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To celebrate the November-December issue of Bible Study Magazine, featuring John MacAthur, we have partnered with Thomas Nelson to give away a free download of MacArthur Bible Studies: Romans. Visit our John MacArthur on Bible Study page for all the details on how you can get your free download.

Along with giving away the free download, we're excited to announce a new John MacArthur pre-order opportunity. The John MacArthur Essential Bible Study Library assembles MacArthur’s best-selling Bible study books into a singular collection, with two dozen resources, including Bible studies, study Bibles, and more. Place your pre-order today!

If you're looking for even more John MacArthur material, be sure to visit our John MacArthur resource page.

Learn how to get your free download of MacArthur Bible Studies: Romans now!

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The medicinal benefits of laughing are well documented:

• A good, strong laugh provides a heart rate increase equal to 15 minutes of biking
• Laughter decreases stress and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving resistance to disease
• Laughing helps to deepen breathing, improving respiration
• A hearty laugh relieves tension, reduces stress and can leave your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes

It leaves one to wonder why, if there are so many advantages to laughing, is there so little levity in the Scriptures? Any physical benefits of laughing were designed and hardwired into us by the Creator himself, so would it be so difficult for him to tell a casual joke? To use the periodic pun? To exchange the occasional bon mot?

An article in Bible Study Magazine suggests that perhaps He did. Samuel Lamerson, Dean of Faculty and Associate Professor of New Testament at Knox Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, proposes that perhaps the disconnect between us and the funnier comments and stories Jesus told is cultural—maybe we just don’t understand what they would have found funny in Palestine 2,000 years ago. He also suggests that perhaps we just don’t like the idea of a jovial Jesus and prefer to picture our Savior as a “man of many sorrows, acquainted with grief." Lamerson walks us through some examples of stories Jesus told which his listeners would have found humor in, showing that Jesus may have been a little more wry than we would typically admit.

Bible Study Magazine provides many previews of these kinds of amazing articles, as well as interactive tools to accompany many of the articles in print. But subscribing today is the only way to ensure you don’t miss a single issue.

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A resolute believer in the dedicated study of Scripture to help Christians grow in their faith, he is a best-selling author, popular conference speaker and president of Grace to You—a non-profit organization overseeing his diverse multi-media outreach, including radio and television programs, website resources and more.

In the November–December issue of Bible Study Magazine, John MacArthur shares his advice on a wide variety of Bible study related topics.

In the interview, Dr. MacArthur answers such questions as:

Whether you’re a pastor, teacher, student or disciple of the Word, there’s a lot to glean from Dr. MacArthur’s years of experience. His responses to the questions above will inspire, challenge, and help you fine-tune your own time in the Word.

If you are already a subscriber to Bible Study Magazine you should receive the MacArthur issue the first week or so of November. If you were one of the original subscribers, you need to make sure you have renewed your subscription so you will continue receiving the magazine.

If you have not yet subscribed to Bible Study Magazine, you are really missing out. Subscribe now and you can start off with the fantastic November–December issue with John MacArthur’s interview on Bible study, as well as J.I. Packer’s interview on "A Balanced Bible Study Diet", incredible articles and special sections like "Remembering to Remember the Goodness of God", "Away in a Manger, but Not in a Barn: An Archaeologist Examines the Nativity Scene", "The Prophets—A Start to Finish Bible Study Guide", "Composing the Bible—Transmission, Translation & Context", and so much more.

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Today’s guest post is from John Barry, the Editor-in-Chief for Bible Study Magazine.

This morning, we sent Bible Study Magazine Nov–Dec 2009 to the printer. This marks our one-year anniversary. So, if you see Bible Study Magazine around, wish it happy Birthday.

The magazine began with our company president’s vision for a publication solely devoted to Bible study. And today, that vision is a reality. We are all about getting people into the Word with how-to guides, cover stories with leading Bible teachers, and a growing list of odd things in the Bible we explain. Here you can see me going through our very first issue.

Over the last year, we have put lots of hours in and had lots of fun. Running a magazine is intense, but we enjoy it. You should see our pre-press books—for 48 pages, they are nearly 5 inches thick with editorial notes and changes. We think about every word of Bible Study Magazine because we want it to be as good as possible. Want to know what it is like, follow us on Twitter.

We created Bible Study Magazine from scratch—recruiting our own writing staff, fulfilling and managing our own circulation, and creating custom art for every article. Our marketing department took on the challenge (as a digital publisher) of promoting a print magazine.

With Bible Study Magazine, our art team produced more print material than ever. As a graphic artist, this is a whole different ball game than digital. We have embraced what magazines can offer with info-graphics and massive tables that serve as conversational starters and Bible study aids.

It has been an honor to be recognized by Library Journal as one of the top ten magazines launched in 2008, and be featured by people like Mr. Magazine, Publishing Executive and AKGMag.com.

We often joke that Bible Study Magazine is The Atlantic-style writing, in a National Geographic format, all about the Bible. But we have also added the edge of expressing as much as we can visually.

Behind our publication are many people here at Logos and around the world, working to bring you the best content about the Bible and Bible study. Several authors have come to us now to publish their ground-breaking work in archaeology, the historical investigation of the Bible, and theology.

Today, when I look at Bible Study Magazine, I could not be more pleased with the child we have raised. Every parent is allowed to brag about their kids a bit, right?

Oh, and if you are wondering what you should get a magazine for its birthday, you could always order a subscription or renew your current one. That would make today a very happy birthday indeed.

In the September–October issue of Bible Study Magazine, Chaplain (Major) Jeff Struecker shares how his study of the Bible not only helped him during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (featured in the book and movie Black Hawk Down), but how Scripture influences every aspect of his life as a soldier. Read the article now.

