Bible study | Faithlife Blog

January 17, 2014 By Ray Deck III | 6 Comments

How to Choose a Daily Devotional

Few Bible study tools so effectively prick the conscience, focus the attention, and calm the spirit as a well-crafted daily devotional.

A devotional is not designed to change your mind; it’s meant to change your heart.

There are thousands of devotional tools to choose from. How do you know which one’s right for you?

Here’s our guide to help you choose one that best meets your needs.

Topic—Many devotionals are framed up around a particular subject. One of my favorites, Whiter than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy, is structured this way. If you’re hoping to learn more about a particular element of theology or scriptural theme—like the Hebrew names of God, for example—look for a devotional on that subject for a more casual exploration.

Author—Almost all of the modern church’s most influential thinkers wrote at least some devotional material. Charles Spurgeon, A. W. Tozer, William Wilberforce, and Oswald Chambers come to mind right away. But don’t avoid a devotional just because you don’t recognize the author. Some of the best ever written, like Streams in the Desert, were penned by women or men who ministered faithfully without much notoriety. If you’re new to the world of devotionals, start with something by A. W. Tozer. He wrote broadly as the editor of The Alliance Life magazine. Much of his writing has been repackaged as daily devotionals.

Ratings & reviews—When choosing a devotional, nothing beats a good referral. As you browse Logos.com, check the ratings and reviews on each resource to see how much it has been enjoyed by others. Once you’ve completed a devotional, return to leave your own thoughts as a guide for others who come behind you.

Length—Look for cues about the passage length in the product overview, or by using the “See inside” tool on Logos.com. Also make note of how many passages are included. When read daily, some devotions are intended to stretch across and entire year, others for a month or even less.

Journal space—Many printed devotionals include space to write your own thoughts. This is helpful, but when you buy a daily devotional on Logos.com to be read with your Faithlife Study Bible, you can use the notes tool to capture your own insights on any passage without running out of space.

If you’d rather not shop around, pick up the recently updated Devotionals Bundle, which includes all of the best devotionals available on Logos.com.

What else do you look for when you’re choosing a daily devotional? Tell us in the comments.

January 3, 2014 By Ray Deck III | Leave a Comment

Last Chance to Save On Hand-Picked Study Tools

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!

January 1, 2014 By jarridwilson | 15 Comments

What God Meant: “The Love of Money is a Root of All Kinds of Evils”

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” —1 Timothy 6:10

What did Paul mean when he said, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils . . . ”?

Many people view this verse in a way that depicts all money to be evil and not of Jesus, but this isn’t really the case at all. Jesus states that “the love of money” is where we will find evil, and to not find ourselves loving and idolizing it.

Is money wrong? Of course not. Money helps pay our bills, feed our families, and even fund our schooling. But does this mean we should put money-making on a pedestal above God? Nope, not even close. There is nothing wrong with having nice things, eating nice food, or even buying a nice house. The problem is when we begin finding our identity in the stuff money can buy us instead of finding our identity in Christ alone. This is where the evil comes in. Remember, all the money you have comes from God in the first place. What you do with that money says a lot about your character, your relationship with God, and where your priorities fall.

Money might be a great resource, but it’s going to make a horrible god.

Relax. It’s OK to work hard and earn a paycheck. This verse reminds us that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. God has called us to be mature when it comes to our finances, and to not let our love for worldy things take over our love for him and his promises.

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The Faithlife Study Bible combines a modern English translation, three layers of detailed study notes, and rich multimedia to make Bible study better than ever. Download it free from your favorite app store.

January 1, 2014 By Ray Deck III | 3 Comments

Making New Year’s Resolutions that Stick

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.

December 24, 2013 By Ray Deck III | 7 Comments

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.

(Click to enlarge)

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.

(Click to enlarge)

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.

(Click to enlarge)

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.

(Click to enlarge)

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.

December 20, 2013 By Nate Smoyer | Leave a Comment

An Interview with Jon Acuff

Author and humorist Jon Acuff recently relaunched his popular blog, StuffChristiansLike.net. We had a chance to speak with him about it.

For those who may not know you, who are you and what do you do?

I write books, speak all over the country, and help companies and individuals figure out the story they want to tell the world. I live in Nashville, TN with my wife and two daughters.

For those who think they know you, what’s something most have either overlooked, or couldn’t possibly know, about you?

I think that most people don’t know that my wife is working on a book about being married to a dreamer. Not just from a wife’s perspective—from a spouse’s perspective—because often the wife is the dreamer. It comes out next year and I’m really excited about that.

You’ve recently started over with all your blogs. Why?

I went through a job transition and needed to start over.

You have four New York Times bestselling books. Are there more on the way in 2014?

I don’t know. I’ve got some thinking and writing I need to do before I can answer that.

How does your relationship with Christ affect which projects, such as blogs and books, you pursue?

Although my books are business books, I would say that in the same way that my faith affects my conversations with people, it affects how I write. I try to share the truth creatively in everything I do.

In between all the speaking, writing, and posting hilarious things on Instagram, what does your personal Bible study look like?

