Let’s start with some good news: right now, we live in a time when access to the life-changing power of Scripture has never been more abundant.
Seriously—there’s never been a moment in history when people have had such immediate, wide-ranging access to the Bible, and in so many forms.
Think about it. With just a few taps on your phone, you can pull up a Bible app that downloads Scripture in milliseconds.
And it doesn’t stop there.
You can either read it yourself or let a calming, smooth voice read it to you while you’re driving, walking, or winding down for a good night's sleep.
Do you have a specific question about the Bible? Google it. You’ll find thousands of sermons, books, podcasts, and videos addressing almost any topic you can imagine.
Dive even deeper, and you’ll discover Bible software and digital commentaries that give you the tools of a seasoned scholar. For those ready to invest, there are even college-level courses, seminars, and online degrees, all designed to deepen your biblical knowledge.
In summary: one of the greatest blessings of the 21st century is how much access we have to biblical wisdom.
But here’s the tension.
Despite all this unprecedented access, studies suggest that this generation of churchgoers is among the most biblically illiterate in history.1
Let that sink in.
How is it possible that we have the most access to Scripture but are, at the same time, less grounded in it?
The answer is simple: easy access is not enough. We need to cultivate a hunger for Scripture. We need to make it a daily practice to immerse ourselves in it and to shape our lives around it. We have the tools, but if we don’t create the rhythms and patterns to use them, we’ll miss out on what God has for us.
Now, I could recommend books by John Mark Comer, Tyler Staton, Craig Groeschel, or Paul David Tripp—trusted voices who offer excellent advice on creating spiritual rhythms that are powerful and practical. But today, I want to focus on something a little different.
I want to show you how you can take the technology we have at our fingertips and use it to build your own personal "Bible-tech stack".
You already know what the Bible is, but you might be wondering, “What’s a tech stack?” If you work in tech or business, you’ve likely heard the term. If not, here’s a quick explanation.
A tech stack is basically a set of digital tools that work together to accomplish a task. Just like a carpenter uses a hammer, nails, and wood to build a house, someone building a website or app uses a combination of different technologies—like coding platforms, databases, and analytics tools—to get the job done.
In my work as a marketer, I often talk with business leaders about their marketing tech stack, which is a collection of tools and systems that help them run marketing processes effectively. Each piece of the stack complements the others, and together, they form a cohesive system.
So what does this have to do with following Jesus?
Here’s what I’m suggesting: just like you’d build a tech stack to help your business thrive, you can build a Bible-tech stack to support your walk with Jesus. The goal is to create a personalized system that uses the power of technology to keep you grounded in Scripture and growing in your relationship with God throughout your day.
However, we all know that technology can often act as a distraction. It can pull us away from those quiet moments with God, keep us endlessly scrolling, and interrupt our focus. I’m convinced that time spent in prayer and physically reading God’s Word—without a phone or computer—will do wonders to strengthen your apprenticeship to Jesus. Cultivating offline moments of stillness and reflection in God’s presence is essential for spiritual growth.
That said, while technology shouldn’t be at the center of our spiritual practices, it can be a powerful tool to complement our formation if used wisely.
To give you an idea of how this can work, let me walk you through some Bible-tech tools I use and how they help me stay rooted in my faith each day.
Audio Bible and Prayer Apps
One of my go-to tools for immersing myself in Scripture is the Dwell Audio Bible app. Whether I’m working, driving, or winding down for the night, I’ll pop in my AirPods and listen to my favorite voices reading the books I’m studying—right now, it’s Genesis and the Gospel of Mark. Sometimes, I'll also listen to guided prayer meditations that help center me in God's presence.
Pro tip: explore the background music and sound options. My personal favorites are “Piano & Cello,” “Rain,” and “Chant”—which gives you this peaceful, monastery-like feel. It’s a simple but powerful reminder of the holiness and mystery that surrounds God’s Word, which I appreciate.
For adding variety to my prayer life, I enjoy apps like Pause and Lectio365. These apps have been a huge blessing, especially on days when my mind feels scattered. Hearing prayers spoken aloud, led by someone else, pushes me to pray in new ways—whether it’s for things I might not have thought of or with a heart that’s more open to God’s leading.
Bible Reading Apps and Software
When it comes to Bible reading apps, I’ve got a few I always turn to—each for different reasons. YouVersion is a staple. It’s user-friendly, and I love how it offers thousands of Bible reading plans. There’s a plan for just about everything, whether you're looking for something topical or wanting to read through the Bible in a year. Recently, I finished the Historical reading plan from Blue Letter Bible, and it gave me a fresh perspective on the story of Scripture as it unfolded.
