Logos in a congregation?

I would like to know if anyone has had much experience encouraging average church members to purchase Logos. I realize many here in the forums are preachers, teachers, and ministers. I want to start aggressively encouraging the average members to dig deeper using these tools. I would like to discuss the following issues;

1. What package is best suited for the average member?

2. Have you conducted any training classes to help them learn?

3. What objections or resistance have you encountered to the average member adopting these types of tools?

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Comments

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284658#Comment_284658

alabama24 ... I hope you know we're just discussing; not being critical or anything.

Denise -

I was just making sure you didn't think I was being offensive. I took no offense at your comments. [:)]

I am forever amazed at the interest of people, once you get past their 'reserve'. I'm even more amazed in a Bible class, how talkative and animated people become, once 'the right answer' isn't on the table.

My comments were not aimed at what "should" be or what "could" be, but rather my personal observations. If I didn't think people could be changed, I would not be in ministry [:)]

I popped up a religious comment, only to be surprised at how well versed our Catholic friends were.

I have often found the same to be true.

I'd bet they're a lot more interested than anyone would expect. And if Logos were overlayed with 'their world' (the way they study), I'd bet they be customers.

I agree wholeheartedly! Much of my comments were pragmatic in nature - i.e. "How do I 'sell' Logos to my parishioners." In my opinion, Logos is a great product and speaks for itself. The trick is to find a good way to introduce it to others. If you can get people reading a Vyrso book through the free engine, with PBB study notes, many will want more. Of course, I loved Pastor Bill's technique of teaching with Logos open via projector. I could see myself doing that in the right environment.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284665#Comment_284665

Of course, I loved Pastor Bill's technique of teaching with Logos open via projector.

Related question is: What can be done using Logos Bible Software that cannot be duplicated with an internet search ?

One Logos 4 example is morphology visual filter highlighting. Looking forward to Logos mobile sync of highlighting, notes, and Personal Books that consistently works in a timely manner (ideally within a minute between mobile device and Logos 4).

Another Logos 4 example is Bible Word Study tool to explore range of word meaning and usage.

Thankful for "+" to quickly open a similar resource containing Bible reference.

Thankful can search for many items without pop-up advertising (and quickly find articles in digital library).

Thankful Logos 4 can be used on a laptop without internet access.

Keep Smiling [:)]

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284681#Comment_284681

I've basically given my view of how to spread Logos in a congregation at http://community.logos.com/forums/t/38015.aspx

More generically, the factors that need to be considered are:

How to make it appealing financially i.e. not more than they spent on books or recreation
How to make it simple as well as relevant - not overwhelming
How to make it useful for daily use (mobile with devotions/prayer books/reading plans)
How to make it relate directly with their experience of church (PB's of sermons and education)
How to encourage considering expanding library (annual subscription items)
How to make it encourage reading Scripture (short term reading plans)

Put another way, one doesn't encourage someone to learn to swim by dropping them off the high dive board On the other hand, if you're teaching them to swim you don't give up because they aren't swimming already.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284681#Comment_284681

Here's a rather no-brainer approach. If you buy one of the better ESV bibles, there's a free software offer for a basic Logos 3 installation. Almost anyone can get one of these bibles for relatively little money and get a chance to try Logos out. The other alternative is to get one of the popular library discs. I started with the MacArthur one I bought from Grace to You.

I realize that one of the popular freeware programs would satisfy most people in a congregation, but Logos is like a good leather bible--it seems to be of increasing value as you use it. Considering that you can have a Logos 4 package for about the same money as you'd now spend on a real good leather bible, it's not hard to justify.

Mark Watson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284521#Comment_284521

Michael,

At the last church I pastored, I purchased 10 copies of Libronix 3 based eBible software for $19.95 each and passed out to ten persons in a Bible Study class with older computers. Worked well for me to introduce persons to Logos as a company and gave them some basic tools cheaper than they could have purchased in print at the local Christian bookstores.

I was at a certain Christian bookstore the other day and noticed that they have Jon Courson's eBible collection on sale that works in Logos 3. - Just FYI.

Mark

Glenn F

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284681#Comment_284681

Thankful Logos 4 can be used on a laptop without internet access.

A big AMEN to that!! [Y][Y][Y] I do not have internet access most nights, so it would be useless to me without this capability.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284698#Comment_284698

If you buy one of the better ESV bibles, there's a free software offer for a basic Logos 3 installation.

Would never fly in my world ... ESV is rarely mentioned.

Greg Corbin

Interestingly, my experience has proven to the be opposite of many. After many years happily using a cheaper and inferior Bible software, I "discovered" Logos in 2008 and my Bible study world has not been the same since! Surprisingly, I encountered a number of laypeople in our church who use Logos - some of whom have larger libraries than I do (and I have 1200+ volumes/Gold package). Last year, we hosted a Camp Logos and had many laypeople attend from our church and other churches in the area - probably at least 1/3 were not professional ministers.

