Brian Del Turco converses with Keith Payne to explore how lessons from his earthly father shaped his understanding of God’s Father heart. From a tough, charismatic union leader to a redeemed man of faith, Keith reflects on the wisdom, protection, and love he received and how it points to the perfect love of our heavenly Father. Together, they discuss fatherhood, redemption, and the multi-generational impact of God’s favor and guidance. This conversation is full of practical lessons, inspiring stories, and a reminder that God can redeem any situation.

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See the full episode transcript below.

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👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/357

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KEITH PAYNE

Get your copy of 'Stuff I Got from Dad' on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT - Stuff I Got from Dad with Keith Payne

See complete and enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/357

Welcome to Jesus Smart X, episode 357. This is Brian Del Turco, and today we're stepping into a conversation that hits home for every single one of us because all of us have a father story. The gospel music bed you're hearing is from the Payne Family Group, a gospel group that Keith was part of along with his brothers.

I saw Keith Payne on Facebook talking about his new upcoming release, Stuff I Got From Dad, exploring how he relates his experiences with his earthly father to things about our heavenly Father—things he learned that transformed his understanding of God's fatherhood. He's on the podcast today talking about his new book by that title. It's a great conversation with an inspiring person, and I think you're going to enjoy it and benefit from it.

Understanding Fatherhood: Perfect and Imperfect

Maybe you had an amazing dad, or maybe your father was present but imperfect. Perhaps your experience with your earthly father was painful or even absent. No matter what your story looks like, your Father in heaven is not a reflection of your earthly dad. He is the perfection your earthly dad was only meant to...

Spiritual attacks and temptation are inevitable—but domination isn’t. Walking in the light, staying aligned with Christ, and cleansing our hearts gives the enemy nothing to grab onto. We uncover practical steps to remove footholds of sin and operate in Christ's authority in everyday life.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/356

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT - The Authority of Being Clean: Living Beyond the Enemy's Reach

I want to start with a personal moment. There were many seasons in my life when I realized that the enemy of our soul—Satan, the devil, the adversary—had too much access into my life. He had ways and avenues to influence my thoughts, shape my emotions, and steer my decisions toward compromising choices that could have consequences.

I could see patterns, subtle patterns of compromise and sin in my life, and I could feel the weight of the foothold. I could feel the weight of the ground that I had given away. I wasn't falling into egregious sins or earth-shaking major mistakes, but small stuff.

And I could sense that I was being positioned for the potential of further compromise. Sin will take you farther than you want to go and faster. The Holy Spirit, prodding and bringing conviction, was a wake-up call.

A Jesus Tactic for Spiritual Victory

That's what I want to explore with you today—a real Jesus tactic for how to walk in the light and remove footholds from the enemy so that we can live and operate in the authority and success that God has given us.

Spiritual attacks and temptation are inevitable. As John Eldredge says, when you're born again—even when you're born the first time—you're born into a war.

And when you're born again, you're redeemed and saved, placed on a trajectory where you can become Christlike and victorious and share in the inheritance of Christ. You're still in a war, and maybe in a more heightened sense at that point.

Here's the good news: when we're talking about sin and compromise and temptation, domination—you being dominated, me being dominated by that—is not inevitable. It's inevitable that we will encounter it, but I'm talking about being dominated and controlled by it.

Jesus Had Nothing for the Enemy to Grab

Jesus knew, I think it was the evening before His crucifixion in John 14, the enemy was coming. And here's what He said: "The ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me." There is no ground in me, Jesus was saying.

If we follow this Jesus tactic, we can really cut off the enemy's opportunity. Like Jesus, if we can say, "He has nothing in me." If Jesus could live with zero access for the enemy to penetrate His life and dominate and control Him, we can follow that same principle. The enemy only has as much access as we give him when we are in Christ.

Walking in the Light

There's an important passage in 1 John 1:5-9. If we can get...

