If you’ve been around me for more than ten seconds, you’ve probably realized I’m a huge Bible girl. More than that, I LOVE helping women learn how to get into the Bible consistently and in a meaningful way.

I spent many years unnecessarily feeling like a Bible-study failure and I spend a ton of energy developing tools to help other women move past those feelings of failure to walk toward a lifetime of enjoying the Bible.

Being a Bible girl means we’re committed to making Bible study a priority in our lives—and Bible study includes utilizing resources designed to help us understand the Bible better. In the digital age we live in, more and more resources are becoming available online making a wealth of information immediately available and at our fingertips, which is why I think every Bible girl needs a digital Bible library.

By far my favorite digital Bible study tool is Logos Bible Software. I’ve used Logos for well over a decade and absolutely love it. Whether it’s a quick search for something on my phone or a deep dive from my desktop, I use Logos almost daily for both personal study and work.

What is Logos?

Logos Bible Software is an online platform that includes thousands and thousands of Bible study resources. There are Bibles, commentaries, Bible handbooks, maps, Greek and Hebrew tools, and much, much more. Anything and everything you would need for a deep study of Scripture is available. (If you are a Bible teacher, there are also teaching tools to help organize your studies and talks. You can even create slides for your presentations within Logos!)

You can access Logos from your phone or tablet through their app, which is robust and easy to navigate. You can also access Logos from your computer either through downloading the software or through the website version.

Who is Logos for?

Logos Bible Software is an incredible resource. It’s not just for pastors or seminary students. And though it is an incredibly robust and powerful Bible study tool, it is accessible to anyone with an internet connection and desire to dig deeper into your studies.

Logos is for everyone (and FREE to get started).

Regardless of where you are on the Bible Study Boulevard, if you want to grow in your Bible study abilities, I highly recommend you get a free account and start collecting the free monthly resources. Over time, this is a great way to build your Bible study library. (The free resources vary, but they are usually a commentary on a specific book of the Bible.) A free account includes a few Bible versions, a study Bible, a Bible dictionary, an interactive timeline, two commentaries, and more. (See full list and details toward the bottom of this page.)

Logos is essential for the serious student ready to invest in her skills.

If you are just starting out with reading the Bible, I highly recommend a solid study Bible. This is going to be a great first step toward understanding what you are reading, especially until you can learn how to study the Bible for yourself.

But sooner or later, you’re going to grow out of your study Bible. Once you start digging into the Bible on your own you are going to want and need more information than your study Bible can give. This is where Logos comes in and there are several reasons why I love building my Bible study library with Logos (which you will never grow out of!):

1. Digital on-demand accessibility. I love that I can literally carry my library in my pocket. Through the Logos app, I have on-demand access to all my resources on my phone. I also use the app on my iPad. And, of course, have the same access available on my computer. So whether I am at home, at church (I often will look up Greek/Hebrew words and.or cross-reference as I listen to the sermon), in a small group Bible study, or out in a coffee shop working on deeper study, I can easily find and access exactly what I need.
2. Cheaper resources. If available, I prefer to purchase new books and resources through Logos instead of hard copies. I used to buy hardcopies, but then I had a hard time bringing everything I wanted with me, if I wanted to head out of the house to study. But I also like to get the Logos version because it is almost always cheaper than buying the hardcopy. Not to mention, the free and highly discounted resources they come out with each month. There are also many Christian books you can purchase through Logos, including a few of my very own books and Bible studies, and they have very competitive prices compared to Kindle, Nook, etc.
3. It’s built for Bible study. From the layout, to the types of resources, to the way things link to one another, this platform is built to study the Bible. With the game-changing integration with AI in the Logos subscriptions, it stands alone as the premium tool on the market. (Remember, like everything else, there is always a bit of a learning curve!)

Beyond grabbing the free and discounted resources each month, I recommend trying out the free trial for the subscription to see if the deeper, time-saving tools are for you. Then keep an eye on the Logos Libraries and catch a sale to add to your personal library.

2025 Update: The NEW Logos is here!

Logos has announced an exciting new Logos experience that takes all your resources up a notch! These new AI-fueled tools help you make the most out of your Logos Library items. Check out this demonstration to see how it all works.

