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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!

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Video Devotionals Launch in the Bible App

You may know that YouVersion already offers hundreds of versions you can read in many languages, along with audio Bibles you can listen to as you’re doing other things. Now we’re also adding video devotionals you can watch on your mobile device and at YouVersion.com!

The Overflow has graciously partnered with YouVersion to provide Video Plans from six popular Christian recording artists. Spend time with Scripture as you enjoy insight from gifted teachers, speakers, and now—musicians!

Each plan brings you video with accompanying devotional text and Bible reading. No matter what your learning style, video devotionals are a great way for you to study God’s Word. Enjoy brand-new content from artists like:

Lecrae – Accompanying the release of his latest album, Gravity, Lecrae has put together a reading plan that takes you into his world, sharing the gospel of salvation and grace. (Also features KB and Derek Minor.) 8 days

Newsboys – Highlighting tracks from their 2011 release, God’s Not Dead, this exclusive plan dives into God’s Word, exploring content from some of the Newsboys’ favorite worship songs, including “Mighty to Save,” “I Am Second,” and the title track. 7 days

Tenth Avenue North – Digging into their album, The Struggle, singer Mike Donehey explains devotional truth behind the title track. Deeper in, you’ll find daily readings for “Don’t Stop the Madness,” “Losing,” and five more Tenth Avenue North songs from the album. 7 days

for KING & COUNTRY – Named one of Billboard Magazine’s “Artists to Watch” in 2012, for KING & COUNTRY put together a devotional that breaks down seven songs from their debut album Crave, including “Proof of Your Love.” 7 days

Dara Maclean – With seven songs from her debut album, You Got My Attention, Dara Maclean offers you an in-depth look at her passion for Jesus, revealing the heart behind tracks like “Suitcases,” “Yours Forever,” and “Free.” 7 days

Hawk Nelson – Showcasing songs from their album Crazy Love, this devotional delves into the verses behind Hawk Nelson’s “We Can Change The World,” “Done Holding On,” and the title track. 7 days

While the video portion of these plans is available now exclusively on iPhone, Android, and at YouVersion.com (and coming soon to iPad!), you can access the text portion on any mobile device where you use your plans. Try one now! They’re easy to find in the New Plans category. And whether you’re watching a video devotional, listening to an audio Bible, or checking out one of our Featured Plans, we hope all of these Plans help you continue engaging with the Bible!