I’m also obsessed with BibleProject’s app. Whether you’re watching their videos that break down books of the Bible or diving into their podcast, there’s so much depth to explore. They’ve even launched Classroom content into the app, which makes you feel like you’re sitting in a seminary course. Anytime I’m studying a specific book or theme in Scripture, I’ll watch (or rewatch) their videos and listen to their podcast while commuting—it’s like a one-two punch of clarity and insight.
And then there’s Logos. This is for those of you who want to go deep—really deep. Logos is like having a full theological library at your fingertips. Whether it’s the Word Study feature, the Passage Guide, or the Exegetical Guide, it allows you to dig into any verse and pull up cross-references, commentaries, and insights into the original Hebrew or Greek. It’s a Bible nerd’s dream, and it’s made me feel like I’m not just reading Scripture—I’m really studying it.
Practical Bible-Tech Stack Examples
So, what does building a Bible-tech stack look like in practice? I’m not saying I’ve got it all figured out, but here’s how I use these tools to stay grounded in the Word day to day.
In the mornings, I like to kick off my workday by listening to Scripture through Dwell. There’s something about starting the day with God’s Word that recalibrates my heart and mind. Whether I’m tackling a project or heading into a tough conversation, I’m reminded that my work is an opportunity to honor the Lord and serve others. It’s a small practice, but I believe it sets the tone for everything else.
During the day, especially if I’m commuting or running errands after work, I’ll listen to a faith-based podcast or sermon. This could be a teaching from one of my favorite pastors, an interview, or a Bible study conversation. Some of my favorites that I haven’t mentioned yet are:
If you want a full list of my podcast recommendations, feel free to message me—I’ve got plenty to share!
In the evenings, I prefer to have my dedicated devotional time. This looks different each day, but most nights I’ll start by reading my physical Bible and praying. I’ll sit in the quiet, waiting to hear what God might be speaking into my life. Then, I often dive deeper into a passage using Logos. I love taking it slow, going verse by verse, and soaking in commentaries, word studies, and insights from scholars. This not only deepens my understanding but also helps me solidify my own beliefs on the more complex parts of Scripture.
Finally, my wife and I like to end the day by listening to Scripture on the Dwell app as we fall asleep. We've learned that the thoughts we have just before sleep can deeply affect our mental and emotional well-being, so we’ve intentionally chosen to give all those thoughts to God. For us, there's nothing more calming than drifting off to the peaceful sound of God’s Word, letting it fill our minds and hearts as we close out the day.
Building Your Bible-Tech Stack
The beauty of a Bible-tech stack is that it’s personal—it’s something you can build based on your own rhythms and routines.
But here’s the key: don’t let the tech distract you from your purpose. Use it as a tool to help you stay grounded, to remind you that in every moment—whether mundane or extraordinary—God’s Word is right there with you, ready to shape and guide your life.
I’d love to hear from you! What’s in your Bible-tech stack? How do you use technology to deepen your walk with Jesus? I invite you to share your practices or thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation!
Until next time,
May the Lord bless the work of your hands, guide the thoughts of your mind, and complete His own work in the deepest part of your heart.
https://research.lifeway.com/2017/07/10/discipling-in-an-age-of-biblical-illiteracy/#:~:text=Only%2020%20percent%20of%20Americans,a%20lack%20of%20biblical%20doctrine.
Nick, I love reading your thoughts and hearing about how you're engaging with God personally. I go bit of an opposite direction in terms of Bible engagement. I use the Flora app, which helps me focus and turn OFF my phone for my devotional time each morning. So I'll set a study time anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, and if I make it the whole time without using my phone it grows a virtual tree (which, as time accrues each day, will eventually turn into the app-makers planting a physical tree).
I also wonder in terms of biblical literacy, however, if one of our main issues with engaging scripture in the 2020s is how much less time we spend in community interpreting it together. I used to go to church 3-4 times a week as a kid, going to Sunday school, children's church/youth group, Vacation Bible School, Junior Bible Quiz, multiple worship services, etc. I also had daily "Bible time" with my family. Now, all of my regular "church" time is between the hours of 9AM and 12 PM on Sundays (and that's only on the weeks of the year when my small group meets after the morning worship service) and I live alone as a single adult. Opportunities to gather with other believers are simply much less available and frequent.
In light of the need for communal Scriptural engagement, how do you see the Bible-Tech Stack able to help us engage with a scriptural community and not only interpreting it as individuals?