BIBLE ENGAGEMENT IN A DIGITAL WORLD

BIBLE ENGAGEMENT IN A DIGITAL WORLD

ANDREW RAMSBOTTOM | Children and Families Consultant, SUNZ

Today we have more access to information than we have ever had in the history of the world, and that access is instant. And at the same time, we have fewer people engaging with the Bible, its narrative and the God we get to know through it. We can be a slave to technology like social media and the pull of instant connection. However, technology also offers opportunities. Here are some digital ways to enhance engagement with Scripture for all ages.

FOR KIDS

Guardians of Ancora is an award-winning, Bible exploration game created by Scripture Union for the 8–11-year-old age group. It is 100% free, no ads, and downloadable for both phones and tablets (Android, Apple and Amazon). Alongside the game are videos to watch, quizzes to do, Bible stories to listen to and a creative hub for players to respond. The game can be played offline too. A parental control system is included and multiple logins are allowed. It is a brilliant resource for children to be able to interact with the Bible in a safe, fun and exciting way, and can be used in families as well as church children’s ministry.

FOR YOUTH

Engage: Youth Daily Bible App is a home-grown (SUNZ) daily Bible reading app for youth. It is designed to be easy to use and to encourage a daily habit of Bible engagement. The devotion comes in text form as well

as an audio file that can be listened to in English and Te Reo Maori. Engage can also be used offline and is 100% free with no ads. Imagine every young person and their leaders in a youth group using this app every day and teenagers leaving home with a habit of reading God’s Word daily…

FOR ADULTS, FAMILIES AND HOMEGROUPS

E100 is another resource produced by Scripture Union that is available as an app. It covers 100 key passages of Scripture through the Old and New Testaments and helps get an overview of the Bible. You can choose your timeframe from 100 days to a year, when you do it in the day and who you do it with. The whole (CEV) Bible is included. Each day has a prayer starter, the Bible passage to be read, a commentary on the passage, application where notes can be made, and a closing prayer. It’s 100% free and contains no ads. Imagine an individual new to the faith or a family together or a church homegroup spending 100 days exploring key passages together.

FOR THE COMMUTE

Pray as you go app is a great way to start your day, whether at home, at the office or on public transport. It is based on the Lectio Divina model and is only available as an audio file. Once you have downloaded the relevant devotions for the current week, it can be used offline and is also 100% free and no ads. No Bible is required as the passage is read aloud twice. This is a wonderful tool for experiencing a more contemplative way of engaging with Scripture.

Tips

To avoid distractions, turn off all notifications—or even better, put your phone in flight mode—before you start using a Bible app or give it to your child.

I would strongly recommend that you don’t give a child a device just to keep them busy. Rather, give it to them intentionally for them to experience something positive. Let’s be masters, not slaves, of technology and use it as a great tool for meeting with and hearing from God regularly!

BIBLES

The Bible is available in so many forms today and with a phone in our pocket we never need be without a Bible at hand! Digital versions are wonderful for exploring and comparing different versions without needing an entire bookshelf. Here are just a few options: Bible Gateway is best known as a searchable online Bible with an app. You can select parallel translations from all the major translations including the Māori Bible (without macrons) for free and there are upgrade options for additional resources. Three of the most popular digital Bibles are Olive Tree (my favourite), Logos, and Laridian. All the apps and desktop versions are free to download with usually one or two free versions. However, if you want to make the most of this software then you need to purchase the version you want as well as commentaries, maps, and other resources. These are all available offline anytime.