It looks like a rambling adventure. I am very much a “read and take notes” kind of guy, so usually it looks like me reading the same passage 10 times and taking notes and ideas.

The “About” section of the new StuffChristiansLike.net mentions that you helped build two kindergartens in Vietnam. Why?

My daughter challenged me to do more with the fun platform God had given me. You don’t own your platform, you borrow it from the people who support you. I believed they wanted to do more too. And they did.

OK, you get the last word. Go!

Bungalow.

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If you enjoyed this interview check out these interviews on some of our other blogs.

December 17, 2013 By Chuck McKnight | 12 Comments

Don’t Make These 10 Common Bible Study Mistakes (Part 1)

We know we ought to be studying the Scriptures, but sometimes we don’t know how. Here are five of 10 common Bible study mistakes to avoid:

10. Starting without prayer

The Bible is unlike any other book because it was inspired by God himself. Paul told us that “the things of the Spirit of God . . . are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14), and Jesus said that the Spirit guides us into the truth (John 16:13). We have access to God through prayer, so we should be looking to him for guidance as we seek to understand his Scriptures. It doesn’t matter what incredible resources and study tools we use if we do not first go to God.

9. Studying by yourself

Scripture was intended to be read and studied in community. We’ve all but lost sight of that in our modern individualistic culture. I’m not saying it’s wrong to do personal study—there is definitely a time and place for that. But if we study on our own in exclusion to studying with others, we’ll miss out on the rich insights the community of God has to offer. Additionally, we all need the checks and balances of other believers to keep us accountable. So do your personal study, but then bring what you learn to a group setting and discuss it together. You can also facilitate your group studies by using Fathlife Community Notes.

8. Bringing preconceptions to the text

It is tempting to read the Bible selectively, trying to prove an idea we already believe to be true. If we come to the Scriptures with a predetermined conclusion, we can force them to say whatever we want. That might make us feel better, but it won’t be doing us any good. Rather, we should open the Bible with humility, knowing that some of our beliefs are wrong and ought to be changed. We must let the text speak for itself without forcing our own preconceptions on it.

7. Reading from only one perspective

Similar to the above mistake, it is tempting to only use study resources we already agree with. But this severely limits our spiritual growth. I’ve found that those whose perspectives differ from my own often have the most to teach me. When Logos selected contributors to write the notes and articles in the Faithlife Study Bible, we wanted to avoid getting stuck in one particular viewpoint. So we reached out to a wide range of different theologians. You’ll find contributions from such men as Timothy Keller, N. T. Wright, and everywhere in between. They all share a love for God, but their differing perspectives bring unique insights to the Scriptures.

6. Using only one translation

We’ve discussed this point on the blog before, but it’s worth repeating. Different Bible versions follow different translation philosophies. The basic categories include formal equivalence (seeking word-for-word accuracy), dynamic equivalence (seeking thought-for-thought accuracy), and paraphrases (rewriting the overall message). Furthermore, the Greek and Hebrew texts have many nuances that can’t be captured by a single translation. If you don’t read Greek or Hebrew, comparing multiple translations can help you see the various nuances each passage has to offer. While Ray recommended pairing the NASB with NLT or the ESV with NIrV, my personal preference would be to pair the NET with the LEB.

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Have you made any of these mistakes before? I know I have. Let’s learn from our past mistakes. What steps can we take to avoid them in the future? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to come back next week to see five more common Bible study mistakes to avoid.

December 10, 2013 By Ray Deck III | Leave a Comment

Save on 7 Bible Study Tools for Christmas

Most of the 40,000+ Bible study resources available on Logos.com are compatible with the free Faithlife Study Bible app. That means you can customize your FSB by adding new Bible translations, study notes, and devotionals to aid your study. For Christmas, we’ve hand-picked seven titles for you. Use code FSBCHRISTMAS to save today!

ESV Study Bible Notes

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The first Bible to ever be named Christan Book of the Year, the ESV Study Bible is one of the most universally loved and trusted study Bibles in the modern era. With more than two million words, 80,000 cross-references, and 200 color charts, it would tip the scales at more than five pounds in a hardcover, rivaling the size of some one-volume commentaries. With our Christmas discount, you’ll save when you add it to your FSB.

The MacArthur Study Bible

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Few scholars have studied the Scriptures as extensively as John MacArthur. Many have reported that he faithfully invested 30 hours a week in personal study over his 30 years of ministry—that’s adds up to over 46,000 hours of study. You can benefit from all of his hard work by adding his study notes to your FSB.

New Living Translation Study Bible Notes

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Written to accompany the highly readable New Living Translation, the NLT Study Bible Notes are perfect for anyone new to the faith. They assume little existing Bible knowledge, and draw attention to the most practical insights into Christian living. Fans of the NLT will appreciate the translation team’s commentary on Scripture.

The Reformation Study Bible

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R. C. Sproul, standard bearer of the Reformed tradition, assembled a team of 50 accomplished scholars—including J. I. Packer, James Boice, and Wayne Grudem—to craft a study Bible that underscores the pillars of Reformed theology. Though not as large as some of the other study Bibles listed here, the Reformation Study Bible offers a refreshingly concise overview of each book, highlighting the most important words and themes.

