- Daily Time with God<\/a><\/li>
- Reading<\/a><\/li>
- Gaining Context<\/a><\/li>
- Using What I’ve Learned<\/a><\/li>
- Sermon Prep<\/a><\/li>
- Flexibility<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Essentially, the first four detail the four steps of Bible study<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Remembering to do it<\/li>
- Reading… the Bible, your devotional, an academic source<\/li>
- Learning about what you read<\/li>
- Applying what what you read<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The last two are related to how the Olive Tree App can save you time. There are a few ways that using digital resources are so much more helpful than their paper counterparts when doing sermon prep. Additionally, there is a level of flexibility that comes with using an app. And we want to point out some things you may not realize you have control over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s get started.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
DIGITAL BIBLE STUDY DOES IT BETTER: DAILY TIME WITH GOD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Devotionals, reading plans, and even unstructured times spent in the Bible are so important for our growth. But you just have to remember<\/strong> to do it…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is, in my opinion, the best part of digital Bible study. Sure, there are lots of fancy features and neat shortcuts. But they don’t mean much if you don’t get into the Word. So, here is a tool that can remind you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Digital](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reminders-1024x451.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHOW TO SET UP REMINDERS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you’ve started a reading plan, find it in the list of your current plans. Tap “View Schedule” and then the alarm icon in the top-right. You can choose what time you want to be alerted on specific days of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But let’s talk about devotionals…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Typically, even an ebook version of a devotional doesn’t come with much. Besides making annotations, all you can do is read it. But we took some of our most popular devotionals and made them work like reading plans. Here are what they look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/graceforthemoment-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Grace For The Moment Daily Bible: Devotional Readings by Max Lucado\ufeff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \n![\"Jesus](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/jesuscalling-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Jesus Calling by Sarah Young\ufeff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \n![\"Word](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/wordfortheday-1.jpg\")
<\/a>A Word for the Day: Key Words from the New Testament\ufeff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A REMINDER YOU CAN’T IGNORE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Okay so, you’re getting reminders about your reading plan or devotional. That’s good! But you can still ignore the notification if you find yourself busy. What would be really nice is someone literally taking Scripture and putting right in front of your eyeballs for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can do that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s called Verse of the Day, and it really isn’t a new concept. However, we are convinced that not enough people are using it the way it was designed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Digital](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/verseoftheday-1-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSee that “read” button at the bottom? If you tap it, you can read that verse IN CONTEXT<\/strong>. Basically, we are jumpstarting your daily Bible reading time. All you have to do is read your notification and tap on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paper books on a shelf just don’t quite get your attention in the same way.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
SO, WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The last reason that digital Bible study does daily time with God better is that you can get your questions answered! At least, you can get them answered without opening every book on your shelf, going to the library, or calling up your professor from seminary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ll cover this more in the Gaining Context<\/a> section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Digital](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/versenotification.gif\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMAKE IT APPLICABLE!<\/strong>
“Reading the Bible regularly is an important part of growing in your faith. I’ve always had a hard time with consistency, so I’ll try out a new devotional. I’ll set reminders for weeknights at 8 PM, when I tend to be at home and quiet.”
“I’m in the middle of a busy day at work and my phone (or watch!) buzzes with a Verse of the Day notification. That’s a great perspective-check, or a reminder to take a few seconds and quiet myself and pray.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nDIGITAL BIBLE STUDY DOES IT BETTER: READING<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now that we’ve covered ways that taking your Bible study digital gets you in the Bible more… let’s talk about how it helps you read<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, are you a person who loses bookmarks? I do\u2014all the time. Or that little, shiny ribbon in my Bible falls out. Either way, I’m out of luck. I have to use brainpower to remember where I was at, while, simultaneously, wasting time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool feature #1<\/strong> of reading with an app is that it always remembers where you left off. Simple, but a game-changer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YOU SHOULD REALLY READ THE FOOTNOTES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sounds boring… but it isn’t. Footnotes in your Bible often have rather useful information. Footnotes in your books (especially academic ones) are priceless. But when you’re reading from paper, you have to look really closely at the bottom of the page to discern which footnote is the one you want. Or worse, the notes are in the back of the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fear no more. You can SYNC your footnotes in the parallel window. Tap the reference number in the main menu. Then select “Parallel”. The footnotes will open in the Study Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let us do the hard work of keeping your footnotes up to speed with your reading. Digital Bible study wins again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ParallelFootnotes-min-1024x450.gif\")
The New English Translation (NET), 2nd Edition<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Now you’ll never miss an important piece of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AND YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY READ THE REFERENCES<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It doesn’t matter what you’re reading: a devotional, an academic book, a commentary, study Bible notes. You’re probably going to run into one of those places that look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/NTLHyperlink1-1024x450.jpg\")
Old and New Testament Library Series<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n References can be a PAIN with a paper book. Usually, you skip over them because you can’t bring yourself to get up, grab a Bible, and thumb through to find the EIGHT different verse references. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We know the pain… so we made a solution. It’s called hyperlinked verse references<\/strong>. All you have to do it tap. \ufeff<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/NTLHyperlink2-1024x450.jpg\")
Old and New Testament Library Series<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n LISTEN HERE<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Alright, so maybe you want to listen instead of read. Obviously, listening doesn’t really have a paper counterpart… but we can talk about CDs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to be rude, but there are quite a few reasons to ditch the CD wagon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- they get scratched and don’t work<\/li>
- they get cracked and don’t work<\/li>
- you have to have somewhere to store them<\/li>
- where do you even listen to CDs now?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Sorry if we offended any avid CD-collectors. But truly, listening to audio Bibles and books in the Olive Tree Bible App can change your life. That’s because God’s Word changes lives and with the app you can listen anywhere, anytime. So many more opportunities to experience growth with digital Bible study!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/NKJVWordOfPromise43762-1024x451.jpg\")
NKJV Word of Promise Audio Bible<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n Not only that, but you can read along with the audio Bible. Definitely can’t do that with a CD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/iPhoneDrivingModeHouseworkBlog.jpg\")
NIV Listener’s Audio Bible<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n There are lots of audiobooks to learn from. Here are a few of our favorite Apologetics titles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The Case for Christ<\/a><\/li>
- Understanding the Book of Mormon<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
MAKE IT APPLICABLE!<\/strong>
“I’m reading this eBook, and I can open the footnotes in the split window. They’ll stay in sync as I scroll! A lot of these footnotes are just references to other books, but here’s a whole paragraph of parenthetical thoughts expanding on something said in the main text! I wouldn’t have known that existed just scrolling through the eBook text.”
“In the morning, when I’m doing dishes, I love listening to my audio Bible. Later, when I want to go running, I can pick up right where I left off\u2014but on my phone. Or maybe I want to listen to The Case for Christ<\/a>…. hard choice!”<\/p>\n\n\n\nDIGITAL DOES IT BETTER: GAINING CONTEXT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If there is one thing I learned from Bible college, it’s this: Context is king.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you’re reading difficult passages, it is always best to have several voices giving you information. With a paper library, you can organize everything to an extent. However, when you really want to know which books and resources you have that discuss a specific verse, you’re going to spend a lot of time pulling books off the shelf and thumbing through them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re unfamiliar with the Resource Guide, now is a great time to learn. Basically, we can tell you what is in your library and if it relates to the passage you’re reading\u2014at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Understanding the Book of Mormon<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The Case for Christ<\/a><\/li>
- Reading<\/a><\/li>