We have seen for ourselves the value of listening to God's Word daily. At first, we started listening to the Bible on tape, then as technology advanced we moved to using CD's, then MP3 and Bible apps. Finding it so beneficial, we started looking for ways to encourage others to read and/or listen to God's word daily.
Bible App
I have the Bible app from bible.com (YouVersion) on my apple iPhone. It can be downloaded on any phone or computer device. I prefer to use it on my iPhone as I daily message the "Verse of the Day" to a number of people. The inspiration for me to do this was Hebrews 3:13: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today'."
It's amazing how God uses this daily passage of Scripture to bring comfort and encouragement to different people when they most need it. Occasionally, someone will let me know how much they really appreciate receiving the Scripture passage. Here are some of the comments I've received:
"Every single day the text is a blessing. Don't ever doubt that."
"Such an encouragement."
"Just wanted to let you know what it means for me to receive the text of the day."
"Thanks needed this one."
Recently, a member from our congregation who receives the "Verse of the Day" told me that she highlights the verse/s in a spare Bible of hers. She has noticed a few patterns in doing this. Sometimes some of the verses have been used before. Also a number of verses tend to come from the same book and chapter of the Bible. Another member told me he usually gets my message when he's in the staff room at work. Quite often he'll read it out loud. Sometimes he will use it as an opportunity to witness.
Occasionally, I'll use the Bible app to SMS or email a Scripture to someone who needs special encouragement — for example someone who is sick, facing an operation, or celebrating a birthday. I also use the Bible app as a portable Bible which is easily available when I don't have a print Bible with me.
Bible.com is available free on the internet. It has a search tool, Reading Plans and Devotionals and even videos to watch. If you so desire, you can highlight Scripture passages, bookmark pages and write notes about certain passages on your device. You can share what you want and even connect to other people and share your thoughts. It enables you to enjoy the Bible anywhere at any time of the day.
Currently it is available in 1,130 languages and 1,566 Bible versions. Some translations are also available as audible Bibles. Bible.com requires an active internet service. However, if you lose your network connection it reverts to a saved standard Bible translation. You can download a Bible to read offline but not all Bibles are available offline. You can force your phone to use the downloaded Bible versions by putting your device on airplane mode. The photos below show how this can be done. Unfortunately, I don't believe bible.com would meet the needs of people in countries where Christians are being persecuted. The app bible.is would be a better solution for those people, since it permits downloading the audio files to a device for listening offline.
The photographs below show how you can easily choose different languages and translations as well as the book and chapter you want to read and / or listen to.
A man who receives the "Verse of the Day" from me asked me if I would e-mail them instead so he could either print them out or forward them onto family and friends. Some people from our church daily receive the WELS devotion by email. Some people like to forward these on to anyone they feel the devotion might benefit. I also do this occasionally.
Music
Mobile phones, i-pads and computers are also great ways to play music. I personally find Christian music very calming to the soul and relaxing. The chaplain at the nursing home where I do volunteer work uses her iPhone, along with some small speakers, to play music at meetings and services, and to minister to palliative care residents.
iPads
I firmly believe that "the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12) Having access to cheap iPads, I had a strong desire to place iPads with the Bible on them into the hands of other people.
I installed The Listener's MP3 Bible, narrated by Max McLean, onto some iPads and distributed them to about ten people, members of our church and fellow work mates. When I handed them out I told the person that I wanted to see what they thought about using the iPad to listen to the Bible. The Listener's Bible comes with four easy-to-listen-to MP3 discs.
The response has been varied but positive. In one family the children were eager to listen to it as the iPad was a novelty. Their foster child would come into their bedroom early in the morning so she could have some quiet time to listen to some Bible stories by herself. A single lady who suffers with poor health and is a new Christian uses hers daily and you can see her growing in her faith and knowledge of the Scripture. I gave one to another lady who was in hospital following cancer surgery. Her husband was with her at the time and since he wasn't a Christian I wondered how he would react to her being given an audible bible. He was like a child with a new toy and wanted to learn how to use this iPad — he had no previous experiences with such devices. They were both very grateful for the gift.
I like to play it when I'm getting ready for the day as I find it puts my mind in the right mental head space for the day ahead, and when I'm going to sleep at night.
It's great for people who don't like reading or can't read. Some people have had a desire to share it with others as they can see the value in it. Others have returned them saying they want to buy their own copy of the CD so they can install it on their own device. Most people find it easy to use and listen to. It just keeps on playing until you switch it off. I have found that people will listen to the Bible rather than read it. It encourages people to use the Bible in different ways and at different times.
