SBTS Levels the Playing Field for On-Campus & Online Students
How Students Get Their Textbooks & Max at No Extra Cost
Founded in 1859, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) has long been known for its unwavering commitment to biblical fidelity and academic excellence.
Beginning fall 2025, SBTS provided every master's student, whether on campus or online, with Logos Max and all required textbooks through the Logos platform at no additional cost to the student. The results were clear enough that SBTS didn't stop there.
Starting summer 2026, every doctoral student receives Logos Max as well—equipping them for both the rigorous demands of doctoral research and the ministry work most are already doing outside the seminar room.
For SBTS, it's the next step in a commitment that keeps growing.
Southern Seminary Shares How They're Training Leaders with Logos
The Dilemma:
How to Make Textbooks More Accessible—and Get Everyone on
Board
With almost 2,500 enrolled masters-level students, around 20% of whom study outside the US, SBTS needed a solution that could deliver seamless access to textbooks and biblical studies tools anywhere in the world.
“We wanted to make sure all our students had an even playing field,” shares Brian Renshaw, Vice President for Enrollment Strategy and Global Campus.
While there are many different textbook providers, Logos was the only educational solution SBTS explored due to its robust platform and theological alignment. “It was either Logos or nothing,” shares Renshaw.
As Renshaw explored moving forward with Logos, the next step was to gain student buy-in. With a diverse and complex student body, SBTS wanted to understand how students and faculty would react to a campus-wide adoption.
To do this, SBTS ran multiple semesters beta testing Logos in certain masters classes and carefully gathering feedback while assessing student needs. The results were clear: 96% of surveyed students said that using Logos would add value to their student experience.
Joshua
Student, Advanced Master of Divinity
“I have greatly benefited from taking notes within Logos so that the insights I’ve gained from my classes are available through the Logos search.”
Micah
Student, Master of Divinity: Apologetics and Philosophy
“If I read one of my textbooks and thought of a particular sentence the author wrote when doing research, there is no hassle skimming through the book. I search it, and it comes up with exact page numbers.”
Tyler
Student, Master of Divinity
“I learned how to create folders, keep track of searches and search results, save articles from my library in favorites, and how to organize my research. This makes it easier for me to use my software to write my papers.”
While faculty were initially concerned that the switch to digital might limit their textbook options, Renshaw says, “We reassured professors that they could still choose the books they thought were best—and we’d work with Logos to make sure those books were available. This partnership is about enabling, not restricting.”
For Renshaw, the adoption process wasn’t about convincing people to use Logos. Instead, “We just wanted to know where they were coming from. For some, the value was immediately clear. For others, it was about showing them how this tool could genuinely enhance their learning and their future ministry.”
The Solution:
Offering Students a Seamless, Transparent Experience
Moving full steam ahead with Logos didn’t happen overnight, but for Renshaw, the process came down to transparency
Renshaw made two things clear to students: (1) Their feedback would be taken into account; and (2) Logos would be available at no additional cost.
“That kind of transparency gives students confidence,” he shares.
Along with having open communication with students, it was also important for Renshaw to ensure that students had a smooth experience when using Logos.
Josiah, one SBTS student in a master of divinity program, shares how using Logos in the classroom and in ministry has been seamless:
Joshua
Student, Advanced Master of Divinity
“Logos has been my go-to for writing papers at Southern. … It has also benefited my ministry as a youth pastor. I use their sermon manager to write my sermons, which are all linked to the passage I preach on and searchable within my Logos library. … I think the partnership with Southern is a great idea to make more students aware of [Logos’s] capabilities and helpfulness.”
Another student, Allen, who’s enrolled for an advanced master of divinity, shares that he uses Logos every day, both as a student and in ministry: “Having very large books like lexicons, encyclopedias, and commentaries available at any time on my phone or tablet has been extremely useful for quick reference in Bible studies, preparing lessons, etc.”
“When I was an MDiv student, I had to decide whether I could afford Logos,” shares Renshaw. “Having it included in tuition is a huge lift. And now every student leaves seminary already equipped with tools they’ll use for preaching, counseling, and studying the Word for the rest of their lives.”
For SBTS, partnering with Logos is a critical opportunity to give students tools that are intentionally designed to meet them in the present, help them through their coursework, and carry with them into future ministry or scholarly pursuits.
As Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of SBTS, shares, “This is more than a partnership with Logos. It’s a student-first investment designed to remove barriers and strengthen preparation for every student, in every course.”
Learning Together:
Streamlining Training Across the Board
The partnership between Logos and SBTS isn’t just making it easier for students to access their books and become familiar with essential ministry tools—it’s also streamlining the learning experience. Because every student will have access to their textbooks online and will be using the same platform, professors can teach with confidence, knowing all students are on an even playing field.
“Having all students on the same platform elevates our training,” says Renshaw. “We can help students with papers, research, or sermon prep, knowing they have access to exactly what we’re referencing.”
And for students, using Logos is positioned not as a requirement, but as a high-value resource, like a writing center or academic library, designed to support their study now and beyond the classroom.
What’s Next: Training, Integration & Lifelong Access
The partnership between Logos and SBTS continues to grow. Starting summer 2026, doctoral students in theology, ministry, and education, including master’s, doctoral, and professional degree programs, will receive Logos Max. And the reason is straightforward.
“All of our doctoral students are not only writing dissertations and projects, seminar papers, and other scholarly work, they are also teaching, leading, and serving in local churches and ministry contexts,” Renshaw said. “Logos Max equips them for both the rigorous academic work of the seminar room and the weekly demands of faithful ministry.”
For Renshaw, the expansion removes a real obstacle. "Giving our doctoral students unrestricted access to its full feature set removes a real barrier to deep, sustained scholarship."
"Our commitment remains focused on forming pastor-theologians and other ministry leaders who serve the academy and the church with equal care.”
SBTS remains focused on student onboarding, campus-wide communication, and seamless integration through their learning management system. Students can open their textbooks directly through Canvas, making it easy for them to log in and start studying.
The school is also preparing webinars, training materials, and an ongoing feedback loop to ensure students feel confident and supported as they learn to use Logos. And the best part? Students get to keep all of their textbooks for life—even if they don’t continue with a Logos subscription after graduation.
“We’re not just launching a new platform,” Renshaw emphasizes. “We’re launching a foundation for ministry that students will build on long after they graduate. … Whether they’re studying in Louisville or on the mission field, Logos gives them everything they need to thrive in their classes and beyond.”
Brian Renshaw
Vice President for Enrollment Strategy and Global Campus
"Logos Max equips our students for both the rigorous academic work of the seminar room and the weekly demands of faithful ministry.”