In other thread I'm exploring people's reading strategies - https://community.logos.com/forums/t/209179.aspx
This has brought up the topic that some people think that most devotionals tend to be full of "fluff" which I think simply means to be very basic and perhaps lacking deeper content. Frankly I tend to agree with this.
But I also think that there are some excellent devotionals that are not "fluff". Here are a few examples that I have read:
I'm sure that the definition of what is "fluff" will vary a lot from person to person but I would like to create a list of devotionals offered by Faithlife that people do not consider to be "fluffy". Would anyone care to help me create this list?
https://www.logos.com/product/25023/co-workers-of-the-truth-meditations-for-every-day-of-the-year definitely isn't fluffy.
I sympathise with the view about “fluffy” devotionals. Some things I turn to from time to time are:
I'm not a big devotional guy but I don't remember any of these being "fluffy"
John MacArthur Devotionals
Scripture Storyline (releases this month)
5-Minute Apologetics
The Voice of the Lord
John Climacus' The Ladder of Divine Ascent is traditional devotional reading in Lent
Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is also traditional devotional reading in Lent
St. Meinrad Monastery give the following list (editted)
May I add Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening"? They are not lengthy, but meet the criteria of lacking fluff. It is not only available from Faithlife at the link above, it is also available online here at no cost.
Thanks everyone for your input. If anyone else can identify others I would appreciate it.
Here's one from Bonhoeffer's sermons, letters, etc.: https://www.logos.com/product/156058/god-is-in-the-manger-reflections-on-advent-and-christmas
... But I also think that there are some excellent devotionals that are not "fluff". Here are a few examples ... Would anyone care to help me create this list?
Hi Bruce? Are you looking only for devotionals in Logos?
Earlier this year, I blogged something to challenge the distinction:https://allenbrowne.blog/2022/05/12/academic-or-devotional-how-do-you-read/
I recommended a prepub by Andrew Abernethy:https://www.logos.com/product/225903/savoring-scripture-a-six-step-guide-to-studying-the-bible As it's not out yet I haven't read it, but I do like the way he thinks, and the 6 steps he recommends sound like a good wholistic approach.
Anything by Tozer. [:)]
Thank you Allen. I carefully read your blog and very much appreciated it. I like your effort to integrate devotional reading and academic reading or study. I agree that the ideal is to do both at the same time. In some ways I think I try to do that by choosing a variety of types of literature at the same time. I'll have to ponder more about this.
Far better than I expected for the title:
In Pursuit: Devotions for the Hunter and Fisherman, by Zeke Pipher; Steve Chapman
https://www.logos.com/product/38642/in-pursuit-devotions-for-the-hunter-and-fisherman
Hello Bruce, not sure what is meant by fluffy. When I am looking at a devotional I am not looking for something technical or heavy in analyzing the text. I think for something to be devotional and to cover the entire Bible it is limited in what it can cover in the amount of time most people have for their devotional reading plan. I have found Larry Richard's 365 Day Devotional Commentary very helpful. It covers the text for the day adequately for devotional purposes without spending hours covering the text for the day. He spends about equal amounts of times in both the Old and New Testaments which means that when you are working through the New Testament you are covering a shorter amount of the Biblical text.
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