Major Struecker speaks from experience, including combat in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Iris Gold in Kuwait, Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu, Somalia, and multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards for actions in these imminent danger zones include the Southwest Asia Service Medal (1 Service Star), Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd award), National Defense Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal (with “V” Device for valor, 3rd award). He has received other medals as recognition for his service in the United States Army. In addition to these awards and others, Struecker took first place in the David L. Grange Best Ranger competition in 1996.

Do you know someone serving in the military? Please send them a link to the article. We hope that it will be an encouragement to all soldiers seeking to grow in faith during military service. We are currently offering this feature article, “Drawing on Scripture Under Gunfire,” as a free download at http://www.biblestudymagazine.com/chaplain/.

Anyone who has heard John Piper preach or read one of his MANY books knows that he is a man passionate about God's Word. That's why we are excited to have him as the cover story for our September-October issue of Bible Study Magazine.

While the magazine is still at the printer and won't officially ship for a couple weeks, we decided to go ahead and let you check out the article. Visit the John Piper page on BibleStudyMagazine.com and read the article in its entirety. It is a great article with lots of insight and advice from Piper's personal time spent in God's Word, so be sure to tell your friends and spread the word. But that's not all...

Get a FREE copy of Finally Alive

In conjunction with the John Piper issue of Bible Study Magazine we wanted to announce the release of Finally Alive for Logos Bible Software. For one month only (August 14-September 14) we will be giving away Finally Alive for FREE! For full details on how to get your copy, visit the John Piper page and, remember, spread the word.

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As Driscoll points out in the video below, whether you enjoy his teaching or you just want to criticize him efficiently and effectively, in a footnoted way . . . this is a great way to access his stuff!

The Mark Driscoll Sermon Archive contains nearly ten years of preaching and teaching by Mark Driscoll, the Preaching and Theology Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington.

In this massive archive, the transcriptions of his audio sermons preached at Mars Hill Church, which work through fifteen books of the Bible and cover scores of topical issues, and at well over one hundred conferences around the U.S. and world will be made available for reading, searching, and study. That’s ten years worth of preaching and teaching from one of today’s most influential and provocative pastors now available in the most advanced digital format anywhere!

What Pastor Mark did not mention in the clip above was that he is a humble steward of his resources and is working on this project with us primarily to find a way to give his content away to the world for free.

Months ago he personally came up to our offices and has since spent much more time with us in his office, home, and on the phone to make this project a success. His ultimate goal was to find a way to partner with us so that in the end, the people who need the content and can’t afford it can get to it. In fact, he is personally working on proofing the transcriptions right now!

For about ten years, Pastor Mark has been archiving audio recordings of his sermons, but he had no text copy or transcripts. Logos users had been asking for a Logos version of his archives, just like the John Piper Sermon Manuscript Library. When we talked to Pastor Mark about it, he offered to trade the license to his content for the use of the transcripts on his website so the people around the world who can’t afford our materials could have his content on the web for free.

Your purchase of the Logos Bible Software edition is actually funding the transcription work right now, so that people all around the world will be able to access a web-based version of the archives.

Driscoll’s passion for the Gospel and his deep honesty in explaining its truths has placed him at the center of a resurging interest in Reformed theology. It has also helped foster Mars Hill’s explosive growth in recent years and drawn the attention of supporters and skeptics alike.

With the Mark Driscoll Sermon Archive, you can go deep into his sermons, or simply read the text. Either way, you get access to an amazing wealth of preaching material.

We expect to ship all orders before the end of this month, but you can still get it for about half off the list price if you order soon.

P.S. If you want to get a feel for Pastor Mark’s passion for Bible study, get a copy of the interview we did with him for Bible Study Magazine a few months ago.

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The sixth issue of Bible Study Magazine is just around the corner. We’re putting the finishing touches on the last couple of articles before we hand it over to our design team to lay out and then send off to the printer.

The September–October issue looks like it’s going to be one of the best yet. It features a cover story interview with pastor and theologian John Piper—and lots of other great content to help you dig deeper into the Word.

With the first year of Bible Study Magazine coming to a close, that means it is time to renew your subscription. If you’ve been subscribed since our inaugural issue (the November–December 2008 issue featuring Josh McDowell), the next issue is the last issue you’ll receive unless you renew soon.

All you need to do is visit the Subscriptions tab in your Logos.com account and make sure that the “Auto-Renew” box is checked. Whether your subscription ends with the next issue or not, it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re all set to auto-renew when the time comes.

The next time your subscription is up, we’ll take care of renewing for you. One less thing you need to remember to do.

Renew today.

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If you don’t subscribe to Bible Study Magazine—or have just started—be sure to check out all of the free articles that are available at BibleStudyMagazine.com. Every month at least one new article gets posted on the Preview page.

The latest article, “Bible Study at Bat,” looks at the role of chaplains and Bible study in Major and Minor League Baseball. Past articles include

• “Does the Author of Ecclesiastes Need Prozac?”
• “Facing Today with the Book of Hebrews”
• “Choosing a Bible Translation”
• “Bible Study and Rock Music”
• “Bible Study in Hollywood”
• “NLT Study Bible”

We’ve also just launched a new Word Studies page, which features word study articles on πρωτότοκος (prototokos), נפשׁ (nephesh), and δύναμις (dunamis). If you don’t read Greek and Hebrew, don’t worry; the articles are useful for English-only Bible students as well.

• “Figuring Out the Firstborn in Colossians 1:18”
• “Soul Searching in Deuteronomy 6:5”
• “Discovering the Power of Luke’s Gospel”

Head on over to the Preview page and the Word Studies page to view the new articles.

Was Goliath really nine-and-a-half feet tall? Did David actually kill Goliath? A new interactive article from BibleStudyMagazine.com has the answers.

