Being made ready
Ripened Harvest
Formation and study: Scripture, seminary and degree paths, certificates, catechesis, free courses, reading plans, biblical languages, apologetics, podcasts, worship music, books, and devotionals. The ripening that precedes usefulness.
Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”“The kingdom of God is like this,” he said. “A man scatters seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how. The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain on the head. As soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come.”And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up daily, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. The soil produces crops by itself; first the stalk, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. Now when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how. For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how. All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within. And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Study here is formation for service, not self-improvement. The field ripens before it is useful; so does a person. How we choose.
- What it is
- A hand-checked list of ways to be formed — Scripture study, seminary and degree paths, certificates, free courses, reading plans, biblical languages, apologetics, podcasts, worship music, books, devotionals, and watched film. Each carries its format, level, cost, and a note on why it is here.
- What it’s not
- Not a school and not a substitute for the local church. Study here is formation for service, never a private asset. A listing is not an endorsement of every position a school or teacher holds.
- How to use it
- Filter by format, subject, level, cost, and time. Open a listing for the real starting point and, for anything you watch, what to know before you press play. Free routes are marked.
- Family & childrenVerified
Buck Denver Asks… What's in the Bible?
Jellyfish Labs (Phil Vischer)
Thirteen volumes of puppets, songs and a host walking children through every book of the Bible in order — nine on the Old Testament, four on the New. It teaches the shape of the canon rather than retelling the stories: covenant, exile, why there are two testaments, where the books came from.
- Cost
- Paid
- Time
- Weeks
- Where
- Online
- Who for
- Young children · Series
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Film & seriesVerified
The Miracle Maker
Christmas Films, S4C and BBC Wales
The life of Jesus in stop-motion puppetry, drawn mainly from Luke, with the parables and visions switched to flat two-dimensional animation so you can always tell a story-inside-the-story from the story. Ralph Fiennes voices Jesus; the Welsh and Russian animation teams give it a texture nothing else in this section has.
- Cost
- Varies
- Time
- A few hours
- Where
- Online
- Who for
- All ages · Film
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Catechesis & discipleshipVerified
The New City Catechism
The Gospel Coalition
Fifty-two questions and answers drawn from the Heidelberg and Westminster catechisms, one a week for a year, with a short and a long form of each answer so a child and an adult can learn the same thing. Free app and web version carry a Scripture proof, a short commentary, and a prayer for each question.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Weekly rhythm
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Family & childrenVerified
Superbook
The Christian Broadcasting Network
Two children and a robot are pulled into Bible stories by a flying book, one story an episode, from Genesis through Revelation. Five seasons of computer-animated half-hours, each framed by a problem in the children's own lives that the passage then answers.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Who for
- Young children · Series
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Bible studyProvisional
Baibaoshu (Scripture Trove)
Baibaoshu (Scripture Trove)
Free Chinese-first Bible study site: chapter-by-chapter commentary on all 1,189 chapters at three depths, small-group guides, a 52-week reading plan, and a Bible quiz. Chinese Union Version, with an English edition (Scripture Trove) on the World English Bible. Commentary is AI-assisted and human-reviewed; the site says this is not word-by-word pastoral review.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Library · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Catechesis & discipleshipProvisional
The Baptist Catechism (Keach's Catechism)
Founders Ministries
The 1695 Baptist Catechism in 114 questions and answers, covering God, Scripture, creation, the fall, redemption, the moral law, baptism, the Lord's Supper and prayer, with Scripture proofs after each answer. Readable in full online, with print editions sold separately.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Study · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Family & childrenProvisional
Bible App for Kids
Life.Church (YouVersion)
A free, illustrated, interactive Bible for young children from the makers of YouVersion, built with OneHope: animated Bible stories a child taps through, with narration and simple activities. Made for pre-readers and early readers.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified September 20, 2026
- Bible studyProvisional
Bible Gateway
HarperCollins Christian Publishing
A free app and website for reading the Bible in more than 200 translations, with audio Bibles in over 15 languages, a verse of the day, and side-by-side comparison of versions. A free account adds highlights and notes.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified October 4, 2026
- Catechesis & discipleshipProvisional
The Bible Memory App
Millennial Apps, LLC
A Scripture memorisation system using flash cards, typing drills, speech recognition, and a spaced-review schedule. A free Lite tier covers the basics; Unlimited adds advanced review and progress tracking.
- Cost
- Varies
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Bible studyProvisional
BibleProject App
BibleProject
The BibleProject app gathers its videos, podcasts, and classes in one place, with reflection questions and progress tracking. BibleProject is a nonprofit organization, and its resources are free.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified October 4, 2026
- Film & seriesProvisional
Chariots of Fire
Enigma Productions
Two runners go to the 1924 Paris Olympics: Harold Abrahams, running against the antisemitism of Cambridge, and Eric Liddell, a Scottish missionary's son who will not run on a Sunday. It won Best Picture and is quieter and slower than its reputation suggests.
- Cost
- Paid
- Time
- A few hours
- Where
- Online
- Who for
- All ages · Film
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Family & childrenProvisional
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Lee Mendelson Film Productions
Twenty-five minutes in which Charlie Brown cannot work out why Christmas depresses him, directs a disastrous school play, and buys a dying tree. Linus then walks to the centre of an empty stage and recites Luke 2 from memory.
