Mobile Bible

Posted by Chuck on January 1, 2009 under Ministry, Resources | Be the First to Comment

Not too long ago a church member saw me playing with my cell phone while another speaker was presenting a lesson.  They wanted to scold me for “texting.”  I then showed them the GoBible and they were amazed.

With all of the games and apps out for cell phones it was only a matter of time before someone made a Biblical application for a mobile.  Here’s three I’ve used:

http://gobible.jolon.org/
This is currently on my cell phone.  It gives you complete search capabilities of the entire KJV.  And after it’s downloaded it becomes an app on your phone, so no network connection is needed.  And best of all it’s free!

http://mbible.com
My next favorite is mbible.com   The only reason this is number two instead of number one is because you need a network connection to use the site.  The site is very simple and easy to use on your mobile, because that is what it was designed for 100%!  You can search for a verse reference, find cross references, and search for phrases.  Why I would use this in addition to the GoBible is because mbible.com offers multiple translations.

http://mobile.biblegateway.com/
A step beyond translations is mobile.Biblegateway.com   mobile.Biblegateway.com  gives you the power of the Biblegateway.com site in the palm of your hand.  You do need a network connection.

With anyone one of these, as long as you’ve got your mobile, you’ve got the Scriptures with you.

Bible Software

Posted by Chuck on December 30, 2008 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

Just the other day someone asked me which Bible translation I preach and teach from.  While I primarily use the NIV to preach and teach from that is only because the NIV is the first translation that I was exposed to.  I’ve also used the NASB, KJV, and NKJV for preaching and teaching.  It all depends upon the audience.

An easy way to compare and contrast verses in different translations is with a Bible program.  I’ve personally been using QuickVerse since version 3 and I am currently using QuickVerse 2008.  It’s not that I really, Really, REALLY like QuickVerse, but since I’ve been using it for over 10 years now I’ve built up quite a library.  Unfortunately QuickVerse does not come with Hebrew.  It hasn’t for years and for $800 it should come with more.

One of these days I’m going to take the plunge and buy Logos.  Logos has been the “standard” in Biblical scholarship.  I’ve just never been able to afford it!  (The Scholar’s Library: Gold costs over $1,000!).  Of course, they know it’s expensive, but you get what you pay for and it comes with Hebrew!  Unlike QuickVerse, the Logos library is ever expanding.  One other “bonus” is that if you really want this scholarly tool, they now offer a payment program.

The more economical BibleWorks (about $350) has Greek and Hebrew and a LOT of Bible translations.  BibleWorks is good, affordable, and easy to use, but lacks many of the scholarly works in Logos.

So . . . money, money, money – these all cost money.  So, what’s good AND free?  e-Sword.  e-Sword is a fully functional FREE Bible program – BUT if you want contemporary Bibles (like the NIV) you’ll need to start forking over ca$h and the modules vary in price and could easily start to add up to the price of BibleWorks.

Now, if you are just starting out in the ministry, don’t have a budget, maybe a student, and you’re broke – but you have an Internet connection (or can access one) there’s always the Biblegateway.com with dozens of FREE translations including Greek and Hebrew!  Study “on the cheap” – but it gets the job done!

http://www.quickverse.com
http://www.logos.com
http://www.bibleworks.com
http://www.e-sword.net
http://www.biblegateway.com

New Testament Greek

Posted by Chuck on December 29, 2008 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

NTGreek.net
Registered students pay a $200 fee, but the good news is that you can go through the online course for free, just without help.  Jeff Smelser is the minister of the Centreville church of Christ and has done a great job in putting the site together.
http://www.ntgreek.net/

Greek Bible Study
If you want an excellent parallel Bible with NT Greek then Greek Bible Study is superb.  The only caveat is that you have to register, but that is so you can take notes and it’s all FREE!
http://www.greekbiblestudy.org

The New Testament Greek Lexicon
If you want a quick free and flexible lexicon, check out Crosswalk.  You’ll find other tools linked from their site too!
http://www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/NewTestamentGreek/

Finally I’d like to give a tip of the hat to Duke University’s Dr. Mark Goodacre and his site The New Testament Gateway.  Why should I list every great NT Greek site, when he’s got them?
http://ntgateway.com/

Jokes, Stories, Humor – Part II

Posted by Chuck on December 28, 2008 under Ministry | Be the First to Comment

A database of sermon illustrations is really useful to the preacher only when he cannot draw upon a real life scenario to make a point.  Unfortunately for most of us, very few of us have lived long enough and done enough to have an illustration for every text in the Bible.  So, where does a preacher go?

I have a few favorites.

Crosswalk.com has 10,000 Sermon Illustrations to search and pick from.  Although I have personally found multiple dupes in their database, they still have quite a good collection.
http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/illustrations/

SermonCentral.com is my second favorite place to get illustrations from.  They’re my second favorite not because of a lack of material, but because I don’t like the search results when I look for something.  I suppose if I was a paid PRO member the results might be better.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/

With that in mind, IF I was a paid subscriber, PreachingToday.com would be a nice resource, but unlike SermonCentral.com there are no freebies here.  So, skip it unless you can work it into the church budget.

Some other places that I check out from time to time (in order of my personal preference) are:
http://www.sermonillustrations.com
http://www.sermonillustrator.org
http://www.funnysermons.com
http://net.bible.org/illustration.php
http://www.sermons.org/illustrations.html

Jokes, Stories, Humor – Part I

Posted by Chuck on December 27, 2008 under Ministry | Be the First to Comment

One of the things that really gets a sermon, lesson, or class going is a good illustration.  My own list of jokes and stories is found here:

Bible101.org Jokes & Stories
http://www.bible101.org/stories

So, where do I visit for a good joke or story?  One of my favorite places is Cybersalt.

Other sites with cartoons, and humor can be found here: