Preaching | Steven W. Smith

The Future of Evangelical Homiletics

by Steven Smith on November 6, 2014 in Preaching

I believe in homiletics. But not much. A thousand sorrows teaches a man to preach.[1] – John Piper In a very real way I agree with John Piper. There is no pedagogical homiletic experience that can create a man that has been so long on the anvil of God that his life bleeds t... Read More »

Summer Reading for Preachers

by Steven Smith on June 20, 2014 in Preaching

Every summer I look forward to Al Mohler’s summer reading list. It always provides me with something to read I would not think about otherwise. In the same vein, here is a short reading list of five books (plus one bonus) specifically designed for preachers. A few thoughts abou... Read More »

A Question for Ronnie Floyd

by Steven Smith on June 9, 2014 in Preaching

In a recent interview with B21 presidential nominee Ronnie Floyd stated, I believe one of our most discouraging trends right now is the lagging attendance at our Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. At this time, we do not know our attendance for our upcoming Baltim... Read More »

The Preaching of SBC14

by Steven Smith on June 4, 2014 in Preaching, Southern Baptist Convention

What type preaching will we hear at the SBC annual meeting? Jason Duesing and myself are teaching a course on the annual meeting of the SBC for students who, most of which, have never been to the SBC. Dr. Duesing covered the historical question, and I tried to prep them for wha... Read More »

Shorter Stories: Preaching the Short Parables of Christ

by Steven Smith on May 30, 2014 in Preaching

Jesus had incredible structure to his sermons … but only sometimes. Think of the Sermon on the Mount. Its introduction (eight beatitudes) is followed with six antitheses: Jesus fights the thesis that keeping a warped standard of righteousness was enough. It ends in chapter 7 wi... Read More »

Shorter Stories II: Double Parables

by Steven Smith on May 20, 2014 in Preaching

How do you preach a double Parable? Jesus told as many short parables as he did long parables. For every Prodigal Son of Luke 15:11-32 (21 verses), there is a parable like the Unworthy Servant of Luke 17:7-10(4 verses), Trained Scribe of Matt. 13:51-52 (2 verses), or Pharisee and... Read More »

Shorter Stories

by Steven Smith on May 13, 2014 in Preaching

Shorter Stories Preaching the Short Parables of Christ Jesus had incredible structure to his sermons; but only sometimes. Think of the Sermon on the Mount. Its introduction (eight beatitudes) is followed with six antithesis: Jesus fights the thesis that the keeping a warped stand... Read More »

“Noah” Movie as Typical Sermon: How Darren Aronofsky Directs Movies Like We Preach Sermons

by Steven Smith on May 2, 2014 in Culture, Current Events, Preaching

The movie “Noah” represents some profound acting and directing in one really strange movie. In so much as Darren Aronofsky is a director, he is typical of Hollywood: very gifted and a little bizarre. Oddly perhaps, as an exegete of Scripture, Aronofsky is typical of much evan... Read More »

The Old Testament’s perspective on Easter

by Steven Smith on April 15, 2014 in Preaching

This week, Prestonwood Baptist Church is releasing Easter Perspectives, daily video devotionals related to Easter. I was asked to give the perspective of the Old Testament on the Passion Week. You can watch the video here. The synopsis of the devotional is below. All throughout S... Read More »

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by Steven Smith on March 6, 2014 in Evangelism, Preaching

97 Student Preachers going to 36 States plus Canada for 5 Nights of Revival: March 9-12 Imagine doing for the first time what you know you were born to do. Many college and seminary students come to Southwestern with a call to preach, but without an opportunity to preach. Each... Read More »

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