Accountability in your studies

What do you do to maintain personal accountability in your studies? By this I mean what do you do to help you stay on track in your studies. I find it easy to begin a new study but often get sidetracked before I have completed it. I am thinking of starting a blog or even just a personal journal. Also considering finding a study partner and comparing notes. There might be a Faithlife group or another similar website that is designed for this. Are there any Logos books that you recommend? What are your suggestions?

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Dave Hooton

I use Clippings for study. You can 'clip' from resources, add tags, and make your own notes. Keeps me on track.

Lonnie Spencer

What do you do to maintain personal accountability in your studies? By this I mean what do you do to help you stay on track in your studies. I find it easy to begin a new study but often get sidetracked before I have completed it. I am thinking of starting a blog or even just a personal journal. Also considering finding a study partner and comparing notes. There might be a Faithlife group or another similar website that is designed for this. Are there any Logos books that you recommend? What are your suggestions?

Accountability when one is studying on their own is tough. I have a built in accountability in that I have to have a sermon and bible class every Sunday. But not everyone has that, so I realize what you are saying. I probably would have never learned the basics of Greek if it wasn't for the accountability of an online university class. Greek teachers will motivate you to go faster through the material then what you would ever do on your own. Mounce calls it "entering the fog". That's the kind of push that is not there in self guided study. I think you have some wonderful ideas for a study group. My advice is to take some online college level classes that interest you and you will be able to use your Logos software for the homework part and writing papers. Amazing how your money and a grade can keep you on track. I hope you find what you are looking for.

DMB

I doubt you'll like my approach.

I use a calendar, with my daily goals. Then a smiley face, for on-tack, frustrated face for up a tree, and so forth. I quickly see, when I'm getting lazy.

My sports watch does the same, when I'm dragging, which is most of the time.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916143#Comment_916143

I do it by journaling my insights into an electronic journal (mac journal) and from there i clip usually two insights into Facebook daily. when days are going to be impossible for me to do it I try to spend extra time on my studies the day or two before. this works for me partially because I am a bit neurotic and would hate to see blank days... although I did have a few last year when i was in hospital after breaking my femur.

-dan

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916146#Comment_916146

Wonderful thread. We have a big book of books and so many avenues to travel down. Make study itself a priority and set yourself up to do small tasks that propel you forward. Read a book of the Bible, exegete a verse of scripture, do a word study, outline a chapter of the Bible for a bible study group. write a sermon on a verse. All of these can be part of the same book but you can do it so many ways!

And pray! You can't do any of this without His help.

Michael Kinch

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916189#Comment_916189

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. My problem has not been studying, I study everyday. My problem is narrowing down my study, getting on track and staying on track. When I get a new book or I am reminded of something as I study I tend to go on rabbit trails and have numerous studies going on at the same time. The exception to this is when I have to teach a class or preach a sermon, it is easier to stay on track because I know I have to present it at a specific time. So maybe that might be a key: develop a study plan with specific completion dates and determine to stick to it. All of your ideas are great. Now I need to bring them together into a study plan.

Sean

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916203#Comment_916203

So maybe that might be a key: develop a study plan with specific completion dates and determine to stick to it.

I use reading plans for this, try to complete a certain book within a given amount of time. Even if I get behind (which unfortunately has happened a lot this year), it's still there in side panel as a glaring red reminder to get back to it.

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916189#Comment_916189

Wonderful thread.

Agree[Y] This thread has pinpointed that Logos lacks a simple visual interactive tracking method to organize your study goals, tasks and projects within the software. Innovation is needed as the practices of the thread posters are IMHO inadequate and only serve to prove that the software is in need of a solution. The who, what, when and why of the user need to be defined by any proposed solution.

Seeing it organized in a central location with an interactive calendar, visuals that track progress and reminders are essential. Besides reading plans I do not have any satisfactory process to track my study goals within Logos. This is a deficiency that should be addressed.

Lonnie Spencer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916230#Comment_916230

I think this is more a human problem then a Logos problem. I have used reading plans in the past and have never stuck to them. If I want to go down another path I simply ignore the reading plan no matter how much it shows I am behind. There is no accountability to a machine when one can simply turn it off. I have found the human factor is the only accountability plan that will keep a person on track. It's hard for me to argue against the accountability of 41 years of being married to the same person.[:D]

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916203#Comment_916203

When I get a new book or I am reminded of something as I study I tend to go on rabbit trails and have numerous studies going on at the same time.

I have found that rabbit trails often have more appeal than the question at hand, I learned many years ago to keep a legal pad on my desk (and a notepad on my nightstand). When I have a brilliant idea, I write it down for future study then return to the matter at hand (which may be a good night's rest). You could do this by creating a note file of "ideas to research" and create a link in your favorites folder.

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916253#Comment_916253

When I get a new book or I am reminded of something as I study I tend to go on rabbit trails and have numerous studies going on at the same time.

