Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 25: A Conversation with Dr. Robert Smith.

Episode Theme: Exegetical Weaver

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Robert Smith, Distinguished Professor of Divinity and preaching at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Smith describes his approach as an "exegetical weaver," interweaving explanation and application throughout the sermon. A notable aspect of his delivery is preaching without notes, relying on "internalization not memorization," which allows for improvisational, Spirit-guided expression. Dr. Smith emphasizes that "what counts is content," not just style, and teaches a 10-step Christocentric method that heavily focuses on deep textual study, including reading the text "50 times". He advocates for the sermon's form to reflect the text's genre, distinguishing between deductive and inductive approaches. Dr. Smith stresses the importance of unity in diversity within the church, encouraging preachers to learn from various cultural preaching traditions and for congregations to value faithfulness to the text over performative dynamics, warning against "emotionalism" that overshadows exegesis.

 Key Highlights:

A Unique Definition and Approach to Expository Preaching: Dr. Smith defines expository preaching as deliberately aiming "to expose what is in the text. Not impose upon it but expose what's in there". He further clarifies it as "usher[ing] people by the word of God into the presence of Christ the Son of God through the power of the Spirit of God for the purpose of transformation". He characterizes his personal preaching style as that of an "exegetical weaver," explaining that he intends to "take the text, expose it, and then... weave the explanation throughout the text with the application" from start to finish, ensuring the listener constantly connects with the sermon as the text unfolds. This means the application is "interwoven with the explanation... from the beginning to the end rather than to wait to give the application at the end".

Emphasis on Internalization Over Memorization for Delivery: Dr. Smith is known for preaching without notes, a practice he states he adopted early in his ministry after a divine prompting to put down his manuscript. He achieves this not through memorization, but through "internalization," where the message becomes "so deep in my soul that... it becomes almost an effortless effort". This allows for an "improvisational" delivery, trusting the Holy Spirit to bring forth thoughts and words that were not explicitly planned. While he models this approach, he teaches his students the importance of versatility in delivery, encouraging them to be proficient with manuscripts, outlines, or no notes, as the "context will demand that". He consistently stresses that "what counts is content. What counts is matter," above style or approach.

Rigorous Textual Saturation as Foundational Preparation: A central tenet of Dr. Smith's 10-step "Christocentric method of preaching" is an intense focus on deeply understanding the biblical text itself. The initial six steps of this method are dedicated entirely to the text, with a notable requirement for his students to read the sermon text "50 times" before they begin sermon preparation (not in one sitting, but over time). This deep reading, combined with understanding the text's literary, historical, canonical, and redemptive-historical contexts, ensures preachers are "thoroughly saturated in the text" and their "senses have been engaged and evoked by the text". He also emphasizes that "the form of the text is inspired just like the text itself," and therefore, the sermon's structure should often reflect the genre of the biblical passage (e.g., narrative, epistle, proverb), contrasting deductive and inductive sermon forms.

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Robert Smith for instructive insights into sermon preparation and delivery

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Robert Smith

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Dr. Robert Smith Jr. served as professor of Christian preaching at Beeson for more than 25 years and held the Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity. Previously, he served as the Carl E. Bates Associate Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Smith is the 2017 E. K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference Living Legend. A popular teacher and preacher, he received Southern’s 1996 Findley B. Edge Award for Teaching Excellence. An ordained Baptist minister, he served as pastor of New Mission Missionary Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, for 20 years. He earned his PhD while serving as a pastor. He is a contributing editor for a study of Christian ministry in the African American church, Preparing for Christian Ministry, and is co-editor of A Mighty Long Journey. Additionally, he has served as an editor of Our Sufficiency Is of God: Essays on Preaching in Honor of Gardner C. Taylor (Mercer University Press, Macon, Georgia: 2010) and Worship, Tradition, and Engagement: Essays in Honor of Timothy George (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2018). He has written the book, Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life (B&H Publishing Group, Nashville: 2008), which was selected as the winner of the 2008 Preaching Book of the Year Award by Preaching magazine and the 2009 Preaching Book of the Year Award by Christianity Today’s preaching.com. In 2010, Preaching magazine named Doctrine That Dances one of the 25 most influential books in preaching for the last 25 years. He also has written The Oasis of God: From Mourning to Morning—Biblical Insights from Psalms 42 and 43. His latest book is Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Joshua (B&H Publishing Group, Nashville). Smith has spoken at more than 135 universities, colleges, and seminaries in the United States, Great Britain, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean. He has taught congregations in several countries, including Greece, Turkey, Rome, the Holy Land, and Switzerland. Smith delivered the closing message of the 22nd Baptist World Congress/Baptist World Alliance, originally scheduled for 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, but transformed into a fully virtual event from July 7-10, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His research interests include the place of passion in preaching, the literary history of African American preaching, Christological preaching, and theologies of preaching. Smith has contributed essays and articles to various books, magazines, and commentaries. He received Beeson Divinity School’s “Teacher of the Year Award” in 2005. He and his wife, Wanda Taylor-Smith, PhD, are the parents of four adult children (two in heaven). 