In “Clash of the Manuscripts: Goliath and the Hebrew text of the Old Testament,” which appeared on pages 33–35 of the May–June issue of Bible Study Magazine, Dr. Michael Heiser discusses two textual problems that have bearing on the height and death of Goliath. Looking at all of the data, Dr. Heiser shows how to reconcile the conflicting sources.

Read the article to find out if your Sunday school teacher was right.

If you enjoy the article and want to share it on your blog, just copy the HTML code at the bottom of the page.

To see the previous interactive articles, be sure to visit the Interactive page.

The May–June issue of Bible Study Magazine featured an article by Elizabeth George on what it means to be a member of God’s household (pp. 19–20) based on her book Understanding Your Blessings in Christ, a study through the book of Ephesians, so we’ve teamed up with Harvest House Publishers to give away 20 copies of her book.

We’re also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of Bible Study Library.

There are four different ways to enter the giveaway, and you can increase your chance of winning by doing all of them.

Complete any or all of the following by June 30, 2009 to enter:

1. Simply fill out the entry form and click “Submit.”
2. Post a link in any of your social spheres (blog, forum, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.) to www.biblestudymagazine.com/elizabeth letting people know about the giveaway. In July, we'll search through all the backlinks to the site and select winners at random.
3. Since Bible Study Magazine is published by Logos Bible Software, if you mention the giveaway and post a link to www.logos.com, we’ll search through those backlinks as well and select winners at random.
4. Subscribe to Bible Study Magazine between now and June 30, 2009, and we’ll give you two more entries.

Head over to the giveaway page at BibleStudyMagazine.com for all of the details.

The fourth issue of Bible Study Magazine is hot off the press and should be in your mailbox very shortly, if it hasn’t arrived already.

In the meantime, enjoy this preview of the May–June issue, which features a cover story about author and speaker Randy Alcorn.

By the way, don’t forget about this issue’s special promotion. We’ve partnered with Eternal Perspective Ministries to give away 40 signed copies of Randy Alcorn’s excellent book Heaven, and we’re also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of Bible Study Library. Visit www.biblestudymagazine.com/alcorn/ for all of the details.

If you’re considering subscribing, you have until June 5th to get the current issue.

In an effort to increase subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine, we were planning on giving away a free download of Money Matters by Larry Burkett as an incentive to everyone that subscribed to the magazine in the month of May. Right now the magazine is on sale for only $14.95 for a full year, and Money Matters is a $20 book, so it was a pretty good deal.

After thinking more about the tough economic times we are in, and how much this book could be of use to so many people, we just decided to give it away for free to anyone that wants it—with no strings attached.

All promotions, marketing and freebies aside, we really encourage you to subscribe to Bible Study Magazine. It has something for all levels of Bible study, and is not only receiving rave reviews from the Christian audience, but the secular as well. In fact it was just recognized as one of the top ten of all magazines launched in 2008 by Library Journal!

Check out what Library Journal says in Best of 2008: Magazines.

"The best new magazines of 2008 have in common the potential to create a devoted readership able to sustain circulation... Each succeeds in presenting distinctive and visually appealing content, in some cases with remarkably creative design. These mags demonstrate that the art of graphic design is thriving. The Best Magazines of 2008 represent a range of target audiences, from general to special interest...

...Bible Study Magazine is a serious, clearly written popular mag that uses biblical scholarship to illuminate but not refute the principal beliefs of evangelical Protestantism. Content includes interviews with well-known evangelical ministers and reports of research by religious studies professors, historians, and archaeologists. ...this colorful popular pub is to Bible studies what Scientific American is to science or Psychology Today is to psychology. A thoughtful bridge between the work of scholars and laypersons looking for a deeper understanding of biblical texts."

We would be thrilled if you would subscribe to Bible Study Magazine for just $14.95 for the entire year, but you don’t have to. No strings attached, if you want Money Matters, go ahead and take it free of charge, just follow the simple steps listed below:

Step 1 Add Money Matters to your cart.

Step 2 Enter coupon code: BIBLESTUDYMAGAZINE at checkout.

Step 3 If you’d like, click "Add to Cart" to subscribe to Bible Study Magazine.

Step 4 Proceed through checkout, and notice that whether you added Bible Study Magazine to your order or not, you will still be required to enter a valid credit card. The system will be unable to process the order for your free book without a valid credit card being entered, even though your total may be $0.00 and you won't be charged at all.

Step 5 Tell your friends, and link to this post from your blog so others can take advantage of this free gift too!

Today’s guest post is from John Barry, the associate editor and project manager for Bible Study Magazine.

Library Journal, the premier magazine for librarians, featured Bible Study Magazine as one of the top 10 magazines launched in 2008.

Steve Black, who wrote the article and reviews countless periodicals a year, said Bible Study Magazine is “a serious, clearly written [publication] that uses biblical scholarship to illuminate but not refute the principal beliefs of evangelical Protestantism. . . . [It] is to Bible studies what Scientific American is to science or Psychology Today to psychology. A thoughtful bridge between the work of scholars and laypersons looking for a deeper understanding of the biblical texts.” Check out the full review.

We are honored for Library Journal to hold our publication in such high esteem. We envisioned Bible Study Magazine as a bridge between scholarship and the church and are thrilled that our vision has come to fruition. To be featured alongside top-notch publications such as BBC Knowledge, Food Network Magazine, Science Illustrated and World Affairs is also an honor. Accompanying these magazines about culture, the sciences, and the world demonstrates that God has placed us in an influential position—something we do not take for granted.

