Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation” (A Homeschool Review Crew Post)

You might know that we are HUGE Drive Thru History® fans. In fact, when a particular package containing the brand new Drive Thru History®  “Acts to Revelation” series arrived on our doorstep a few of us did the happy dance. It's just that good. And a fun review!

So what is Drive Thru History®? It basically is high octane adventure television for the Christian history buff. Actually, you don't even need to particularly like history (or even a Christian) to benefit from and enjoy the adventure. They are intended to teach history and the events that shaped the Christian church. The recommended ages are 6th to adult, but some younger history fanatics will enjoy the show. 

Each episode is narrated by insanely talented and funny, Dave Stotts. My Josiah (now age 17) LOVES Mr. Dave Stotts. His autographed picture hung in a place of honor on our refrigerator for a few years. Before I move on with the review I want to share with you a brief little "shout out" video clip. I filmed a little bit of video actually talking about something else last week. I didn't wind up using the video...(for one, I looked like a linebacker and you could see straight up my nostrils) but I did edit a clip our brief exchange about Mr. Dave.  Don't worry...it's nothing "stalkerish." 

Now onto Drive Thru History®  “Acts to Revelation”. The series features 18 episodes. Each of those episodes is approximately 30 minutes long. So this gives you nine hours of content. That's a lot of history.

How We Used It

When I initially committed to this review, we were given the option of either doing a fast track review of just watching most of the videos through or a slower process of watching the videos and completing the accompanying Bible Studies.

My first impulse was to just do a Drive Thru History® binge. But then I saw the Bible Study content and knew that we needed to take it a bit slower and make our way through the New Testament (at least Acts to Revelation) along with Mr. Dave. 

The presentation of the product is excellent. The whole shebang comes in a beautifully constructed little book. 

 There are 3 DVD discs and the accompanying book all snuggled up together.

The pages are full color and glossy. It's like a fancy magazine...but without all the overly made-up models, perfume samples, recipes for Chicken Parm.

If you are a student of the Bible, you know the much of the New Testament talks about the creation of the Christian Church. You also know that stories of the men and women who were believers in that early church and who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ weren't easy ones.

In Episode Four, we are told about Paul's (then Saul) dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus...from an actual road to Damascus.

Given that Damascus is actually located in Syria, Mr. Dave took us as about as far as he could...to a military base being run by the UN and a cafe located there. Kuddos, Mr. Dave to you. In one of the shots, there is a striking silhouette behind him of a soldier pointing his gun in Syria's direction.

Yikes.

In the Bible Study accompanying this Episode (as with every Episode) there is a summary.

A group of discussion questions (with answers included in the back of the book).

And a little more information called "Side Road." You can that the study is not so overwhelming. I found it to be the perfect accompaniment.

I have to talk a little about the video production itself. It is aesthetically gorgeous. There is a mixture of art, old photography, panoramic views, and current "on the scene" clips. 

This screenshot is from an archeological dig. 

Towards the end of the series, we are given a peek into the prison where Paul wrote his letters to the churches and where he later was beheaded. There is much history intertwining here. Did you know that Paul KNEW Nero? Yep. That Nero. The one who fiddled while Rome burned. Sometimes we forget how all of history is connected together. We tend to see people, rulers, and events as separate occasions.

This is the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, which is the traditional resting place of the Apostle Paul. We don't get to see this and hear about Paul's end until nearly the end of the series in Episode 15.

 There are obviously some hard scenes to watch in this series. The Early Church didn't worry about the color of carpet in the sanctuary, the hippest current preachers or how loud the music was. They were persecuted and many were killed for their beliefs.

Ouch.

This series isn't so deep and heavy all the time. Mr. Dave (or Cheesecake McJiggle Shorts in some circles) is a funny, funny guy. He is also passionate about what he does.

So we are fans. And I know you will be too.

This is one of those products that you need in your possession. I really mean it.

Go check it out.

For now, you can connect with Drive Thru History® via the following social media outlets. Don't forget to click on the banner below to read more reviews. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivethruhistory/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drivethruhistory/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drivethruhistory/