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Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God

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The desire to have an intimate relationship with God is something that many claim to want. But desiring the relationship is not enough. John Piper shows us from scripture that it is not enough just to want a relationship with God. We should desire God Himself.

In this dvd study, Piper shows us what he means by desiring God. "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." This is the mantra of Piper's life and ministry. Piper sets the foundation for Christian hedonism by walking us through the influences (mainly scripture) that formed his thinking. He moves on to how this impacts our lives. Finally, he gives us instruction on how to keep the desire burning.

This presentation is saturated with scripture and practical, personal examples. If you have ever heard Piper you know that he is a gifted communicator. This presentation is no exception. My six year old daughter insisted in watching the whole ten-part series with me. The picture is excellent and the audio was flawless. You can hear every word and inflection but it is not so sensitive that you hear every nose whistle.

One word of caution: this is but a bird's eye view of the book. There were many verses and quotes that Piper simply did not have time to present. It will leave you wanting more. For that I would recommend the book. Even if you have already read the book you will benefit from hearing this straight from the man in all his passion for the subject.

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

Content: 2 dvds (10 sessions) each session is 20-30 minutes in length

I have previously mentioned the John Piper and his ministry, Desiring God. Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God is the DVD seminar series of John Piper's previously published book, Desiring God. The DVDs are simply a video recording of Piper's lectures to a small seminar for the Bethlehem Institute; therefore, it is not a dramatic DVD presentation in any sort. They have broken down the 5 hour lecture series into 10 manageable parts that can be watched by an individual or used for group studies in a Sunday School, small group, or other such settings. While watching it I felt as if I were in college ready to take notes and learn. Honestly, Piper's teaching style is a bit scattered at times for my type A self but it is not so distracting that I could not focus on the subject at hand. If you are looking to be entertained, look elsewhere. If, however, you are looking to dive into the Word of God and learn more about Him and finding complete joy in Him, this series is fabulous.

Piper begins with the mission/thesis statement of not only the seminar but that of his church: "We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples." He goes on to explain and support biblically how he and the other elders and deacons arrived at this statement. Piper also does an excellent job at describing his own struggle with his motivation for joy and how he ultimately landed at Christian Hedonism. This is a struggle that I have heard in debate with other believers. The question of: do we, or even should we, do something good because we are "obligated" or only when we truly feel a pure heart motivating our actions? Piper so accurately points out that "When you become born again, your quest for happiness does not end. You just have a whole new world of what makes you glad." He affirms that "longing to be happy is universal human experience and it is good, not sinful." The key is to have the source of our happiness and satisfaction in God not in ourselves! When we, when I, get this then everything seems to fall in place so simply!

I appreciated that Piper uses the majority of his seminar to explain and support his Christian Hedonism position. During the last two sessions he takes the time to do what I think of as practical application by asking "how then shall we fight for joy?" The one that I resonate and struggle with the most is to "get rest". Essentially he is reminding us that our bodies are temples and we are to take care of them but he also humbled me by saying "you are not God, you must get rest!" He quotes Ps 127:1, encouraging me to allow the Lord to minister to me in my sleep. My husband often extols this very fact to me but I need to be okay with letting things go till tomorrow so I can rest. Since having children rest is a bit of a constant struggle but I can control my bedtime, most of the time, so I need to make an effort to do so.

Throughout the DVD Piper refers to a study guide and notes. I did have these, however, I could see how this would be helpful especially in a small group study. You can purchase the DVD on Amazon for about $27 and the study guide for $10. Part of Desiring God's ministry is to make resources available free. They have the seminar series and study guide available, it is broken up differently but its all there, if you want to watch it on your computer or download it.

I am thankful for this seminar as it has helped me better understand Christian hedonism and challenged me to "spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples". If you are looking to be challenged or even reminded of our source of joy, take some time to watch this seminar.

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

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to read and review the book Desiring God by John Piper. This was the 25th anniversary release and I have told numerous people that, upon reading the book for the first time this year, I found such joy and delight in the words that it is firmly in the category of most important books (outside of the Bible) that I've ever read. When I had the opportunity to review this DVD release, it was with gladness that I signed up.
Rather than a straight transfer of book to DVD, this two-disc set is a high definition video of John Piper teaching a live seminar on the foundations, teaching and application of Christian hedonism as a Biblical way of living and seeing life. My wife and I have been watching a session or two each week and though it's only been a few months since I read the book, I am delighted to be hearing Piper speak and teach what he is so eminently passionate about.

The audio and video quality is high, though not filled with visual candy since this is a live seminar. Each session is between 20 and 30 minutes long and would work very well for a small group or Sunday School curriculum. If that were the plan it might be worth investigating the DVD study guide, or using the 25th Anniversary edition of the book which features a study guide too.

Piper is convincing and convicting as he deals with the issues of joy, submission, love, worship and much more. Expect to come away challenged and changed.

The review copy was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their blog review program. No effort was made to secure a favorable review, or otherwise influence my opinions. The thoughts expressed are my own.

This video series is a great quality recording or film of John Piper teaching his "Desiring God" book. The lectures are engaging and the content is convicting.

While filled with theology that will make you think deeply about your life and relationship with God it is not on such a high level that non-theologians will be lost. Piper has a way of "putting the cookies on the lower shelf" so that anyone can understand.