Here are some of the new features I am most excited about (which you will learn about in the video below.)

• Revamped Factbook
• Summarize Tool
• Insights (Bible view)
• Smart Search
• Quarterly Mobile Ed courses

For a limited time, you can get a free trial of the Logos subscription features through my personal link here. I recommend the Premium membership for personal study, unless you are in seminary and/or working on writing/speaking projects. In that case, the Pro version (which is what I use) is a great fit.

Enjoy!

What questions do you have about Logos? Let me know!

The post Why I love having a digital Bible library (and which one I use). appeared first on Katie Orr.

Need help learning how to draw near to God in your difficult days?

Through this mini e-course you will ...

• Learn more about what it means to pour your heart out to God — and how to do it!
• Better understand how “pouring out” your heart to God is more than just words
• Understand a few biblical steps for trusting God with your struggles
• Receive a printable guide that contains guided, customizable prayer prompts

Learn More

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Enjoy!

(Affiliate links present. If you make a purchase through our links, we receive a small portion of your purchase at no extra cost to you.) 

The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines a slave as a person who is “totally responsible to and dependent upon another person” (p 1511). It was a common and customary practice in the ancient word — a “basic element” that representing much of the work force (Backgrounds of Early Christianity, p 58)— so much so that it is believed that one out of every five person was a slave (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p 1511; Backgrounds of Early Christianity, p 58) The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary suggests “by the time of the New Testament, about 30 percent of the population of the Roman Empire is estimated to have been slaves” (p 971).

Individuals became a slave for varying reasons. According to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a “person could become a slave as a result of capture in war, default on a debt, inability to support and ‘voluntarily’ selling oneself, being sold as a child by destitute parents, birth to slave parents, conviction of a crime, or kidnapping and piracy” (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p 1511). Therefore, the slave population included people from many nationalities and ethnic groups (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p 1511), especially that of the eastern region of the Roman Empire (Backgrounds of Early Christianity, p 58). Because of the variety of ways one could acquire slaves, it was not possible to tell that an individual was a slave just by looking at his or her physical attributes (The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, p 971).

Once a slave, an individual was legally regarded as property. Though they could not marry, some slaves did have children and any child born would become the property of the mother’s master (Backgrounds of Early Christianity, p 59). Slaves had no individual rights and were to submit themselves fully to the will of their master. The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary presents that slaves “had virtually no autonomy—no ability to make decisions regarding their own lives or destinies—and in a world that valued honor above all else, they occupied the bottom tier of the social pyramid. A slave was a person with no honor, a person who lived in shame” (p. 971).

The responsibilities and work of each slave varied, as slaves were utilized for a wide range of occupational needs. From manual labor to bureaucratic administration, agricultural to education, household to temple, slaves were ubiquitous in the daily operations of the ancient Greco-Roman world (Backgrounds of Early Christianity, p 60). Slaves were managers, mine laborers, accountants, caregivers, temple workers, field hands, teachers, prostitutes, cooks, craftsmen, and musicians. Furthermore, the ownership of slaves was not simply secular. Both Jews and Christians were known to own slaves (The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, p 971).

Although the law prohibited egregious abuse as well as the killing of slaves, many lived amidst dreadful conditions, especially for those in extreme manual labor situations (The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, p 971). These cases were in great contrast to that of imperial slaves who worked for the elite and privileged class. Some, according to Backgrounds of Early Christianity, were “slaves of the state, of townships, and of the emperor [and] did the work that now falls to the civil service, including some of the highest administrative functions in the bureaucracy. Their inscriptions show that the imperial slaves were proud of their status, and rightly so for the many necessary functions they discharged” (p 60). Interestingly, there were cases of individuals selling themselves into slavery in order to climb the social ladder and to procure desirable jobs (The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, p 971).

It was feasible and typical for slaves to be freed — a process known as manumission during Roman times — whether through paying off the debt that brought them to their position as a slave, purchasing their own freedom, or from the generous good will of their master (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p 1511). This widely accepted practice of manumission meant that most slaves during New Testamental times would expect to be freed by the age thirty (The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, p 971). Although, manumission initiated by the master was often conditional of an ongoing patron-client relationship (Backgrounds of Early Christianity, p 61). Another specific mode of freedom for the slave was that of sacral manumission where, according to Backgrounds of Early Christianity, “the slave’s freedom was purchased in a pagan temple in the name of the deity and with funds furnished to the deity by the slave” (p 60).