But we are not just honored—we feel blessed. With over 500 magazines going under last year alone, we are grateful that ours is a success. When reflecting upon Bible Study Magazine from inception to present, we see God in every step along the way. We are committed to offering something eternal—the Word of God. We strive for excellence, not just because good isn’t good enough, but because our publication is about an experience. It is a journey into God’s Word resulting in a betterment of family, church and life.

You asked Logos how to study the Bible and we delivered Bible Study Magazine. We find the best stories about Bible study to motivate you, and top-notch tips, tricks and Bible studies to guide you.

The Bible expands our relationship with God—bringing us His very words. Because of that, we have made the business of Bible Study Magazine about God’s business. There is nothing more important than knowing what the Bible says, what it means, and how it applies to our lives. Bible Study Magazine is about getting you into God’s Word. Bringing you truth in crisis and teaching you how to find the truth for yourself. We are here to help you know God. And for God placing us in that position, we are grateful.

Subscribe today and experience it for yourself. Or gift someone else the experience. Share it with your friends by ordering in bulk.

The May–June issue of Bible Study Magazine features a cover story about Randy Alcorn and how Bible study influences his everyday life as an author, speaker, and husband, so we’ve teamed up with Eternal Perspective Ministries to give away 40 signed copies of his excellent book Heaven.

We’re also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of Bible Study Library.

There are four different ways to enter the giveaway, and you can increase your chance of winning by doing all of them.

Complete any or all of the following by May 31, 2009 to enter:

1. Simply fill out the entry form and click “Submit.”
2. Post a link in any of your social spheres (blog, forum, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.) to www.biblestudymagazine.com/alcorn letting people know about the giveaway. In June, we'll search through all the backlinks to the site and select winners at random.
3. Since Bible Study Magazine is published by Logos Bible Software, if you mention the giveaway and post a link to www.logos.com, we'll search through those backlinks as well and select winners at random.
4. Subscribe to Bible Study Magazine between now and May 31, 2009, and we’ll give you two more entries.

Head over to the giveaway page at BibleStudyMagazine.com for all of the details.

Today’s guest post is from John Barry, the associate editor and project manager for Bible Study Magazine.

The Assyrian King Sennacherib’s invasion of Hezekiah’s Judah in 701 BC is one of the best-documented and most controversial events in the Bible and archaeology. The story “should be on Hollywood’s big-screen, because it is so full of drama, intrigue, big battle scenes, and surprising twists of plot” (Broyles, BSM Nov–Dec 2008, pg. 27). To help you investigate the diverse, discrepant accounts we have created an interactive online map to accompany Dr. Craig C. Broyles’ articles in the first three issues of Bible Study Magazine (the third article is online for free at BibleStudyMagazine.com). This event involves a new hope, an empire striking back and the return of the Angel of the Lord.

A New Hope. After the death of the Assyrian King Sargon II in 705 BC, a new hope of freedom emerges in the minds of several kings whose countries were militarily forced to serve the Assyrian empire, and a rebel alliance is created. Judah’s King Hezekiah joins the insurgents (2 Kgs 18:7).

The Empire Strikes Back. The newly appointed Assyrian King Sennacherib does not tolerate this rebellion—he strikes back and invades Hezekiah’s Judah in 701 BC. In the events leading up to King Sennacherib’s invasion, Hezekiah appeals to the Egyptians for aid, instead of Yahweh. Isaiah, a prophet living in Jerusalem, opposes Hezekiah’s political maneuvers, declaring that Yahweh abhors his alliance and that it will not help save Judah (Isa 30:2, 7, 31:1).

Sennacherib destroys most of Judah, including the prophet Micah’s hometown of Moresheth. Micah views the events as God’s divine judgment (Mic 1:8–16). Sennacherib recorded these events in a prism, dating to 689 BC, discovered in his palace. In the prism, he states “I locked [Hezekiah] up with Jerusalem, his royal city, like a bird in a cage” (cf. 2 Kgs 18:13–14). In a desperate measure to make Sennacherib leave Jerusalem alone, Hezekiah pays tribute to Sennacherib. This would usually not be enough for Sennacherib—he deposes, humiliates and replaces rebellious kings. In spite of Sennacherib attributing unqualified victory to himself in his prism, he does none of these things. He just moves on to crush other rebel alliances. The dark side has clearly put spin on the events. So, what went on here?

The Return of the Jedi. In the “bird . . . cage” of Jerusalem, Isaiah declares that Yahweh will rescue the city (2 Kgs 19:6–7, 22, 32–24; cf. Isa 37:6–7, 23, 33–35), and it happens. Egyptian forces approach Sennacherib, causing him to leave Jerusalem (2 Kgs 10:6‑9a; cf. 19:28, 33). The Assyrian forces then engage the Egyptians, but something unexpected occurs, they “abandon . . . their position and suffer . . . severe losses during their retreat,” according to the fifth century BC Greek historian Herodotus. Could it be that a “Jedi” has returned? “The Bible attributes this setback to ‘the angel of the LORD’ (2 Kgs 19:35), Herodotus to ‘thousands of field mice’ ” (Broyles, BSM Jan–Feb 2009, pg. 25). These events, though based only on circumstantial evidence, help us to determine why Sennacherib failed to take Jerusalem and depose Hezekiah, like he did with other kings.

These diverse, discrepant accounts give us a panoramic perspective on God’s Word, allowing for us to hear it through multiple voices.

Go investigate the story for yourself, and be sure to check out the interactive map. Then tell others about it on your blog, via email, or social network. We have made it easy with an already set-up linkable HTML code at the bottom of the page and social networking buttons at the top.

This is just one of the many excellent articles in the March–April issue of Bible Study Magazine. Subscribe now to read the others.

Steve Black, a librarian at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY and the primary reviewer for Library Journal, evaluates Bible Study Magazine and has some nice things to say about it. He even gave it a red star, which Library Journal uses to mark an outstanding title that is especially noteworthy.