I have found that rabbit trails often have more appeal than the question at hand, I learned many years ago to keep a legal pad on my desk (and a notepad on my nightstand). When I have a brilliant idea, I write it down for future study then return to the matter at hand (which may be a good night's rest). You could do this by creating a note file of "ideas to research" and create a link in your favorites folder.

This is a good approach. In meetings a similar thing can be done where a corner of the whiteboard is boxed off and relevant things that come up but are outside the scope of the current meeting are 'parked' in that box, to be taken up outside the meeting or in a future meeting so as to keep the meeting on track.

Justin Gatlin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916253#Comment_916253

The "Getting Things Done" methodology is similar to what David has said. If you come up with something else you would like to study, put it in a "tickler" file. When you want to find something interesting, go down that list. Every so often (monthly?), go through it and discard things that you no longer think are as important or interesting as they seemed casually.

I think a blog is a great idea, because it will provide accountability whether you want it or not.

It is hard to be more helpful, because I am not sure what you mean by studies. Are you looking at topics, passages, words? What is a normal "study" for you, and what is a realistic, but ambitious goal for the next month/6 months/year.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916274#Comment_916274

What I do is study topics to present in a quaterly fashion. For example, I'll study the Providence of God and write 13 leasons related to that major theme, that way I'm "forced" to work on that major theme until I'm done. And then I move to the next topic and do another 13 lessons on another major theme or find other ways to expand beyond the 13 lessons I already made. Keeps me disciplined and organized.

DAL

Ps. Another way is do an overview sermon of the armor of God and then do single sermons on each piece of the armor of God. Currently, I'm presenting a 17 lesson study on the works of the flesh and then I'll move to the fruit of the Spirit. Maybe later redo the parables of Jesus, etc.

Mr. Victor

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916230#Comment_916230

Wonderful thread.

Agree This thread has pinpointed that Logos lacks a simple visual interactive tracking method to organize your study goals, tasks and projects within the software. Innovation is needed as the practices of the thread posters are IMHO inadequate and only serve to prove that the software is in need of a solution. The who, what, when and why of the user need to be defined by any proposed solution.

Seeing it organized in a central location with an interactive calendar, visuals that track progress and reminders are essential. Besides reading plans I do not have any satisfactory process to track my study goals within Logos. This is a deficiency that should be addressed.

I agree. This would be very helpful! From the small circle of people I know who use Logos, this seems to be a common occurrence to us all. Especially people that use the software mostly for their own personal edification and not for preaching or teaching.

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916364#Comment_916364

My approach is to simply use reading plans which has worked well for me. Combine this with a Faithlife Group and it is even better.

EastTN

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916420#Comment_916420

One approach that I've found helpful for practicing a musical instrument, exercising - and studying - is simply to commit to spending some time with it each day. I don't focus on how long. Some days everything clicks, and I really get into it. Other days I'm tired, or my head's in a different place, and I allow myself to quit when I feel like it. This seems, for me at least, to be an effective way of avoiding burnout. If I tell myself that I have to practice for an hour every day, it becomes a burden. If I tell myself that I'm going to sit down and play a little something every day, it isn't.

I'm sure I'm just playing head games with myself, but I'm just gullible enough for it to work.

[:D]

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916451#Comment_916451

Plan or not, spending time reading Scripture yields a focus that cannot be found any other way. The more you do it, the greater the reward in life and ministry.

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916474#Comment_916474

Plan or not, spending time reading Scripture yields a focus that cannot be found any other way. The more you do it, the greater the reward in life and ministry.

[Y]

Liam Maguire

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916451#Comment_916451

I'm sure I'm just playing head games with myself, but I'm just gullible enough for it to work.

Not at all! Knowing how you 'tick' is half the battle, I think. I employ a system in my study where I break down big tasks into lots of ridiculously easy targets. I do this because I know that I'll be able to knock off several of them quickly which motivates me to press on. For example, All of my logos reading plans for books are set so that I only have to read between 1-2 pages per day, even though I know I can get through 6-10 in a fairly average reading session, 30-40 on a really good day. However, regularly clicking that little 'read' link and seeing the date click up makes me feel like I am progressing well and keeps me motivated. It feels achievable and so I achieve it.

In this way, I intentionally play myself off against myself for my good and God's glory. As the old saying goes, those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

“Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:26–27, NIV)

EastTN

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/916542#Comment_916542

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Not at all! Knowing how you 'tick' is half the battle, I think. I employ a system in my study where I break down big tasks into lots of ridiculously easy targets. I do this because I know that I'll be able to knock off several of them quickly which motivates me to press on. For example, All of my logos reading plans for books are set so that I only have to read between 1-2 pages per day, even though I know I can get through 6-10 in a fairly average reading session, 30-40 on a really good day. However, regularly clicking that little 'read' link and seeing the date click up makes me feel like I am progressing well and keeps me motivated. It feels achievable and so I achieve it.

In this way, I intentionally play myself off against myself for my good and God's glory. As the old saying goes, those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Thanks for sharing - that sounds like a great system!