This trend is likely due to the fact that I serve in an area (Huntsville, Alabama) that is home to many highly educated, high-tech professional scientists, engineers, etc. I am amazed at the hunger for learning and depth of study among some of our laypeople. Many of them make their living with their mind and they carry that over to anything they are involved with.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284995#Comment_284995

I serve in an area (Huntsville, Alabama) that is home to many highly educated, high-tech professional scientists, engineers, etc.

Greg -

My family is from Huntsville, and although I grew up elsewhere, I consider it a "second home."

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284995#Comment_284995

This trend is likely due to the fact that I serve in an area (Huntsville, Alabama) that is home to many highly educated, high-tech professional scientists, engineers, etc. I am amazed at the hunger for learning and depth of study among some of our laypeople. Many of them make their living with their mind and they carry that over to anything they are involved with.

My brother spent a few years as one of those Huntsville engineers - if he studied anything it was in depth. My experience is close to yours being in a University town with a number of young Microsoft couples in our parish ... which works wonders for our ability to minister to the poor.[:D]

Ken McGuire

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/285030#Comment_285030

To those of you who are blessed with communities who want to deeply study the Bible, engaging all our selves in the process, I say you are lucky indeed. Too many times I have been in places where "I think" is the final justification for everything and so no one can actually convince anyone of anything. I am probably being a bit too bitter to put it that way, but there is certainly a bit of that element...

I am now in a community which seems to be quite different. Not perfect, but they do care about deeply engaging the Bible. They have an attached school and I spoke a bit with the Jr. High teacher about Bible Software. From dealing with students over the years he sees that few will ever really read books for pleasure like my generation can and does and so we should go to computerized tools to reach the next generation. Our church publisher (Concordia Publishing House) supports Logos. This SHOULD be a relatively easy sale.

The problem is that there are "good enough" free software sources out there. To pick one example, ESword includes ESV (which is our standard translation) and the classic Lutheran Old Testament set of Keil and Delitzsch. I think it is a case of free ones are "good enough", especially for small budgets.

I know that Logos wants the bigger market because of how expensive support is for them. But it is really hard to convince people to give it a try.

Rev Chris

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/285089#Comment_285089

The problem is that there are "good enough" free software sources out there. To pick one example, ESword includes ESV (which is our standard translation) and the classic Lutheran Old Testament set of Keil and Delitzsch. I think it is a case of free ones are "good enough", especially for small budgets.

E-Sword is not exactly *free*. It was my first experience with electronic Bible tools and they do have several free resources. However, for the most popular Bible translations or other resources, you are required to pay for the license through their partner site. Logos is no different in this regard - they have a free engine that anyone can download, and several free resources, including the Lexham English Bible, which is a New Testament only Bible. The only argument I see worth making is that Logos should offer more free resources. Of course, it would require them seeing those resources as loss leaders, since I'm guessing royalties would still need to be paid. Not sure how E-Sword manages to get away with this.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284464#Comment_284464

Or, could you set up Logos on a church library computer? Not sure if the licensing allows that or not, but it would allow people to take a look at it for free...
Logos offers on individual licensing...so putting it on a church library computer would not be permitted under the licensing agreement.This has been mentioned in the forums before.
My bad ... well, it was just a thought

That is not a bad idea. It is just not allowed. There is a great potential for abuse. There are a few major seminaries that already violate the Libronix 3 license agreement. I found them by checking their library holdings.

If only there were a way to offer Logos through a site license without jeopardizing individual sales. [C]

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/284509#Comment_284509

Ah, now I see. Nope, I'm a Micheal Card fan and one of his songs uses the basin and towel as a call to serve one another.

I have Free-Will Baptist friends who also practice footwashing. I imagine it would be hard to wash a brother's feet if you harbor animosity or guilt in your heart.

Sorry for replying to an off-topic topic. I've always thought footwashing is a humble expression of love for the church.

Will Scholten

Hi Michael

I bought the Scholars on Christmas eve 2009

My wife & I were volunteer high shool youth leaders, and at a convention in '09 we were incouraged to teach our kids how to dig deeper, so I started looking at different programs, then the denomenation I belonged to made some decissions I didn't think were right (I won't go into that).So now I was looking for a program with many resourses, because I didn't want some one to tell me I was wrong and then buying another program. So I bought Logos did my research and decided to leave that denomination within 30 days of buying Logos. Now I had to decide what I was going to do with Logos keep it or return it. I decided to keep it and am very glad I did. I try to talk some of my friends into buying it, but no luck. One thing that helped me keep it was I told myself I was 50 years old and I could invest vestment would cost me $10.00 for each year I was alive. What a GREAT investment it has been and now I keep adding to it with CP.

I just don't know how to get people to buy it