Here’s his conclusion:

Bible Study Magazine is a serious, clearly written popular magazine . . . . Highly recommended for religious studies collections in academic and public libraries.

Read the rest at LibraryJournal.com.

Does your library carry Bible Study Magazine? If not, the best way to get your local library to carry it is simply to let a librarian know that you’d like to have them subscribe.

The third issue of Bible Study Magazine is off the press and is expected to start shipping today. That means that it should be in your mailbox in the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime, watch associate editor John Barry give an overview of the March–April in this new video.

By the way, we have several promos going on right now with Bible Study Magazine that you won’t want to miss out on.

First, we’re giving away 20 copies of Mark’s new book Vintage Church, 5 subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine, and a copy of Bible Study Library. Find out how you can enter to win this cool stuff.

Second, we also have a special going on with the 200-page Bible study guide to Mark’s current sermon series, Trial: 8 Witnesses from 1&2 Peter. Buy a subscription to Bible Study Magazine, and get Trial for free.

Finally, we still have some extra Kutless gear to give away.

The March-April issue of Bible Study Magazine has a cover story about Mark Driscoll, and we're giving away 20 copies of his Vintage Church, which he coauthored with Western Seminary's Gerry Breshears.

We're also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and one copy of Bible Study Library.

There are four different ways to enter the giveaway, and you can increase your chance of winning by doing all of them.

Complete any or all of the following by March 31, 2009 to enter:

1. Simply fill out the entry form and click "Submit."
2. Post a link in any of your social spheres (blog, forum, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.) to www.biblestudymagazine.com/driscoll letting people know about the giveaway. In April, we'll search through all the backlinks to the site and select winners at random.
3. Since Bible Study Magazine is published by Logos Bible Software, if you mention the giveaway and post a link to www.logos.com, we'll search through those backlinks as well and select winners at random.
4. Subscribe to Bible Study Magazine between now and March 31, 2009, and we'll give you two more entries.

Head over to the giveaway page at BibleStudyMagazine.com for all of the details.

The January-February issue of Bible Study Magazine had a very helpful article by Dr. Michael Heiser on the Ten Commandments (pages 21-23). In it he discusses the various ways different religious groups have divided the commandments. While everyone agrees that there were only 10, there is disagreement surrounding which verses go together and whether some portions constitute one commandment or two separate commandments. A helpful chart lays out these differences that exist among Judaism, most of Protestantism and the Orthodox church, and Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism.

If you haven't yet subscribed to Bible Study Magazine, it's not too late to get a copy of the January-February issue—but the deadline is today (Thursday, February 5). So you need to subscribe very soon! All orders placed tomorrow will start with the March-April issue.

Want a sneak peek of what's inside? The full text and the chart of Mike's article, "Counting the Ten Commandments," is now available at BibleStudyMagazine.com.

Interested in doing more reading and studying on the Ten Commandments? Here are a few books that you might find helpful:

• Written in Stone: The Ten Commandments and Today's Moral Crisis by Philip Graham Ryken
• The Law and the Saint by Arthur Walkington Pink
• Living a Full Life: A Pictorial Interpretation of the Ten Commandments by Dirk Van der Merwe and Friedel Eloff

We've been searching the Internet to see what people are saying about Bible Study Magazine, and it's been great! We are thrilled to see so many positive reviews and to be getting so many new subscribers.

In the course of our searching we found that someone even wrote their own ad for Bible Study Magazine and our Kutless track giveaway:

"Hey kids! How would you like to win a FREE subscription to Bible Study Magazine?!? And can you also imagine the idea of getting a FREE mp3 rockin-roll audio music song? Have you ever fantasized about what would happen if your parent's #1 favorite religious magazine teamed up with your #1 favorite rock band and threw a double-threat mega-contest giveaway with a whole buncha cool stuff?!?"

Sounds cool to me!

I did find the copy a bit breathless and "over-the-top", but when you've got an "opponent and satirist of Christianity" (Wikipedia) who was chosen to speak at the 29th American Atheists Convention pumping your Bible Study Magazine, well... I'll forgive the hyperbole. (The man paints his head red and wears little devil horns; he's clearly a dramatic personality.)

I'm not sure this ad (placed on a page where the artist mocks the email he receives from outraged Christians) will be bringing us many new subscribers, but we're flattered, after just two issues, to be on the radar of fans and scorners alike.

We want to live up to the copy and become your "#1 favorite" magazine soon!

Today's guest post is from John Barry, the associate editor and project manager for Bible Study Magazine.

Get a sneak peek inside Bible Study Magazine January-February 2009 as I thumb through the issue in the below video.

There is no better time to subscribe than now. With the New Year here, why not begin 2009 with Bible study? If you add reading Bible Study Magazine to your New Year's Resolution list, you will not be disappointed. Make a commitment to spend twenty minutes a day with the magazine and your Bible, and you will have encountered God through His Holy Scriptures for about 122 hours during the 2009 year. Plus you will have learned from the best voices in the church and biblical scholarship.

If you subscribe and read the magazine, you will become skilled at incorporating devotional and in-depth Bible study—church life and biblical scholarship. You will tackle tough passages, learn how to do Hebrew and Greek word studies without knowing the biblical languages, encounter humor in the Bible, and stay up to date with the latest Bible-related news. On top of all this, you will likely know God better by the end of the year.

