Faithlife Blog

January 23, 2014 By Ray Deck III | 4 Comments

7 Best Devotionals on Logos.com

No matter what type of devotional you’re searching for, you’re sure to find a great one on Logos.com. Here are seven titles that I highly recommend:

For the Love of God, vol. 1

The first line of D. A. Carson’s devotional reads, “This book, the first of two volumes, is for Christians who want to read the Bible, who want to read all the Bible.” He raises an interesting point. Many Christians spend lots of time in familiar passages, rarely venturing into the lesser-known corners of Scripture. So, this Canadian-born Reformed theologian wrote a devotional to guide anyone who would like to explore the entirety of Scripture.

The Attributes of God, vol. 1

Aiden Wilson Tozer, one of the most prolific writing pastors in history, is best known for his work on the attributes of God. Studying them will help you better understand his actions. When you know who God is, you’ll better understand God’s words and actions. These passages are a little longer and more challenging than many daily devotionals, so make sure you’ve had your coffee before diving in. If these 10 chapters leave you wanting more, volume 2 is just as good.

Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

When Charles Spurgeon set out to create a devotional book, he broke the mold by writing a unique passage to be read at the start and close of each day. Revolutionary at the time, this model has been followed by many devotional writers since. His collection of daily readings is a timeless classic, and one of of the most-read books in my library. Here’s the best news of all: this classic devotional is included for free when you download the Faithlife Study Bible.

Thoughts for the Quiet Hour

D. L. Moody recognized a growing trend of biblical illiteracy, and founded the Sunday school movement to teach young people about God’s Word. He said the brightest sign of the times was that many young believers took to the observance of what he called the “quiet hour”—a time each day set aside to pray and read Scripture. He wrote this little book to provide guidance to his students each day. Don’t let the cover fool you—we are lucky to benefit from Moody’s wisdom too. This great devotional is also delivered for free when you download the Faithlife Study Bible.

365 Days with Wilberforce

There’s no replacement for time meditating on the Scripture, but second to that, nothing accelerates spiritual formation more than the study of and model after great men and women of faith. We have many great examples to choose from, but I recommend William Wilberforce, who (along with Isaac Newton and others) fought to end the trans-Atlantic slave trade. This devotional combines biographical content with Wilberforce’s own writing in daily passages to paint an inspiring portrait of faith.

God’s Inspirational Promises

Any list of exceptional devotionals wouldn’t be complete without at least one title from perhaps the greatest living devotionalist, Max Lucado. In this book, Lucado indexes all God’s promises found in Scripture, compiles them by topic, and riffs on each in the way that only he can. A couple years ago, I spent an entire year studying God’s promises, and it changed the way I understand God’s faithfulness. I wish I had this book at the time.

31 Days to Contagious Living

Larry Moyer conducts evangelism training around the globe. I had him for two college classes, one as an undergrad and one in seminary. His guilt-free approach is refreshing and gave me great hope for the future of the church. He’s also a prolific writer. This book will take only a month to both challenge and motivate you to share your faith more actively with others. In the best way, it will make you uncomfortable with the status quo.

Pick up one of these great books today, and you can enjoy it instantly inside your free Faithlife Study Bible app. Or, if you can’t decide, get the newly updated Devotionals Bundle, a robust collection of extraordinary devotionals bundled for a major discount.

January 21, 2014 By Ray Deck III | 2 Comments

Understanding the Privacy Settings on Faithlife.com

You have a lot of control over your Faithlife Group’s privacy settings. Use this guide to get your group’s privacy settings tuned exactly right.

Group privacy levels

When you create a new Faithlife Group, you can choose between three different privacy levels. At any time, group administrators or moderators (more on what those roles entail in a minute) may change the group’s status.

Open—Anyone can find the group. New members can join immediately. Best used for churches or other groups that are open to new members at all times.

Closed—Anyone can find the group. New members must be approved before joining. Best used for small/home/community/connection/cell groups (or whatever else you might call them) that are only open to new members at certain times of the year.

Secret—Only members can find the group. New members must be invited. Best for groups that are not open to new membership like support or addiction-recovery groups. I also recommend that the church leadership team collaborate inside a secret group.

User permissions

Faithlife Groups offer five levels of accessibility that you can adjust to suite your needs.

Administrators create the group and promote moderators to manage the group details.
Moderators maintain the group. Moderators must first join as members, and then be promoted by an administrator.
Members are invited specifically in secret groups, but otherwise anyone can join at this level.
Followers are interested in the group, but aren’t members. Many groups only allow followers to reply to posts, not create entirely new posts.
Observers are like followers, except they maintain anonymity. Observer identities are not revealed, even to the group administrator.

You can also disable the lowest two permission levels using check boxes if you don’t expect to use them.

