Bible Study Software is Great Stewardship

By Nick B. Nicholaou

When is a computer more than a toy? When it helps you accomplish something in less time and with better quality. And that's just what Bible study software does.

Pastors, Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders are finding that their lessons and messages come together faster and have greater focus with the help of Bible study software.

"It saves me a lot of time," says Raul Ries, Ph.D., senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs in Diamond Bar, Calif., a church that attracts more than 10,000 worshippers per week. "God is able to guide me in a more focused way to the message He wants me to communicate through the use of Bible study software." In fact, Ries says he has cut his preparation time by more than one-third with the aid of such software.

Fortunately, using it is simple. Your first step is to click on a button asking which part of the Bible you want to visit (chapter and verse), after which you're given many popular versions from which to choose. The text opens up on your screen and lets you read without distraction. If your study will be topical, start with a different button for an electronic concordance or one that opens Nave's Topical Bible. Now you can begin to gain a deeper sense of the passage. Using your mouse or the up and down arrows on your keyboard, scroll to read the context of the passage. Then with a simple button click, scroll through all of the Bible versions on your system to see how they approach the passage.

Here's where it gets fun

Usually, your next step is to look at the words in their original language--Greek or Hebrew--which is done simply by clicking a button. Strong's Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, as well as interlinear Bibles, are all available. If a word is a derivative of a root, click on that root to see its definition. You can also view other passages using the same word or root. For research scholars, especially teaching pastors and professors, some packages include various versions of the actual Greek and Hebrew text.

Meanwhile, you can write notes in your study software, word processor or any other tool you're using. You can also highlight interesting information in the study software and copy it to your word processor. It writes the information there, including all of the appropriate copyright details, for future reference.

Look to the wisdom of others

Now that you've gotten a good sense of what the passage says, you might be curious about what others have to say. Some software includes optional reference works, including Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Vincent's New Testament Word Studies, and Robertson's New Testament Word Pictures. Simply click on a button and bring these materials onscreen to automatically view the passage that interests you. One particularly favored option is the ability to look up sermon illustrations, including the works of such preaching greats as Spurgeon.

Some software also offers commentaries from Wycliffe, Matthew Henry, Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, Adam Clarke and more. Again, choosing any of these automatically lets you know what the commentator had to say about the passage you're studying. It's all right there at your fingertips.

For the sake of relevancy, some programs let you add reference works from the software provider or other sources. If your provider does not offer your favorite reference works, you might be able to add them on your own. (It's not difficult; when I did it, I called the study software company and asked its technical support personnel to walk me through it.) As you can see, there are endless resources for electronic study.

Which package is right?

Our firm consults with hundreds of churches across the country, and this is a common question. Luckily, the answer is simple. Ask:

• Who will use the software? Bible study software is available in many different levels to match its capabilities with users' needs. A layperson, for example, might not need or want all of the same tools as a pastor.
• How will it be used? If you're a layperson who simply needs the ability to read the Bible on your computer, you can get it. If you need more lesson or message-preparation tools, you also can get those. Even if you want to load the software onto your personal digital assistant, or PDA (Palm Pilot), you can do it. But if you're planning to load the program onto an older-model desktop or laptop, hard-drive size might become an issue.
• How much flexibility do you need? Will you need additional reference works not available directly from your software provider? If so, it will require appropriate programs.
• What can you afford? Sometimes the software decision comes down to what's realistic. Simpler packages can be very inexpensive, but those with full features cost more. Compare the amount of time you can save and try to assign a value to it. I advise clients to view the equation from an annual perspective. If, for example, a pastor typically spends eight hours preparing the week's message--and as Ries found out, Bible study software can shorten that preparation by more than 30 percent--it can translate to an annual savings of nearly 150 hours! Any software or hardware that pays for itself in only one year is a good investment--as is any tool that saves our time or simply leads us deeper into God's Word.

In this respect, Bible study software is just good stewardship.

Nick Nicholaou is the president of Ministry Business Services in Huntington Beach, Calif., a team of consultants specializing in ministry management and operations. He is a frequent contributor to numerous industry books and magazines and has been honored by both the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA) and Christian Management Association (CMA) for his role in assisting ministries nationwide. Reach Nicholaou by e-mail at nick@mbsinc.com or log on to www.mbsinc.com.

Toolbox

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www.franklin.com

FREE LIGHT VERSION OF ONLINE BIBLE

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