Feature Stories in the Jan-Feb 2009 Issue:

• Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application
• Rock Music and Bible Study: An Interview with the Band Kutless
• Counting the Ten Commandments

Other Content in the Jan-Feb 2009 Issue:

• In the News
• Comics & Puzzles
• Seeing What's Right in Front of You—Some Insights on Devotional Bible Study
• The Bible and an Ancient Historian Disagree?
• Facing Today with the Book of Hebrews: Weeks 9-16
• Soul Searching in Deuteronomy: A Hebrew Word Study without Hebrew
• Paul's Attitude Problem—A Church Father on the Galatia Conflict
• Paul's Lost Letters
• A Fat King and A Left-Handed Man
• Sean McDowell on Teaching Teenagers about the Bible
• Love Potion: Numbers 5—A Weird, But Important Story
• Tips on Reading the Gospels with Dr. Mark Goodacre (Part Two)
• A Scholar Explains Righteousness and Truth
• Star Trek: The Previous Generation—Who were the Magi and How Did They Find Jesus?
• Book Reviews of a new Hebrews' Commentary, the Chronological Study Bible and Sacramental Life

Subscribe now at BibleStudyMagazine.com!

Update: To clarify, the first few copies of the January-February 2009 issue have arrived here in our office. You may not have received your copy yet. No need to call and check to see why yours hasn't arrived yet. It should be on its way and make it to your mailbox very soon.

Bible Study Magazine has partnered with Kutless to offer a free download of Complete off their new album, To Know That You're Alive.

Not only is Bible Study Magazine giving away the free MP3, but they are also giving away some great freebies:

• Four subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine
• A complete Bible Study Library from Logos Bible Software
• Four Kutless Fur Lined Hoodies
• Four Kutless "I Do Not Belong" Shirts
• Four Kutless Women's Orange Flower Tees
• Four Kutless Coffee Mugs
• Four Kutless CDs - To Know That You're Alive
• Four Kutless CDs - Strong Tower

1. Simply post a link in any of your social spheres (blog, forum, facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.) to biblestudymagazine.com/kutless letting people know about the free MP3 giveaway. In February, we'll search through all the backlinks to the site and select winners at random.
2. Post a link to http://www.logos.com. We'll search through the backlinks and select winners at random.
3. Don't have an online outlet for posting a link? Good news! Everyone who signs up to get the free Kutless song is automatically entered into the drawing!
4. Want to get TWO MORE ENTRIES? Subscribe to Bible Study Magazine between now and January 31st and we'll give you two more entries.

A free Kutless MP3 is being given away at Bible Study Magazine. They are also giving away cool Kutless gear and Logos Bible Software. Go check it out!

Copy & paste this code to your website:
A <a href="http://www.biblestudymagazine.com/kutless/">free Kutless MP3</a> is being given away at <a href="http://www.biblestudymagazine.com/">Bible Study Magazine</a>. They are also giving away cool Kutless gear and <a href="http://www.logos.com/">Logos Bible Software</a>. Go check it out!

The giveaway coincides with the release of the January/February edition of Bible Study Magazine, which includes an interview with Kutless called "Rock Music and Bible Study." Other great articles in this issue include "Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study," "Counting the Ten Commandments," "Facing Today with the Book of Hebrews," and much more! If you haven't done so already, subscribe today.

If you got a copy of the first issue of Bible Study Magazine (November-December 2008), you probably saw the super cool canon chart put together by our own Vincent Setterholm (pages 47-48). It nicely compares the Protestant, Ethiopian, Syriac, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Hebrew, and Samaritan canons and provides lots of helpful explanatory material.

More cool charts and graphs like this are coming in future issues. The January-February issue has a chart from Mike Heiser on the Ten Commandments. To be sure that you don't miss out on great content like this in the future, be sure to subscribe.

For those of you who missed the canon chart, we've made a really cool version of it available on BibleStudyMagazine.com. Check it out, and drop a mention of it on your blog if you find it helpful. Just paste the code from the code box at the bottom of the page into your blog editor.

If you prefer to have this chart in print, you can still pick up a copy of the first issue for only $2.95—or even better, get it for free! All you need to do is write a brief review of Bible Study Magazine on your blog or website or in print. Find out all the details in our previous blog post.

By the way, if you're looking for a good book on the canon, check out F. F. Bruce's The Canon of Scripture.

Today's guest post is from John Barry, the associate editor and project manager for Bible Study Magazine.

During this time of year when we invest in Santa figurines, Christmas trees, and silly socks that light up and sing songs, why not spend a little money on an eternal investment?­ Bible study.

Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? Give the gift of Bible study by buying a year-long subscription to Bible Study Magazine for a friend or family member—and do it for almost 50% off the cover price.

Giving thought to resolutions for the new year? How about doing more Bible study? I am not talking about just reading the Bible, but really studying it. Maybe you want to study the Bible more, but are just not sure where to begin. With Bible Study Magazine you get a reliable guide in an easy-to-use and entertaining format.

Do you, your spouse, or some of your friends want to start a Bible study next year, but are still trying to decide on a curriculum? Well, just pick up Bible Study Magazine and go through our study "Facing Today with the Book of Hebrews." You can even get a bulk pack together and save even more money. In each issue, you get eight weeks of study questions and prompts. The beauty of this study is that you don't need a trained Bible study leader to go through it. You just meet together with the magazine and an open Bible, and you are ready to go.

I have recently been going through this study with a group on Monday nights and have realized (yet again) just what an amazing experience it is to do in-depth Bible study with others. The amount I have learned from the other people in our group is astounding (and I wrote the study).

Then there is all the other great content that is packed into each issue from leading names in the church and biblical scholarship. All of this makes Bible Study Magazine the perfect gift for any Christian.

So, you haven't checked out Bible Study Magazine yet? Well, here's your chance. For a limited time, we are giving away a free review copy of Bible Study Magazine.

In order to receive your copy, all you have to do is agree to write a review of the magazine anywhere you can, in a church bulletin, ministry newsletter, blog, website, forum, or any other place that you have the opportunity to communicate with people.

