“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 ESV
This is the second article in a series of posts about using the iPad to preach.
Last Wednesday in this series’ inaugural post, I addressed the question of why someone would even want to use an iPad for preaching. In this post we are going to explore the next logical question: which Bible app should I use for preaching?
A quick search of the app store reveals well over 30 Bible apps to choose from. Some are free, some are not. Some of the apps are simple, others offer robust features. Some of those apps will be better suited for general reading, and others for in-depth study; however, our purpose here is to explore the best Bible apps specifically for delivering a sermon to a live audience.
Before listing the best apps though, lets identify the app features we are most interested in for our purposes:
- Translation of choice – Obviously the app should offer the translation you will be preaching from. Personally I prefer to preach from the ESV and sometimes from the NKJV, so both of those translations are a requirement for me. However, the first item that you should check for in any app that you are considering is whether or not it supports the translation(s) you will be preaching from?
- Ease of use – The app should be extremely simple to use. For technology to be useful it MUST work when it is needed to work. This is especially true when speaking in front of a live audience… if the app is so sophisticated that you have difficultly quickly navigating to the appropriate scripture passage then you should consider a different app.
- Scalable fonts – While preaching you will probably desire a larger font size then when you are reading at your desk. The ability to quickly change the size of the font will allow you to easily adapt to your physical surroundings and allow you greater freedom of movement while speaking.
- Split screen-capability – Many Bible apps for the iPad offer split-screen functionality to simultaneously view two different Bible translations. This, of course, may be well suited for your preaching style, however I am specifically referring to an app’s ability to split the screen to display both the scripture text and your sermon notes. A very powerful feature that extends this functionality is for the app to automatically recognize Scripture references in your notes and provide hyperlinks to the Scripture text.
- Cloud Syncing between devices – It is helpful to use a Bible app that is available on other platforms. Even though my tablet is an iPad, my smartphone is an Android based device and my desktop is a PC. It is very helpful to use an app that is supported in all of the computing environments that you use and offers the ability to cloud sync (i.e. synchronize over the Internet) any in app highlights, bookmarks, and notes.
- Strong developer support – It is important to choose a Bible app from a strong and well established developer. Change happens quickly in the world of technology so it is important that the app’s developer is committed to constantly updating and improving their software.
- Third party integration – A final item on the preaching app feature wish list is the ability of the app to integrate with software from other developers (such as Evernote, Dropbox, Google Drive, or CloudOn). The ability to integrate your Bible app with one or more of these third party, cloud based services will greatly improve your ability to access and edit your notes.
So, after considering the above app features for public speaking– which iPad Bible apps do I recommend for your consideration? In my opinion here are the top four choices:
- Bible+ by Olive Tree Bible Software, Inc.
- eBible.com by Osprit, Inc.
- Bible! by Logos Bible Software
- YouVersion Bible by LifeChurch.tv
None of the four apps that I am recommending integrates all of the features discussed earlier in this post. Nevertheless, each app offers enough of these features to be a great app for preaching.
In future posts I hope to explore each of these apps in detail.
Again thanks for joining with me as we explore this topic together! And, please add to this ongoing discussion in the comments section~ I would love to hear from you.
Preaching with an iPad series topic guide:
- Preaching with an iPad Part 1: Why?
- Preaching with an iPad Part 2: Best iPad Bible Apps for Preaching
- Preaching with an iPad Part 3: Best iPad Note Apps for Preaching
- Preaching with an iPad Part 4: Best iPad eBook Apps for Preaching
- Preaching with an iPad Part 5: Multimedia Accessories
- Preaching with an iPad Part 6: Best iPad Apps for Sermon Illustrations
- Preaching with an iPad Part 7: Best iPad Tips & Tools for Preaching
- Preaching with an iPad Part 8: Putting it All Together
About Scott Thomson
Scott Thomson made a profession of faith early in life. However it was during his late teenage years when he obeyed the call of the Lord Jesus to repent. Luke 5:32. In his service to the Lord Scott regularly preaches in the Middle Atlantic region of the United States. Scott also maintains his own blog Digital Sojourner where he regularly writes about technology and Christianity.
Tags: Apps, eBible, iOS, iPad, Logos Bible Software, mobile computing, Preaching, Productivity, Public Speaking, YouVersion
After some consideration, I’ve gone with the Olive Tree software. It works well in the main areas mentioned above (split screen, versions, ease of use). They also have a ton of free stuff. I have purchased a few different versions and am happy to report that the notes that I’ve taken sync between versions, so that’s a great feature! I have been using it for about 6 months now mainly only for study, but preached with it connected to a projector. Went very well; used the split screen to view a map and everyone was able to follow along exactly where we were. Like it so much more than Powerpoint because it gives me the flexibility while speaking, rather than being tied to the slide order.
