Bible Study

The last decade has seen both an avalanche of digital innovation and a responding flood of discussion about the ways that innovation is improving—or degrading—our lives. You've probably read or participated in plenty of discussions about whether or not ebooks are "better" than print books. As an employee of a book publishing company, I've seen publishers struggle, not always successfully, to identify which book-related behaviors can be replicated (or even improved) in a digital context.

Recently, Oak Tree Software released Accordance 12, a small upgrade to their powerful Bible study program for both Mac and now Windows. It brings with it some new features that might make users want to upgrade. We'll take a look at the user interface and new features and see what makes Accordance 12 different than the other power-user Bible programs available.

Logos 7 is the latest version of one of the most power and complex Bible software packages available for scholars, preachers, Bible students and laypeople. We'll take a look at the update and show users the most useful features in this powerful package. Who should give Logos 7 a serious look and does it offer enough value to make it worth the expense? Let's start with an overview before checking out the new features.

Today's Bible software includes incredibly powerful tools, ready for Sunday school teachers and seminary professors alike. Bible study software can be a huge investment--with costs ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Here, we'll take a look at the five best Bible software options available on the market today. These all run on both Mac and Windows, although the last two use emulation software to run their Windows software on a Mac, so Mac users should probably focus on the first three options.

It’s tempting to waive the white flag, to throw your hands up in surrender, to the summer slump. Many churches simply resign their efforts and re-appropriate them in the fall. First on the chopping block of suspended ministries are groups. It’s almost expected that groups will take a break during the summer months. But, doing so can have costly consequences if you aren’t prepared. Much of the work that was put into groups, building relationships, and developing community is lost during the break.

Many years ago, I recall when people would ask me how it was that I could easily remember specific scriptures. For many people, reading the Bible is enjoyable, but trying to get to that point where you can remember specific verses which talk about specific subjects is not something that happens quickly. Because it was a little easier for me, it took a long time before I realized that there were certain learning methods, or just ways that I was reading and studying the scripture that made it possible for me to have such an active recall. Now that we are firmly into the mobile wage, scripture recall has become another subject where people are looking for ways of improving on old methods. Here are some mobile – friendly methods for scripture memorization that I have come across.

Does the form of Scripture affect the way that we read Scripture? While pixels (the digital Bible) are useful, print has surprising value. Years ago Marshall McLuhan famously said, “The medium is the message.” He proposed that the message in our words is shaped powerfully by the means we use to share those words. Bumper stickers might have truth, but who takes them seriously? The medium is never neutral. Here are four reasons I encourage print.

There is no shortage of Bible study tools available today. Entire bookstores are full of resources just begging to be used. The challenge is, many of us struggle to be consistent in our Bible study. Without accountability and community it is easy to spend our lives focused on what is "urgent" rather than "important". Hoping we grow spiritually, rather than being intentional about it. We buy a book, bring it home, and within days it's collecting dust. While it may seem anti-intuitive, this is one area where the move to a more tech savvy church can help.