- Cost
- Varies
- Time
- Under an hour
- Where
- Online
- Who for
- All ages · Film
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Reading plansProvisional
ESV Bible reading plans
Crossway
A set of free daily plans — whole Bible in a year, chronological, the M’Cheyne four-chapters-a-day plan, Old Testament with Psalms — delivered on the web, by email, or as printable PDFs. Pick one, follow the date, read the passage.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Weekly rhythm
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Reading plan · Introductory
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Reading plansProvisional
F260 Foundations Bible Reading Plan
Replicate Ministries
A 260-day plan that reads the storyline of all 66 books in one year at five readings a week, built for whole churches and families to read together. Each day uses the H.E.A.R. journaling method: highlight, explain, apply, respond.
- Cost
- Varies
- Time
- Months
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Reading plan · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Catechesis & discipleshipProvisional
Fighter Verses
Truth78
A Bible memory app built on the Fighter Verses programme used in churches and families since 1997, with more than 1,000 preloaded verses, six quiz types, and scheduled review. It includes Foundation Verses for young children and ESV verse songs.
- Cost
- Low cost
- Time
- Weekly rhythm
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Music & worshipProvisional
Getty Music
Getty Music
The modern hymn-writing of Keith and Kristyn Getty — “In Christ Alone” and a growing hymnbook written to be sung by a whole congregation and to carry doctrine you can still recall years later. The site offers recordings, lyrics and lead sheets, and the annual Sing! resources for local churches.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Music · Introductory
Last verified September 20, 2026
- Catechesis & discipleshipProvisional
Heidelberg Catechism (heidelberg-catechism.com)
Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary
The full 1563 Heidelberg Catechism in 129 questions and answers, arranged by the 52 Lord's Days so a family or church can work through it in a year. The site adds teaching outlines, sermons, articles and the text in dozens of languages.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Study · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Bible studyProvisional
Hosanna Audio Bible (Bible.is)
Faith Comes By Hearing
A free audio Bible app with Scripture recordings in more than 2,700 languages and word-for-word Gospel films in over 1,700, with offline downloads and shareable playlists. It is the app formerly known as Bible.is.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Family & childrenProvisional
Minno Kids
Minno
A streaming app of Christian shows, movies, Bible stories, and screen-free audio for children aged two to ten, including VeggieTales, Adventures in Odyssey, and Laugh and Grow Bible for Kids. Downloads work offline and up to ten devices can stream at once.
- Cost
- Paid
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Family & childrenProvisional
Owlegories
Owlegories (the Boto family)
An animated series in which student owls learn about God from things in nature: the sun, seeds, water, butterflies. Built on Psalm 19, each episode closes with a short message from a guest teacher such as Tony Evans or Jen Wilkin.
- Cost
- Varies
- Time
- A few hours
- Where
- Online
- Who for
- Young children · Series
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Books & readingProvisional
The Pilgrim’s Progress
John Bunyan
Bunyan’s 1678 allegory of the Christian life as a journey — Christian leaving the City of Destruction and travelling, through the Slough of Despond, Vanity Fair, and the Valley of the Shadow, to the Celestial City. Public domain and readable free in full, in the browser or as a download.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Weeks
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Book · Introductory
Last verified September 20, 2026
- Catechesis & discipleshipProvisional
A Puritan Catechism (Spurgeon)
The Spurgeon Center, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Charles Spurgeon's 1855 catechism of 82 questions and answers, compiled from the Westminster and Baptist catechisms for his own congregation and written in plain language for families and churches. Spurgeon's preface urges that the words be memorized and the meaning explained as they are studied.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Study · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Music & worshipProvisional
Sovereign Grace Music
Sovereign Grace Music
Songs written for the local church and released with free lead sheets, lyrics, and orchestration, spanning congregational worship, Scripture-memory songs, and a catalogue aimed at families and children. The stated aim is singable, doctrinally careful songs a congregation can carry, not a concert set.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Music · Introductory
Last verified September 20, 2026
- Bible studyProvisional
Streetlights Bible
Streetlights
A word-for-word audio Bible read by a diverse cast over a hip-hop soundscape, in English (NLT) and Spanish (NVI), from a Chicago-based nonprofit. The app also includes remixed BibleProject overview videos, teaching series, and music.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Family & childrenProvisional
Theo Presents
Whitestone Media
A short-episode animated series in which an elderly English theologian named Theo, with two mice, teaches children one doctrine per episode: God's love, grace, heart, truth and desire. Each volume ties the teaching to Scripture rather than to a moral lesson.
- Cost
- Paid
- Time
- A few hours
- Where
- Online
- Who for
- Young children · Series
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Bible studyProvisional
UMI Sunday School curriculum and Precepts for Living
Urban Ministries, Inc. (UMI)
Age-graded Bible study curriculum from preschool to adult, written for the African American church, including the annual Precepts for Living commentary and digital kids' studies. A free curriculum sampler PDF lets a church or small group preview the material before ordering.
- Cost
- Paid
- Time
- Weekly rhythm
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Study · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Family & childrenProvisional
VeggieTales
Big Idea Entertainment
Computer-animated vegetables retell Bible stories and original fables, with a silly song in the middle and a moral at the end. It ran for decades in several forms and is the default Christian children's video in a great many homes.
- Cost
- Varies
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Who for
- Young children · Series
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Catechesis & discipleshipProvisional
Westminster Shorter Catechism Project
Bible Presbyterian Church
All 107 questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, each with Scripture proofs and a linked commentary page explaining the answer. A straightforward place for a family to read and memorize the catechism online.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- Study · Introductory
Last verified October 24, 2026
- Bible studyProvisional
YouVersion — The Bible App
Life.Church
The free Bible app most readers already have on their phone: hundreds of translations and languages, audio, dated reading plans, and shareable verse images. Installed on well over half a billion devices, it is the default pocket Bible.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- Ongoing
- Where
- Online
- Format
- App · Introductory
Last verified September 20, 2026
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