Dave, I think you made a great choice! I’m glad to hear that your experience with Olive Tree has proved fruitful for both your studies and for preaching. I have had a similar experience with their software. BTW, it is not a coincidence that I placed Olive Tree at the top of my recommended list. If you are not on Olive Tree’s mailing list, you might want to be. From time to time they have some great offers and discounts. I picked up a copy of Francis Chan’s Crazy Love for almost nothing a few months ago.
Thanks for sharing brother, I pray that the Lord will continue to use you to further His kingdom!
I also use the Olive Tree Bible Software. I find the split screen easy to use and it allows me to not have to change from notes to Bible. I am able to leave it on one screen. I also like how you can put a verse in your notes and it will highlight so you can just click it. You don’t have to click through to get to a passage you want to reference. There support is also great. Anytime I have an issue with the software they respond quickly and help solve the problem. Not to mention now the ESV is free and NKJV is only $2.99. This is by far my favorite app for preaching and notes.
Mike, I’m glad to hear another good report for Olive Tree! I remember us discussing sometime ago the merits of the iPad and how it can be very helpful in these matter. I’m so glad you have found it to be a good investment.
BTW, remember that you are always welcome to write another post for Digital Sojourner!
Good morning, Scott! Merry Christmas!
I prefer OliveTree as well. Their split screen note feature works really well. More and more, I do work on my iMac, taking notes while I study, and move easily between texts from Greek, Hebrew, word studies, dictionaries, versions, etc. I then see the exact same content on my iPhone or iPad.
While I often use a manuscript while preaching–I scan it but do not read it in Pages on my iPad–I will often switch to Olive Tree on the fly if I want to look at specific note. Olive Tree works really well when I’m in a less formal setting and I’m teaching where I can highlight texts and switch between versions while hooked up to a monitor.
I’ve been using Olive Tree since Palm Pilot days and they are a consistent at developing the software and responding to user requests.
I’m lookin forweard to the rest of your series. Great idea.
Glad to hear yet another positive report for Olive Tree… it is also nice to hear that you have been using OT since the days for the Palm Pilot. Funny how things come and go in the world of technology, it doesn’t seem all that along ago Palm Pilots were all the rage.
Thanks for taking the time to say you are enjoying this series. I trust God will use it to further your service for Him!
Hi, Scott, I use Olive Tree (since Win CE days), Logos, You Version, Accordance, and Mantis on my iPad. I find that each has an advantage in some particular area. However, the Mantis KJV with Strongs is what I use the most for study. It lists all occurances of a word (Hebrew or Greek) in each book and gives quick access to each verse; the note system of Olive Tree is hard to beat.
When facilitating a Bible study I prefer Mantis for its search speed and Olive Tree for notes. It’s not too difficult to switch between the two using multitouch gestures. Also, as a side note, Mantis has Bro. Bill’s Believer’s Bible Commentary available, Olive Tree does not.
For preaching (probably because of my 15+ years in radio reading live scripts) I use Keynote presentations with the Scripture copied and pasted into the slides. I use a black background with white letters so that I don’t get the “bright glowing face” from the iPad. I’m really enjoying the iPad. My last handful of sermons have been put together exclusively on the iPad using no other resource (thanks to Google Books online collection of public domain books).
Thank you for DS! I’ve been keeping up since Keith first posted about it on Google+. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Lee for your kind words. I am not familiar with Mantis… I will check it out. Bill MacDonald’s Believer’s Bible Commentary is one of my favorite commentaries so that is a huge plus in my book!
Your suggestion of white text on a black background is excellent. I find this works great in low light settings.
And, yes I am increasing finding that the iPad is truly a ‘stand alone’ device. I’m wondering if you use an external keyboard? If so, what do you use?
No keyboard as of yet. I’ve sort of learned to hold my hands in the air at “home position” to type without too many errors (@ ~30 wpm). I’ve just downloaded Dragon Dictation. I’m going to see how that works. Do you have any “budget” keyboards you’d recommend?
Again, Sharon and I know that the Lord will use you and your family to bless many people. Being commended to the Lord’s care has been such a blessing and an adventure for Sharon and I (in 2010). You’ll be amazed what the Lord will do for and through and to you! We’re praying for you!
Each of you may want to try slingnote. It is designed to take notes and copy quotes from the web. A great addition to a good Bible Study program.
Thanks for the tip… I will check it out.