Inductive Bible Study with Logos Bible Software-Morris Proctor Shows You How!
Logos Bible Software is an incredibly powerful tool for Bible Study, and Logos 4 is certainly no exception. Logos 4 has also made it much easier to learn how to study the Bible with its new, much more simplified interface and smart technologies. Still, when it comes down to doing in-depth Bible Study in Logos, I've always wished I had a plan laid out that would guide me along the way. I've watched many training videos, read extensive manuals, even attended a Camp Logos (which I HIGHLY recommend by the way), and have accumulated a good technical knowledge of the program. I've then asked myself, "How can I apply the knowledge I've learned in Logos to use it to perform in-depth Bible Study?"
Look no further.
Morris Proctor, Logos Bible Software's authorized trainer, and the same person who's training videos and Camp Logos seminars have given me all of the training I need to effectively conquer Logos Bible Software, has also done an amazing job writing a manual that shows how to practically apply the principles of Inductive Bible Study when using Logos. It's called the Inductive Bible Study with Logos Bible Software manual, and it's an excellent way to learn how to use this powerful Bible software in an in-depth Bible study. First, Morris takes readers through some effective principles of Inductive Bible Study, teaching users to "Fly Over: Reading the Text, Dive In: Kneeding the Text, and Take Out: Heeing the Text". The first section of the manual teaches users how to study the Bible first before even opening up the software, which adds to the rich training gained from this manual. As one who has done Inductive Bible Study before using print books and reading up on information such at this site, I learned how valuable this manual was going to be to me in learning how to effectively use Logos in my Bible Studies.
Once the principles of Inductive Bible Study are learned, then Morris takes readers through four different plans that each utilize different functionality of Logos 4. The plans go from simple to sophisticated, starting with the Home Page, then digging into Menus, the Library, and lastly, creating Layouts. At the end of each plan, the reader has been able to successfully complete an in-depth Bible Study of the passage using various tools and features throughout Logos. At the end of the manual is a "Plan 5", which allows users to write down features they would use to create their own personalized Inductive Bible Study layout. This is exactly what I did. While I haven't taken any one of Morris' plans and used it on its own for my personal Bible Study (although they're certainly well documented enough that anyone could), the information I learned from following the different plans helped me to formulate my own custom Inductive Bible Study plan and layout using a combination of many of the features mentioned in the manual. I can now go to my Logos desktop and fire up my own personal Bible Study layout anytime I need it, and without the training I gleaned from this manual, doing so would have been far more difficult to do.
This is truly an excellent manual to own for anyone who wants to use Logos Bible Software to effectively engage in personal Bible Study, and I highly recommend it to all Logos users wanting to go beyond mere technical knowledge and dive into the software for Inductive Bible Study. My only hope now is that Morris will return to Luther Rice University someday and teach an Inductive Bible Study seminar (since he also teaches live seminars on Inductive Bible Study), since I would thoroughly enjoy going back over these principles and plans in a hands-on environment with fellow seminary students and Morris guiding us step by step live in person.
I'm right now reading through his other manual, the I-Beam of Message Building, and upon its completion I'll come back and blog on a few notes on that Lord willing. I'll say right now that I don't want to put the manual down it's been so wonderful, and I've already gleaned much from the manual, and I'm just getting started!
Until next time, take care!
Nathan Parker
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Thanks for the review Nathan, I have the old version of this manual for Libronix 3. Obviously the some of the tools have changed, but the overall approach sounds the same. I am wondering whether its worth updating to the Logos 4 version or not. Simply because for me, residing in Australia the postage can end up making manuals quite expensive. I look foward to your review of his other manual as it something that interests me also. Whether one is actually preaching a sermon or not, resources like these can help you become a better student of the Word of God.
Thanks for the comments! The principles are the same I'm sure (even though I didn't have the L3 manual), what's changed is how you access things under L4. The first layout he goes into the Home Page and "Enter passage. Click GO!", and in other sections he dives into mainly custom collections and custom guide templates. He concludes with Layouts. I've read more through the I-Beam manual and am thoroughly enjoying every bit of it. It really has nothing to do with Logos and software and more about effectively communicating the Word of God. He's nailed down numerous principles in the manual for preparing Biblical messages. I know it'll be a valuable asset for me.
What'd I'd recommend is ordering both manuals at once, and if you also need to stock up on the L4 manuals or any of his quick cards, etc., get it all in one shipment to help save on shipping. That's what I always do. :-) Shipping can sometimes be high here as well depending on where I order from. As for the manuals, I picked them up at the Camp Logos seminar at my seminary when he came. Not only did I get in free since I was a student, he offered the manuals half-off to us students, which is extremely generous of him. They're worth full price that's for sure!
Nathan Parker
StillTruth.com Editor and Mac Specialist
Thanks Nathan, I noticed on the Logos forums there came up a discussion that there might be some possiblity of these being available in PDF format. I might drop Mo a line to find out first if this is being looked at or not before I order any printed copies. If this was going to happen I could get a double portion of blessing by not having to pay postage I could look at some more of his manauls or another resource for Logos 4. I think with the Libroinx 3 version of the Inductive Manual, I probably feel comfortable enough with L4 to adapt to that material ,though it would be interesting to look at his customization suggestions, so probably would look at the I-Beam manual as being my first priority.
Morris does release updates to manuals in PDF format, so it's possible that he could send these to you in PDF format. I'm sure if you asked him, he could probably do it. He's really nice and would probably be able to help you there. I wish they could be updated in Logos format. That'd be neat!
I wonder how much Media Mail to Australia would cost? I could check with my post office and see. Since I get business discounts, I could see if I could work out something with you if you can only get them in print where I could order one, have them send it to me, then I could send it to you. Not sure if it'd work, but I've done International Shipping before.
The I-Beam manual has been excellent. I'm still reading through it and it just gets better and better. Something you'd thoroughly enjoy!
Nathan Parker
StillTruth.com Editor and Mac Specialist
Thanks for the offer Nathan. I'll see what Mo says about the pdf option and work it out from there.
I heard back from David at MP Seminars. Their goal is to have the manuals in a download-able format but they are not near that point yet. He said they would look into seeing if there was a way to reduce shipping costs on a single item. At the moment the cost of shipping two manuals is the same as shipping one, so I'll hang off for a little bit till I can buy two which effectively halves the shipping cost. If you purchase a third manual shipping increases but once again remains static if you order a fourth manual. Shipping per manual works out the same whether I purchase two or four so there is no real benefit in waiting till I could purchase four if I wanted all four manuals they currently offer.
Agreed! Thanks for the review Nathan.