Faithlife Blog

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Get Your Bible Study Online with Faithlife

Summer’s here, which makes this the perfect time to gather a church group or a collection of online friends for Bible study.

Start by combining the Faithlife Study Bible (which you can get for free) with Faithlife Groups, and you’ll get all the tools you need to put together a powerful study for people who can’t regularly get together.

One church has already done this and seen amazing results! To let you in on their secret, Torn Curtain Church in Greenville, South Carolina put together a video that walks you through getting involved in their Colossians study:

Are you, your church, or your friends using a Faithlife Group? Leave us a comment and tell us about it.

Download the Faithlife Study Bible, and start your own group today!

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3 Ways to Uncover Biblical Themes

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The key to understanding a Scripture passage is often to first understand the larger theme of the book it’s in. Commentaries or study Bibles may point out major themes for you, but you can find them yourself if you know where to look. Here are three ways to find a biblical book’s theme:

  1. Read through the opening and closing paragraphs of a book. The writer may leave a clue for you in the opening or closing paragraph of a book. This is especially common in the epistles. If you notice a common theme in both the opening and closing paragraphs, you know you’re on to something. For example, Peter speaks to the process of growing “in the knowledge of God” in the first and last paragraph of 2 Peter. This theme ties together everything in between. Study 2 Peter with that in mind, and many complex passages become easier to unravel.
  2. Look for repeated words, phrases, or ideas. Remember that when the biblical writers penned Scripture, emphasis markings like bold, italics, and underlining were not used because they took up valuable space on the page. Romans 8, a well-known passage, draws special attention to the Holy Spirit, mentioning it 20 times in 38 verses.
  3. Look for a purpose statement. There isn’t a clear statement of purpose in every book, but when a biblical writer spells out his reason for writing a book, or his hope for how it will impact the reader, take special note. Luke provides a clear purpose statement at the beginning of his Gospel (Luke 1:1–4). Any study of Luke will benefit from regular references to this introduction and statement of purpose.

If you’re studying with the Faithlife Study Bible, these markers and much more are explained in its three layers of study notes. Download the Faithlife Study Bible app for free from your app store of choice.

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Help Others Discover the Faithlife Study Bible

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The Faithlife Study Bible app has been downloaded by more than a quarter million people. Every day, it helps thousands connect with God by unlocking the truths of Scripture with a modern English translation, layers of study notes, rich multimedia, and several included devotionals.

Read more…

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45 Topical Bible Reading Plans

Processed with VSCOcam with t1 presetThe Bible is a big book. So big that fully understanding it remains a lifelong goal. Rather than trying to read it through in a few sittings, like most of us do with many smaller books, many people instead read a small amount every day.

The slow-and-steady approach has a lot of benefits, and one major challenge—knowing what to read in what order. Enter: Faithlife reading plans.

A reading plan organizes your daily reading around a theme, so you can quickly get an overview of what Scripture says about a given topic without investing any time searching. We have a huge variety to choose from—57 unique plans to be exact.

Some are seasonal, five of them are geared for more advanced study, and these 45 are based on a variety of topics:

10 Days on Discipleship
14 Days on Sin
10 Days on Worry
14 Kinds of Psalms
14 Days on Generosity
10 Days on Baptism
14 Days on Doubt
14 Days on Humility
14 Days on Glory
14 Days on Work
6 Days on Light
14 Days on the Kingdom of God
10 Days on Freedom
21 Days on Prayer
21 Days on Faith
10 Days on the Second Coming
10 Days on Friendship
7 Days on Forgiveness
21 Days on Government and Citizenship
14 Days on Holiness
14 Days on Grace
10 Days on Lust
14 Days on Grief
5 Days on Spiritual Growth
10 Days on Wisdom
10 Days on Patience
14 Days on Prophecy
14 Days on Speech
10 Days on Suffering
7 Days on Fasting
14 Days on Justice
30 Days on Money
14 Days on Pride
10 Days on Truth
14 Days on the Holy Spirit
10 Days on Encouragement
14 Days on Worship
30 Days on Marriage
7 Days on Perseverance
10 Days on Guilt
14 Days on the Poor
14 Days on Hope
10 Days on Hospitality
21 Days on Love
7 Days on Covenant

Now is a perfect time to launch a new study. Start a new reading plan from the homepage of your Faithlife Study Bible. Tap the plus sign, select Bible Reading Plan, choose to read privately or with a Faithlife group, and then select one of our done-for-you reading plans.

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Which of the topical plans resonates with your life right now? Tell us in the comments.