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So far we’ve explored the first two stages:

• BELIEVER – the starting point for our journey—salvation by grace through faith
• CRAVER – the place where we’re ready to take our faith seriously and begin investing in our spiritual life
• The next up is BUILDER.

This is a crucial stage that many try to skip over.

Perhaps you can identify with the following:

You become a CRAVER.
You are excited to do this Bible study thing.
You long to grow spiritually and are ready to do what it takes.

You grab a Bible study.
Or chose a reading plan.
You’re SO excited!

But a week later you’re “behind” and discouraged.
Overwhelmed and confused.

We are limited beings and taking up something new takes time and effort. Studying the Bible is not a simply task. It takes skill, tools, resources, and time.

So, before we start studying, we need to start first with building the habit of showing up daily.

Building a new habit is hard enough on its own.

That’s why I’m a huge fan of SMALL reading plans. So we can focus on building the basics. (I have several FREE super-short reading plans here in the Bible Study Hub.)

It may feel like you’re not moving forward very quickly, but skipping this step—building the habit of regularly opening up your Bible—will keep you from making progress long term.

We’re in a marathon, not a sprint. So let’s start with consistently waking around the block first.

Once we’re in the habit of showing up, then we’re ready for the next stage when we can start flexing our Bible study muscles.

For now, BUILD THE HABIT.

Not sure where you are on the Boulevard? Take the quiz! Katieorr.me/quiz

The post Before You Start Studying the Bible … Be Sure to Do This appeared first on Katie Orr.

Staying focused. I find it very difficult to do it alone (no friends).

Discipline and staying focused.

Focus and discipline.

Not being able to stay focused

Making the time & not being distracted.

Time & focus.

Focus & discipline for me also…

Making it a priority and being consistent.

Focus.

Focus.

Focus.

So, yeah. Lack of focus is a true barrier to enjoying the Bible the way we want to.

As I look back on my own journey and the journey of thousands of women I’ve coached toward better Bible study, there are several factors that contribute to the inability to focus.

Lack of a plan

Simply put, when we have no plan, we wander through the Word. We may get a random nugget or two here or there, but without a clear goal and finish line, our time in the Bible will feel aimless and disjointed.

Lack of know-how

Having a plan brings purpose, but we also need to know HOW to reach our goal. Without a step-by-step process for how to study, we come away from the Bible scratching our heads instead of excited to put into practice what we just learned. It’s one thing to say, “I’m going to build a house.” It’s quite another to know how to put all the pieces in the right place. We can’t focus on something we don’t know how to do.

Lack of community

There are some out there who can follow the plan and navigate studying all on their own. They never forget, never get distracted, and have the answer to every question. For the rest of us, we need people. We need friends who will encourage us when we get discouraged. We need someone who is a few steps ahead of us to help us through the tough spots. We need a tutor who is skilled at coaching us toward the desired end goal.

When we know where we want to go, how to get there, within a group of people who are seeking the same end-goal, something amazing happens.

Focus.

Forward progress.

Life change.

I love helping women find focus when it comes to Bible study. I have been teaching women how to study the Bible for twenty years. Over the last five years, I have spent a ton of time and energy honing in on what works best for today’s busy woman. Because today’s woman wants more.

They want to go deeper than a devotional.

They want to move forward from fill-in-the-blanks.

They want their time to be spent in actual study of the Bible.

And when they do start moving forward … wow, it is one of the most exciting things to see!

I love that I can follow the provided studies, instead of thumbing through my Bible, trying to decide what to study. I also love the encouragement that the community provides. It helps me to complete the study and I always look forward to the next one. I love that I’m learning Bible study methods that enable me to study any part of the Bible, on my own. I’m getting so much more out of my studies. — Lorie

I am now digging deeper than ever before and understanding what I am studying. If I get stuck, I have Katie and the members to help me. I love the ladies’ insight in their understanding of the Word.My Bible study has changed completely. — Judy

I love that I constantly have new studies to follow and can dive in as deep as I have time for. I am consistently in the Word now more than I ever have been! This is the place! You can literally start RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE and grow from there!— Donna

And the testimonials keep coming in.

