Here's a general question for you pastors. We all appreciate Logos Software and MP Seminars, and we all know that you have to invest time in learning the software to master it well. I know a pastor who is an excellent teacher, and he incorporates a lot of research into his sermons. But, I also heard one of his older church members complain, "The pastor spends too much time in his office on the blame computer instead of getting out and being with people when they're hurting..." So, pastors, how do you use Logos and master how to use it well... without it mastering you? Suggestions?
- Workflows are good, and something I plan to use more of (and once I get some good workflows prepared, I can share them). They do allow for leveraging the software while staying focused on the research at hand.
- John Bass said, "...They are not the one providing your call. Your calling comes from God..." While it is true that the Divine Call is from God, it comes through the church. There is no call that is not to a congregation, and without a congregation, there is no call. You are called to serve them in the Office of the Public Ministry. You don't get to "ignore them."
Floyd Knight — Edited
Bruce C.: Nathan Parker, John Bass, and Kevin Obermeyer have given great practical advice. |----------Again, we are not to be co-dependent, people pleasers; we are God pleasers. Sometimes, being a God pleaser will make people happy; most of the time it won't. Having people like me is important, but it is a tertiary concern. It is not a primary or secondary concern. |----------Practically speaking, I would echo Nathan's and John's comments and would just add one additional item. Use the Logos' software training videos or the free Morris Proctor's video tips. Do one lesson segment a month at a time and incorporate what you have learned from those videos into your current sermon preparation. You are not in a race so take the 5 to 15 minute video segments and study it like you do print literature. View it once without stopping the first time; then go back and view it again; however, this time you should pause the video after a step is given and practice/shadow what Morris or the Logos video is doing. (I would do this with two monitors: one with the video running on it and one with your Logos software running on it.) Try using what you just learn in your sermon prep for that week. The next week view the video segment a third time using the pause and practice method. On the fourth viewing (the second viewing of the second week, use the pause and practice method using a different referent or item (word, text, passage, etc) from the one used in the training video; however, you will do the steps first and then run the training video second to get instance verification that you have done the steps and process correctly. (Since the referent or item are different, you are focusing on the steps and process--not the results.) If you need to do additional pause and practice, do it until you get the steps down. Go at your own pace. You can use the help manual to review the steps or make notes of those steps by using the "notes" sub-program in Logos to reinforce the learning process. You will then continue to use this newly acquired skill as you prepare your next three sermons. At the end of the month, do the next segment of the training video. You may want to start with the Sermon Preparation training videos.