Teddy James
AFA Journal staff writer
July/August 2014 – A new online video course offers college level Bible education.
The creators of Logos Bible Software looked at higher education and saw the many obstacles Christians face when seeking Bible-based higher education. Many must make the choice between moving their families or traveling great distances, giving up careers for several years and making a very large financial investment.
The Logos team began developing a plan that would remove those obstacles or at least make them much easier to overcome. Their solution had to provide a college-level Bible education that was theologically sound, cost effective, geographically unbounded, self paced and relevant to specific denominations and schools of theological thought.
After much prayer and planning, they developed Logos Mobile Education. The creators of Mobile Ed invited professors from numerous higher education institutions to come to their studio in Bellingham, Washington, to record lectures similar to those they give in their classrooms.
Professors who accepted the invitation include Dr. Daniel Block, professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College; Dr. Darrell Bok, research professor of New Testament studies and professor of spiritual development and culture at Dallas Theological Seminary; Dr. Gary Carr, vice president for adult and graduate studies at Southern Wesleyan University, and others.
Johnny Cisneros, educational designer for Logos Bible Software, said, “We chose professors who share our vision. Of course, we have many professors who are well known for their published works. Those who are not as well known show great promise and often serve as administrators at the forefront of theological education.”
New Classroom
Although the professors teach on traditional campuses, the Mobile Ed classroom couldn’t be more different. Mobile Ed creators recognized early on that the majority of students would not often have a one-hour time block to dedicate to listening, reading and taking notes. So they structured most lectures to be under 15 minutes. Each lesson also has required reading that is already in students’ Logos libraries.
And because Logos software can link several devices to a single account, students can watch a lecture on a computer at home and do the required reading or take quizzes on a tablet or smartphone outside or on their commute. Also, the notes they take on the required reading or lectures are available on every device they have synced with their accounts.
Beyond reading their own notes, students also have the ability to search the lectures for key words and hear a portion of a lecture they want to listen to again. This is an important feature, as it can assist students in getting the most information from the resource in front of them.
For many, the most difficult hurdle to higher education is cost. To give students the best value possible, Logos sells courses individually or in bundles. The first bundle available, Bible Doctrine Foundations, contains nine courses: Introducing Old Testament: Its Structure and Story by Dr. Mark Futato, former academic dean of Reformed Theological Seminary; Introducing New Testament: Its Structure and Story by Dr. Lynn Cohick, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College; four classes on Bible doctrine; one discussing the overall story of the Bible; another on biblical interpretation; and lastly an entire course dedicated to training students on how to get the most from the Logos software.
“We bundle courses in ways similar to a seminary or Bible college,” Cisneros said. “The Bible and Doctrine Foundations Bundle, for example, contains the nine courses you would take in the first year of a Bible program. The Preaching and Discipling Foundations Bundle contains the ten courses you would take in your second year. We also have specialized courses that we bundle in two ways: subject and author.”
Beyond the one-on-one experience with professors, students are invited to participate in group discussions through a peripheral software called Faithlife. This program was created to help small groups in churches stay in contact, encourage one another, share prayer requests and much more. Logos uses it to generate more of a college or seminary experience for students by allowing them to discuss the readings and lectures with other students going through the same classes. It is similar to how colleges are capitalizing on online forums.
Same Goal
While the classrooms of Logos Mobile Ed and traditional seminaries or Bible colleges could not be more different, their goals are exactly the same: to strengthen the body of Christ by helping leaders and ministers gain a deeper knowledge of Scripture that will help them develop a richer faith. Cisneros said, “The goal of Logos Mobile Ed is to raise biblical literacy and improve competency for ministry without the burden of student loan debt or the need to uproot a family. We want to help Christians continue their education within the context of their ministries.”
While the strengthening of individual believers is a laudable goal, Logos also expresses a larger vision. The heart of the ministry guiding Logos is making the global church stronger. Leaders at Logos believe that when Christians gain a stronger understanding of and appreciation for Scripture, families become stronger. When families become stronger, that strength bleeds into churches and can lead to a spiritual revival not only in America, but also all over the world.
While Logos Bible Software and Mobile Education are just tools, they are powerful tools that can be used in incredibly impactful ways. 
Mobile Ed great resource for pastors, churches
Several organizations and companies require employees to continue their education through conferences, seminars, online courses or in-house training. This serves to keep them up to date on new trends and new technology, but it also serves to refresh and encourage them. It lets them know they are important and worth the company investing in.
And although most ministers constantly pour themselves into their churches and communities by giving their time, their wisdom and their hearts, churches and communities rarely if ever truly return that investment.
Pastors especially would benefit greatly by the use of Logos Bible Software and Mobile Ed. Not only would it continue their education, it would serve as a refresher course of lessons learned and perhaps forgotten. It can also serve to fulfill the desire of a minister to constantly be taught the Word of God while he teaches his congregation.
Churches should view Logos and Mobile Education as an opportunity to invest in their ministers. The dividends will be eternal.
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To learn more about Logos or Mobile Education and to get a 15% discount, visit logos.com/AFR or call 800-875-6467.