Education

MDiv, PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Doctor of Sacred Theology (Hon.), Temple Community Bible College 

Doctor of Divinity Honoris Causa, Newburgh Theological Seminary 

BS, Cincinnati Bible College 

AS, God's Bible College

Books

Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Joshua. B&H Publishing Group, 2023.

The Oasis of God: From Mourning to Morning—Biblical Insights from Psalms 42 and 43. BorderStone Press, 2014.

Worship, Tradition, and Engagement: Essays in Honor of Timothy George. Pickwick, 2018.

Our Sufficiency Is of  God:  Essays on Preaching in Honor of Gardner C. Taylor. Mercer University Press, 2010.

Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life. B&H Publishing Group, 2009.

Awards

E. K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference Living Legend, 2017

Preaching Book of the Year Award by Christianity Today’s preaching.com, 2009

Preaching Book of the Year Award by Preaching magazine, 2008

Beeson Divinity School’s “Teacher of the Year Award," 2005

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Findley B. Edge Award for Teaching Excellence, 1996 

Follow Dr. Smith on X: @DrRobertSmithJr

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id##96433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 24: A Conversation with Pastor John Roland.

Episode Theme: Blessings and challenges of bi-vocational ministry.

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Pastor John Roland, Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Sterrett, AL, about his experiences and perspectives as a bi-vocational pastor, his approach to preaching, and the unique aspects of his ministry at Beulah Baptist Church.

Key Highlights:

Study and Preparation on the Go: Pastor Roland's sermon preparation has to be mobile to accommodate his secular job requirements. He typically reads the chosen passage multiple times, writing down questions about it, and then consulting trusted commentaries to find answers. He outlines three to four main points for his sermon and writes out a manuscript in Google Docs. He often copies and pastes commentary notes below his points and summarizes them. He works on this document throughout the week, utilizing Google Docs for mobility across his devices (iPad, laptop, phone), especially when traveling for his secular job. He puts the finishing touches on the manuscript on Friday or Saturday.

Challenges for Bi-vocational ministry: One of the significant challenges is the limited time for traditional pastoral duties like hospital visits and extensive personal visitation. He struggles with feeling like he should be doing more and has had to learn to say no to commitments outside his primary roles to manage his time effectively. Balancing the demands of his secular job with pastoral responsibilities also means he often doesn't have a dedicated day off during the week, requiring constant effort to maintain physical and mental energy.

Importance of relationships: Pastor John encourages young pastors to prioritize "building relationships in the community, and partner with as many other ministries and pastors that you can for accountability, encouragement, and collaboration.”

Join Ben Smith and Pastor John Roland for an enlightening conversation about bi-vocational ministry.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: John Roland

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Pastor John Roland is the Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Sterrett, AL. Prior to coming to Beulah Baptist Church, Pastor Roland has served as a transitional pastor and a senior pastor. He earned his undergraduate degree from Samford University, MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and an MBA from Kennesaw State University.

John has worked for many years for various organizations as an executive in advancement. He is currently the Advancement officer for the Howard College of Arts and Sciences of Samford University.

John and his wife, Amy, have three adult children.

Follow Pastor John Roland on X at https://x.com/jaroland74

Listen to Pastor Roland’s latest sermons through the Beulah Baptist Church’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BeulahBaptistChurchSterrett

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 23: A Conversation with Pastor Chris Fowler.

Episode Theme: Preaching in a College Town.

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Pastor Chris Fowler, Pastor of Fletcher Memorial Baptist Church in Statesboro, Georgia, about his experiences and perspectives as a pastor in a college town and how his approach to expository preaching and leading his church to honor and live out God’s word.

Key Highlights:

·      The importance of reading scripture in worship: Christ explains his practice of reading large portions of scripture (chapters or even entire books) in the worship service and how this has contributed to his church growing in appreciation of God’s word and the value of hearing the Word.

·      Resources to further the impact of preaching: Christ shares what resources he uses to aid engagement with preaching. These include a listening guide with space for notes and discussion questions provided for use throughout the week.

