How to Start Reading the Bible: 3 Simple Steps.

Person reading on phone

1. Receive.

Prepare your heart to hear from God. Try a simple prayer like this…

Heavenly Father, please help me understand this Bible verse.

…and then read the Verse of the Day. We’ll use today’s verse as our example:

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

JOHN 15:2

2. Reflect.

Ask yourself what this verse might be trying to say, and think deeply on your answers. Here are just a few examples we might get from today’s verse:

Jesus expects me to share my faith with other people.

When I demonstrate God’s love, that draws others to Him.

I should work to remove things from my life that don’t show God’s love.

It is often through challenges that God grows my capacity to love others.

3. Respond.

Use this verse as the basis for a prayer, maybe something like this:

Lord, please give me the courage and opportunity to share your love with other people. Please show me which areas of my life aren’t bearing fruit.

Want to go deeper?

Here’s a Bible Plan that will help you learn more about what it means to live a fruitful life:

Start Plan

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. - John 15:2 - Verse Image

Share Verse of the Day

Make this your 2020 soundtrack:

Man listening on headphones

How do you get God’s Word deep inside you? By listening to it.

Whatever your daily routines look like, you can make hearing God’s Word a habit by having Scripture read to you. With “Read to Me” Plans, you can complete your daily devotional and Scripture readings without having to touch your screen.

Simply select a “Read to Me” Plan, press play, and let the truths in God’s Word speak to you –– wherever you go.

Get started with this list of Plans:

Browse “Read to Me” Plans

Love listening to the Bible?

Try YouVersion Bible for Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung Bixby:

Google Home

Ok Google … ask YouVersion Bible to read Psalms.

Amazon Echo

Alexa … ask YouVersion Bible to read my Plan.

Bixby

Hi, Bixby … ask YouVersion Bible for the Verse of the Day.

Do people know the real you?

It is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. - ROMANS 10:10 - Verse Image

What do you want people to know about you?

It can be so tempting to curate our online presence to impress others: nice meals we’re enjoying, exotic places we’re visiting, popular people we’re spending time with. Those things are fine to share. But Jesus didn’t say He would use our accomplishments to draw people to Himself. He said that it would be our love (John 13:35).

This year, start making it a habit to regularly share His transforming love.

Start Small…

Texting a Bible verse or a Verse Image to a friend is easy. Need a daily reminder? Subscribe to Verse of the Day. You can even share content from devotionals: every Bible Plan has a Share button in the corner ( Share icon ).

…Then Build Your Habit.

Once you’ve shared a few times, set a goal to share at least one Bible verse or Bible Plan every day for a week. It won’t be long before your friends start telling you how much they appreciate your encouragement!

Share Verse Image

What does God want for your family?

Family

What’s God’s vision for your family?

Work, chores at home, social commitments… with so many demands on our time, sometimes it’s overwhelming thinking about how to lead our families spiritually. Here are some small ways you can start pursuing God together, in the natural rhythms of your family’s everyday life.

Dad kissing son

Start with you.

Single parenting, blended families, special needs children, praying for your kids: wherever you are, find wisdom and encouragement in this Plan collection on the Bible App.

Bible App for Kids Jesus

Little kids? Experience the big stories of the Bible, together.

Snuggle with your child and ask them to show you a Bible App for Kids story. (Ask them to show you how the app works, too.) Listen to what’s on your child’s mind.

Teenager

Older kids? Get on their level.

Start a Bible Plan on a topic you’d like to talk about with your kids. Pick “With Friends,” and invite them to join you in the Bible App. Discuss each day right in the app, group text style, or even irl (in real life).

Family

Something for everyone.

Find a Plan in the Bible App your whole family can do together. Set a regular time each day when one person can read from the devotional (like dinnertime), then talk about it together.

Bible Lens

See God in your life, together.

Take a picture with Bible Lens, or point it at a family photo you already have. Watch together as it finds verses that match your picture.

Whatever you choose, just remember…

You’re already leading your family spiritually. Each day, your children are learning what you value from the ways you spend your time. We can be intentional about the direction we lead our families… and engage them in the process.

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