• I am excited to take course as I'm looking for ward to see how God uses to to shape my spiritual life and what I can learn from this community.

    1. It is My Pleasure and delight to take this Course and be utilizing Logos Bible Software.

      1. Hello, friends. I did not know this Group existed; delighted to be here. I'm grateful that our first course is this SF511. I'm still amazed and not quite sure how I got to be here ("someone like me? In seminary? Taking formal classes? Surely if they find out who I really am, I'll be thrown out of here..."). Grateful for this 1st course because if I had just hit "intellectual content" from the start, I would have been much more comfortable (even though I'm brand-new to Logos and it's taken me a while just to learn how to OPEN all of the books in our library, lol...) but by walking through this Course, I feel impelled to look at: what am I really doing here? And WHY am I doing this? What are my motivations? The Section on "Eternal Perspective" had me really chewing on HOW EXACTLY DO I BEHOLD MY LORD JESUS in my everyday, boring, mundane life? Am I actively trying to do this? My favorite hymn is "Be Thou My Vision" and I've been chewing on the lyrics to Stanzas #1,2 & 4: 1. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me save that Thou art. Thou my best thought by day and by night; Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my Light. 2. Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord. Thou my great Father, I Thy dear son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. 4. Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise; Thou mine inheritance, now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

        1. Heather - I just found this little group today. Thank you for your sentiments. I feel the same way--safe for me would be more book learning, but here we are!! Also, thanks for typing the hymn to serve as an encouragement. Just said a prayer for you and your journey! You've got this!

      2. Question: I’m using Logos on an iPad, which is my primary computer. Is there a way to stop Logos from opening new tabs every time I engage a hyperlink? Thank you. Jason

        1. I have seen over the past twenty five to thirty years of ministry, how easy it becomes to trade truly healed souls “inner life” for broken souls that appear healed. To maintain our stages, platforms and positions, we learn to minister empty, while deceptively projecting life and overflow. We often do this until pressures reveal inner deficits that often lead to damaged churches, fractured families and the loss of ministry credibility. Instead of ministering from overflow, we learn to patch holes and forge ahead. But I have learned that Christ (the Spiritual Rock they all drank from) doesn’t require facades, and He doesn’t expect us to minister empty and without being filled with His love and power. John 4:14 (CSB Strong's) 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.” 1 Corinthians 10:4 (CSB Strong's) 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.

          1. I suffer from depression and find this coarse difficult at times because of the deep dive into moments from my past. I use my experiences to help others but don't enjoy digging around and stirring up emotions. Anyone else have this experience?

            1. Yes, although my struggle is not so much depression. I struggle with the belief that I am so damaged that God cannot effectively work through me. The irony of that statement is that I have had exceptional success in the business world. But as a Pastor, I am constantly allowing myself to be measured by the number of noses and nickles in my congregation. I measure my success as a husband and father, and the record (in my mind) is failure. And no word of a loved one will free my mind from that thought. I constantly measure my work effort based on what I did not get done. I used to stuff those emotions and feelings away. I used to believe that God wanted me to be an emotionless robot because I believed that emotions lie to me and I cannot trust them. At least that is what I was taught by Christian theology. Then, I met Fern and Audrey through Dr. Mike Heiser’s NakedBible podcast. After spending time with them and getting to know them, I learned the real purpose of emotions. They are indicators, data points, signs on the road, a gift God gave us so we would stop for a moment and learn something. I learned to ask: “What do I believe about myself right now?” Today, I understand that emotions are just information. It is the memory of my past that is betraying my present. Once I have processed through a past trauma, I can experience the memory, but my emotions are not triggered to think it is happening right now. Emotions are information. They are not sinful. Otherwise, God stores sin in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). Emotions are just information that our mind uses to help us navigate life. This is interesting given that the word in that verse is not tossing but wandering, which is how my wife describes her depression. Her mind is constantly wandering through her failures and past experiences. This is a long response, and I apologize. But you showed exceptional courage when you posted your note, and I think you deserve a response for being brave. Going through our past is not fun. However, it is necessary to understand the event and its emotions. When you dig through the past, I suggest you be Jesus's hands and feet to your old self. If you were young when things happened, don’t beat yourself up for not acting like an adult. Don’t believe the lie that just because you are a wise, informed, educated, and responsible adult today means you were supposed to be exactly that yesterday. Walk with your past self as Jesus would walk with that young man. Walk in love. Love is a powerful act that sets enslaved minds free. When you walk in Love, you walk with Yahweh because God is Love. Lastly, find someone to talk to about these things. Preferably, someone who is trauma-informed, so they can help you do the work and not make it worse. You have my prayers, David. Blessings on your journey. I am happy to help however I can!

          2. Social Media of all types are covering leaders who are struggling with issues of integrity, moral faithfulness, and faithfulness to the gospel. It is apparent we have to work on our inner life and the transformative events that occurs along this journey of life. How does the spiritual dimensions of our lives provides insights to the choices leaders make as it relates to the personal struggles that are often seen as loss of integrity and loss of faithfulness?

            1. I agree that continued work on the inner life is a lifelong activity and requires diligents. However, I also think it is vital to have accountability partners that will help bring truth to us when we 'think' we're doing ok. Yes?

          3. I really like how Simon Sinek defines leadership. He goes on to say, "It is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in our charge." Looking at leadership from this perspective was a paradigm shift for me.

            1. Id love to hear your thoughts on leader's unintentional sin requiring a higher level of sacrifice than the same type of sin of the people following the leader. Specifically Male Goat vs Female Goat. (Leviticus 4.)

              1. The distinction between the male goat for leaders and the female goat for commoners in Leviticus 4 reflects deeper theological and practical principles. Scholars like John Hartley and Jacob Milgrom note that leaders hold greater accountability because their actions have broader communal implications, even when their sins are unintentional. The male goat, as a costlier and more prominent offering, symbolizes the leader’s elevated role and responsibility. This distinction also highlights how sin disrupts not only the individual’s relationship with God but also the community’s spiritual harmony. Leaders’ sins, while not as severe as those of the high priest or congregation, still affect the sanctity of the covenant community and require purification of the outer altar. At the same time, the female goat for commoners reflects equity in the sacrificial system, allowing individuals to atone for their sins in a way that considers their limited resources while still emphasizing the cost of sin. This distinction highlights God’s justice, mercy, and the principle that leadership carries a greater burden of holiness and responsibility.

            2. In reading the thought from CS Lewis Growing up in the church there seems to be an emphasis on good behavior and good character. These things are surely a great benefit, no doubt. But they are bi-products but you don't hear quite as much of the 'fullness of joy' (Psalm 16.11-You make known to me the path of life;   in your presence there is fullness of joy;   at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.) The joy and connection found in the relationship with God is the primary focus, the main motivation...then the other things, like blessings and needs met, will fall into place.  But the love, the connection with God, the waiting peacefully in God's presence is the central focus. All other good things flow from this. (Matthew 6:33).