Bible App Offers Fun New Ways to Share Scripture

The estimated reading time for this post is 4 minutes

Tech makes sharing messages very easy. Facebook, email, text messages, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and more help you communicate your thoughts with others more easily than ever before.

For those who want to share scripture from the Bible, tech has made that easier too. Perhaps you want to lift someone’s spirits by sharing an inspirational verse. Maybe you want to find a Bible passage to share quickly and easily.

The updated Bible app lets you do both.

YouVersion Bible App

YouVersion’s free Bible app is available in many formats, such as Android, iPhone, Kindle Fire and Windows phone, with over 1000 Bible versions, including American Standard Version, King James Version, New International Version, and New Living Translation. 900 languages are included in the app.

[note] => You can read my full review of YouVersion’s Bible app: Holy Bible, Holy Tech! [/note]

An update to YouVersion’s Bible app for iPhone and iPad makes sharing the Bible’s message easier and more fun. Two new features available in the updated app help you find and send Bible passages with others easily.

To use these features, download the YouVersion Bible app from the iTunes App Store.

If you already have the app, be sure that you have the updated version.

[tip]To update the app, open the App Store app on your phone, tap Updates in the bottom right corner of the screen, look for Bible and tap Update if it’s there. If Bible app isn’t listed, you already have the latest version of the app (assuming you already have the app on your phone).[/tip]

Bible Stickers

You can share beautiful images adorned with Bible passages by using stickers from the Bible app. Add these scripture images to your text messages in the Messages app in just a few taps.

To use the stickers, you must have:

• an iPhone or iPad running iOS 10.0 or later
• the Bible app version 7.1 or later

This video shows how Bible stickers can be shared with others:

Download the Bible App Stickers

To start using these stickers, open the Messages app and start or open a conversation. Tap the > icon  to the left of the text field.Tap the A icon , then tap the icon with four dots  . Tap the + Store icon .

Tap Manage in the upper right corner of the screen. Turn Automatically Add Apps to On to have the Bible app appear in your sticker list. (You can turn this off individually for apps you don’t want to use as stickers.)

Using the Bible App Stickers

To use the Bible app stickers, open the Messages app and start or open a conversation. Tap the > icon  to the left of the text field.

Tap the A icon , then tap the icon with four dots  .

Choose the Bible app, then you will see images with Bible passages. Tap one to add it to your text message.

[tip]Although stickers are only available in the iOS Bible app for iPhone and iPad, you can send stickers via text messages to other phones, such as Android.[/tip]

Sometimes the text is small and difficult to read. Try adding an image to your message to enlarge the image and text to read it more easily.

Each day a new passage of the day is added as a sticker. Unfortunately, you cannot search stickers for a message.

You can, however, search stickers for words, such as “love” and be shown a list of scripture passage you can share with others in Messages.

Bible App Keyboard

Have Bible passages ready to share easily with the Bible App Keyboard. Using this keyboard, you can find Bible passages according to a list of keywords, such as Amazed, Faithful, Overwhelmed, and more.

Unlike the Stickers feature, the Bible app keyboard isn’t only available in the Messages app. This keyboard can be used in any app where you type, including email, Facebook, Twitter, Messages, WhatsApp, Snapchat and others.

=> Android users can check out the Bible Keyboard app in Google Play.

No need to open the Bible app, find a passage, copy and paste it. The Bible app keyboard provides passages any time you type.

This feature of the Bible app is available for iPhone and iPad running the Bible app version 7.1 and later.

Installing and Activating the Bible App Keyboard

To use the Bible app Keyboard on your iPhone or iPad, open Settings => General => Keyboard => Keyboards => Bible => Allow Full Access.

Using the Bible App Keyboard

To begin using the keyboard, tap the globe icon in the bottom left side of your keyboard until you get to the Bible app keyboard.

You will see keywords. Tap on one to see a list of Bible verses.

Read through and choose the one you want. Tap on it to add it to your message. The passage will be added with a reference, link and the version of the Bible the passage quotes.

A search feature for passages isn’t available in the Bible App keyboard.

Your Thoughts

Have you ever wanted an easy way to share Bible passages with others? Do you like fun ways to add scripture to your messages? Have you tried these new features of the Bible app?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!

Voice of America Learning English

If you’re interested in learning English while learning about tech, check out my weekly personal technology column at Voice of America Learning English. This week’s article is: GATEway Driverless Vehicle Now Being Tested in London.