YouVersion Experiment
Hey folks, I’m going to be trying something out this Sunday night (February 14th) and would love it if some of you would experiment with me on this. Many of you know that I include handouts to accompany my messages to make it easier to follow along and retain what’s being taught. Well, I want to experiment with another way of interacting with the sermon. Some of you may have heard of an AWESOME free online service called YouVersion.com. Provided by the great folks at lifechurch.tv, this free service is an online Bible on energy drinks (I was going to say “steroids” but that didn’t sound right for some reason).
Besides having multiple versions of the Bible; ways of bookmarking, linking and studying it; a journal for recording; over 20+ different reading plans; AND multiple ways of accessing it via smartphones and mobile phones – YouVersion also provides an awesome application called YouVersion Live. We’ve set up a Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly group there that you can join and there’s another cool feature where we can create “events” that you can access via a smartphone or computer to follow along with a message and record your notes and see Bible references during the message. There’s also opportunities for you to answer polls and record notes (via twitter, or via the app itself) all of which create some interactivity and “memory” of the message.
So here’s how I’d like your help if you’re game. There’s two ways to participate:
1. If you have a smartphone. Download and install the YouVersion app for your phone at this address -> http://www.youversion.com/mobile. After installing you can do a search for our event by typing “waterloo” in the search box for YouVersion Live. Feel free to USE THE APP while I’m speaking at our Sunday PM service (Feb 14). Yes, that’s right – I’m telling you it’s okay to be using your phone during the message (don’t get sidetracked though okay? okay.)
2. If you don’t have a smartphone or still feel uncomfortable pulling it out during service. When we have the mp3 posted on our website go and grab it then go to this link -> http://read.ly/e/1PG and follow along while listening to the mp3.
Why am I doing this experiment (and why such short notice)? I’m always interested in knowing how technology can be used to help us in ministry and grow in Christ. I also am interested in knowing how many people who attend WPA are interested in some of the great ways to communicate the gospel there are out there. I realize I’ve posted this with short notice and that is because I want to test our communication channels in sending things out in an unorthodox way. If you’re reading this Saturday night or Sunday morning then you are probably someone who’d like to be a part of this experiment. Let your friends know about it!
Still not sure what YouVersion is?
Go here for a great overview on YouVersion.com -> http://www.youversion.com/about
Go here to learn about the reading plans -> http://www.youversion.com/about/reading-plans
Go here to learn more about YouVersion Live -> http://www.youversion.com/about/live