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

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.

Desiring God "Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God" DVD focuses on John Piper's classic description of Christian hedonism, which is defined as "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." It is John Piper's Desiring God book in seminar form. The DVD is divided into ten sessions each from 19 minutes to 30 minutes long for easy use in small groups, retreats, classrooms, and families. The topics include the foundation and essence of Christian Hedonism and them the practical application. There is also a Desiring God DVD Study Guide available.

I have not read Desiring God by John Piper, but I have heard about it and planned to read it. When this DVD became available, I decided to take a look. I still would like to read Desiring God, but I thought the DVD could benefit those who have a hard time reading nonfiction, like my husband. However, the DVD presentation was a little disappointing. It was just Pastor Piper presenting his book in a seminar setting. I really had expected more ... oh, I don't know ... "hedonism" = "pleasure" in the presentation! Maybe the lecture may not be as dry in a small group setting when only one session is watched at a time with discussion to follow. The information was thought provoking (and I wish my husband would have stuck with it and continued to watch so we could have had some good discussions). I REALLY like the last two session, How Then Shall We Fight for Joy, because they included the practical application. In conclusion, I'm unsure of how to rate it, because the material is excellent, but the presentation on the DVD is lacking, especially with the technology available now days.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Blogging for Books, Waterbrook Multnomah Publisher's book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

There's something about John Piper that makes me liken him to the Pied Piper--I just want to listen to him and follow where he leads. (This is why I love following him on Twitter.) Thankfully, he isn't using a magic flute to lure rats and children away, but using an extraordinarily clear view of God's Word to throw light on fundamental issues of faith for Christians.

In this 10-part DVD, John Piper is filmed teaching in a seminar about what he penned in his bestseller, Desiring God. He is a dynamic preacher, and he wastes little time scratching the surface of his topic. Listening to him requires full attention and a fully-functioning brain, since his thoughts always seem to be one step above mine--seem to be, because in truth his thoughts are far, far removed from mine, but his superb preaching skills have simplified it so that they are within grasp.

John Piper's big ideas are often encased in big words and intimidating theological jargon, so if this DVD is used in group study you might lose a few people.

The DVD production also feels dated--John is using an overhead projector (he loves underlining words on the slides, so maybe that's why) and the camera angles, set background feel like a throwback to the 80s. But other than that, what John Piper has to say is worth hearing and pondering.

Generally, I'm not a big fan of watching a movie before (or instead of) reading the book. But, in this case, I made an exception.

Desiring God, the book, has been on my bookshelf for years and years. I've started it several times but never made it past the first chapter. So, I was excited about the opportunity to review Desiring God, the DVD.

Contents
In a nutshell, the contents of this DVD revolve around defining and understanding Christian hedonism and "will help individuals and groups understand that the supreme calling of life is to "glorify God by enjoying Him forever." (from product description)

Organization
This DVD contains a series of lectures, designed for personal or group study. Each section is about 20-25 minutes long. Ideally, the DVD would be used with the DVD study guide, which is not included but purchased separately. I did not have the study guide and since I like to take notes (weird, I know), it would have been helpful not only to cement the information but also to see where he was going sometimes. Pastor Piper did use an overhead projector that he scribbled notes on, which I fould helpful. (For my younger readers, this is an overhead projector. It's just one more casualty in a world of Powerpoint and iPads.)

Summary
Overall, I think this is a valuable resource. I personally wouldn't spend $30 for personal use but perhaps it would be a reasonable investment for a group study.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very informative video that, as stated on the DVD cover, would be great for either individual study or small group/Sunday School class lesson. The speaker is very knowledgeable in Christian Hedonism and to his credit, was able to explain the concept in an understandable way. There was reference that this DVD was in response to a book also written by the speaker. While the book would have probably helped with the material, the notes and usage of the overhead in the video made the contents understandable and easy to follow. A great resource for personal christian living or group discussion

This dvd set is a recording of a lecture given by John Piper, based on his book Desiring God and explaining the concept of Christian hedonism. His premise is that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." He goes on to show us in scripture how God's goal is always to be glorified. Everything's purpose is to bring glory to Him. And that when we are satisfied in Him, when we find joy in Him, he is glorified. Piper disputes those who say it is a sin to find pleasure in God, that if we enjoy doing something, we are sinning. He shows over in over in scripture that our motivation is scripture is the reward in heaven. That while we may be making sacrifices in our walk, ultimately we will reap so much more in pursuing God.

This is a two dvd set with 10 sessions of about 30 minutes each. I watched it in about three sittings. Though I didn't find it easy to find time to sit down and watch them, when I did finally pop a disc in, it was easy to watch it through. There are so many great nuggets of truth in them, that I just kept watching. I will admit that sometimes his way of speaking could be distracting and sometimes my mind would start to wander, but he always brought me back with some insight that should be so clear and obvious but isn't always and I would think "wow, that's good." I plan to watch these again to remember points that he made. Lots to think about and ponder. And a challenge to me to examine my heart and ask do I desire God more than anything else? Is my joy found in Him?

If you have a heard time finding time to read, or if you learn better by listening you may find this video series helpful in summarizing the insights of the classic book by John Piper. There is also a study guide booklet that you can purchase that will help delve deeper either by yourself or with a group.