Search Tips
In order to maximize the searching power of our website, we use six distinct search engines. You will get the best results if you use the most appropriate engine for your search. Biblical references tips apply to all types of searches, but other tips vary according to the type of search you run.
| Webpages & Files | back to top |
This is a Google-style search that will not take you to an external site (e.g., google.com) to display results. It is a full-text, full-site search of all the webpages that make up our site, and of most of the documents on our server. It excludes Word documents, .zip files, and other non-standard web document types.
- Default searches for multiple keywords (e.g. a search for Bible theology returns pages with either or both keywords).
- Default searches for partial words (e.g. a search for run also returns running).
- Boolean searches (containing one term but not another) are performed by placing a + before the term to be included, a space between terms, and a - before the term to be excluded (e.g. a search for +Bible -theology would return pages with Bible but without theology).
| Magazine Articles | back to top |
This search produces results only from our magazine articles. It does not perform a full-text search. However, it can produce results for Word documents and other non-standard web document types.
- All searches are for the exact phrase.
- Searches return partial words (e.g. a search for run also returns running).
| Q&A Knowledgebase | back to top |
This is a full-text search of all the Q&A on our website.
- All searches are for the exact phrase.
- Searches return partial words (e.g. a search for run also returns running).
| Audio Files | back to top |
This searches the index files for our audio files. Index files contain limited information regarding the audio files, such as author, author's bio, title and sermon text.
- All searches are for the exact phrase.
- Searches return partial words (e.g. a search for run also returns running).
| eStore | back to top |
This searches the webpages that make up the content listsings in our eStore.
- The default search is for all keywords.
- Searches return partial words (e.g. a search for run also returns running).
- An advanced search is available with many more options. The advanced search page explains these options.
| back to top |
This performs a site-specific search via
google.com.
It takes the user off the
thirdmill.org website
to a results page on google.com.
| Biblical References | back to top |
We try to maintain fairly standard conventions for biblical cites. The following tips will help you find biblical references on our site and in our documents.
- When searching for a biblical passage, include chapter numbers but not verse numbers (e.g. Genesis 22, not Genesis 22:18).
- Use Arabic numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3) rather than Roman numerals (e.g. I, II, III) in book titles, and chapter and verse numbers.
- Check for books of the Bible by full name and by abbreviation. We abbreviate as follows: Gen., Exod., Lev., Num., Deut., Josh., Judg., Ruth, 1 Sam., 2 Sam., 1 Kgs., 2 Kgs., 1 Chr., 2 Chr., Ezra, Neh., Esth., Job, Ps. and Pss., Prov., Eccl., Song, Isa., Jer., Lam., Ezek., Dan., Hos., Joel, Amos, Obad., Jon., Mic., Nah., Hab., Zeph., Hag., Zech., Mal., Matt., Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Rom., 1 Cor., 2 Cor., Gal, Eph., Phil., Col., 1 Thess., 2 Thess., 1 Tim., 2 Tim., Tit., Philem., Heb., Jam., 1 Pet., 2 Pet., 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Rev.