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Bible App for iOS Adds More Offline Features, Thai Language Support

The new version of the Bible App™ for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch — version 4.2 — is available now in the iTunes App Store. Since many of you use the Bible App during times when you don’t have a mobile signal or Internet connection, one of the most frequent requests from the YouVersion community has been to make more of our features available offline. We think you’ll find a lot to love in this latest update:

Enhanced Offline Experience. We’ve added offline capabilities to most of your favorite features, like Reading Plans, Notes, and even your customized Today view! We’ve also improved the display of your list of downloaded Bible Versions when you’re offline. Now the Bible App for iOS stores information for all of these things locally on your device, only syncing with your online account in the background once you’re connected again. Add new Notes and keep up on your Reading Plans, anytime, anywhere — even when you can’t get a signal!

Better Bookmarking. Bookmarks still work the way you’re used to. Just tap a verse or passage you want to share, memorize, or study to Bookmark it. But we’ve added the ability to edit your Bookmarks, so you can keep them organized just how you like.

In-App Password Change. You’ve always been able to sign in and out from inside the Bible App, but if you wanted to update your password, you had to visit YouVersion.com. Not anymore! Now, for the first time ever, you can change your password directly from the Bible App on your device.

Thai Language Support. You probably know that YouVersion offers Bible versions in more than 200 languages. But did you know that, thanks to an awesome worldwide community of YouVersion translation volunteers, you can also set the Bible App’s interface on your Apple device—menus, buttons, and controls—to display in any of 31 languages? Simply go to Settings, General, and pick your favorite, or change the default language for your device. Thai is a brand new addition to YouVersion’s interface language offerings, available first on iOS in this release (and coming soon to more platforms)!

Bug Fixes and Performance Enhancements. As always, for each new release of the Bible App for iOS, we take the opportunity to make several improvements and adjustments. While our community lets us know about issues through our Support website, our own testing and development often reveal things we can do to make your overall YouVersion experience better.

Be sure to let your friends know about this latest update to the Bible App for iOS, especially if they speak Thai! And come see us on Facebook and Twitter. We love hearing from you!

For users interested in understanding our strategy in regards to iPhone 5, please read this blog post. 

Get Your Bible App Update Now:

If you already have the Bible App installed:

  1. On your Apple device, tap the App Store icon.
  2. When the App Store opens, tap the Updates icon.
  3. Tap Update for the Bible App.
    OR
    Tap Update All.

If this is your first time installing the Bible App:

  1. On your Apple device, tap the App Store icon.
  2. When the App Store opens, tap the Search icon.
  3. Search for “Bible”.
  4. Tap the Bible App from LifeChurch.tv.
  5. Tap the FREE button.
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Watch the World Read About the Birth of Jesus

The story of our Savior’s birth has been told and retold for thousands of years, but this year, for the first time, you’ll be able to see how many people are actually reading it.

The Christmas Story Tracker is a fun live map we created to watch the world read about the birth of Jesus. When someone uses the Bible App to read a verse about the Christmas story, the map lights a star on their country. A counter at the top right shows the total number of readings from the YouVersion community since December 1.

Christmas Tracker

 

Whether you’re reading a Christmas Bible Plan or just a verse about Jesus’ birth, you’ll light up a star on the map and add to the running tally. And it’s easy to get your friends in on the fun: look for the Facebook and Twitter icons.

What are you waiting for…go check out christmas.youversion.com!

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Do You Have Plans for Advent? Yes!

Advent is here! Every year, beginning four Sundays before Christmas, Christians all over the world prepare their hearts to celebrate the gift of Immanuel, “God with us.” YouVersion offers several Bible plans to help you reflect on Jesus’ birth. This year, we have more plans for you than ever before. Find the plan that’s just right for you—or try several!

Rediscovering the Christmas Season features reflection questions and action steps that help you focus on Christ every day between December 1 and Christmas. From LifeChurch.tv. 25 days

Countdown to Christmas is an Advent calendar that teaches your whole family the significance of Christmas through fun activities. From Thriving Family. 29 days

She Reads Truth: Advent brings scripture, short devotions, and a few questions together each day to create changed hearts this Christmas season. From She Reads Truth. 28 days

The Christmas Story starts with Old Testament prophecies about the coming Savior, then turns to the Gospel accounts of his glorious arrival. From YouVersion. 5 days

Christmas Begins with Christ focuses on Jesus, sharing the light, joy, peace, and hope surrounding his birth. From Tearfund. 28 days

Carols: A Christmas Devotional shares the biblical foundations of songs that celebrate the true joy of the season. From LifeChurch.tv. 25 days

Find even more plans in the Christmas and Advent category on YouVersion!

