Mac - Resource Guide

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In the Olive Tree Bible App, the Resource Guide helps you quickly access all relevant study material for the passage you’re reading—without needing to manually search through your library.

This article explains what the Resource Guide does, how to open it, what each section includes, and how to customize it to fit your study workflow.

What Is the Resource Guide?

The Resource Guide is part of the Study Center, which organizes several key study tools in one place:

  • Resource Guide
  • Parallel
  • Notes
  • Lookup

The Resource Guide automatically gathers and displays content from your library that relates to the passage currently open in your main Bible window. This includes commentaries, cross references, maps, notes, and more.

How to Open the Resource Guide

  1. The Resource Guide appears in the Study Center. To open it, select the Study icon in the upper right corner.
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  2. Select Resource Guide.
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Once opened, the Resource Guide will display multiple sections of content related to the Bible text you are viewing in the main window. 

Understanding the Resource Guide Sections

Each section contains a different type of study material. A number next to a resource indicates how many related items are available for the current passage.

Related Verses

This section shows cross references—similar to what you might see in the margins of a printed Bible. Select a Bible to view the cross references from that translation.

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After selecting a Bible, you can see the cross references. Select a reference to preview it in a pop-up window.
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You can also expand the pop-up window to open it in a larger view by selecting the arrow icon.

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Commentaries

Access commentary content and study Bible notes in the Commentaries section:

  • Select a resource to open it.
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  • Choose a specific section if the commentary covers a larger passage.
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Bibles

This section allows you to view another Bible translation alongside your main text.

  •  Select your desired translation.
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Videos

This section displays BibleProject videos related to the passage you’re reading.

  • Select a video to open and watch it.
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    You can also select the diagonal arrow icon to open the video full screen. 

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For more information on accessing and setting up videos, see the Video Help article.

People, Topics, and Places

Find dictionary and reference articles connected to your passage.

  • People: Key figures mentioned in the text
  • Topics: Theological or thematic subjects
  • Places: Geographic locations

Select an entry to open a full list of your resources and then select a resource to open the article.

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Maps, Charts, and Images

This section gathers visual resources like maps, charts, and images that relate to your passage. 

Select any item to view it in detail.
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  • Map example: 
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  • Charts example: 
    19_Chart.png
  • Image example: 
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Sermons

Here you’ll find sermons from your library that correspond to the passage in view, giving you additional teaching and study insight.

  • Select a sermon to view it.
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Outlines

Outlines provide a structured overview of a chapter or book.

  • Select a resource from the Outlines section. 
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Introductions

Introductions offer background information on books of the Bible. They may include details on authorship, historical context, and themes.

  • Select a resource to view an introduction.
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Notes and Tags

This section displays your personal study content connected to the passage, including notes and tagged items that you’ve created while reading.

  • Notes: These are created from verse references or highlights. See the Notes Help article for more details on creating and managing notes.
  • Tags: These are labels you’ve applied to organize and group your study content. See the Tags Help article for more details on using tags effectively.

Select any item to open, review, or edit it.

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Using the Link Feature

Many sections include a link (lock) icon that controls how the Resource Guide syncs with your Bible:

  • Locked: The Resource Guide updates automatically as you scroll your Bible.
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  • Unlocked: You can browse independently without changing your main passage.
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Customizing the Resource Guide

You can adjust the Resource Guide to match your preferences.

Access Settings

  1. To access Advanced Settings, select Bible Study from the top menu bar, then choose Settings. You can also reach this section from the Quick Settings menu.
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  2. Select Resource Guide.
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Enable or Disable Sections

  • Select a section for the option to enable or disable it. 
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  • You can also choose which resources appear within each section.
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Reorder Sections

  1. Select Reorder.
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  2. Drag sections or resources into your preferred order.
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  3. Select Done when your resources are in your desired order.
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This allows you to prioritize the content you use most.

Summary

The Resource Guide helps you:

  • Quickly access relevant study material
  • View multiple resource types in one place
  • Stay focused on your current passage
  • Customize your study experience

If you have questions or need additional help, contact Customer Support at support@olivetree.com.

Have more questions? Submit a request