Subscribers: I am interested in your thoughts on Bible Study Magazine. I am considering a subscription.
I have been a subscriber since the magazine started. I have been very impressed with each issue. Incredible interviews with top christian speakers, bible studies of various books, book reviews, etc. etc. Interesting articles too on various books of the bible.
I don't want to sound like a commercial, but I do honestly eagerly await each bi-monthly issue. I think that you can look at article previews at http://www.biblestudymagazine.com/preview/ I have also been impressed at the reasonable price for a subscription.
TO sum up, I think it is well worth it!!
I enjoy it for the most part. I too have been a subscriber since it started. I am a layperson who has been truly reading and studying for about five years. I can see how it may not be as useful for someone who had dedicated years of study in an educational system such as seminary or university.
My only cons are:
1) It really does not go in depth (if at all) how to better your study using Logos software. Sometimes it will scratch the surface, but that is about it. Tips on how to use features that help with a particular study is what I expected but did not really get.
2) I truly am not a big fan of the interviews, but, in all honesty, I am not as charismatic or as evangelical as most others are. It is just me. If you enjoy listening/reading the works of the people who are featured, then you will obviously enjoy the articles!
Note: Please do not think that I am in any way dismissing the men or women of God that are featured. I am not. I guess that we all have our personal tastes. [:D]
Aaron, I do enjoy much of the magazine, as does my wife as she wanted her own subscription. I do agree that I don't always agree with the interviews - which I have commented to John Barry regarding my concerns - which I received very nice explanations as to their reasoning. They try to get a cross-section of Christianity.
So I take in the hay and spit out the stubble. One thing I do enjoy is it provides at least a challenge on what I believe to get me to dig deeper to either prove what is said is true or not.
Anything that can have the effect of challenging me to dig into God's Word is a good thing for me personally.
Its a professional looking magazine, looks sharp and as with most magazines has a lot of advertising.
As for really good Bible study techniques, it shows little as one of the other posters mentioned.
A lot of interviews, which i could live without.
What they really missed out on is the opportunity to teach some in depth training on how to use the Software (there are bits and pieces, but not much depth).
I had it for a year and let my subscription lapse.
Others may have a better opinion (i'm sure they do) and are into the genre of this kind of magazine.
I subscribed, but was disappointed, and gave subsequent copies away. I'm not quite sure what I was expected from the magazine, but I guess, a bit like Steve, I was expected some really in depth how-to's. (But not how-to's with regard to the software, as we were explicitly told the magazine wasn't for that purpose, more how-to's in terms of Bible study.) An example of the sort of thing I expected would be something like this article: http://www.logos.com/ugaritic
Aaron,
I have subscribed to it since day 1. I recommend it to everyone. I suppose its downfall is that a) it is a magazine, and b) It is targeted to all Bible study enthusiasts. It is neither purely academic, nor beginner level. As a result, a magazine can only go so far each month, AND, some people are not going to like the surface interviews while others won't quite understand the more in depth articles.
That said, the magazine has much to commend it, and would be worthy in hands of clergy and laymen alike. I have an M. Div myself, but I enjoy the short and insightful articles--some of them reminders of things I have studied, other things that are new to me.
Some things I have enjoyed:
There is more, I just don't have the issues in front of me. I also wish these would be available online. The charts would make terrific PowerPoints
Re: "study methods/techniques"
I personally am glad for this magazine, one that can be read anywhere one reads magazines ([:@][:$]), adding something new to what is usually about politics, food, or getting in shape, in the old magazine holder.
Even though I enjoy it personally, I now can recommend it to fellow Christians at church--and together we can discuss what they are reading.
Just some thoughts. I think it is worth it. Just don't expect it to be JBL or Biblioteca Sacra, and you should be fine. [:)]
The charts would make terrific PowerPoints
I agree, I would LOVE to be able to use the charts in a PowerPoint...I'm making my own currently (based on what I get from the magazine) and they just don't look quite the same as the ones in the mag.
I would also recommend the Magazine! I don't always bother with the interviews, but my wife really enjoys the bible studies and they are well done. If you go in recognizing the magazine for what it is, it will be worth the investment...
I have been a subscriber from the 1st issue.
I think many of us, as Logos users, anticipated something related to our Logos software.
That is not the purpose of the magazine.
I was initially disappointed in the magazine and renewed a little reluctantly.
I think the magazine has improved and I have also altered my expectations.
I will probably renew again.
Aaron, with a last name like that, you KNOW this guy's recommendation is as good as gold! [*]
I subscribed, but was disappointed, and gave subsequent copies away
My experience was similar to Mark's. I was disappointed that the Bible studies seemed superficial to me. I am pleased that others have found the magazine to be more useful.
I subscribed the first year, but let it lapse with no intention of resubscribing.
Like others, I too considered it to be rather superficial, but know that many would consider it to meet their needs.
The target audience is the lay person who is not necessarily a Bible software user. Seems like a way to generate interest in Bible study, but not really a magazine about how to do serious, scholarly study.
That said, I enjoy it as a casual read and have been inspired to teach on some of the topics using a little of the info but going deeper as I see fit.
Usually the best articles are not the highly publicized cover stories or series but the one shot article from a little known author.
I read it cover to cover each month but am a little behind with two issue awaiting their turn in my reading line up.
I subscribed in the fall last year. I know that it appears that many have been disappointed with the magazine, but there was never a promise that it was intended to be used with the Logos software. I believe the intention was to be a completely separate product for those that don't use the software. I have; however, found that much of the content uses the Logos Infographics and in many cases you can see where they have used their own tools to put the magazine together.
As far as the Bible study content, the eight week studies based in various books and epistles of the Bible are quite helpful to spur on further study. Some of the insights provided by the article writers do occasionally point to something not seen before.
The articles from Christian leaders can also give some insight and promote further study. In particular, I enjoyed the article/interview recently with Ed Stetzer who has much to say about the current state of the church.
I would and have recommended the magazine to laypersons in particular that may be struggling with how to get started in study. There have been quite a few concise tools provided to help hone study habits and techniques.
I hope this is helpful.
I first subscribed to it as a present to my wife (since she didn't seem to be using her bass boat from last year much, or the shotgun from the year earlier).[:P]
I have since renewed it for myself; it is a light read, but I've found it timely as a teaching aide and material for bus rides/etc. I was surprised how print-oriented it is (especially the advertising) and that it is not a tutorial for L4 (although the end of this last issue gave study tips that imply using L4 to follow them).
If I had to trim a cost WRT bible study magazines, I'd probably cut here since I've found another one that offers deeper study--although too deep sometimes for the time I can allot to yet another thing to study [;)] It isn't expensive, and probably worth a first year's subscription to see if it scratches an itch.
Back in the beginning when it was first launched and we were contributing to a similar thread, I was suggesting that they have a Logos Bible Software section issue which teaches you tips on how to use the software especially in relation to any of the topics of the magazine.
Whilst the magazine was not fully what I expected, I have kept my subscription and find it as a nice light and easy read which I can pull out in the evening when I just need to unwind. I would agree with others though, the interviews are probably my least favourite though.
