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

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

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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.

----------

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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Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly, each Thursday. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.

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...