·      Sermon Preparation Process: Pastor Christ details his weekly process for preparing a sermon. He shares how he studies the passage and what he takes to the pulpit to preach from.

Join Ben Smith and Pastor Chris Fowler for a helpful conversation about preaching and leading a church to a great appreciation for God’s word.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Chris Fowler

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Chris Fowler is the Pastor of Fletcher Memorial Baptist Church, Statesboro, GA. Prior to joining Fletcher Memorial, Fowler served as Associate Pastor of Education and Discipleship at North Peachtree Baptist Church in Dunwoody, GA, and as Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Roanoke, North Carolina. Pastor Fowler earned both his undergraduate degree and MDiv. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Chris and his wife, Amy, have four children.

Listen to Pastor Fowler’s latest sermons on:

·      YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fletcherchurch768

·      Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4CuxkyMUtnkjfvb2bGHOlX

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 22: A Conversation with Dr. Mac Brunson 

Episode Theme: Changes and Trends among Baptist churches in approaches to preaching

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Mac Brunson, Senior Pastor of Valleydale Church in Birmingham, AL, about his approach to Bible study, sermon preparation, and lifelong pursuit of learning.

Key Highlights:

Early Days: Dr. Brunson chronicles how God has developed his preaching from his first church to his present ministry.

Exposure to and learning to preach expository sermons: Dr. Brunson recounts his first exposure to expository preaching and how he learned to preach expository sermons.

Sermon Illustrations: A gifted sermon Illustrator, Dr. Brunson, shares his insights into using illustrations for greater effect and where he finds his illustrations.

Honoring the ministries of former pastors while being honest about your own personality and giftedness: Dr. Brunson shares his experience of pastoring FBC Dallas and FBC Jacksonville while honoring the legacy and ministry of the pastors that preceded him.

Lifelong learner: Brunson shares how books and reading are crucial to a pastor’s pursuit of lifelong learning.

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Mac Brunson for an engaging conversation about ministry, preaching, and the lifelong pursuit of learning.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Mac Brunson

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Dr. Mac Brunson is the Senior Pastor of Valleydale Church in Birmingham, AL. Prior to coming to Valleydale Church, Dr. Brunson served as senior pastor of both the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, FL, and the First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX. He holds a PhD, DMin., and MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, an honorary doctorate of divinity from Dallas Baptist University, and earned a B.A. from Furman University. He is an adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a sought-after conference preacher. He has published several books and articles, including the 2023 publication God is For You: Learning to Trust God's Wisdom through Life's Crises (2023)

Mac and his wife, Debbie, have three adult children and 16 grandchildren.

Follow Dr. Mac Brunson on X at https://x.com/brunson_mac.

Listen to Dr. Brunson’s latest sermons through the Valleydale Church Sermons podcast available in Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valleydale-church-sermons/id1345039445

For more information on Valleydale Church, Birmingham, AL, visit https://www.valleydale.org/.

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 21: A Conversation with Dr. Landon Dowden

Episode Theme: “Nothing is better for God's people than God's word.” 

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Landon Dowden, Lead Pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA, about his approach to expository preaching, the preparation process, and the importance of biblical literacy.

Key Highlights:

Balanced preaching from both the Old and New Testaments: Dr. Dowden is a strong advocate for preaching from both the Old and New Testaments. He was influenced by his mentor, Jim Shaddix, who emphasized expository preaching. Dr. Dowden believes that avoiding the Old Testament robs people of a way God has spoken, particularly concerning Christ. Preaching the "whole counsel" of God, as Paul mentions in Acts 20, includes the Old Testament Scriptures. He is intentional about switching between Testaments and genres (narratives, wisdom literature, letters, etc.) to equip God's people with the full scope of God's word and how it points to Christ.

Expository Preaching: Dr. Dowden's exposure to expository preaching under Jim Shaddix was a transformative "Emmaus road experience" where his heart burned as the scriptures were opened. This experience led him to believe that "nothing is better for God's people than God's word." He contrasts this with earlier experiences where sermons relied heavily on illustrations or were more topically driven without a faithful handling of a specific text. Expository preaching shifts the focus from the preacher's rhetorical skill ("diving board preachers") to the richness of the biblical text itself ("swimming pool"). This emphasis on substance over style ensures that the audience connects with Christ through the word, rather than just with the preacher's performance.

Call to response should be tied to the text: Dr. Dowden believes the call to response should be directly tied to the specific text being preached, moving beyond traditional, generic options. He diligently considers what the Spirit is calling the congregation to do in light of the passage. For example, when preaching on Abram's decision to go to Egypt, the call to response was tailored to different situations: warning against heading towards "Egypt" (sinful choices), encouraging those already in "Egypt" that God is their only help, and supporting those coming out of "Egypt" who desire God's help to avoid future similar situations. This approach ensures the response is rooted in the biblical truth presented.

