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Psalm 119 A Text-Driven Life 3: The Blessed Life

by Steven Smith on February 23, 2016 in Preaching

A text-driven life is a blessed life. In this way, God promises prosperity. Scripture is clear about this and yet while these characters form on my monitor I hesitate feeling the collective cringe of friends who repulse at “prosperity preaching.” And for good reason. Prosperi... Read More »

Psalm 119: The prayer a Text-Driven Life (2)

by Steven Smith on February 18, 2016 in Preaching

All In Psalm 119 is a prayer of a text-driven life. As stated in a previous post, a text-driven is a life that responds to God through His Word. Here is a helpful infographic on the content of Psalm 119.[1] When examined graphically, something becomes clear. This is about being a... Read More »

Psalm 119: A Text Driven Life

by Steven Smith on February 16, 2016 in Preaching

At Southwestern Seminary, we teach text-driven preaching, believing that text-driven preaching not only leads to text-driven living, but flows from it. A text-driven sermon is one that allows the substance, structure, and spirit of the text to drive the sermon. It is not one ba... Read More »

When God is Deathly Quiet

by Steven Smith on February 4, 2016 in Preaching

Father, if you are willing remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done. Luke 22:42 This might be the most audacious prayer ever prayed: the prayer of Jesus in the Garden. It had always been the case in the unseen plans of God that He intended t... Read More »

Middle Glory, the Gospel, and The Promise of Pain

by Steven Smith on January 14, 2016 in Christian Life

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. II Cor. 4:16,17 Pain is painful. It is difficult an... Read More »

Sunday Morning Coming Down

by Steven Smith on January 11, 2016 in Christian Life

On the Sunday morning sidewalk Wishing, Lord, that I was stoned ‘Cause there’s something in a Sunday Makes a body feel alone There ain’t nothin’ short of dyin’ Half as lonesome as the sound On the sleepin’ city sidewalks Sunday mornin’ coming down. &nb... Read More »

All the Rest

by Steven Smith on December 28, 2015 in Preaching

Here is an end of the year update and sabbatical report. The sabbatical taken this year was one of the greatest gifts I could have ever received. It was motivated by some pending writing projects and some much needed help for the family. I’m forever grateful to Dr. Patterson fo... Read More »

A Christmas Walk

by Steven Smith on December 18, 2015 in Preaching

A Christmas Walk This advent season I am supremely grateful for this class of 2015 who have sacrificed much to walk across the graduation stage. What they do not realize is that it means much to those sitting and watching. This ceremony is as much about those who have invested in... Read More »

New treatment path for Ashley Smith

by Steven Smith on January 26, 2015 in Family, Prayer

After two years of struggling with Ashley’s health, we hope we have been given a clear diagnosis of inflammatory immune disease which is a severe dysfunction of the immune system. We are now working with the top specialist who has prescribed 1.) Strict diet, 2.) Medication ... Read More »

A Tribute to T.W. Hunt

by Steven Smith on January 15, 2015 in Preaching

My friend Donald Whitney, Professor of Biblical Spirituality and Associate Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Seminary, wrote a warm and compelling tribute to the praying life of SWBTS alum T.W. Hunt. Hunt passed away recently, after leaving a rich legacy of personal lead... Read More »