Renewed Day by Day, Volume One

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A. W. Tozer, one of the most loved devotional writers of the twentieth century, was entirely self taught. Though he received no formal training, Tozer was called a modern prophet within his own lifetime. This 366-day devotional draws from his life works.

Renewed Day by Day, Volume Two

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As the editor of The Alliance Life magazine, Tozer wrote so extensively that distilling his work into a single volume proves impossible. This encore edition offers another 366 days of his best wisdom on faith and spirituality. His plain-English writing style sheds clarifying light on some of Scripture’s deepest truths.

The Imitation of Christ

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Thomas à Kempis insists that imitation of Christ can only occur when the heart and mind are united to Christ. In this little book, a manual for spiritual growth, he offers a detailed description of spiritual maturity and explains how to achieve it.

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Use coupon code FSBCHRISTMAS to save on all seven of these resources for your Faithlife Study Bible during the Christmas season. Act fast—these deals will only last through January 6!

December 5, 2013 By Ray Deck III | 7 Comments

7 Things the Bible Says about Leadership

Proverbs—one of my favorite books in the Bible—contains wisdom for nearly every facet of human life. Written primarily by the wise King Solomon, Proverbs is best known for its contrasting descriptions of wisdom and foolishness, but it has a lot to say about other subjects as well—leadership, for example. Here are seven things that Solomon tells us about leadership in Proverbs:

Sustainability is better than status. (Proverbs 12:9)
Wisdom is contagious. (Proverbs 13:20)
Productivity is messy. (Proverbs 14:4)
The ends do not justify the means. (Proverbs 15:17)
Those with great power ought to use it gently. (Proverbs 15:1)
To hate learning is to hate yourself. (Proverbs 15:32)
Ambition is a great motivator. (Proverbs 16:26)

Proverbs can help us follow Abraham Lincoln’s sage advice: “Whatever you are, be a good one.” (Click to tweet) If God has placed you in a position of leadership, there are a number of resources on Logos.com for you. Tozer on Christian Leadership and the nine-volume Baker Leadership Collection come to mind immediately. Buy both of these resources, and you can enjoy them in your Faithlife Study Bible app today!

December 3, 2013 By Ray Deck III | Leave a Comment

Choosing a Study Bible

One of the first Bible study tools that many believers acquire is a Bible with added footnotes, cross-references, and explanatory articles—a study Bible. But choosing a study Bible can be difficult. There are dozens to choose from, and many factors affect the helpfulness of a study Bible—including its publication date, size, the makeup of its editorial staff, and of course, the note content.

Here’s your guide to choosing a study Bible.

The size dilemma

Generally the more help included in a study Bible, the more useful it becomes. But as content is added, the book itself grows and the print shrinks. Some modern study Bibles, like the ESV Study Bible, tip the scales at more than five pounds with tiny font throughout. A book that big—no matter how helpful its content—is cumbersome to transport and difficult to read.

When a study Bible becomes digital, however, the size dilemma evaporates. On my phone, even the most massive study Bible becomes pocket sized. That’s the biggest reason our own Faithlife Study Bible can boast about being the largest study Bible in the world. If printed, this book of nearly three million words wouldn’t fit neatly into anything. But the FSB app, which you can download for free from your app store of choice, weighs nothing.

Publication date

Behind physical size, publication date is the second most important factor to consider when choosing a study Bible. While the truths of Scripture never change, our use of English does evolve over time. From the moment a study Bible is released, it begins to slowly fade from relevance. Bible translations and study notes start to feel stuffy as the vocabulary and syntax ages.

For example, The Scofield Reference Bible, published in 1909, was wildly popular through the mid twentieth century. While still a helpful study resource, it’s largely been replaced by more modern alternatives like the Believer’s Study Bible.

While the Faithlife Study Bible was released in 2012, it’s still growing and improving. We just added 58 new articles over the summer, and we plan to release even more. The Faithlife Study Bible will never fade from relevance because it’s constantly being updated with new content.

Editor & staff

Sometimes a study Bible assumes the name of the scholar or Christian leader who most heavily influenced its publication—The MacArthur Study Bible, for example. In other cases, a publishing house will assemble a team of scholars from various traditions to publish a balanced study Bible, like the Nelson Study Bible, or a study Bible with a more focused purpose, like the Apologetics Study Bible. When buying a study Bible, it’s wise to research the editorial team so you can read your study Bible with confidence.

To publish the Faithlife Study Bible, we assembled a team from the most trusted Bible scholars and Christian leaders. Timothy Keller, Randy Alcorn, Ed Stetzer, Lee Strobel, N. T. Wright, and Charles Stanley worked with our scholars in residence to construct the largest and most powerful study Bible ever conceived. You can review the entire editorial team at Faithlife Study Bible at FaithlifeBible.com/Contributors.

Price

While study Bibles can cost up to $75.00 in print, you’ll find them all for much less on Logos.com. And the Faithlife Study Bible, despite its massive size and groundbreaking format, is available for free!

Download the Faithlife Study Bible from your favorite app store today. And if you love it as much as we expect you will, leave us a review and rating so others can enjoy it too.