·       Advice for proclaiming God’s word: Dr. Dowden offers several pieces of vital advice based on his years of ministry. First, he stresses that there is no substitute for prayer and personal intake of the word; sermon preparation should be worship as much as work. Second, he emphasizes the necessity of obedience in the pastor's life. Third, he highlights the importance of good accountability relationships for confession and receiving grace. Fourth, he urges young pastors to prioritize their families, as family time is limited compared to ministry meetings. Finally, he advises learning who you are okay disappointing. While you don't want to needlessly disappoint people, you also cannot be dominated by every agenda or preference. Learning to rest in the gospel and God's approval in Christ is crucial to avoid seeking approval elsewhere and to be free to serve others.

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Landon Dowden for an instructive conversation about ministry, preaching, and teaching God’s word.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Landon Dowden

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Dr. Landon Dowden has served as the Lead Pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA, since 2018. He is originally from Louisiana, where he graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Management. He also earned a Master of Divinity, a Master of Theology, and a Doctor of Philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Landon has been a Lead Pastor since 2005. He has led student camps for many national student organizations since 1996. He currently serves as an adjunct professor for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, working in the Doctor of Ministry program in the field of preaching. He has published two commentaries in the Christ-Centered Commentary Exposition Series, which are Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel, Exalting Jesus in Esther, and forthcoming Exalting Jesus in Deuteronomy. Landon’s conviction regarding preaching is that nothing is better for God’s people than God’s word, which leads him to preach expositionally through books of the Bible. He also intentionally alternates between the Old and New Testaments, as well as the different genres. Landon has held numerous denominational roles at the associational, state, and national levels, as well as serving on 14 international mission trips.

Landon and his wife, Tera, have four children.

Follow Dr. Landon Dowden on X at https://x.com/landondowden      

Listen to Dr. Dowden’s latest sermons through the Hebron Baptist Church Sermons podcast available in Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hebron-on-the-go-podcast/id1799251636

For more information on Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula, GA, visit https://hebronchurch.org/

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 20: A Conversation with Randy Mullinax

Episode Theme: Changes and Trends among Baptist churches in approaches to preaching

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Randy Mullinax, senior adult pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA, about his experience working with two Baptist state conventions, how he came to appreciate expository preaching, and how he employs an expositional approach to ministry with senior adults.

Key Highlights:

Learning to preach: Mullinax discusses how he “backed in” to learning to preach expositional sermons and how it changed his approach to preaching.

Encouraging trends: Randy shares how, through his work with State Baptist Conventions, he has witnessed encouraging trends toward more churches and pastors pursuing expository preaching.

Ministry Transition: Randy, who is now serving on staff after a career as a senior pastor, discusses how he enjoys his new ministry role.

Senior Adult Ministry: Randy Mullinax talks about his ministry as a senior adult pastor and the blessings and challenges of senior adult ministry.

Join Ben Smith and Randy Mullinax for a helpful discussion of ministry and preaching over a long career.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Randy Mullinax

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Randy Mullinax is the senior adult pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA. He pastored churches for 30 years before taking on the role of Director of Evangelism and Discipleship with the Illinois Baptist Convention. Later, he would serve the Georgia Baptist Convention (now known as the Georgia Baptist Mission Board) as a state missionary on the Evangelism and Church Revitalization team.

Wayne and his wife, Jeanee, have two adult children.

Follow Randy Mullinax on X at https://x.com/Randy_Mullinax

For more information on Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA, visit https://nbcvaldosta.org/

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 19: A Conversation with Mitch Jolly

Episode Theme: Transformed by the word of God

In this episode, pastor Jolly shares his story of how God saved him and taught him to study the word. He talks about how he has led his church to be rooted and grounded in God’s word.

Key Highlights:

Transformation: Jolly shares how he was rescued from moralistic therapeutic deism and discovered the transforming power of God’s word.

Rooted in the text: Jolly shares the imperative that everything must be rooted in the text.

Use of Media: Though naturally a slow adopter of new technology, Pastor Jolly shares how he has used technology to further the impact of his Lord’s Day sermons through the online availability of his sermon manuscripts and a podcast focused on theology.

A clear audience: Pastor Jolly recognizes the usefulness of online tools to help the church engage more with his sermons. However, Pastor Jolly encourages pastors to stay focused and attentive to their congregation. Though others may find your church’s online resources helpful, the pastor must first be focused on preaching to the congregation of his church.

