Review: Desiring God DVD Series

I just recently watched a DVD series of teaching from John Piper based on his book Desiring God. I admit that I haven't read the book in its entirety yet, but gained a great deal from the DVD sessions. There are ten sessions included in the two DVDs which are in-depth enough to challenge viewers, but also broken down into manageable time frames.

The basic premise of Desiring God is that we are called to live a life of Christian hedonism based on the principle that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. The principles that Piper shares are supported heavily in Scripture and through other Christian authors. Piper challenges us directly to believe the words from Scripture and that the alternative is not desirable for any of us. He points to the full glory of God in the created world around us, through Jesus Christ and in the way that we choose to live our own lives. It begins with the plan to save the world from sin and then continues as we are made more into the image of Christ.

Piper speaks with a passionate intensity throughout all of the sessions and it is easy to see that he is confident in what he is sharing. There are many times where he was on the verge of tears as he shared the truth from Scripture. He surprised me with his sense of humor in the midst of heady topics and his ability to not let it distract him. He was obviously very comfortable with the material (which he should be as the author of the book) but still spoke with an ease to his presentation that made you feel that you were talking over a cup of coffee as well. This is not just a matter of increasing sales of his book by attending the seminar or watching the DVDs. He has a deep conviction for our need to pursue satisfaction in God and to be changed by the revealing of God's glory that will take place as this happens.

I would recommend this as a study for those looking for a much deeper challenge to their Christian faith, but would suggest that it be done with a group instead of just as an individual. The depth of teaching and the amount of information in the short sessions will be better absorbed through group follow-up and conversation after watching the DVDs. It is a worthwhile investment for a small group setting or for a challenging series for somewhat larger groups as well.

I received this DVD series for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.