Why Friendships in Bible App 5 are Different

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This is the second post in a four-part series.

In our always-on, constantly connected world, you see people on all kinds of social media platforms who have hundreds and hundreds of friends or followers. Many people even count their online “friendships” in the thousands. But let’s be honest: we all know most of those aren’t real friendships. True relationship only happens when we’re known…through trust, real transparency, and vulnerability.

You probably know the Bible App has great tools to quickly, easily share whatever you’re reading and learning. You can share verses, Bible Plans, and more on Facebook, Twitter, SMS (texts), and email. And you do: sharing more than 250,000 passages every single day. While sharing on social media platforms is a great way to use the Bible App to reach out, sometimes it’s so noisy there that it’s hard just to have an earnest back-and-forth conversation with close friends.

To address this problem, Bible App 5 limits the number of friendships you can form within the app to 150. Several studies have suggested that, realistically, most people only have the capacity to maintain that many real relationships. Limiting your YouVersion friendships to people you know well fosters an environment for honest conversations and shared discoveries among trusted friends.

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As you read, bookmark, and highlight Scripture, those interactions create opportunities for conversations about the Bible with your friends. So wrestle with those passages you don’t understand. Ask sincere questions. Share meaningful discussion. Allow your friends to speak into your time in Scripture so you can better learn and discover together.

We designed Bible App 5 specifically to help you draw closer to God through His Word. We sincerely hope you’ll find it to be a tool that’s equipping you to truly love Him more, with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.

 Update your app or download Bible App 5 for Android or iOS today.

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sirma.mobile.bible.android

App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bible/id282935706?mt=8

Why Bible App 5 is a Step Forward in Bible Engagement

Since the Bible App’s launch in July 2008, we’ve seen incredible changes in the landscape of Bible engagement. Many of the numbers we look at every day are now so big that, in some ways, it’s hard to get a handle on what they even mean. But one thing is for sure: a revolution is taking place. Millions and millions of people all over the world are making the Bible a part of their everyday lives, many of them for the first time. And our mission at YouVersion remains the same: to help people fully engage with the Bible.

Up until now, the Bible App was designed mostly around you as an individual—you reading or listening to your Bible, adding your personal notes and your insights. While many people have told us that this kind of personal experience has helped them grow closer to God through His Word, we think there’s still more we can do—a lot more. The all-new Bible App 5 transforms the way you experience Scripture…from “me” to “we.”

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Historically, people were only able to experience the Bible in community. Before the printing press, very few people had personal copies of the Bible. But movable type changed everything. For the first time in history, anyone who could read could experience God’s Word with their very own printed Bible. In more recent times, audio Bibles in several languages invite even more people to enjoy God’s Word by listening—even if they can’t read.

Bible App 5 was designed from the ground up to bring the best of all these things together again. It draws the Scriptures back into community, without sacrificing personalized access. You can keep enjoying your own Bible, just as you always have. But now, for the first time, you can also easily experience it within the context of close, trusted friendships.

That’s why we are so excited about Bible App 5, the most radical update since the Bible App began. Inside, you’ll find all-new features that let you discuss and discover the Scriptures—not with just anyone, but with the people you choose, real friends that you know and trust. Bible App 5 was designed specifically to help you connect more with God’s Word than you ever have before…through your relationships.

The new Bible App 5

Update your app or download Bible App 5 for Android or iOS today.

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sirma.mobile.bible.android

App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bible/id282935706?mt=8

Introducing Bible App 5

We’re thrilled to introduce Bible App 5, our biggest update ever. Over the last five years, the Bible App has helped millions grow closer to God’s Word through a personal experience with Scripture. Now, with this latest update, you can bring some of your favorite people into the picture as you explore the Bible with your closest friends.

Introducing Bible App 5

Conversation & Discovery: Explore the Bible with your Closest Friends

Share honest conversations about Scripture with a community of people you know and trust. Learn along with them as you see what they’re discovering. Gain a new way of looking at things as you spend time together in the Bible.