What if you could see the New Testament not just as history, but as a living story that’s still unfolding? In Part 2 of this conversation, Brian Del Turco continues with Frank Viola, bestselling author of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. Building on Part 1, this episode dives even deeper into the context, relationships, and divine drama behind the letters of the apostles. You’ll gain a clearer view of how the early church moved with Christ—and how your own life fits into that same advancing Kingdom narrative today.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/355

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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(Full transcript is coming)

What if walking with God is about moving in rhythm with the Holy Spirit — like a jazz musician improvising in the moment? We explore what it means to live in a Heaven and Earth Jazz Jam session. Listening, responding, and co-creating with God. Drawing on Scripture, spiritual insight, and the creative lessons of jazz, we explore how to sharpen spiritual intuition and flow in unexpected moments in every area of life and work.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISOSDE TRANSCRIPT -- Life in the Groove — Improvising with the Holy Spirit (EP 354)

In this episode of Jesus Smart X Podcast, Brian Del Turco explores the idea of moving in rhythm with the Holy Spirit — like a jazz musician improvising in the moment. Drawing on Scripture, spiritual insight, and the creative lessons of jazz, we explore how to sharpen spiritual intuition, respond in unexpected moments, and co-create with God in every area of life and work.

Between Episodes: Continuing the Conversation with Frank Viola

Before diving in, Brian mentions the ongoing two-part series with Frank Viola. Episode 353, The New Testament Like You've Never Seen It, explores reading the New Testament as a single, unfolding narrative, discovering the heartbeat of the early church, and seeing how our personal life story fits into Jesus’ larger story.

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Jazz and the Brain: A Spiritual Parallel

Listening to jazz activates nearly every part of the brain, enhancing focus, emotional depth, flexibility, and anticipation. Jazz requires us to listen actively, adapt to shifting harmonies, and respond creatively.

This is an excellent metaphor for walking with the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with God isn’t meant to be rigid or scripted. Scripture is our key signature — steady, unchanging, and true — while the Spirit invites us to improvise within that framework.

As Galatians 5:25 reminds us, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Walking with the Spirit is not marching in lockstep; it’s keeping time in a living rhythm, a cadence flowing from the Father through the Holy Spirit.

The Improvisational Life: Flowing with the Spirit

Jazz and the Spirit share a key principle: tension and release, anticipation, and responsiveness. Life with the Holy Spirit requires mental and spiritual flexibility — a readiness to pivot, adapt, and respond in a Christlike way.

As Dallas Willard taught, true discipleship is Christ in you, living through your life circumstances. This requires alertness, creativity, and continual renewal — exactly what Romans 12:2 calls the “renewing of your mind.”

Classical music offers structure, discipline, and symmetry, while jazz develops intuition, sensitivity, and improvisation. Life in the Spirit demands both: grounded truth and openness to surprise, ready to follow God’s lead in the...

What if you could read the New Testament as a single, unfolding story—seeing the books in their real-life context and discovering the heartbeat of the early church? Brian Del Turco talks with Frank Viola, bestselling author of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. You’ll see how the New Testament connects to your own storyline in Christ, as His Kingdom continues to advance today. This fresh perspective will help you unlock Scripture and your place in God’s epic narrative. Part 1 of 2.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/353

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Brian: Welcome to the podcast! Today, I’m thrilled to have Frank Viola with us to discuss his new project—a book every follower of Jesus will want to explore. Frank, how are you today?

Frank Viola: I’m doing well, Brian. I always enjoy being on your show, and I’m excited to talk about the book.

The Untold Story of the New Testament Church

Brian: I have my copy right here, and I’ve been using it… literally curling it for reps! Listeners, this is a hefty book—over 600 pages—but it’s surprisingly accessible.

Frank Viola: That’s right. Despite its size, many readers find it easy to read. The goal was never just a history lesson—it’s to unlock the New Testament, especially the epistles, in a fresh way.

Brian: So, what inspired you to take on this massive project?

