Frank Viola (born October 12, 1964) is an American author, speaker, and blogger on Christian topics. His work focuses on Jesus studies and biblical narrative, with a strong emphasis on helping the poor and the oppressed. He is most noted for his emphasis on the gospel of the kingdom, the centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ,
and the idea that Jesus indwells all Christians and they can learn to live by his life.
Viola's early work was focused on
organic church and
missional church
In Christianity, missional living is the adoption of the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel message. The missional church movement, a church renewal movement predicated on the nece ...
themes. His older books advocated church life based on the spiritual principles of the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
, the headship of Christ, face-to-face community, and the
priesthood of all believers
The priesthood of all believers or universal priesthood is a biblical principle in most Protestant branches of Christianity which is distinct from the institution of the ''ministerial'' priesthood ( holy orders) found in some other branches, incl ...
.
Since 2009, Viola's work has been focused on Jesus studies, living by the indwelling life of Christ, God's eternal purpose, the present-day ministry of Christ, and biblical narrative.
Viola has authored over 20 books, over 1,000 blog articles, and over 200 podcast episodes. His podcast, Christ is All, has been ranked #1 in Canada and #2 in the USA (respectively) in the "Christianity" section of iTunes.
His blog, Beyond Evangelical, is regularly ranked in the top 10 of Christian blogs on the Web.
Viola and professor
Leonard Sweet
Leonard I. Sweet is an American theologian, semiotician, church historian, pastor, and author. Sweet currently serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor Emeritus at Drew Theological School at Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey; Charles Wes ...
have written three books together, each focusing on Christology: Jesus Speaks, Jesus: A Theography and Jesus Manifesto.
Since 2012, Viola has been strongly focused on helping the poor and the oppressed. Concerning the poor, Viola has said that helping those who are in need is part of "the Magna Carta of the Church of Jesus Christ as she continues the ministry of Jesus on earth (Luke 4:18–19). Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament, make clear that this is very much on God's heart."
Aside from being an author and speaker on Christian topics, Viola consults authors, bloggers, and writers in their craft.
He lectures throughout the USA and around the world, having spoken in various locations including Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Germany, Switzerland, and Holland.
Bibliography
*''48 Laws of Spiritual Power'', 2022, Tyndale Momentum
*''Hang On, Let Go'', 2021, Tyndale Momentum
*''ReGrace'', 2019, Baker Books
*''Insurgence'', 2018, Baker Books
*''The Day I Met Jesus'' (with Mary DeMuth), 2015, Baker Books
*''Jesus Now'', 2014, David C. Cook
*''God's Favorite Place on Earth'', 2013, David C. Cook
*''Revise Us Again'', 2011, David C. Cook
*''Jesus Manifesto'' (with
Leonard Sweet
Leonard I. Sweet is an American theologian, semiotician, church historian, pastor, and author. Sweet currently serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor Emeritus at Drew Theological School at Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey; Charles Wes ...
), 2010, Thomas Nelson Inc
*''Jesus: A Theography'' (with
Leonard Sweet
Leonard I. Sweet is an American theologian, semiotician, church historian, pastor, and author. Sweet currently serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor Emeritus at Drew Theological School at Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey; Charles Wes ...
, 2012, Thomas Nelson Inc
*''Jesus Speaks'' (with
Leonard Sweet
Leonard I. Sweet is an American theologian, semiotician, church historian, pastor, and author. Sweet currently serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor Emeritus at Drew Theological School at Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey; Charles Wes ...
), 2016, Thomas Nelson
*''From Eternity to Here'', 2009, David C. Cook
*''Finding Organic Church'', 2009, David C. Cook
*''Reimagining Church,'' 2008, David C Cook
*''Pagan Christianity'' (with
George Barna
George Barna (born 1954) is the founder of The Barna Group, a market research firm specializing in studying the religious beliefs and behavior of Americans, and the intersection of faith and culture. From 2013 - 2018 he served as the executive ...
), 2008, Tyndale Momentum
See also
*
House Church
A house church or home church is a label used to describe a group of Christians who regularly gather for worship in private homes. The group may be part of a larger Christian body, such as a parish, but some have been independent groups that see ...
*
Missional
In Christianity, missional living is the adoption of the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel message. The missional church movement, a church renewal movement predicated on the nece ...
*
Simple church
A house church or home church is a label used to describe a group of Christians who regularly gather for worship in private homes. The group may be part of a larger Christian body, such as a parish, but some have been independent groups that see ...
References
External links
Official WebsiteChrist is All podcastThe Insurgence podcast
{{DEFAULTSORT:Viola, Frank
Living people
American evangelicals
Missional Christianity
Christian bloggers
1964 births