So, if you'd like a free review copy, send an email to rburns@logos.com with Bible Study Magazine Review Copy Request as the subject. Also, be sure to include your mailing address so I know where to send it!

Review FAQs:

Do I have to be a blogger or journalist to get a review copy?
No. If you have any outlet for sharing a review, then we'll send you a copy. So, if you have a newsletter, church bulletin, email list, blog, website, skywriting service, or any other way to communicate with people, then you qualify.

How long does my review have to be?
Length is up to you. Obviously, if you're putting something in a church bulletin, then you're not going to have room for a full-out review. In that case, an adequate review might sound something like, "There is a great new magazine you should check out. Bible Study Magazine is an excellent resource to aid in your Bible study. More info can be found at www.BibleStudyMagazine.com." If you're a blogger, you have more room to review, so feel free to make your review as long as it needs to be.

Do I have to send you a copy of my review?
Short answer, no. However, we would love to see what you thought of the magazine. If you post your review online, drop me an email or post a comment with a link below so we can check it out. If your review appears in print, you're free to mail a copy to us. Skywriters, please send pictures!

Logos Bible Software
1313 Commercial St.
Bellingham WA 98225-4307
USA.

*Due to international shipping cost, we have to limit our reviewers to only those in the US. Sincere apologies to our international blog readers.

The first ten copies of Bible Study Magazine arrived in the office on Friday. We're thrilled with the finished product—and think you will be as well.

Watch associate editor, John Barry, give a quick hands-on overview.

If you've already subscribed, you should be getting yours in your mailbox very soon. For the rest of you, it's not too late to subscribe.

Today's guest post is from John Barry, the associate editor and project manager for Bible Study Magazine.

Today I have the privilege and honor of announcing that the inaugural issue of Bible Study Magazine went to press on Monday October 6th at 9:10 AM PST.

Since the time I was hired to launch, manage and be the Associate Editor of Bible Study Magazine, this project has become a deep passion of mine. I believe it will truly make a difference in the lives of those who read it.

If you haven't heard about Bible Study Magazine yet, please check out the brand-new BibleStudyMagazine.com, where you can get a sneak preview of a few spreads. If you've already seen the site, I would recommend you check it out again, since this new version has a fresh feel and is much more informative.

We're convinced that you'll love this first issue. It is beautifully designed and full of enriching and fascinating content from (or about) some of the best in the church and biblical scholarship, including Josh McDowell, David Lawson, Peter Flint, Daniel Wallace, Mark Goodacre, Craig Broyles, Michael Heiser, and Arnold Fruchtenbaum.

At $14.95 for a one-year subscription, it is well worth your dollar. If you want the inaugural Nov-Dec 2008 issue, you'd better get your order in right away, because as you can see, we are nearly ready to ship the magazine.

Here is a list of the complete contents of the Nov-Dec 2008 issue:

Features:

• "Josh McDowell on Defending the Bible" by Christy Tennant
• "The Great Isaiah Scroll and the Original Bible: An Interview with Dr. Peter Flint" by John D. Barry
• "Choosing a Bible Translation" by Daniel B. Wallace
• "God's Word through Multiple Voices: The Case of Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah" by Craig C. Broyles
• "Facing Today with the Book of Hebrews" by John D. Barry

Columns:

• "Using Bible Dictionaries: The Athenians, the Areopagus and an Anonymous God" by James D. Elgin
• "Discovering the Power of Luke's Gospel" by Andrew B. Perrin

Sections:

• "Letter from the Editor" by Michael S. Heiser
• "Headlines" by Heather Bambeck-Hulsey
• "Comics and Puzzles"
• "Finding Time for God" by Jeannine Seery
• "Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 8:43-48"
• "Who Took Verse 4 Out of My Bible?" by Michael S. Heiser
• "How Bible Study Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage with Precept Ministries' David Lawson" by Christy Tennant
• "When I Open the Gospels: An Interview with Dr. Mark Goodacre"
• "What Does the Bible Teach About . . . Justification and Sanctification" by Arnold Fruchtenbaum
• "What's In Your Bible?" by Vincent Setterholm
• "Shelf Life" (a review of four forthcoming books)

Subscribe now!

Our team is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the inaugural issue of Bible Study Magazine.

To whet your appetite for what’s to come, we thought we’d share some excerpts from the first issue.

“Letter from the Editor” by Michael Heiser

Welcome to our inaugural issue! We know that you will be as excited about Bible Study Magazine as we are.

Bible Study Magazine will enhance your study of God’s word in a variety of ways, suggesting methods of Bible study and offering tips on Bible study tools. It includes advice and encouragement from pastors, teachers, and scholars on Bible study. Interesting and challenging content about the Bible and the ancient biblical world will take your Bible study to a completely new level.

In this first issue, we explore how apologist Josh McDowell studies the Scriptures; the Great Isaiah Scroll (one of the Dead Sea Scrolls) provides insights into how we got the Bible; and choosing a Bible translation.

That might sound like a lot to cover, but we’re just getting started. Whether you’re a pastor, a seasoned Bible student, or someone new to studying God’s Word, Bible Study Magazine is for you.

Enjoy the magazine!

“How Bible Study Saved My Marriage and Changed My Life” by Christy Tennant

When David Lawson became a Christian, his wife, B.J., was out of town visiting a relative. Their marriage was in serious trouble, so David decided to visit a church, where he gave his life to Christ.

“I didn’t know what being a Christian was all about,” says Lawson. “I just felt this incredible question burning in my heart: ‘What do I do now that I’m a Christian?’”

Right at the beginning of his new faith journey, David says there were two things he knew for sure. First, even though his marriage was on the rocks, a divorce was out of the question. And second, having come to faith in Christ under the preaching of a Bible-saturated church, he thought, “If God wrote the Bible, I should probably read it!”