Frank Viola: It goes back to when I became a believer at 16. I stumbled upon a small book that linked the Book of Acts with Paul’s letters. That exposure shaped everything. Over time, I studied New Testament chronology, influenced heavily by F.F. Bruce, and by 1998, I began constructing a full chronological account of the New Testament, filling in historical and cultural details.

Solving a Common Problem for Christians

Frank Viola: The problem many Christians face is not fully understanding the New Testament. The books aren’t arranged chronologically, and Luke’s account in Acts is highly condensed.

Add the 16th-century chapter and verse divisions, and it’s easy to misinterpret. My book reconstructs the story from Pentecost to Patmos, blending Acts with the epistles to provide context that has been missing for centuries.

Brian: That’s incredible. It’s vital for Christians to see the full storyline of the kingdom, from the early church to today.

Frank Viola: Exactly. And this approach has been endorsed by 20 preeminent New Testament scholars. It’s the first book to combine the entire narrative chronologically with full citations, based on up-to-date scholarship.

Challenges and Approach

Brian: Scholars will disagree on some chronological details. Can you give an example?

Frank Viola: Sure. The dating of James’ epistle is debated. Some scholars place it before Galatians, others after. Either way, it doesn’t affect the overall narrative, which is what matters.

Brian: So, it’s about scoping and sequencing—seeing the narrative as a whole.

Frank Viola: Yes. The book organizes the 27...

A township board said a couple might have to leave their home over a permit dispute. Instead of giving in to fear, the husband turned to a small Micro Ecclesia prayer gathering. The board voted 4–1 in their favor. We look at how Micro Ecclesia—small, Spirit-led communities—carry real Kingdom authority. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 6, we’ll see why even the smallest gatherings of believers can judge matters and shift outcomes.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/352

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

A Testimony of God’s Intervention

Imagine this: you and your spouse have just moved into your new home. Renovations are finished, everything is in place—and then you receive troubling news. Your township informs you that the permit for your home may be invalid, and you might have to leave. Suddenly, your plans feel like they’re hanging by a thread.

What do you do? Do you panic? Do you put all your trust in attorneys, boards, and bureaucrats? Or do you turn to something far more powerful—the ekklesia, the body of Christ?

That’s exactly what one of the members of our prayer group faced this past week. His story illustrates the often-underestimated power of a small, Spirit-led community of believers.

What Is a Micro Ecclesia?

A Micro Ecclesia is a small, highly functional group of growing believers. These are people on a quest, gathering intentionally—either in person or online—for the exchange of inspired ideas and prayer.

In our group, we often focus on national and even international issues. But we also make space for personal concerns. One of our brothers, a pastor who also serves in law enforcement and education in his town, shared a pressing need: his newly purchased home was being threatened by a challenge to its building permit.

To make matters worse, someone on the township board told him, “I’ve never lost a case like this.” That’s a bold (and inflated) statement—but God was about to show His authority.

Choosing Prayer Over Panic

Instead of rushing to the public board meeting that evening, our brother prioritized joining our Micro Ecclesia prayer gathering. He and his wife had already prayed, but this time he brought the concern before the group.

We prayed with authority. We treated our gathering not as a simple prayer circle, but as a *laboratory of Kingdom authority.* We asked God to intervene.

Later that evening, while we were still praying, he received a phone call: the board had voted 4 to 1 in his favor. Against the odds. Against the boastful words of a man who claimed he never lost.

We believe this wasn’t coincidence. It was God’s intervention, honoring the decision to prioritize His house of prayer.

The Scriptural Basis of Ecclesia

The word "ecclesia" originally came from the Greeks, later adopted by the Romans. It referred to a gathering of citizens, often at the city gates, to make decisions and determine policy.

Jesus took this secular word and...

Faith unlocks understanding. In this episode, we explore how to access Jesus’ intelligence in daily life — from navigating challenges to making smart decisions. Discover why trusting in wisdom from above surpasses human reasoning. Real knowledge of the Holy One is the ultimate source of insight and understanding for life.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: jesussmartx.captivate.fm/episode/by-faith-we-understand-accessing-jesus-intelligence-in-daily-life-ep-351

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

The Backdrop of a Turbulent World

As I record this episode on September 18, 2025, it has been a tumultuous stretch in America and around the globe. Our world is broken and in desperate need of the regeneration Jesus promised — the new heavens and the new earth.

