Steven W. Smith Welcome to the blog of Dr. Steven W. Smith

Category Archives: Christian Life

Middle Glory, the Gospel, and The Promise of Pain

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

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 »

Eat. Fast. How does a Christian relate to food?

Self-orientation, in any form is spiritually devastating. The desire to orient all of life around myself is encouraged by a culture that tempts us to rip the governor off any pursuit of pleasure. In this way a good gift like food becomes a hedonist entitlement; my right to have m... Read More »

Reflections on December Graduation

Very fine people will walk across a stage today to receive diplomas from Southwestern Seminary. So much goodness here. Some students I knew from their first course in the seminary, some employees of mine, some doing fine doctoral work, and there’s even one cousin! Really, this ... Read More »

One Race

Recently I called two friends who pastor in NYC: one in the Upper West Side of Manhattan and the other in the Bronx. My questions are about the spiritual climate in NYC in light of the non-indictment in the Eric Garner case. My phone call itself is telling. It assumes that I need... Read More »

The Invisibility of Progress

Most days we are not breaking the tape of a finish line, walking across the stage at graduation, or standing to receive ovations for a job well done. Generally those moments are the rare capstones of greater accomplishments: keep running and you can finish the race, persevere in ... Read More »

Defined by Debt

“Seventy-five thousand dollars.” The words rolled easily off his tongue, landing on my desk with a thud. “My wife and I have $75,000 dollars in student loan debt.” This young man now realized that while the very call of God rested on his life, he was now defined by debt. ... Read More »

Five Basic Questions about Homosexuality and the Bible: Can we bear the burden of answering these questions?

This week I had the privilege of attending the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s National Conference and speaking on a panel discussion with Thomas White, Jason Allen and Randy Stinson. The panel was led by Phillip Bethancourt on Preparing Next Generation Leaders for a ... Read More »

Why Doesn’t God Answer Prayer? (Part 3)

This is part three in the three part series on unanswered prayer. For part one see here, and for part two see here. Christ commands us to pray boldly and pray persistently because God is a good God. What then is prayer? Is it a passionate and bold plea, or simple resignation to t... Read More »

Why Doesn’t God Answer Prayer? (Part 2)

Jesus teaches what to pray, how to pray, and why to pray. Pray boldly because God is good. Pray persistently because God is good. This synopsis of Luke 11:1-13 was the subject of yesterday’s post. Motivated by the goodness of God, we should honor Him by tenaciously asking anyth... Read More »