How Extensively Do You Use Logos 5 in Your Pastoral Ministry?

I'm curious -- how extensively do you use Logos 5 in your pastoral ministry? Currently I use it occasionally for Bible study prep and sermon prep. I have the tutorials to learn how to use more of the features, but I'm wondering if watching the tutorials will be worth the investment of time.

I also have some excess professional expense money here at the end of 2013. I could upgrade to a package beyond the minimum, but if I'm not going to use it much why do so?

There may also be some here who initially used Logos just a bit, then discovered it was much more helpful than you thought. I'd enjoy hearing your story.

Blessings,

David B.

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Rich DeRuiter

I'm curious -- how extensively do you use Logos 5 in your pastoral ministry?

Logos is my main way of preparing for both Bible studies and messages. I recently moved and am discarding or selling a large portion of my paper library -- it just doesn't compare with what Logos can do, and by the time I reach behind me for a commentary, and open to the right page, I can read 2 or three commentaries on the same verse (depending on the commentary, of course).

I've been using Logos as my main Bible study tool for about 20 years. I don't see myself going back to paper books. Ever.

In terms of upgrading, the most cost efficient way to build a library is by upgrading to the next base package. But it may make sense, depending on how much you have to spend, and how you work, to consider a more a la carte approach. As for me and my house...I like to build on language resources, commentaries and Bible dictionaries first.

Christopher Engelsma

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/543239#Comment_543239

It is virtually the only thing I use for any kind of Biblical or theological research, sermon prep, etc.. I have very few paper books left. This software is so phenomenally powerful, that the more you use it, the more you discover. If you can afford it, I wouldn't even think twice.

Mark Smith

David, it is about 95% of my preparation for sermons and Bible studies. It only became that by slowly replacing my paper books for their Logos equivalents. I took that route because of the increased amount I could get done in the same time using Logos. If you have only a lower end package that will restrict you. I have the Platinum package. Currently the Gold package would be my lowest recommendation for a pastor. I don't recommend Diamond of Portfolio over using that same money to buy additional commentaries, dictionaries, and lexicons. Those packages have too much I wouldn't use. Better spent on stuff I will use.

Rosie Perera

I'm wondering if watching the tutorials will be worth the investment of time.

Both the free tutorials by Logos MVP Mark Barnes (http://www.logosbiblesoftwaretraining.com) and the Camp Logos videos by Morris Proctor (https://www.logos.com/product/31475/camp-logos-dvd-rom) are well worth your time watching. Note that Mark's earlier videos are all based on Logos 4, but Logos 5 has the same user interface and those videos are still 100% applicable in Logos 5. He explains the differences between Logos 4 and Logos 5 in one particular video.

Greg Corbin

I use Logos extensively every week as a busy Senior Pastor who prepares at least two messages each week. In addition, I use Logos for my personal devotional time either on my laptop or my iPad. Basically, I do not use paper Bibles except when I am speaking. Just cant' bring myself to preach totally from an iPad! I agree with the gentleman who advised you to upgrade - but only to a point. In my opinion the upgrades are a very good deal up through the point to where you get original language tools you will use and very useful commentary sets (such as the New American Commentary). There are a number of extremely valuable resources that every pastor should have in Logos but are not in any base package. These include commentaries such as the Tyndale Commentaries, Expositor's Bible Commentary, and the Word Biblical Commentary. In addition, the ISBE is a must have that I use every single week. None of these resources are terribly expensive (particularly if you catch WBC on a good sale). After you reach a certain level of package, I would recommend that you evaluate what you would really use in a bigger package versus resources like these that you will definitely use each and every week.

Hope this helps. The bottom line is that Logos is a great program that I am thankful for immensely. It blesses me almost every single day of my life and minsitry!

Kenneth Neighoff

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/543313#Comment_543313

I use Logos exclusively as I prepare for preaching each week. Also I use it for weekly Bible Study.

It is a joy to use Logos to prepare lectures for the two yearly classes I teach as an adjunct professor in Bible and Theology.

David R. Bess

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/543313#Comment_543313

Yes Greg, your comments in particular help. When I do use Logos now, I draw heavily upon the commentaries. The downside with the base packages is that you get a lot of books you don't want. The upside is that the books you do want are cheaper than what they would be separately. I'll just have to see what I really want then do the math. [:)]

DAL

My mistake when I bought it (2004) was just trying to figure it out on my own; so the inevitable happened - I got a little frustrated and stopped using it for a while. I ended up selling my QB package. Then 3 years later, more or less, the Spanish package caught my attention because it had several books my dad used to own when I was a kid. Then the English packages had evolved to series X and had more to offer. So watching the Logos introduction video and tutorials I realized, I had to get back in the Logos wagon and sure enough I did. I learned to get more out of it and though certain circumstances have made me sell some of my library in the past, I still have L5 Silver package and other books and sets I purchased that still make Logos my number 1 Bible software that I go to for personal study or lesson prep. I always recommend it and even got my brother into it and in turn he got several of his students into it. So it takes time, but it'll pay off once you've gone over the tutorials and put into practice what you've learned.

DAL

Andy

Hi David,

I am a bi-vocational pastor of a church in the North West of England. I am one of a team of four pastors.

I have been using Logos since just prior to the launch of L4.

I find that I use Logos on a daily basis for devotions, reading and general bible study. I also use Logos to plan and prepare sermons, Bible studies, teaching programmes and to research and write positional papers. As others have shared, I have gradually migrated from paper to electronic and would estimate that 95% of my study is now based around electronic resources within Logos.