“When I Open the Gospels: An Interview with Dr. Mark Goodacre”

BSM: What are the Synoptic Gospels and what does the term “synoptic” mean?

Goodacre: The Synoptic Gospels are the first three Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John is distinguished from the first three because it has a different structure, order, and approach. While there are extensive verbatim (word for word) agreements between the Synoptic Gospels, there are very few between the Synoptics and John. The Synoptic Gospels can be viewed together in three columns in what is called a “Synopsis” and that is the meaning of the term “Synoptic,” “view together.”

“Facing Today with the Book of Hebrews” by John D. Barry

Deeply rooted in the sermon delivered to the Hebrews is a sense of urgency. The same sense of urgency exists today—in a time of war, lack of community and spiritual depravity. Our study of the book will help us understand the pressing need of a previous generation and answer the cry of our own. Through understanding how God equipped ancient believers, we will understand how God can outfit us. Through these ancient texts, we will find modern answers.

When we open the book of Hebrews, we discover a community of Christians living in a time of trial, a community not so different from yours or mine. They, like us, are struggling to understand God in the midst of suffering. In this regard, the message of the book is our message—their story is our story.

You can still pre-order Bible Study Magazine at our discounted Pre-Pub price. Visit http://www.logos.com/biblestudymagazine to see the subscription options and all the other details.

We have several subscription options available for Bible Study Magazine. A one-year subscription is available for pre-order for only $14.95. If you want to order multiple copies of each issue to share with your family, friends, colleagues, study group, etc., you can purchase in quantities of 5, 25, or 100 at substantial discounts.

For those of you who have been hesitant to pre-order an entire year’s worth of issues, we’ve added the option to buy one copy of the first issue only for a mere $2.95. That’s 40% off the list price and covers the cost of shipping to addresses in the continental US (additional charges apply for other addresses). This will give you a chance to check it out without committing to a full year.

If you like what you see—and we’re confident that you will—you’ll be able to subscribe for a full year for $24.95. Of course, if you order the one-year subscription now, you’ll be able to get the Pre-Pub price of $14.95.

I believe in electronic publishing.

For ease of use, searchability, and fast distribution, there’s nothing better than pure data. So why is Logos Bible Software launching Bible Study Magazine as a paper product? To reach even more people with the excitement and encouragement of Bible study.

Paper isn’t dead. And while more and more people are discovering that it’s an awkward format for a ten volume Greek lexicon, it still remains a very attractive, portable, friendly, accessible, and bathroom-compatible format for browsing.

When I use electronic media, I’m on a mission to search and retrieve answers. And it’s great—I get answers quickly. But when I pick up a magazine, I find myself exposed to new information and new ideas. The layout and format draw me into stories I would never have searched for. I use my keyboard to look things up; magazines expand the world of things I want to know about.

The world of Bible study is bigger than looking up verses or doing a word study. Our goal with Bible Study Magazine is to expand your horizons. We want to introduce both the person in the pulpit and in the pew to topics, ideas, and tools for better Bible study.

For searching the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, there’s no better tool than Logos Bible Software. To introduce someone who’s never thought of them to the Fathers and explain how their writings can illuminate our Bible study and encourage us in our faith? That’s a job for Bible Study Magazine.

For the digerati among us who’ve given up on print and read everything from a screen, we’ll eventually have the magazine content available electronically for Logos Bible Software. In the meantime, though, we hope to use the power of print to reach a new and larger audience whose horizons we can expand and whose curiosity we can pique.

I know you are interested in Bible study, and I am confident you’ll find Bible Study Magazine well worth the subscription price. But I think an even better investment is to take a bundle subscription for your church or small group. We all know people who know they should spend more time in the Word, but who haven’t experienced the joy of digging deeper. Bible Study Magazine is designed to engage their interest, to make it easy to get started, and to expose them to the excitement of discovery in and around God’s Word.

We can make it as easy as picking up a magazine.

Today's guest post is from John Barry, the associate editor and project manager for the new Bible Study Magazine from Logos Bible Software.

Bible Study Magazine is a brand new print magazine (not an e-magazine) sponsored by Logos Bible Software. Six times a year, Bible Study Magazine will deliver tools and methods for Bible study, as well as insights from respected Bible teachers, professors, historians, and archaeologists.

Of course, we at Logos love electronic resources, but we want information on Bible study we can take anywhere—to the park, to the break room, to the bathroom, wherever! We want something we can touch, something we can browse for Bible study inspiration. We live in an electronic age, but as long as there are waiting areas in doctors' offices, there will be magazines.

Bible Study Magazine is a convenient biblical resource that will help improve your Bible study by bringing you insight from trusted Bible teachers and scholars. The writers and interviewees have spent a lifetime applying the Bible to their lives and teaching others to do the same.

An outline of Bible Study Magazine is available at the Pre-Publication page. The first issue (Nov-Dec 2008) features:

• “Mystery” interviews of two of the best Bible teachers in the church today (can you feel the suspense?)
• Craig Broyles on “How the Bible Interacts with the Ancient World”
• Arnold Fruchtenbaum on “What is Justification and Sanctification?”
• Mark Goodacre on “How to Read the Gospels”
• Daniel Wallace on “How to Choose a Bible Translation”

Plus regular “how-to” guides on Bible study tools and word studies, as well as the on-going Bible study “Facing Today with the Book of Hebrews” (great for personal or small group studies). There will also be exciting articles about how a fragment of the Bible saved a life and the untold story of the publication of the Great Isaiah Scroll.

Bible Study Magazine is interesting to the scholar, while accessible to everyone. In each issue there is something useful, something edgy, and of course, something geeky.