your own, or bring your group along.

Start studying Lead a group