“I’m reading my Bible. No, really. I am!”
Last time you saw someone staring intently at their iPhone, periodically tapping at it, your first thought was they must be reading their Bible, making notes and sharing verses. Right? No, I didn’t think so. … But, why not? With literally millions of devices already holding a digital Bible the likelihood that people will read and interact with the word of God is increasing at an exponential rate. The distribution and use of Bible apps represents an exciting opportunity for us as individuals, friends, leaders and members of the faithful body to encourage one another and to share Jesus with our communities.
Bible apps (feature-rich, digital Bibles stored on mobile devices) are potentially available to every mobile phone user around the world. Not since the advent of the printing press and the Gutenberg Bible has the world seen such an explosive growth in the accessibility of the Bible. Thanks to William Tyndale, Average English Joe would soon have ready access to a personal Bible in an easily understood, mother tongue translation. At first, church authorities did not embrace the technology and were particularly threatened by the way ordinary folk were empowered as they began to read the Bible for themselves, drawing meaning from the text in their own understanding.
In the survey I discussed in the last post, respondents were asked to talk about the ways in which Bible app usage helped or hindered their understanding of the Bible, including their ability to share the message with others. A few replied in neutral fashion; the overwhelming majority were positive about the impact of their Bible app usage:
This word cloud is comprised of the top 50 most used words in the responses. Notice the prominence of action words, such as ‘read’, ‘helps’, ‘think’ and ‘share’. There is also an emphasis on the Bible’s ease of use and availability. When asked what they most disliked about their Bible app, the two major objections were related to draining data on mobile phone price plans and the difficulty of reading on a small screen. Most offered suggestions for improvement and remained enthusiastic about using the Bible app under specific circumstances.
Take another look at the word cloud at the top of this post: what word stood out to you first? Was it ‘translations’? Most of those surveyed named ease of moving between and comparing translations as being a favourite feature.
When Jesus urged his followers to go to share the gospel message with all the world, it must have seemed like a daunting and perhaps impossible task. Yet in the roughly two thousand years since that time, followers of Jesus have grown in number from a few dozen to over 2 billion people worldwide. Instrumental to this growth has been the distribution of the Bible. Making available the Bible to every single human being in the world is a goal close to the heart of Bible translators and publishers down through the ages.
Today, it is easier (and cheaper) than ever to access a copy of the Bible in an ever-growing number of languages, all via the World Wide Web. You don’t even need a computer. All at is needed is a mobile device and access to its app store. Yet, my preliminary research indicates that the sharing aspect of Bible apps is probably under-utilised. The capability is there and it has great potential for raising awareness in the wider community and encouraging fellow Christians — you know, being social!
A few questions to ponder: What are you doing in your church and community to encourage Bible reading? What do you see as the potential challenges and pitfalls of promoting digital Bible usage in church, at home, and everywhere a mobile phone may go?
This is the final in a three-part series exploring the use of Bible apps…
Bible, phone, or both?
There are few who would disagree that new technologies, mobile applications, and social media networks pervade the everyday experience of many peoples’ lives and are changing the way most of us do life in general. Recently, I conducted a survey to find out about how and why people are using Bible apps on their smart phone or mobile device. Also, to discover what impact it may be having on their spiritual life. I was particularly interested to know if Bible app ownership leads to greater Scriptural engagement or if it’s just another one of those apps, sitting there, using up a slice of the device’s memory.
The survey was conducted completely online and promoted via my Facebook page and Twitter account. I utilised the #chsocm hashtag on Twitter to help reach a wider audience than my followers alone. Retweets, Facebook Likes and Comments ensued, and two weeks later I closed the survey with 60 responders having completed all twelve questions. Of these, 31 were female and 29 male from countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. None of the respondents were atheist, agnostic or of a faith other than Christianity.
There was a fairly even distribution of Bible readers surveyed across the given age brackets.
The low response rate from children under 18 years probably reflects the adult nature of my social network and promotional arena rather than implying a lack of interest; however, this is an area worth exploring. Bible app usage amongst children is a yet untapped area of research.
Not everyone who responded to the survey actually owned or used a Bible app. In fact, 27% did not use a Bible app. The reason for this is not clear from the survey and is a question that should be further explored in the future. Of those who do own and use a Bible app, the responses were enlightening.
Bible app owners appear to use their digital Bibles with similar frequency to their print Bibles.
So if users are not reading their Bible more often, what are they doing with their Bible app?
Instead of replacing the printed Bible, digital Bible applications appear to be fulfilling a role that endorses and expands scriptural understanding, reading and sharing within existing and wider social networks. In the final post in this series we will explore the features that make Bible app users wax lyrical and also reflect on the exciting potential of Bible app usage both today and in the near future.
