As a pastor I feel a bit of a tension when it comes to sermon prep. On the one hand I feel like I could do my job without a computer or the most recent technological developments. On the other hand I feel like I should–and almost must take advantage of the opportunities for efficiency that technology affords. I wrestled through this tension a few years back at the request of a friend. He is a proponent of Logos Bible Software and he, pleading for increased efficiency, urged me to at least consider the switch. I am grateful that I did.
People often ask what software I use and why. The quick answer is Logos. One reason is that not only the fact that Logos is a great resource, but the developers remain unsatisfied; they continue to pursue a more efficient, better resource for Bible study and sermon prep. In Logos 6 there are many updates and enhancements to improve Bible Study and Sermon Prep.
One example is the new Cultural Concepts tool identifies over 1,000 cultural concepts throughout the Bible, like religious activities, food, music, birth and death practices, marriage rituals, and economic structures, so you can derive greater meaning from biblical events and imagery. In seconds, explore all the cultural concepts expressed in a passage, then connect those concepts to ancient texts.
With the Ancient Literature tool, you can get a clear view of the Bible’s background by exploring ancient texts side by side with Scripture. This tool links Scripture to ancient texts based on shared themes, references, allusions, and more.
With Atlas and the interactive Biblical Event Navigator, you can connect Bible narratives to their geographical context with professional maps and 3-D tours.
Another feature that is extremely helpful is its portability. My entire library is synced over my laptop, phone and iPad. This makes continuity much easier.
One aspect of Logos that should be noted is its learning curve. I don’t feel as though I am anywhere near a power user. I use it for what I need it for. However, there is a lot more that I know it can do. This is where the training videos and courses are a tremendous help (link).
To give you an idea of the flexibility consider this video below in view of sermon prep / Bible Study:
If you are in the market for new Bible Software or are considering making the jump over to Logos check out their videos and website.
