Small Group Logos recommendation...

Hello all.

I am a part time small groups coordinator and part of my job is to write weekly sermon based small group lessons. I have been looking at picking up a Logos package but am unsure which would be the best fit for my role. The structure of the lesson includes:

Icebreakers

Context/Discussion Questions

Application Questions

For the small group pastors out there that have a similar role, what resources from Logos do you use the most? I am thinking about either the Starter or Bronze package, what is your recommendation and why? I do not want to purchase more resources than necessary and I am not even sure if Logos is the best route for my situation at this time.

Thank you for your time. I appreciate your responses.

Brad

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David Thomas

I own Logos, use it daily and love its resources, but for what you are describing I use http://www.lessonmaker8.com/

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464033#Comment_464033

I tried the Youth and Complete -links, and those two links are not working:

I use http://www.lessonmaker8.com/

I think Bronze is somewhat good. Do You know languages? Most Logos base-packages have sufficient language resources for a start and a couple of grammars can be added cheap. You may want to add Greek New Testament Insert if it doesn't come with the base-package. However the lower base-packages Starter and Bronze are not that complete/diverse, they lack quality resources on Church, have few on Psychology.

I would add:

What You Should Know about Social Responsibility
A Complete Guide to Sermon Delivery

Very few titles are totally worthless, such as: Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament. BUT for Your needs Starter might very well be sufficient, Bronze has somewhat many books. I would say that Bronze, despite being a low base-package, is a foundation for serious studies IF You add a bunch of resources to it.

Unlike some competing softwares there are some very useful resources in all base-packages, such as:
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition

I should admit that I haven't looked at Starter - as it wasn't an option for me (nor was most of the L4 base-packages below OLL and Scholar's).

Room4more

Hello all.

I am a part time small groups coordinator and part of my job is to write weekly sermon based small group lessons. I have been looking at picking up a Logos package but am unsure which would be the best fit for my role. The structure of the lesson includes:

Icebreakers

Context/Discussion Questions

Application Questions

For the small group pastors out there that have a similar role, what resources from Logos do you use the most? I am thinking about either the Starter or Bronze package, what is your recommendation and why? I do not want to purchase more resources than necessary and I am not even sure if Logos is the best route for my situation at this time.

Thank you for your time. I appreciate your responses.

Brad

Lessonmmaker would be good, but what are you using NOW?

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464043#Comment_464043

I tried the Youth and Complete -links

try this link - https://www.wordsearchbible.com/products/15977

NOTE: it should be emphasized that I am NOT recommending WS in place of Logos! I use Logos for all my study and sermon prep. I only use Lessonmaker to suggest discussion questions for small groups. A feature that I have not found in any Logos resource.

Brad Himes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464065#Comment_464065

Thank you for the replies. It sounds like lessonmaker8 would fit my needs better at this time.

Logos sounds great if I was teaching or giving a presentation, but as I mentioned in my original post I am looking for more material to create lessons. Currently I am using the Serendipity NIV Bible, Quest NIV Bible, a few different commentaries, lesson makers, specific small group studies, and other sources that have questions on various passages.

All of my resources are in book form as I am not using any particular software. I was recommended Logos by a minister at church but I hate to spend several hundred dollars and not gain many resources I would actually use for my current role. I'm a Dave Ramsey FPU guy so I have to see the value to justify the cost before buying.

If anyone else would like to offer insight from their experience of lesson making please continue to post.

Thanks everyone,

Brad

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464303#Comment_464303

It sounds like lessonmaker8 would fit my needs better at this time.

Are they even making it anymore? The links were all broken…

I am looking for more material to create lessons.

Are you looking for curriculum? Have you checked out Vyrso (which is owned by Logos)?

NB.Mick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464065#Comment_464065

try this link ..... it should be emphasized that I am NOT recommending WS in place of Logos!

David,

the forum rules allow speaking of competitor's products, however Logos asked us to refrain from linking to their sites (one reason: it will increase those companies' google search rank if they are linked from a high-quality, high-frequency place like this forum) - you might want to edit your post and make the link portion into some text that doesn't link.