This post is the second in a three-part series exploring the use of Bible apps…
I use my phone as a torch
… and I am not alone! Over one million people on Facebook use their phone as a torch (or flashlight, for our American friends). Why? There are plenty of times I find myself needing light, like when dashing to the car at night or scrounging for keys in the dark, cavernous depths of my handbag.
If you’re like me, you don’t like walking in the dark. I like to see at least a few paces ahead (preferably more) so I know there’s a clear path. That’s why I use my phone when it’s dark. Yes, a purpose made torch might be better, but my phone is always with me. (In fact, it’s sitting on the desk beside me as I type. Who knows what important updates I will miss if it’s not kept within reach?) It’s on hand. It’s easy to use. It’s accessible. Using my phone as a torch makes as much sense to me as using my Bible app for daily devotionals … and I am not alone. One of the most widely known Bible apps is a free version made available by YouVersion. In May 2011 they had recorded over 22 milliion downloads of their application with more than 1 million registered users actively bookmarking and sharing Bible verses with users across the Web. These are impressive figures, and this is not the only Bible app!
What is a Bible app?
A Bible app is a digital version of the Bible stored on your phone. It is that and much more. Depending on the app, there is an amazing variety of useful features. You need not settle for one translation, the Bible App by YouVersion has 25 English translations and many in other languages. Moving between translations is a seamless activity, even for the technologically challenged. Yes, just when you thought your smartphone was only good for texting, updating Facebook and playing Angry Birds along comes a range of applications that can make your smartphone a hub for spiritual growth and encouragement. Just browse the Applications store for your phone and you will find there is a large number of complete Bibles available for free download, or for a small cost.
What can I do with it?
- Access and compare multiple translations
If you use an app such as The Bible App by YouVersion, Cadre Bible, or MySword, you are able to access a library of Bible translations. Many are stored on your phone’s memory so constant WiFi or 3G access is not required.
- Share verses across multiple social media networks
Browse through your social media stream and you will notice people love to share personal insights as well as wise and/or witty sayings from famous people. The Bible has much to say on the human condition and these apps make it easy to share single and multiple verses on Facebook and Twitter, or even by good old email and text. Many apps allow you to connect your Facebook and Twitter profiles with your Bible app for easy sharing.
- Highlight and bookmark
Just like you would do in your print Bible, you can highlight in a myriad of colours and bookmark your favourite verses.
- Write personal and public notes
Like writing in the margins of your Bible or jotting down a thought or two in a notepad? You need not miss out when using a Bible app. Most allow you to keep notes attached to Bible verses for personal reflection at any time. If your musings are too good to keep to yourself, YouVersion allows you to make them public, to share with the online community.
- Refer to dictionaries, concordances, and authoritative study notes
Not only are you able to compare translations, but you can refer to Bible dictionaries, concordances such as Strong’s and Matthews, and benefit from the scholarly writers such as Charles Spurgeon and John MacArthur, as well as devotional writers such as Max Lucado.
- Follow a reading plan
Following a reading plan is made incredibly easy with a Bible app. Simply select a reading plan from the wide variety of choices available and each day your reading is provided and your progress tracked. Read on the train, in the shopping queue, while waiting for a pizza; there are no more excuses!
Who should try using a Bible app?
Anyone who owns an iPhone, Blackberry or Android should have a Bible app on their phone. You may not use it as your main source of Bible reading, but you will find it handy. You may find yourself reading more frequently as you tap on the Bible app in between Facebook, a text, a call and the next level of Angry Birds. And if you share, it might not only be you who is encouraged.
Download a Bible app. Sign up for a reading plan. Share a verse or two and give it a try. Let that smartphone of yours help light your spiritual path, too.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 ESV
This post is one in a three-part series exploring the use of Bible apps…
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 ESV
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 ESV
Paul in Rome
When Paul arrived in Rome - under the chains of a prisoner - the local Jews were not particularly hostile toward him. Certainly, they had heard the Christian ‘sect’ being spoken against, but they were keen to hear from Paul. They gave him opportunity, too.
I can just imagine how his lodgings must have quickly become overcrowded as each day passed and word spread. Increasing numbers of people were curious to hear his arguments. Paul taught from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, pointing them to Jesus: the hope of Israel. Of those who listened, many believed. This must have spurred Paul on and convinced him that it was worthwhile staying long after he was released from custody.
Yet, there were those who heard and did not believe. Paul does not appear to be completely disheartened, instead he recognised the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy from the Holy Spirit. He continued to preach, teach and exhort to the Jews and to the Gentiles.