I don’t say this to puff myself up (in fact, I’m a bit uncomfortable in sharing this with you!) I share this because I WANT THIS FOR YOU, TOO!

So if you’re ready for more—more focus, more study, more transformation through your time in the Word—check out the free training to learn more about the Bible Study Hub way of study, and how you can join us!

The post Three barriers to enjoying the Bible the way we want to appeared first on Katie Orr.

It starts in the moment of your salvation—that instant where you first trusted in the words within the Bible, the living book about our awesome God.

It is then your transformation through the Word of God began. This moment was a critical one. It changed your eternal destiny and your life’s purpose.

Yet many of us don’t know what we’re supposed to do next. We don’t understand how to move forward. And we don’t fully grasp that the Bible holds the key to unlocking the intimate, fruitful relationship with God we crave.

Indeed, many believers miss out on a lifetime of blessings through a deeper experience of God’s present. You see, beyond our salvation, there is another pivotal moment in the life of a believer.

I call it becoming a Craver.

The Craver is a believer with a growing desire for a deeper relationship with God.

The Craver is ready for more.
More of God.
More of His Word.
More of the grace He freely gives.

The Craver is ready to start taking her Christian faith seriously.

The next best step for the Craver is to GRASP GRACE. She needs to understand the FOUNDATIONS of her faith.
What exactly is grace?
What actually happened when I placed my faith in Jesus?
How do I move forward in my Christian walk?

If these are questions you’ve asked and want some answers, I want to help.   Check out the Bible Study Boulevard training  which will help lay the foundation for a lifetime of enjoying an intimate relationship with God.

The post For when you’re ready to start taking your faith seriously appeared first on Katie Orr.

For a while, I thought that they were just born more spiritual than me.

However, over time I realized it was because they were consistently reading and studying Scripture.

I wanted what they had, but I didn’t know where to start.

For years I fumbled around feeling like a Bible study failure. I tried opening to random passages, reading plans, devotionals, even study books.

But they left me feeling like I was still missing something.

I was.

Over time I realized that I wanted more. I was tired of having other people to tell me more about the Bible. I wanted to experience it for myself.

How about you?

Are you dissatisfied with your ability to read, study, and understand Scripture? Do you want the “a-ha” moments with the Word? Does your soul long for a deeper, more intimate place with God?

If you are ready for more than it’s time for you to start studying the Bible for yourself.

And I have just the resource for you. I call it the Bible Study Boulevard.

The Bible Study Boulevard was designed to not only train you on how to study the Bible, but also to help you identify where you are in 1 of 6 stages in your relationship to the Bible.

Because I want you to take the next Bible Study step that is best for YOU.

No more crash and burn.
No more half-read reading plans.
No more unfinished Bible studies.

Want the first step? Head to katieorr.me/quiz to take the free assessment quiz!! It takes about 2 minutes and you’ll get your results right away. You’ll also have the option to receive personalized tips to help you take your next best Bible study step.

The post How to take your next best Bible Study step appeared first on Katie Orr.

As I write these words I’m in a holding pattern. I woke up showing several  symptoms matching the CDC’s warnings to watch for a COVID-19 infection. Since I have an underlying auto-immune disease and accompanying asthma, I called my local doctor first thing.

Today’s doctor’s appointment was fairly ordinary. I signed in and waited for my name to be called. The nurse checked me in by recording my blood pressure, temperature, and weight. Although, the typically full waiting room and office filled with smiling aides were exchanged for a ghost-town-entryway and co-workers graced with masks on their faces. The doctor, who entered the exam room with her own mouth and nose protected, also bore proof that maybe this wasn’t really an ordinary appointment after all.

After the exam, a few swabs, and a negative rapid strep test, I was told it could be a sinus infection with aggravated asthma or possible COVID-19. Tests were ordered. I was sent off with instructions to fill my meds drive-thru style, go home, and wait.

