Over the years, I’ve met numerous Christians who rejected the authority, inspiration, and reliability of the Bible (mostly younger progressives). At the same time, I’ve met numerous Christians who idolized the Bible, making it the fourth member of the Trinity, a few millimeters above the Holy Spirit (mostly older fundamentalists). In reaction to this second group, some have jealously sought to protect the uniqueness of Jesus and distance themselves from bibliolatry by saying things like “Jesus is the Word of... Read more

We live in a day where people are offended by speech, especially speech that isn’t politically correct, whether you are on the Progressive Left or the Conservative Right. But this sensitivity is now extending to speech that’s not “religiously correct.” Preaching the gospel of salvation — in its present form — isn’t and will never be considered hate speech. It’s too tame. “Receive Jesus into your heart, and you’ll go to heaven when you die” doesn’t topple kingdoms, send panic in the... Read more

Recently, I had two interesting encounters. One: A young man asked me to mentor him. When I had a conversation with him (online), I found out that he only read one book of mine written way back in 2008. Nor had he listened to any of my 3 podcasts. So he was blissfully ignorant as to what he was asking. I applaud his awareness and desire to be mentored. This is rare today, unfortunately. (I’ve written about this problem in Passing the Torch.) Tip: Before asking... Read more

When the Gospels tell us the story of Jesus, they pause two times to inform us that He grew spiritually (and physically) in Nazareth before He began His incredible ministry. This time period is what scholars refer to as the “hidden years.” Nazareth represents hiddeness and growth in private. It also represents being ignored and rejected, which is what the Lord experienced in Nazareth. Jesus spent most of His earthly life in Nazareth. Those years were critical for what He... Read more

Look, I’m not one to brag, and I’m not because this isn’t my fault. But my new book just hit #1 on Amazon in “Christianity.” The universe apparently agrees it’s worth your attention. The Kindle version is just 99 cents until Sunday night. Apple Books and Kobo too. That’s less than a gas station coffee and considerably more life-changing. Already have the print version? Cool. The digital is searchable and the missed typos from the first printing have been dealt... Read more

Your Bible Is Missing Something. This Book Finds It. Only 99 cents until Sunday Night. Endorsements from 20 of the greatest scholars in the world. Hey, Frank here. Special email today. Time sensitive. I’ll be straight with you: most people read the New Testament the same way they read an IKEA manual — confused, slightly frustrated, and pretty sure they’re missing a key piece somewhere. Turns out, they are. My publisher just informed me that my new book – The... Read more

The Kingdom of God is Taken by Violence (interpreting and applying the words of Jesus in Matthew and Luke). Listen at https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZzZIpbVlmJuu5rRx8JGh4?si=Setcm-3iSQys9uXWxzA71A From the Deeper Journey Team: For serious Jesus-followers only. This isn’t a message for atheists, agnostics, or skeptics. Frank Viola’s powerful conference message “The Kingdom of God Is Taken by Violence” argues that Jesus’ words about “violence” refer not to physical force but to an intense, inner, spiritual aggression by which disciples press into God’s fullness with desperate,... Read more

When Jesus seems distant, the antidote is not to run away from Him. Ignore Him. Or throw your hands up and decide to become a practical atheist. It’s to act as if He’s near. That’s called faith. You can’t see Him, but you believe that He is with you (as He promised) and act accordingly. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek... Read more

I want to thank all of you who heard the conference message ENCOUNTERING THE RISEN CHRIST: THEN AND NOW and emailed me about how powerfully and deeply it impacted you. It’s humbling to deliver a message at a live conference and hear from people who heard the recording tell you how it blew their minds and touched their spirits. If you missed it, you can listen to it here. Today I want to share something else that relates to the... Read more

“This is the most powerful and best message I’ve ever heard on the resurrection! A must for all Christians.” – Colin Kemp, pastor  Read more