Australia’s most popular Bible verse for 2015 is …

Australia’s most popular Bible verse for 2015 is Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV).

That’s according to YouVersion, developers of the Bible App, which this month announced it had reached 200 million app downloads around the world.

Australia share its favourite verse with the United States and Brazil, while Nigeria and South Africa share Jeremiah 29:11 as its favourite (I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.) In Canada, Ephesians 1:23 was the most popular verse, while in the UK, South Korea and Mexico it was Isaiah 41:10.

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Every second, 112 people around the world open the Bible App. You probably have it on your phone. In fact, YouVersion told Eternity that in 2015, almost 334,000 new downloads of the app were from Australia. The app developers said since reaching 100 million installs in July 2013, engagement in Australia has grown by 43 per cent.

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The most rapid engagement increases in that period was seen in Iran, with a 1886 per cent increase in user engagement with the app. Big increases were also seen in Suriname (up 670 per cent), Cameroon (up 562 per cent), Bulgaria (up 413 per cent) and Uruguay (up 388 per cent).

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The Bible App allows people to read and share Bible verses on social media, and has recently introduced the ability to create an image based on a verse to share on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. YouVersion says that Australia’s most shared Bible passage was Philippians 4:6-7, while John 3:16 was the most popular verse that Australians created into a shareable image to use on social media.

The Bible App also offers thousands of Bible studies and plans. Since its creation in 2010, 42 million Bible plans have been completed. 250,000 of those were completed in Australia, with Australians opting for studies on topics like God’s purpose for our lives, hope, busyness and God’s renewal. Globally, the most Bible plans most often completed are on hope, forgiveness and relationships.

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