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Last Chance to Save On Hand-Picked Study Tools

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If you’re resolving to spend more time in God’s Word this year, the Faithlife Study Bible is the perfect tool for you. A modern English translation, three layers of study notes, rich multimedia, and powerful infographics bring the narrative of Scripture to life like never before. Recently redesigned for iOS 7 and Android 4.4, the FSB is free to download from your favorite app store.

Best of all, you can customize your FSB app with commentaries, devotionals, and other study resources from Logos.com. We discounted seven resources we thought you’d love this Christmas season. Visit Logos.com to browse the whole list.

You don’t have much more time save on these four study Bibles, two devotionals, and one classic theological text. Use the coupon code FSBCHRISTMAS to get special pricing on these seven books through January 6!

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Making New Year’s Resolutions that Stick

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It’s resolution-making season. Whether you’re resolving to do the same things you did a year ago or starting over with a new list of goals, we’ve got some tips to help you make resolutions that stick in the new year.

Imagine a future that excites you

The thought of your life after having accomplished your goals ought to all but terrify you. Many resolutions are abandoned each year because they do not lead to a future exciting enough to inspire perseverance. Imagine in vivid detail how keeping this resolution will change your life. How much more energy would you have if you lost the weight? What would you be able to do if you learned that language? What would your life be like if you accomplished that goal?

Better still, write out that description in a list or an essay and use it to motivate yourself. Nobody ever stuck to a resolution that didn’t excite them in the first place, and many people abandon exciting resolutions because they forgot why they were exciting. Don’t let that happen to you!

Take action right now

Exciting resolutions are often also big, frightening resolutions. It can be daunting to imagine your life as you’d like it to be, especially if you cannot see a clear path forward from where you are. Don’t let a huge goal discourage you. Chart the path that you know, and as you take your first steps, the rest of the course will become visible. Spend less time preparing, less time waiting on the circumstances to be exactly right, and more time doing.

A few years ago, my mom challenged me to run a half marathon with her. I didn’t know the first thing about running, except that it was marginally faster than walking. I knew I probably needed special shoes of some kind, and I would maybe have to alter my diet a little. I didn’t know all the challenges that I would face along the way, but I knew the first step was to get off my couch and get outside. I did that, and very quickly it became clear what I would need to do and not do. I could’ve spent hours reading tips for first-time runners, but reading about how to reach my goal wouldn’t have gotten me any closer to reaching my goal. I learned everything that I would need to know about running from running, not reading about running. Take action, and let experience be your teacher.

Get advice & accountability

Experience can teach you many things, but collect wise council to fill in the gaps and save yourself some hard-learned lessons. There is safety in a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11:14).

A companion can help you to endure hardship that you would not have survived alone (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). It has been said that accountability is the antidote for human nature. (Click to tweet) When you feel like abandoning a well-forged resolution, an accountability partner points your attention back toward the exciting future that you imagined for yourself. Much more than just a confronter, an accountability partner can stoke the fire of hope when you abandon it. While it might feel cheesy or humbling to ask for accountability, it may be the only thing between another failed resolution and an accomplished one.

What are you resolving to do in 2014? Tell us in comments.

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Faithlife Study Bible combines a modern English translation, three layers of detailed study notes, and rich multimedia to bring the Scriptures to life in a whole new way. Download it for free from your favorite app store.

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500 Book Mega Pack—Too Good to Last

500-book-mega-packEvery year, Logos.com runs an epic Christmas sale, offering study resources at huge discounts not available any other time of the year. The Christmas sale has offered exceptional deals and specials over the years, but nothing has come close to this year’s surprise addition—the 500 Book Mega Pack.

There are many books in this collection that will enhance your studies and round our your library. Here are some of the highlights you’ll get:

These are just a sample of the important titles included in the 500 Book Mega Pack.

If you’ve considered buying Logos 5 and are waiting for a good deal to come along, this is it. This is the biggest discount we’ve offered—ever. Start by using coupon code L5CHRISTMAS to get 15% off a Logos 5 base package, and add these 500 classic titles, compiled into a single limited-time offering for more than 96% off.

But you need to act right now! This deal expires at midnight on December 31. After that, the Mega Pack will disappear forever. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a huge library of digitally networked Bible study resources in a single pass. Get yours now!

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3 Reasons to Buy Logos this Christmas

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The free Faithlife Study Bible is a powerful tool designed to launch you into the world of technology-powered Bible study. A modern English translation, three layers of study notes, and rich multimedia provide insights that no paper-bound study tools ever could. The FSB is a great place to start, but if you’re want more in-depth study of God’s Word, you need Logos 5. Christmas is the perfect time to buy Logos. Here are three reasons why:

15% off base packages

These packages include thousands of books, bundled for huge savings. Choose the package that best fits your study needs, and when you use the coupon code L5CHRISTMAS, you’ll save an extra 15%!