Bible App 5 helps these conversations become part of our daily life—commenting on the bookmark of a friend who’s going through a tough season, getting new insight as you read a friend’s note on a familiar passage, finding common ground with a friend who just highlighted the same verse. It’s an environment for asking sincere questions, sharing struggles and a-ha moments, and living closer to each other and God.

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It’s our passion at YouVersion to equip this generation to become the most Bible-engaged in history. We believe Bible App 5 is a leap forward in that effort, and we can’t wait to hear what you think!

Update your app or download Bible App 5 for Android or iOS today. You can also experience it on the web at bible.com.

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sirma.mobile.bible.android

App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bible/id282935706?mt=8

 

Two New Stories Debut in the Bible App for Kids

The Bible App for Kids has two brand new stories, both available for your kids to start enjoying right away. “The Dreamer” is the story of Joseph, a boy who has special dreams inspired by God, from Genesis 37 and 39. “Dreams Come True” is the thrilling conclusion to Joseph’s story, showing that God was with him all along, keeping His promise to Joseph’s father Jacob. Of course, both of these Joseph stories feature the same delightful animation and fun interaction your children have come to expect from the Bible App for Kids.

Joseph! Two new stories.

If you already have the most recent update of the Bible App for Kids, you’ll see “The Dreamer” and “Dreams Come True” in the main timeline as soon as you open the app. All you need to do to get the new stories is tap and download.

TIP: While each story takes just a few moments to download over a fast Wi-Fi connection, you might want to download them first—before you share them with your kids.

What’s The Bible App for Kids?

Already installed on nearly 3 million unique devices, the completely free Bible App for Kids is the newest app from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App. Designed to give your children a delight-filled Bible experience all their own, here are all the places where you can find the Bible App for Kids:

Website: bible.com/kids

Apple: App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bible-for-kids/id668692393?ls=1&mt=8

Android: Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bible.kids

Kindle Fire: Amazon Appstore: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GURLC40

Free, Easy Bible Resources for Easter

Easter is a time when people who don’t usually go to church might be more interested in learning or reading more about God. For anyone who wants to see what the Bible is all about, the Bible App is a great (and, of course, free) way to get started. Millions of people all over the world have found the Bible App a simple yet powerful way to bring the Bible into their everyday lives.

This Easter season, whether you’re a church leader or someone who wants to share the Bible with your friends, the Bible App is the easiest way to help people begin engaging with the Bible.

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Download resources like this one for free!

Simple ways ANYBODY can share:

  • Easiest: Point people to bible.com/app or to the YouVersion Bible App in their app store. And don’t forget the kids! Sharebible.com/kids with the families you know and help them find the Bible App for Kids in their app store.
  • Very Easy: Wherever you are: with family, at church, waiting in line at the grocery store…strike up a conversation about favorite apps, then suggest the Bible App (or even download it) for anyone who’s interested.
  • Still Pretty Easy: Share verses and Plans you like to your favorite social media platform, from right inside the Bible App. You can even share the Bible App, just by selecting “Share,” right from the main menu.

Simple ways CHURCHES can share:

We understand you have a lot going on during Easter. YouVersion tries really hard to help you get the Bible into people’s hands, whether they’re new to church, they have questions, or they’re trying to start a daily Bible habit. And the Bible App is always completely free.

  • Easiest: Point people to bible.com/app or to the YouVersion Bible App in their app store. And don’t forget the kids! Sharebible.com/kids with the families in your church or lead them to the Bible App for Kids in their app store.
  • Very Easy: Use our free videos and graphics in your weekend service. You’ll find postcards, bulletin inserts, and posters you can print here, and even ProPresenter slides, all available in several languages.* And all of these resources are available year-round—not just during Easter.
  • Still Pretty Easy: We’d love to give you FREE sticker cards. But don’t put it off: our supplies are limited.

* English, Korean, Spanish (Latin American), Chinese (both Simplified and Traditional), Brazilian Portuguese, German, French, Dutch, and Russian.