Mick

NB.Mick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464303#Comment_464303

All of my resources are in book form as I am not using any particular software. ... I have to see the value to justify the cost before buying.

I don't see any real benefit for someone who has all his resources in paper format and is happy with that to buy a software at all. If it was my take, I'd create myself a good template in Word and fill it with the respective stuff.

On the other hand, there's a lot of material in Logos that is free or very cost efficient and might help to research the material in the firstplace - I'm thinking of the free L5 engine, of the Faithlife Study Bible (including a scholarly dictionary, cool infographics, maps and photos) and the free books. If this then makes for a good lesson, I'd either export the stuff to Word (if I had that template) or try the - somewhat cumbersome, I admit - L5 Handout feature.

Hope this helps,

Mick

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464312#Comment_464312

you might want to edit your post and make the link portion into some text that doesn't link.

I did not mean to violate forum rules. I just tried to edit my post and it is too old. I clicked on "more" and edit is not an option. My apologies for violating policy. If the Forum Administrator would like to make NB.Mick's suggested edits, I would be grateful.

Danny Parker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464317#Comment_464317

The best source I have found for question starters is the lesson maker package - especially Life Change from Navpress and the base set of questions from lesson maker itself. It is about all I use that other package for anymore. I wish these Bible studies were in Logos. Serendipity BIble also is a decent source of questions (may only be available in hard book format).

However, these question sources do not take the place of the personal study that needs to accompany building a bible study. Thus, I find Logos essential. I do the Bible study research on the passages I plan to cover in Logos. Once I have done the study, I have a good idea of the essential ideas that need to be uncovered/contemplated during the group study. I generally can develop a set of questions just based on my personal study. Then I go to the lesson maker questions for ideas of questions to include and/or better ways to frame the questions. I use the questions like I use commentaries - I do the research, come up with my conclusions, then use these secondary resources to build/challenge/confirm my own ideas.

I do reference Charles Stanley and MacArthur study guides/questions (which are in Logos) on occasion. Some of the application focused commentaries also provide a wealth of ideas for questions - NT Wright For Everyone commentary set, A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary set. Of course the wealth of background material in good Bible dictionaries (Anchor, ISBE, or the more concise New Bible Dictionary) are essential.

I would recommend focusing on long-term Bible study software (Logos) that will continue to bring value regardless of future ministry. Then supplement that with specific helps for your current ministry.
Why software when someone has hard books? Speed/ease of research. Easy copy/paste to create lessons/sermons. Over the years I have duplicated almost my entire library (fairly extensive I might add) in Logos. I typically do tons more research than I ever did before - usually in less time. And the process of actually putting things on paper is greatly reduced as well.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464308#Comment_464308

If you click on LessonMaker8 to purchase, that takes you over to WordSearchBible. But at that point you have to know your stuff, since the site is one big mystery. Only by clicking around do you find out they sell stuff.

One of the major errors of the internet age is letting internet developers do the development. They get so used to what they know, they forget about what their customers don't know. I'm not looking forward to shopping on Accordance for the same reason.

But for the OP's question, I'd think FaithLife is the platform of choice.

Danny Parker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464332#Comment_464332

One further thought. I view Bible study software as a lifetime investment. I began my Bible software investments in the 80s with CDWord which has become Logos through many morphs. Because the right passage serves a multitude of purposes (all of which are spiritual and eternal) the bang for the buck is very profound. I have wasted money on a lot of passing/decaying items over the years. My Bible software package does not fit in the category. It has been the one constant through the years that I continually glean from.

Of course buying books needs to be controlled as well - I admit it is an area that is addictive. My name is Danny, I am a bookaholic.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464337#Comment_464337

My name is Danny, I am a bookaholic.

Hi Danny. Welcome to the club. [:)]

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464332#Comment_464332

I do reference Charles Stanley and MacArthur study guides/questions (which are in Logos) on occasion

Great addition to the conversation!