The Bible on screen

The preacher says “let's open to Romans 8” — and a few seconds later the verse is on screen. Each verse goes on its own slide, in the largest size that fits, with the reference.

Shortcuts are written for Mac: on Windows and Linux, press Ctrl instead of ⌘ and Alt instead of ⌥ (⇧ is Shift).

1. Install the Bible on your computer

With a translation installed, the Bible works without internet. You do this once:

1. Settings → Bible & offline, section Offline Bible.
2. Further down, under Get more translations, pick a language or search by translation name or language, then click Install.
3. Set the Default translation. The first translation you install becomes the default by itself.

Prepare service (in Services) also installs your default translation if it isn't on the computer yet, and saves the text of the plan's Scripture passages, so the plan's readings work without internet.

Need a different translation for a moment? Click the translation code wherever you're reading Scripture and pick another one. The choice lasts until you restart the app — then the default translation comes back. When you open the list again, you'll see “Reading … — for now only” and a Make default button.

2. The fastest way: ⌘B during the service

In Show, press ⌘B (or click Browse the Bible). The Bible panel opens.

1. Type a reference, e.g. Rom 8:28-30, John 3:16 or 1 Cor 13:4-7, and press Enter. The app understands both English and Polish book abbreviations. With Click = on screen turned on, the passage goes on screen right away.
2. With Click = on screen turned on (the default), clicking a verse shows it on screen right away.
3. With Click = on screen turned on: ↓ or PgDn — next verse; ↑ or PgUp — previous verse. → and ← do the same, but not while the cursor is in the search field. The app also moves on into the next chapter. If your reference is still in the search field, these keys don't move through the verses: press Esc once to clear the field. A second Esc closes the panel.

With Click = on screen turned off, clicks select verses. Then click Add to plan or Show now, or drag the selection onto the plan. In a running plan, Show now is logged as “off plan”.

The panel also has pinned passages: those from the service plan and your own (★ Pin).

3. From the library in Show

The Bible tab in the library on the left. Type a reference or a few words from a verse:

• Enter — on screen,
• ↑ / ↓ — pick a result,
• Add to plan — as the next item in a running plan, or at the end of the plan,
• On screen — right away.

When the reading is over but the preacher keeps reading, there is a Next verse tile at the end of the slides. The → key on the last verse does the same.

4. The Bible view

Bible (⌘4) is for calm browsing before the service:

• the Reference (Rom 8:28-30) or phrase… field — a reference takes you to the passage, other words search the text,
• books (Old Testament, New Testament) and chapters; Whole chapter selects everything,
• a click selects a verse, Shift + click selects a range,
• Send to presenter (during a presentation: Next or On screen now).

You can't add a passage to the plan from this view. You add passages to a plan in Show or in Services (Add: → Scripture).

5. Your own text

Is the preacher quoting from a translation you don't have, or bringing their own points? In the Bible view, switch to Own text:

• Reference, e.g. “Isa 40:31 (NIV)”,
• Text (paragraphs become separate slides) — paste the text; each paragraph (separated by a blank line) is its own slide,
• Send to presenter.

There are two ways to bring in verses from the translation you're reading: type the Reference and click Look up — the text appears in the box, ready to edit. Or select the verses in Bible mode and click Edit as text — they come over here with their reference. Either way you can correct or shorten them. (The Linux version, 0.9.57, doesn't have the Look up button.)

6. How readings look

The reference slide before the reading, verse numbers, the caption and the letter size are set in the theme, on the Layout tab → Scripture (How slides look: themes and layout). For a single reading: A− / A+ in Show.

Which translations are available?

The catalog in the desktop app has public-domain and Creative Commons texts (source: eBible.org) in many languages. Translations owned by publishers appear only under a license.

Tip

Ask the preacher for the list of passages before the service and add them to the plan. Then during the sermon → steps through the verses and ⇧→ moves to the next passage (→ on the last verse adds the next verse instead).

What's next

• Media, backgrounds and presentations (PDF, PowerPoint, Keynote)
• Sermon: verse suggestions and captions