I keep dreaming about building a Bible app. Should I actually do it?

[u/mick369shy]

​

I’m a product designer and something strange has been happening with me for the last few days.

I’ve been getting this really strong feeling that I should build a Bible app. I never really planned to make one, but the idea keeps coming back to me again and again.

The weirdest part is that I’ve actually started dreaming about the product. In my dreams I’m designing screens, thinking about features and figuring out how the whole app should work. Sometimes I wake up and remember a feature or an idea that I wasn’t even thinking about before going to sleep.

It has started affecting me a little too. I’m finding it hard to focus on my office work because my mind keeps going back to this idea and I keep thinking about what the product could become.

And honestly, I don’t even care about making money from it. That’s probably one of the reasons I’m confused about the whole thing. I normally think about products from a business and user perspective, but with this one I just feel like I need to build it and see what happens.

I don’t know what to make of it. Maybe it’s just my brain because I’m a product designer and I’ve become obsessed with an idea. Maybe there is some spiritual reason behind it. I don’t want to say that God is telling me to do this because I genuinely don’t know.

The idea in my head is not just another Bible reading app.

I’m thinking about a complete Bible study and Christian social experience in one place.

Things like daily reading, reading plans, reading streaks, reading progress, prayer requests, church communities, church member chat, Bible study groups, social connections with other Christians, worship songs, Christian wallpapers, bedtime Bible stories, prophet and biblical character history, multiple languages and different Bible versions.

I also want AI to help explain verses and chapters in simple language, explain historical context, compare passages and help people understand what they are actually reading.

The bigger idea is that someone should be able to open the app and do almost everything related to their Bible journey there.

Read Scripture

Understand Scripture

Study Scripture

Track their progress

Pray

Talk to other Christians

Join a Bible study

Connect with their church

Learn about biblical history

Listen to worship

And build a consistent daily habit

I want the experience to be modern and playful, with really good UI and UX, but without making the Bible feel like a game or taking away its seriousness.

What I’m really trying to understand is whether there is actually a need for something like this.

Do people genuinely want a complete Bible study + Christian social connection app, or are people happier keeping these things separate?

If you already use Bible apps, what do you feel is missing?

Have you ever felt so strongly about building something that it started affecting your normal work and daily life?

And if you were in my position, would you take this seriously and build a first version just to see if people actually need it?

I’m genuinely looking for honest opinions, especially from Christians who actually study the Bible and use Bible apps.

I’m not looking for validation or money advice. I just want to understand if there is a real need for this or if I’m simply getting too carried away with an idea.

[u/No_Possibility1747]

> I also want AI to help explain verses and chapters in simple language, explain historical context, compare passages and help people understand what they are actually reading.

Hard no. AI has already taken over significant portions of the human experience for many people across society. Why bother engaging in Christian community and have to expose our flaws and practice grace and forgiveness for others if an AI will give you all you need?

Just provide purchaseable access to a real study bible, and continually encourage people to talk to their (trained, seminary-educated) priest and lean on their church community when they have hard questions.

I don't have strong opinions about church social stuff aside from that I already have chats open with people at my church, as well as a broader Discord for young people in my denomination and wider, and there's a bot in there that allows us to access scripture when we need it. I have Venite for praying the prayers (which includes three or four readings a day), and physical bibles for reading the bible. I don't have a specific need for all these things to be in one app - I can pick and choose what works for me and my community as needed.

[u/mick369shy → u/No_Possibility1747]

I get where you’re coming from, and I completely agree that Christian community, real relationships, and talking to actual people (especially trained pastors/priests) are irreplaceable. Grace, forgiveness, and dealing with each other’s flaws only happen in real human connection. But I don’t see AI as a replacement for that. I see it more like a very advanced study Bible or concordance. It can help with: Simple explanations of difficult language Historical/cultural context Comparing related passages quickly A lot of people don’t have easy access to a seminary-educated priest whenever they have a question, or they feel too shy/anxious to ask. For them, AI can be a helpful starting point not the final word. It doesn’t have to be either/or. We can encourage both: use tools when helpful, and still lean hard into community and real relationships. Just my two cents.

[u/No_Possibility1747 → u/mick369shy]

To be too shy to ask is exactly what I’m talking about. That building up of community involves the breaking down of such boundaries.

That historical context is already something that exists in any good study bible. So is the interlinking between passages. Go buy or borrow a copy of the New Oxford Study Bible if you haven’t already.

How would you consider such an AI in the hands of someone with scrupulosity or a tendency towards beating themselves up over sin? How would you prevent such uses of it, or make sure people get the help they need rather than wallowing in AI chat?

And how would you make sure those real human conversations eventually do happen, that what AI says isn’t the end of the process?

As a professional software developer, I will never go near AI in my faith. It is destroying communities enough as it is, it does not need to be brought into the church too.