I understand using iPads to share the Audible Bible would not be the most cost effective way for most people. However, I chose iPads as a friend of mine has his own business in buying and selling second hand computers and related devices.
We sincerely pray that our presentation has encouraged you (if you aren't already doing so) to use some of these devices to daily read and/or listen to God's Word and to consider using them as witnessing tools.
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Discussion
- Former student of Macquarie University in Sydney. ;)
"In one family the children were eager to listen to it as the iPad was a novelty. Their foster child would come into their bedroom early in the morning so she could have some quiet time to listen to some Bible stories by herself." This section very about children using the iPads very interesting. I have a younger brother who loves to play on our family iPad and who I believe would listen to the bible if it was on the iPad just an excuse to use the iPad! LIke you said it is a "novelty" to them.
I do have one question for you. Do you believe that churches should invest more money in this sort of technology? Whether it's getting iPad's in the church for members and visitors to use, or getting their own app?
Thanks again for your contribution to the conference!
Yes, I do believe churches should invest more money in this sort of technology or at least encourage its members to use Bible Apps. etc. I believe the listener's Bible is a great evangelism tool. From my experience it engages people. Once they've heard it they want to get their own. It opens people's eyes to what is available out there to hear God's Word. Putting some iPads into the church library would be a great way to get your congregation (and visitors) involved in hearing the Word of God. It's another way of getting people engaged in and wanting to hear God's Word. "Faith comes from hearing". God does the work.
Just a couple more thoughts to add to my husband's reply.
I've only just become aware that there are Bible Apps available for children now. I don't know how old your younger brother is but bible.com has an App for children between the ages of 3-10 at a guess (give or take a little. The younger ages would of course need adult supervision.) This App features touch activated animated storybooks plus games and activities and is available at www.bible.com/kids. Bible.is KIDZ has 7 illustrated stories at this stage which have games for children to play. If your brother is in his teens then a regular audible bible (or Bible App downloaded on an iPad) would suit him better.
As to using iPads in church, a member of our congregation uses his laptop in bible study (but it could easily be an iPad.) Whilst it doesn't take long to find the book and chapter it takes a little longer with scrolling to find the verse/s you are looking for. Plus it would be better not to use the audible version in a bible study class. (It can only play a whole chapter.) I find it's far easier to use a regular Bible in group bible studies. I've also seen a Pastor using his iPad during a funeral for presumably sermon notes. But I can to see more use and value in having them available in the church library.
In this day and age, technology is constantly around us. What a great blessing it is to be able to share the Bible through simple websites and apps. I love the way you share the Bible verse of the day with others who you think may especially need it at a given time. I know that for myself, receiving a Bible verse when I'm going through a rough time would be a great comfort to me.
I can relate to implementing technology with God's Word as well. While I was teaching 3-4 year olds in Sunday School, we often used the internet to look up cute Bible songs and videos to go with our lessons, or we could often find fun coloring pages that were about the Old Testament stories we went through. Through this experience, I can appreciate the value of technology when used for enhancing our study of the Bible.
I find the idea of using iPads to listen to the Bible very creative and fun! Like you said, it is something that switches up the regular way of reading scripture. Do you think we should use these apps in schools more, or should we continue to teach our students the old fashioned way of reading the Bible? Or should we implement both?
Thank you for sharing your experiences and ideas!
Sending out Bible passages is a very minor thing you can do that has GREAT impact on the recipient. After all, it is God who does the work through His Word in reaching His children.
I think iPads (or similar devices) should be used in schools as a way to engage the students. Anything that will encourage people to hear the Word of God and get involved in the Bible. However, I still believe that people should know how to read their Bibles. So definitely both ways should be encouraged and taught in schools. The great thing about Bible Apps. like bible.com is that you can read and listen to the Word at the same time.
When you said, "It's great for people who don't like reading or can't read." it caused me to pause and reflect. An increasing trend in the culture of younger generations is the desire for immediate and handy resources. Thus, less and less people want to read and dig into books to find information, rather they would like to have it at their finger tips with the simple search of a key word. I had not even considered the surprising percentage of the world population that does not have the adequate ability to read and comprehend biblical texts. The variety of tools found in the Bible app are a great resource. I am somewhat ashamed to admit that I have taken this resource for granted. I think this trend is somewhat consistent among my peers as well. For as much time as I waste scrolling mindlessly on my phone, I could have read the Bible a dozen times through. I hope to re-purpose this time into digging deeper into scriptures and meditating on God's word on a more continuous basis.