50% off book bundles

Tailor your library to your specific interests by adding bundles. Plan to preach through Philippians? Add a Pauline Studies Bundle and a Preaching Bundle. Do you mentor young men and women in your church? Add a Counseling Bundle or a Marriage and Family Bundle. Can’t choose? Add the Master Bundle for the best value. All our bundles have recently been updated with new resources, and you can save 50% when you buy them this Christmas.

Great stocking stuffers

Key single volumes or smaller collections like the Lexham High Definition New Testament: ESV Edition (3 vols.) have also been discounted through the Christmas season. Use coupon code STOCKINGSTUFFERS to save on study resources across Logos.com.

If you want Logos 5 but have been waiting for the right time to buy, it has officially arrived. Act soon, and you’ll save big on the Bible study library you’ve always dreamed about.

Visit Logos.com/Christmas to browse everything we have on sale throughout the holidays. While you’re there, enter to win a one-of-a-kind MacBook Air that sports the Logos emblem. But you’d better act fast! These deals are only available through January 6.

 

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The First Christmas (As Told by the FSB)

Each Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’ birth and retell his origin story. But it’s hard to celebrate Christmas without also thinking about the reasons for Jesus’ birth and the world-changing events of his lifetime.

As Bob Coy explains in his devotional on Jesus’ humanity:

“The humanity of Jesus made Him completely relatable. None of us can accuse the Lord of not understanding what it is like to be human. From conception to resurrection, there is no phase of our existence that Jesus has not already walked through. He understood firsthand what it was like to get hungry, get sick, get betrayed, get tired, and get stung. He experienced the blistering heat of the day and the persistent chill of the night. Jesus knew what it felt like to experience all that is part of the human experience on earth.

Christ’s ability to completely relate to us was key in enabling Him to serve as our heavenly high priest, which is the role He now occupies. Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus stands before God the Father, interceding on our behalf. And because Jesus knows exactly what it’s like to be human, He understands our weaknesses and needs. Our plights truly touch His heart, and He perfectly intercedes for us according to our requirements because He has been where we find ourselves (Heb. 4:15).”

You can read the rest of this article in the study notes for Luke 2 in your Faithlife Study Bible, or at Bible.Faithlife.com.

When he arrived, as one of us, we didn’t recognize him. He came to relate to us—to build a bridge between us and God—but we didn’t recognize him. In fact, the only space available for his birth was among the livestock. This image from the FSB study notes on Luke 2 helps us understand what his accommodations were like his first night on earth.

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From that first night, his life on earth never became comfortable. He lived among us, as one of us, for more than 33 years. He spent all that time caring for the poor and helping us better understand God’s heart. This infographic, found in the FSB study notes for Matthew 1, help us to visualize Jesus’ life.

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Then, when the time was right, Jesus surrendered himself to the Jewish leadership, who had become jealous of his growing influence. They staged a mock trial and bribed witnesses to level false accusations, stirring a crowd into a riot. Though Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, could not find any fault with him, he sentenced Jesus to death in order to appease the crowd. The sentence was carried out immediately at a place called Golgotha, which means “place of the skull.” This picture of Golgotha appears in the FSB study notes for Matthew 27:33, alongside an explanation of why this location is most likely the site of Jesus’ death.

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Jesus died on the cross at Golgotha. He did it willingly. He did it for us. As Isaiah puts it, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Because he chose to come to earth and die in place of you and I, we can experience spiritual peace and freedom that we could never have achieved on our own.

He died for us, but of course, he didn’t stay dead. Three days after that terrible day on Golgotha, Jesus emerged from a sealed tomb, and over the course of 40 days, he appeared to hundreds of his followers—assuring each of them that death had not been able to contain him.

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You can examine this table, outlining the post-resurrection appearances of Christ, in the FSB notes for Matthew 28:9.

In many ways, Christmas is an ironic holiday. We make special plans to be with our families to celebrate the incarnation—Jesus’ choice to leave his home (heaven) and his Father (God) to come to earth and save us from ourselves. Not everyone celebrates Christmas, which shouldn’t surprise us. Paul told us that not everyone would mark the same holy days (Romans 14:5–6). But in my book, Christmas is the holiest of days because it foreshadows the easily forgotten gospel. Jesus did the work that we couldn’t possibly have done on our own. He was separated from God to make a way for us to be reconciled with God through him.

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To explore the story of the first Christmas and the life of Christ in a new way, download the free Faithlife Study Bible on your smartphone or tablet today.

May your Christmas be full of peace and joy.