Using Logos Essentials for Sermon Preparation: Layouts, Collections, and Notes

Getting Started with Logos Essentials for Sermon Prep

Dr. John Fallahee’s first‑time webinar on Logos Essentials takes you through the core tools that can help you build sermons more efficiently. The session focuses on quick‑start layouts, the library’s details view, collections, and the linking features that let you bring related resources together without losing your place.

Quick‑Start Layouts: A Ready‑Made Workspace

At the top of the Logos window you’ll find the Layouts button. Clicking it shows a menu of pre‑built templates like Bible Journaling and Word Study. If you’re preparing a sermon, the Outline & Notes layout is a great place to start: it opens the Bible on the left, a notes pane in the middle, and a library button on the right. .

Using the Library Details View to Find the Right Resources

Under Library > View you can toggle the Details View, which shows columns such as Title, Author, and Subject. The Subject column is especially useful for sermon prep because it brings in Library of Congress subject tags (e.g., “Christology”, “Revelation”). By adding the Subject column to your view (drag it from the column selector), you can quickly filter the library for books that focus on a specific theme.

Building a Sermon‑Focused Collection

Collections let you group resources into a single folder that updates automatically as you add new books. Dr. Fallahee demonstrates how to create a collection named Revelation Sermons:

• Go to Tools > Collections > New Collection and name it.
• Use Subject rules like "Revelation" to pull in all books tagged with that subject.
• Add a Type rule (e.g., Commentary or Bible) to keep the collection focused.

Once set up, the collection automatically shows only the resources you want, making it easier to open the right commentary or Bible translation when you’re drafting a sermon.

Linking Resources and Parallel Text for Quick Reference

Dr. Fallahee shows how the Home button can toggle linking between the Bible, lexicons, and commentaries. With Set Series you can pair a Greek New Testament with a Hebrew Old Testament; this is handy when you need to compare the same passage in both original languages. In the Add Parallel Text dialog, you can choose Vertical or Horizontal layout and name the series (e.g., GNT1 – BHS1).

These linking features let you jump from a verse to its Greek entry or to a parallel Hebrew text without leaving your current window—great for keeping your sermon outline in sync with the original languages.

Enhancing Word Studies with the Greek Word Study Layout

For sermons that hinge on specific terms, the Greek Word Study layout is a powerful tool. It opens a Bible Word Study pane on the left, a Fact Book in the center, and the Lexicon on the right. When you click a Greek word in the Bible pane, Logos automatically shows its definition, related words, and usage examples—all in one view.

Because the layout keeps the original Greek on the left while the lexicon stays on the right, it’s easy to cross‑reference the word’s meaning and see how it’s used throughout Scripture, which can be a solid foundation for a sermon point.

Practical Tips for Sermon Preparation

• Save your favorite layouts and drag them to the toolbar for instant access.
• Use collections to keep all sermon‑related commentaries and commentaries in one place.
• Toggle the Subject column in the library to filter by theological themes.
• Set series for Greek and Hebrew resources to keep parallel readings together.
• Leverage the Notes pane to jot down main points as you read, and use Highlights to flag key verses.

By combining these tools, you’ll find that preparing a sermon becomes a more organized, Scripture‑centric process—helping you to focus on the message God wants you to share.