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The Scripture passage has been read. The soloist has offered a praise song. The collection has been taken. And the sermon hymn has been sung. Now Pastor Smith makes his way to the pulpit to deliver his Sunday morning message. "Let's all open our handhelds and scroll to John 1:1."

Sound far-fetched? Not when you consider the versatile and creative Bible study software now available on five electronic platforms: desktop/laptop Windows or Macintosh, Internet-based, pocket PCs and handheld devices (OS and Windows), and even Internet-ready cell phones using a WAP platform.

Today, sermon and lesson preparation, and private (and intensive!) Bible study can be accomplished in a few keystrokes with the new generation of Bible software currently on the market. Flexibility drives these new tools, which means that buyers can purchase a basic product and add additional layers of information and study resources over time.

Making the right decision on Bible software depends on use and need. A pastor with a more scholarly approach, or a professor or teacher of the Bible, will want a product that has multiple translations of the Bible, many original language tools, contemporary and older commentaries, Bible dictionaries—and the ability to do quick searches between all of these tools.

Bible Explorer 3 from Epiphany Software exemplifies this new generation of Bible software in that it combines the richness of a personal reference library with powerful sermon preparation tools and revolutionary Internet capabilities. Andrew Cogan, president of Epiphany, says "Our first goal was to build software that set new standards for ease of use. But we also wanted to enable pastors, teachers, and laypersons to take part in a virtual community, to share their insights or ask questions."

An example of this new Internet dimension is Bible Explorer's Community Library, from which sermons, illustrations, and outlines can be downloaded at no charge. New features designed to maximize ease of use and save valuable time include automatic arranging of open windows so there are no overlaps or gaps, automatic downloads of the latest software, SmartLinks that pop-up Bible text in your preferred translation, and an embedded word processor.

The software is designed to integrate and empower a broad array of works, not just reference books. For example, it is a simple matter to integrate teaching resources or pastoral helps from your favorite Web sites with Bible Explorer. And your own writings automatically become a seamless, searchable, and fully cross-referenced part of your personal library.

Logos also offers a variety of resource combinations, such as the Scholars' Library (232 Bibles and references), but also a Christian Home Series for laypeople (60 Bibles and references), and various other combinations that can be customized by theological bent or denominational polity.

Logos Bible Software Series X, for example, provides access to a vast library of resources—up to 2,500 titles from over 100 publishers—that can interface with dozens of Bible translations, original texts, and an enormous variety of tools. Libronix Digital Library System is the technology behind Series X. Dan Pritchett, Logos' director of marketing, says that the company has responded to user feedback on how they actually use the product, and redesigned it for ease of use.

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