Recommended settings

Notice the vertical black line on each slider. These are the default privacy settings, marked so that you can return to them should you wish. You can, of course, drag the slider left or right to tune the privacy settings to suit your group’s needs and culture. I administrate several Faithlife groups, and here’s how I prefer to set the user permissions:

Faithlife.com is the digital home for your faith community. It’s free to join and invite others. Tools like prayer lists, reading plans, Community Notes, and group newsletters make it easier than ever to communicate, collaborate, and fellowship around the Word of God. Join today at Faithlife.com.

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 15, 2014 By Ray Deck III | Leave a Comment

The FSB Recognized for Excellence in Design

We’re proud to announce that last month, the Faithlife Study Bible became the first Bible to receive the QED seal of approval.

Digital Book World, a leader in the digital publishing industry, recognizes apps and ebooks that meet high standards of quality with the QED seal of approval. Standing for quality, excellence, and design, a QED seal denotes exceptional readability across multiple devices and in multiple formats. These awards are given sparingly, after an app or ebook undergoes a meticulous 13-point review by an independent panel of respected industry professionals.

Recognition like this only confirms that we’re doing the right work—building and always improving the world’s most advanced study Bible. We’re most proud of the way our app is helping believers and seekers connect with God’s Word and understand it more clearly. If you don’t yet have the FSB on your smartphone or tablet, you can download it for free from your app store of choice. It comes loaded with a modern English translation, three layers of study notes, rich multimedia, 55 done-for-you reading plans, and a number of hand-picked daily devotionals. To customize your app (and make it even more powerful), you can add on additional resources from Logos.com.

Download the QED-approved Faithlife Study Bible today!

January 13, 2014 By Elizabeth Russell | 4 Comments

A Christian’s Response to Global Crisis

As the death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Haiyan—the largest typhoon in recorded history—continues to rise, many are asking bigger questions:

Where is God when these disasters happen?
Why does God allow so many innocent people to die?
Is God purposely punishing places that are hit?

There is no simple answer to these questions. I wasn’t directly affected by any recent natural disaster, so how can I hope to advise or comfort those who have lost their loved ones and homes to catastrophic floods, tornadoes, or earthquakes? I can’t.

But I can direct you to a higher authority who loves all of us unconditionally, and sent his perfect son to die for us—the ultimate sacrifice. God sent Christ so we might be reconciled to him.

We live in a fallen world. Upon the first sins of Adam and Eve, creation was transformed from utopia to a place of hardship. Just as God doesn’t stop us from acting in sinful ways, he also doesn’t stop turmoil on Earth—the intermittent consequences of living in a sinful world.

The Apostle Paul is an example of encouragement in this subject. Paul endured perilous trials after trials throughout his ministry, yet shrugged them off as “momentary afflictions.” No pain or suffering could compare to the eternal reward and glory he would one day receive in Christ.

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

—2 Corinthians 4:16–18

When disasters hit, you can’t prevent pain or hardship, no matter how much you would like to. You cannot undo the curse of sin, but you can choose your reaction to the aftermath. Focus on the transformation that goes on within your heart and soul—day in and day out—because that is what will give you the biggest stronghold of strength when disaster strikes.

Disasters will continue to hit. But amazing miracles are happening each day as well, and sometimes as a result from those crises. Reevaluate daily priorities, and learn the value of donating time and money to help those who have been struck (Romans 8:28).

Above all, take heart. Remember that struggles are only temporary. Through a relationship with Christ, we will ultimately be renewed and reunited with our loved ones and our Savior.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

—Revelation 21:4

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Serious Bible study is easier with serious Bible study software. The Faithlife Study Bible is a great place to start, but if you’d like to study in greater detail, Logos 5 is for you. Its powerful, intuitive tools and vast libraries are the perfect way to expand your understanding of the Scriptures. Visit Logos.com/Logos5 to learn more.

January 9, 2014 By Ray Deck III | 82 Comments

45 Topical Bible Reading Plans

The 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.

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

January 7, 2014 By Ray Deck III | 1 Comment

D. L. Moody on Prayer

Our prayers often resemble the mischievous tricks of town children, who knock at their neighbor’s houses and then run away; we often knock at Heaven’s door and then run off into the spirit of the world; instead of waiting for entrance and answer, we act as if we were afraid of having our prayers answered.

This passage is from Thoughts for the Quiet Hour, a fantastic daily devotional compiled by D. L. Moody. It’s available at Logos.com—buy it today, and you can enjoy more great insights like this each morning.

The Faithlife Study Bible makes daily devotions more convenient than ever before. Through this one free app, you can read Scripture, access helpful study notes and multimedia, and let the greatest theologians and Bible teachers in the world guide your study with add-on resources from Logos.com. If daily time in God’s Word is one of your New Year’s resolutions, the Faithlife Study Bible is the perfect tool for you.

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.

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God’s Inspirational Promises

31 Days to Contagious Living

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