I wonder, partially because I am not very familiar with all of the tools on the Bible app, if there is a personal journal tool in which an individual might be able to take notes and reflections on sections. It would be cool to be able to see your past reflections if a certain passage you have studied before comes up as the verse of the day.
Thanks again for your work in the harvest fields of the Lord. I pray that your work may yield fruits and that you both will always have ample encouragement and support in your ministries.
Thank-you for comments and especially for your prayers.
Yes, it does give you the ability to make personal notes for yourself using the Bible.com App or you can share your thoughts and reflections with others you connect with. I'm like you, I haven't used all the different tools available with this App. I just know what's available for use.
As for 'digging deeper into scriptures and meditating on God's word' why don't you find a friend/s you can do this with. I'm sure you would find it very rewarding. You would encourage each other, grow in your faith together and build a strong bond of friendship.
God bless your studies in His Word.
Yes, it amazing what means God provides for His Word to reach the farthermost parts of the world. There is so much available for us to use 'to go and make disciples of all nations' in this day and age that you can see the days of His return drawing ever closer.
It is very easy for us to make the excuse of being too busy to read the Bible. So it comes down to a matter of prioritizing. The audible bible makes it possible to do a couple things at the same time especially with the mundane tasks of life e.g. whilst doing household chores, driving, exercising, doing some assignments. Yes, sometimes you do get distracted but you can easily replay what you were listening to.
Our church body is very small but God has blessed us with a faithful Pastor who has really helped us to understand the Gospel message and grow in our faith and understanding of the Bible. It is up to us as members of the Body of Christ and in response to what God has done for us, to each do our part in spreading the Good News.
God bless you both.
Thank-you very much for sharing your comments and thoughts on our presentation.
I understand your concern about listening to the Bible and giving your full attention to what you are hearing as I've thought about such things myself and even spoken to my Pastor about it.
It is easy to get distracted when you are listening to the Bible as you work or drive, or to fall asleep whilst the Bible is playing. But this is Okay. We are still hearing God's word on a subconscious level if we fall asleep. Even in church during the sermon, our thoughts can wander but ultimately, we are still thinking about God and applying what we're hearing to our daily lives. However, it is also good to take the time just to sit, ponder and study God's Word.
God looks at our heart and our motives in doing anything. God tells us in Philippians 4:8 that "if anything is excellent or praiseworthy to think about such things." What could be better than filling our minds with God's Word? The important thing is to do this as often as we can and however we can, for this keeps us in communication with God.
I'm so pleased to read that you are already using the YouVersion Bible app. May God bless your hearing of His Word so you can be a blessing to others.
I'm so pleased to read that you daily use a media platform with a "Verse of the Day" and that you find the verses to be a joy as well as an encouragement and relevant to your life.
I understand your concern that people could take the meaning of the verses out of context. The people I'm sharing the bible passages with are all Christians. I encourage them to read / listen to the whole chapter in which the "Verse of the Day" comes from as I, myself do. As I said in my presentation, my reason for sending out a daily Bible reading is to encourage them in their daily walk with God just as you find it an encouragement to yourself.
Yes, I absolutely agree that Pastors / teachers should make it a point of training their members to ensure they read Scripture passages in context.
May God bless your hearing of His Word so you can be a blessing to others.
How wonderful to read about your Down Syndrome brother using a Bible app on his iPad. Thanks for sharing this. He's obviously enjoying it if he is using it all the time!
I have had no experience of anyone with a disability using a Bible app. However, your brother's response in using his iPad to hear God's Word is a recommendation in itself to families with disabled loved ones to use it. So, yes, I would. God's Word is for ALL people and all families should be engaged in actively using God's Word whether they have disabled children or not. "Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God".
this will encourage younger people to be more inclined to use this way because it's technology and it makes reading or hearing the Bible easier while it's right at our fingertips compared to the standard of just reading from a normal Bible. This is important that are adapting to the changing generations and use of technology. I would highly recommend it to mentioned at some point throughout the congregation during the mass service to encourage members of the church to read and be affiliated with the Bible as much as they can. This will be especially appealing to the younger generation members.
Thank-you very much for your comments.
Yes, it is a great tool to encourage the younger generation who are always on their 'phones' to hear God's Word. But I've found, it's not just the younger generation that enjoy using this app.
We pray that you would let other people know about Bible.com so more people can enjoy this form of engaging in God's Word.
Thanks and God bless your efforts!
How wonderful to hear that your parents are doing the same outreach work that we are!
May God bless their efforts for His Kingdom purposes!