Our church also migrated to Proclaim which is now an integral part of my workflow when preparing sermons. I generally preach from an iPad and my paper Bible. In my preparation, I am able to send my references directly from Logos and into Proclaim. Proclaim enables me to control the presentation from the front and view my personal notes alongside the slides displayed on the main screen.

With regards to L5, due to the time saved by having countless resources indexed and ordered (via the passage guides, etc.), I have found that my research is both richer and more productive. In this respect, Logos has been a fantastic investment.

I started off with Scholars Gold in L3, upgraded to Platinum with L4 and then Portfolio with L5. I agree with Mark Smith's observation that packages above Platinum may not represent good value for everyone (depending upon interests, needs and existing resources). However, I managed to upgrade at a discount and a number of items on my wishlist were included in Portfolio which made the upgrade worthwhile (the cost of the items on my wishlist significantly exceeded the cost of upgrade). I agree with Mark that you would probably want to go for at least Gold should this prove affordable.

Blessings,

[:D]

Mark Barnes

I too use Logos almost exclusively both for my weekly sermon prep, and for academic study. My use of it has increased year on year as more and more of the commentaries and other resources that I need become available in Logos. As others have implied, I'm almost reaching the point where if a commentary doesn't exist in Logos, then it doesn't exist at all.

By the way, If you're thinking of upgrading your base package, you might find my buyer's guide useful: http://www.logosbiblesoftwaretraining.com/documents/logos-5-buyers-guide/

Graham Criddle

There's a common idea appearing here[:)]

I use Logos extensively on a daily basis

I use it for personal devotions
I use if to reading plans - I am normally working through three or four books at a time
I use it for sermon preparation each week
I use it for preparing various talks at different meetings / activities I am involved in
I use it for my academic studies

Virtually all of the resources I use are within Logos - I have probably bought less than five paper books in the last couple of years and don't like doing so as they are not part of my study environment.

I preach from an iPad and have recently started doing so from within the Logos notes environment - with a Bible open on one part of the screen and a notes document open in another.

tom

I'm curious -- how extensively do you use Logos 5 in your pastoral ministry?

When I spent some time in the parish, I used it for bible study and sermon prep. Now that I am in a hospice setting, almost never.

KJ Niblett

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/543437#Comment_543437

As a Senior Pastor I use Logos for several different things.

Firstly it is my primary tool in sermon preparation every week. This has taken my messages to the next level as I am able to do the requisite ground work to understand the text and communicate this to my church.

Secondly; I also prepare a radio teaching show where Logos is my primary research tool.

I also use it for writing academic papers for a course of studies I am doing.

And it is great for preparing and writing bible study courses for groups in my church.

Stephen Miller

David,

I am a long time user of Logos and I use it more and more.

My routine is to preach systematically through a Bible book. I translate the passage for the week myself and out that translation on the Sunday bulletin.

Each week this translation is done on a train (I call it "trainslating") as I go on a bike ride.

With Logos I am able to print off the Greek/Hebrew passage and a few other pages for easy carrying on the train and bike.

Once I have the passage "trainslated" the fun with Logos is only just beginning.

My only problem with Logos is that I keep on buying books!!

Stephen Miller

Sydney, Australia

Dennis Hilario

I am using Logos 5 almost 95% in my sermon preparation and bible study. I like the portability of Logos. I can bring my entire library wherever I go. Major reason is - importing paper books (to where I am currently located) is twice as expensive as the electronic book from Logos. You can easily perform parallel study of different commentaries, etc. of the same book. The Search function is a plus.

Raymund Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/543569#Comment_543569

hi there,

I am pretty new to Logos. I felt I was led to this by the Holy Spirit to help me in my ministry. As the coordinator our our Charismatic prayer group in my parish, I started to give talks recently. I am beginning to revel in the tools provided. I am still very 'green' and finding my way around, but it has been most helpful. So, for me, in preparing for my talk, I use Logos at least 90% of the time.

ray

Brad

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/543313#Comment_543313

Greg, is that the '79-'95 revised ISBE that you use weekly, or the 1915 edition?

Lynden O. Williams

I use it everyday. Pick up paper when the resource is not in Logos.

Lynden O. Williams

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/543584#Comment_543584

I am still very 'green' and finding my way around

Have you looked at the videos? https://www.logos.com/training and their Youtube channel for even more videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/LogosBibleSoftware

Bob Schlessman

Well, I haven't posted on the forums in quite some time, but here is my two cents worth.

I first began using Logos with version 2 over 7 years ago. I can't recall the last time I used a paper book in my sermon prep. I have the Logos copies of all my favorite commentaries and bibles. The languages tools are unparalleled and I have a three monitor setup on which I can easily fit six different books at the same time. I can do so much more in less time than several years ago when I had books sprawled all across the dining room table as I worked on my sermons. It's much neater too.

I've recently began packing most of my paper books to move to the church library for use by our members. Most of the congregation are senior citizens who don't even own computers, or they use them very minimally. Hard to imagine, but here in rural Illinois there are still many folks who don't have much use for technology.

But for myself, I rely on Logos for about 90% of my work and personal study. The other 10% relates to topics for which Logos has no books, or I don't own them.

Greg Corbin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/543612#Comment_543612

It's the 79-95 version. For the money, it will be one of the most valuable resources in your library.

Mike Childs

I use Logos for about 90% of my Bible Study and Sermon Preparation, which is to say that I use it many times daily. I study the Scripture passages in Logos, using Logos to do inductive Bible study. After my sermon / study is about 90% done, I may search outside Logos for the right illustrations, etc.