In this week’s episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay invites Adrian Coetzer back for a meaningful conversation on Advent and the hope that anchors the season. Building on Sunday’s message, Clay and Adrian take listeners back to the very first pages of Scripture—unpacking the mystery of the tree in the Garden, the reality of humanity’s first act of disobedience, and the remarkable promise God makes in Genesis 3:15.

Together they trace this “first gospel” through the unfolding story of Scripture and show how the long-awaited promise of a Redeemer finds its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Along the way, they discuss liturgy, waiting, the tension between God’s sovereignty and human agency, and why the Christian understanding of hope is so different from wishful thinking.

Dr. Clay Smith is the senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, located just north of Atlanta, GA. JF, as it is affectionately called, is a healthy, vibrant church committed to helping people find truth, belonging, and purpose in Jesus.

Learn more about Johnson Ferry Baptist Church at johnsonferry.org