By the time this post goes live, I should know whether I am COVID-19 positive or not. Meanwhile, masks must be worn if we leave the house. Visits with family—especially with those who are older—should be avoided. We are to act as if our entire family is infected.

And so, we wait.

WHEN OUR FAITH IS PROVED

It is in these waiting times of life—where the “what-ifs” are palpable, while unknown test results linger—that our resolve is tested. These are the moments when our faith is proved.

Do I really believe what I proclaim?

That God sees these moments.

That God knows my future.

That God is my protecting shield and anything He has allowed, anything He is allowing, and anything He ever will allow in my life is no accident.

And that no matter what, God is good.

This is what I say I believe. It’s what I’ve been teaching live on Facebook all week as I’ve prepared for my book launch. (Oh, yeah. I forget to tell you. Today—the day I write these words—the day I found out I might just have the novel virus—is the day my book with the word happy in the title was released.) It’s the message I’ve studied and written and prayed about for over two years. It’s the teaching of how God has created us to flourish regardless of our circumstances. It’s the truth about how He has provided a way for every one of us to experience an abundant, happy life that can weather any storm.

Even through this COVID-19 storm.

IN THE WAITING

So what am I doing? I’m resting. I’m enjoying my family. We’re watching Netflix and playing with the dog. We’re laughing and eating and sleeping and living. Just like we did yesterday. And I’m choosing not to allow a potential diagnosis with a potential outcome to steal my joy, rob my faith, or ruin my happiness.

Have I had some freak-out moments? Sure. I think we all have in the last few weeks. Because sometimes the “what-ifs” get the better of us. So much about this pandemic is out of our control.

But when our joy, faith, contentment, delight, and hope is based not on our circumstances but on who God is, that’s when happiness happens. Soul-level, unshakeable, Jesus-provided happiness. We can experience the full and thriving life He died to provide us. We can have the resilient, fruitful existence He’s prepared for you and me. We can grasp the hope and peace He gives us through His presence. As we cling to the character of God instead of wallowing in the “what-ifs,” our holding patterns can be a place of peace.

A PRAYER IN THE HOLDING PATTERN

God, help us to keep our thoughts on who You are more than what might be. Help us to use our every breath to honor You. Help us to see every change as an opportunity to prove Your faithfulness. Help us to recognize the opportunities we have to declare that You are good. By Your grace, we will wait in this holding pattern with patience and peace, knowing that You see all and know all. Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief.

This post was originally posted over at LifeWay Voices.

The post How To Trust God with the Unknown Results appeared first on Katie Orr.

Even before all of this, questions like, “Where should I start studying the Bible?” and “What’s the best thing to study next?” are very common concerns. Here are three actions to take to help you make a decision.

Consider this hierarchy for how to choose.

This is not meant to be a hard and fast rule, but just a series of questions you can ask yourself to help guide you to a Bible study that is a good fit for where you are right now.

1. Where is God leading me/already speaking? Take some quiet moments to look and listen for where God is already leading you.
2. What is my local church studying? Studying with “real-life” people you are committed to is always a great thing to prioritize. Even if the topic/study is not something you are most interested in. We lean so much from studying alongside one another.
3. What have I not yet studied? Have a Bible study bucket list and lean in to the books of the Bible you’ve never studied before.
4. What am I interested in? If, after going through the first three questions, you still are not sure simply go with what sounds fun to you!

Another big factor to keep in mind is to know where we are on the Bible Study Boulevard. Once we know where we are on our journey, that will help us choose the next best baby step.

Remember there is no bad choice if it gets you in the Word.

You may evaluate where you are and where God is leading and still have several studies to choose from. There are loads of great guides out there. Don’t turn this into a moral choice! Just pick one and dive in.

Don’t forget to think outside of the box.

The time we spend in front of the Bible is critical for our spiritual life. But it is not the only way we can get in the Word.

• Bookend your day with time in the Word.
• Utilize podcast sermon series’.
• Listen to God’s Word throughout the day.
• Engage in both topical and passage-driven studies (ones that go verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible or passage of Scripture).

This post is a summary of my conversation with Teri Lynne Underwood. You can catch the entire chat in the video below or watch in on Facebook.

The post Three Tips To Help You Know Which Bible Study To Choose appeared first on Katie Orr.