Share the Love of Jesus this Season

The holidays offer us chance after chance to share our faith with friends, family, and others. And the Bible App makes it so easy! This season, look for those ideal opportunities where you can share your faith, simply by showing them your Bible App:

  • When someone receives a new mobile device as a gift
  • As you attend Christmas services
  • When you read the Christmas story with your family

Best of all, it’s quick and easy to help others get their own Bible App—no matter what kind of mobile device they have. Tell them they can just go to www.bible.com/download or, even better, install it for them!

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5 Million Bible Plans Completed!

YouVersion first launched Reading Plans in 2009, and since then people have used the Bible App to complete 5 million Plans! Whether you like to read, listen, or watch your daily selection, Bible Plans make it easier than ever to spend meaningful time in God’s Word. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing all over the world through the Bible App!

Making Plans Work for You

People who complete their Bible Plans sometimes get a little help along the way from these handy features. Just go to your plan’s Settings (the gear icon) and look for these useful tools:

  • Catch Me Up. Falling behind? In your plan’s Settings, tap Catch Me Up to shift your start and end dates. Your last fully completed day becomes yesterday. If you have partially completed days, those unfinished selections will remain unchecked.
  • Reminders. Have the Bible App remind you when it’s time to read. In your plan’s Settings, set Reminder to On and specify the time of day you’d like to be reminded. At the time you set, the Bible App pops up a handy reminder.
  • Email Delivery. Get your daily selections delivered to your inbox. In your plan’s Settings, set Email Delivery to On and select the time of day you’d like to receive your daily selection, along with which Bible version you’d like. The Bible App sends it to the email address you specified for your free YouVersion account.

For even more tips and tricks, be sure to check out YouVersion’s Support website!

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Bible App Adds More Choices with Several New Reading Plans

Even though YouVersion already has more than 300 Reading plans for you to choose from, we’re constantly adding terrific new ones. Check out all of these brand-new options, available right now:

John Piper – Six new devotional plans from renowned Bible teacher John Piper delve deep into the meaning and context of key Biblical principles. Explore Finding Real Happiness (3 days), God’s Pleasure in Creating (3 days), The Fascinating Love of God (3 days), God’s Joy in Jesus (5 days), The Powerful Promise of God (5 days), and Quest for Joy (6 days).

Francis Chan & David Platt – Designed to train disciples (like you!) to make more disciples, this plan is a companion to the Multiply Movement. Co-creators Francis Chan and David Platt share their practical insights for how you can fulfill this most important responsibility for followers of Christ. 168 days

James MacDonald – From Pastor James MacDonald and the acclaimed Walk in the Word series, God at Work will help you see the things God is doing in our world today—and in your life. Authentic Prayer helps you get started in the genuine dialog with God that you’ve always wanted. 7 days each

Matt Redman – This new devotional plan from worship leader and multiple Dove Award winner Matt Redman takes you behind the scenes into the Scriptures and insight that inspired the songs on his popular 10,000 Reasons album. 11 days

She Reads Truth – Designed by women for women, She Reads Truth is an online community that helps women connect with the Bible and with each other. The Galatians (15 days), Ephesians (17 days), and Philippians (11 days) plans from She Reads Truth each offer a daily reading, context and recap, followed by devotional questions.

The Overflow – New website The Overflow offers Christian music for digital download. This month, YouVersion adds three new devotional reading plans developed by artists from The Overflow’s catalog. Check out new plans from Propaganda, Vertical Church Band, and Deon Kipping. 7 days each

What’s a Reading Plan?

If you haven’t already been using Reading plans from YouVersion to get into God’s Word, you don’t know what you’ve been missing! Reading plans have proven to be one of the easiest, most efficient ways you can engage with the Bible every day. Simply search for a plan, study, or devotional that interests you and sign up with your free YouVersion account. Then each day when you open the Bible App, you’ll find a manageable portion of reading waiting for you. It’s easy—and practical! Reading plans serve you with His Word in a way that gives you plenty of time to reflect on all that you’ve just read.

And once you complete the plan you’re on, just come back and search for the next thing you want to learn about. It really is that easy!