Logos Bible software has moved to a subscription-based model. I’m starting at the lowest tier, Logos Premium. I’m trying out the new Smart Search feature by using search in a new tab (not the inline search option in an open book). The default engine is “Smart”. Another search engine similar to previous versions of Logos is labeled “Precise”. I’m studying Matthew 19:16–22 so I typed this question in the search field: “why does Jesus ask why the rich young ruler calls him good”
The first mistake I made was to ask that question with “All” applied which only leads to a references to books I don’t have access to. I highlighted the helpful note added to said search informing me how to search books in my library only. I clicked on the books filter as instructed to reveal the results.
Then I asked the same question multiple times and got different responses. This seems to be how AI works, which I found slightly annoying until I realized I can look back at previous searches by clicking the tiny small gray arrow at top right of screen.1
A link is provided to copy the synopsis, including references. This is particularly helpful for how I study. I tend to copy directly from the source which I paste between horizontal lines in my Google doc. My method is to pray, study, then decide what to include in my “study journal” process. Whatever I include in that day’s study is quoted or referenced with a footnote. But the source material is still available between the lines if I want to study it further.
I admit that I became quite sidetracked exploring this feature this morning and found myself having to regroup, hence the following prayer:
Almighty God, you are the maker of the universe, creator of everything, and designer of our bodies and brains. It’s almost noon. I’ve been at this for a while. I’m so easily distracted. Learning this software is important but I realize the main goal is to not even to study your word. It’s to engage with you. Open my heart to what you want me to get from this passage.
Then I continued my study. I found the smart search feature useful in that it gave me some good references that I would have missed had I stuck to my usual commentaries but that is for another day.
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