We recently added a new episode to the podcast. In this episode, I explore eight mistakes that are commonly made when reading the Scriptures. Listen to the episode below.
Frank Viola | Beyond Evangelical
Official Blog of Author & Speaker Frank Viola. Digging below the surface and moving beyond the shallows in today's Christianity.
Do You Make These 8 Mistakes When Reading the Bible?
Reclaiming Christianity
At the end of this episode you mentioned recently speaking to a group of pastors. Considering all that is discussed in chapter 5 of Pagan Christianity (and in Jon Zens’ book “The Pastor Has No Clothes”), what is the focus of your message to a group of pastors?
Steve: You must be new to the blog. As I’ve stated numerous times here (see my Speaking page https://www.frankviola.org/events for example), there are two aspects to my ministry. One is what Andrew Murray called “the deeper Christian life” which is very broad and is a service to all Christians no matter what kind of church or denomination to which they belong or what their role or ministry is. The other relates to organic missional church, which aimed at a small niche of the Body of Christ. My last 6 books have been on the deeper Christian life: Jesus: A Theography, Revise Us Again, When the Pages Are Blank, Beyond Evangelical, Epic Jesus, and Jesus Manifesto. And that’s what I’ve been focused on in the present season I’m in. When I speak to pastors and God’s people in institutional churches, I do so in that capacity.
The Bible needs to be interpreted through a prism of grace. The law is there to expose us and show us our need of a Savior…not to make us better in God’s eyes.
Thank you, Frank.
Good stuff, as always.
Hi Frank, I am definitely not a blogger, and don’t usually respond to blogs, but please be advised that there are still many “old schoolers” out here that don’t subscribe to Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, or any of the other social media, but consider your blog to be one of the most enlightening moments of our day. When you don’t put your blog in written form, we are left without the input that we consider an extremely important and anticipated part of our day. I, for one,would really like to know of these mistakes so I could correct my course in reading the bible, but, when I get notice of a blog that requires something other than reading, then …. I hope you understand. P.S. Your perspective has radically changed my perspective. Thank you my brother.
If you have a smart phone, go to your iTunes app and search “Christ is All” – you’ll see the podcast. If you don’t use iTunes, just click the “Podbean” link and you can listen to the audio directly online.
Why can’t I access this audio thru ITunes? I see no mention of it in your library?
Not sure. I see it here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/christ-is-all-frank-viola/id312389288
Glad to hear you have a podcast! Are you on Stitcher? What’s the name of the podcast? Thank you for your great blog posts.
Go to https://www.frankviola.org/podcast
Is there a way to “read” the article “Do You Make These 8 Mistakes When Reading the Bible?”. Can’t seem to find it…thanks!!
There’s no article. It’s just a short audio on the podcast. You can subscribe via iTunes if you like. Thanks.
They are good observations. The last week, I was talking to a friend of min. I had noticed the following, she agreed.
We in the west (western church) seem to know more about the Bible but are Biblically illiterate.
In other words we don’t know how to interpret what is read.