Recent events highlight this brokenness. America was shaken by the political assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. In Charlotte, North Carolina, a young Ukrainian woman was brutally murdered on a subway. London saw unprecedented crowds protesting the government, demanding change. In Nepal, younger generations rose up, burned the parliament building, and forced out corrupt leadership. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of war between Russia and Ukraine.

These are just a few flashpoints, but they raise the question: how do we process what’s happening? How do we interpret the swirl of events, both globally and in our own lives?

Faith as the Highest Understanding

Hebrews 11:3 tells us that “by faith we understand.”

Faith is not blind — it is the highest form of understanding. There are realities that human reasoning alone cannot fully grasp. Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The Hebrew word for “understanding” carries the sense of discernment or insight — perceiving what is really happening. We are warned not to rely on our own insight but to acknowledge God intimately, and He promises to smooth out our path.

We Go Beyond Human Reason

Modern culture often exalts the human mind. Think of the Enlightenment and the famous phrase cogito ergo sum — “I think, therefore I am.”

Reason has value, but our supreme allegiance is not to our ability to think. It is to God Himself. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One brings true understanding.

Dallas Willard, in The Divine Conspiracy, reminds us that Jesus is the smartest person who ever lived.

He transformed water into wine, fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, calmed storms, and even raised the dead. He is the cognitive and practical master of all reality — physical, moral, and spiritual. To say “Jesus is Lord” must also mean acknowledging that Jesus is brilliant. He continues to oversee human history.

Wisdom That...

Jericho was more than a military victory—it was a prophetic gateway into the Promised Land. Today, the same God who caused the walls to fall is calling you to silence doubt, lift a faith-filled shout, and step into new territory. The blueprint at Jericho can guide you in overcoming obstacles, align with covenant promises, and step boldly into the story He’s writing through your life.

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See the full episode transcript below.

👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here

👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcast

If this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.

Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.

Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Hey friend, welcome to the podcast! Brian Del Turco here with Jesus Smart X. Today I want to talk about something I’m calling the Jericho Test—or what I also think of as the explosive Jericho strategy.

It’s a biblical pattern that opens the way to promise. The truth is, each of us will face these kinds of tests as we pursue the promises of God in our personal world, our assignment, and our sphere of influence. Passing them not only glorifies God but also contributes to the greater Jesus story—the unfurling of His kingdom.

Success, God’s way

This is episode 350. Can you believe it? In the last episode—episode 349, Success, God’s Way—I talked about the importance of principles, push, and tact. We need sound kingdom principles, but we also need energy (push) and wisdom (tact) so things don’t derail. If you haven’t caught that one yet, I encourage you to go back and listen.

Facing the Jericho Test

In the Old Testament, God’s people stood at the edge of promise after 40 years in the wilderness. To transition into the land flowing with milk and honey, they had to face Jericho—the first major city in their conquest of Canaan (Joshua 6).

Jericho wasn’t ordinary. It was built on a hill, with two massive walls—an outer wall six feet thick and an inner wall twelve feet thick. Houses were even built into the structure. With no tanks or explosives, cities like this usually took months to conquer. But God gave Joshua and Israel a genius strategy that overturned human expectations.

The Jericho Test reminds us that before we move into God’s promises, there are obstacles we must face in faith.

Patterns and Precedents

Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The Old Testament is full of patterns and precedents that point to Christ and teach us how to walk in the New Covenant.

The glory of the New Covenant far surpasses the Old. What Israel experienced at Jericho was remarkable, but what we have in Christ is even greater. As Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

Encounter with the Commander

Before the battle, Joshua encountered a man with a drawn sword—what scholars call a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (Joshua 5). Joshua fell on his face...