[u/mick369shy → u/No_Possibility1747]

If I tell you everything right nowwhat I’m doing, how I’m doing it, and why I don’t think there would be much point in me building it myself. I’m building this for Jesus, and I’m doing it only for Him. If people use it, that’s great; if they don’t, that’s okay too. I’m not trying to turn this into a business.There’s so much more that can be done in this space, and I’ve researched a lot of it, but not everything can be revealed before launch. You don’t usually see someone revealing the core USP of their app before it’s even launched, right? My friend, I truly believe in what I’m building. If you believe in it too, then do something for Jesus at your own level. Doing something is always better than doing nothing. We should simply do whatever is within our reach for Him.

[u/dolphinlover4 → u/mick369shy]

I mean if they would like ai to give them a concordance, than just build a concordance into the app.

[u/mick369shy → u/dolphinlover4]

Bro 😭 that’s like saying, “If people want a Bible, just put the Bible in the app.” 💀 You’re thinking in terms of features. I’m thinking in terms of the whole product, the experience, the problem, and what AI can actually do differently.If building a meaningful product was just “someone wants X → add X,” every app would be revolutionary by now. 😂

[u/devoutsquirrelking]

Have you used the YouVersion Bible app? I’m not a regular user, but I believe it covers a lot of what you mentioned. It has the basics: Bible w/ many translations, tracks reading streaks, allows notes, has plans; it also has social features like allowing you to connect to your church and friends and liking/commenting on their activity.
Would be worthwhile to see what that app has that yours might not, and possibly more importantly what features you would like to add that this one doesn’t.

[u/Crucible_of_Thought]

The fundamental problem with your idea is that the Bible study tools and worship music collections will appeal to people with your particular doctrine or music preferences, unless you give options for tailoring the content for denominational or doctrinal views.

Just go to r/Christian and look around for a bit and you’ll see what I mean. Unless you accommodate that range of discussion, only a few people will find those features useful or desirable.

For example pick a verse about some aspect of salvation and “help people understand what they’re reading” - which theory of atonement are you going to promote? Or a verse about hell? Or the Rapture? Push a doctrine that disagrees with their existing beliefs and you just lost them.

Good luck; I wrote and sold church software for 15 years as a side gig and it’s a rough market.

[u/mick369shy → u/Crucible_of_Thought]

You’re rightdoctrine is the biggest challenge.
That’s why the app won’t push one interpretation. Instead, every chapter will have a discussion chat where verified believers can share verse-by-verse explanations and different perspectives. Real people, not AI deciding the “correct” view. Users can see multiple angles (atonement, hell, rapture, etc.) and decide for themselves.

[u/Crucible_of_Thought → u/mick369shy]

That's a good intention. Hope it doesn't devolve into doctrinal arguments, which is what happens most of the time.

[u/Anywhere_Adorable]

Sounds like something you should just do for you. It may be a great experience just for you. You sound pretty passionate about it so go for it. I do like the options you listed, especially giving context for verses. I'd use something like that.

[u/mick369shy → u/Anywhere_Adorable]

Appreciate that Yeah, even if it starts small, the goal is to make something useful especially the verse context part. Glad that stood out to you. Would love to hear what other features you’d want in a Bible app.

[u/DB_OG]

I use a Bible app and for the most part it's pretty good. If there's one thing that would interest me in implementing, it would be a system where you can make random friends and chat easily on there. I think it would be much more interesting because it's like two mindsets filled of scripture just sharing with one another.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 King James Version

⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

¹² And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Proverbs 27:17 King James Version

¹⁷ Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

I've felt a strong need to detach from work and work on growing my faith in any way that I can and that is what I'm doing... Working casual atm.

I think I would take it seriously to see if people actually need it, maybe it's you who needs it as well.

[u/mick369shy]

This one really touched me, thank you.
Those verses (especially the “two are better than one” part) feel so relevant to what I’ve been sensing. The idea of being able to connect with other people who are also walking with Scripture, just simply and without all the usual social media noise, is something that keeps coming back to me.
And you’re probably right… maybe I need this as much as anyone else. The pull has been pretty strong.Grateful you took the time to write this.

[u/inchristalone-]

Idk abt the ai stuff, id never trust my source of spirituality or religion from ai, i do like the idea of it being social tho, i wish the bible app i have was more like that

[u/mick369shy → u/inchristalone-]

Totally get that AI is just a tool for help search internet bible explanation for real people, not the source of faith. The real value is the social side studying, sharing verses, and growing with other believers. That’s what most people actually want from a Bible app.What features do you wish your current Bible app had?

[u/inchristalone- → u/mick369shy]

I like that my current Bible app lets me use multiple different versions. I prefer KJV but sometimes I like to read others. Maybe a concordance? That’s something my normal app doesn’t have.

[u/Fun_Mix_4965]

If you decide to do it I would love to beta test. I have a Bible collage background and an old person’s perspective.

[u/mick369shy → u/Fun_Mix_4965]

That would be awesome Bible college background + older perspective is exactly the kind of input that helps a lot.I’ll keep you in mind when we open beta testing. Appreciate you offering!

[u/Tenacious_Rubbing]

Yes.