Join Ben Smith and Mitch Jolly for an honest and helpful conversation on how God uses his word to instruct and bless the church.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Mitch Jolly

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod 

Mitch Jolly is the pastor and founder of Three Rivers Church, Rome, GA, where he has served since 2001. Jolly earned his undergraduate degree from Shorter University and an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Mitch and his wife, Jennifer, have three sons.

For sermon resources and more from Mitch Jolly, visit www.theologyinthedirt.com.

For helpful theological discussions, find Mitch’s podcast, Theology in the Dirt.

·      Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-in-the-dirt/id1506829385

·      Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76TxcsD6XjGmpJaGmRRczL?si=6b724b7a27094c81

For more information on Three Rivers Church, Rome, GA, visit  www.threeriversc.org

You can find Mitch on X at https://x.com/mitchjolly

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

 Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 18: A Conversation with Mike Everson

Episode Theme: Changes and Challenges of Pastoral Ministry

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Mike Everson, interim pastor of Morningside Baptist Church, Bainbridge, GA, about the changes he has seen among preachers and the challenges that pastors face today.

Key Highlights:

The impact of COVID: Everson shares his observations of how the effects of COVID continue to discourage pastors.

Discovering and learning how to preach expository preaching: Everson shares how he was first exposed to expository preaching and how he learned to do it himself. He also shares how he has seen the value and impact of expository preaching in the churches he has pastored.

Lessons learned through ministry experience: Everson shares the lessons he learned through experience as a pastor, a state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Convention, and the father of two boys who grew up to become pastors.

Growing desire for faithful, expository preaching: Everson shares encouraging examples he has seen that indicate that churches are growing in their appreciation of and desire for faithful expositional preaching.

Join Ben Smith and Mike Everson for an encouraging and enlightening conversation that explores the wisdom and insights that Mike has learned through his years as a pastor and preacher.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Mike Everson

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Mike Everson is the transitional pastor at Morningside Baptist Church in Bainbridge, GA. He began his ministry as a youth pastor at Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA. He would go on to serve as senior pastor of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, GA, and Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA. Mike also served the Georgia Baptist Convention (now the Georgia Baptist Mission Board) as a Regional State Missionary for South Georgia.

Mike and his wife, Debbie, have two adult sons who are both pastors. His son, Jarrod, was the featured guest on Episode 3 (https://www.bensmithsr.org/vftp/everson).

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/. 

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 17: A Conversation with Pastor Dr. Bart Barber. 

Episode Theme: “I will occasionally explain myself.”

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Pastor Dr. Bart Barber, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Farmersville, TX, about how to integrate systematic theology with Biblical theology through expositional preaching, effectively utilize original language study in preaching, and his unique method of sermon preparation process. 

Key Highlights:

·      The challenge of demographic changes: Dr. Barber describes how the rural context in which his church has existed throughout its history has been transformed by population growth, and the effect and challenges this has had on his preaching, especially in relation to the sermon illustrations he uses.

·      Integration of systematic theology with biblical theology: Dr. Barber describes his approach to expository preaching and preaching through books of the Bible. He explains how this approach is focused on biblical theology and how he often preaches a conclusory sermon series to integrate a systematic theological approach to issues that were prominent in the book.

·      Use of original languages in preparation and preaching: Dr. Barber is an accomplished scholar in biblical languages, having conducted extensive academic work in both Greek and Hebrew. He explains how he integrates his linguistic expertise into his preaching and offers suggestions on how anyone, regardless of their linguistic ability, can engage in basic language studies.

·      Preparing to preach months in advance: During his PhD studies, Dr. Barber recognized that meeting the academic demands while handling the regular and often unexpected demands of ministry required that he prepare his sermon well in advance. Dr. Barber explains how he plans and prepares a year’s worth of sermons during an intensive week dedicated to this singular task.

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Bart Barber for a fascinating conversation about expository preaching and how to be most faithful when proclaiming God’s word.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Bart Barber

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Bart Barber has served as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, since 1999.  At an associational summer camp at the Mount Zion Baptist Camp in Walcott, Arkansas, Bart surrendered to pastoral ministry in the summer of 1981. The following year, just prior to the start of his senior year in high school, he assumed the pastorate at New Hope Baptist Church in Black Oak, Arkansas.

A National Merit Scholar, Dr. Barber earned his BA in the University Scholars program with an emphasis in Greek and Hebrew from Baylor University, Waco, TX. He would go on to earn an MDiv with advanced standing in biblical languages, a PhD in church history, and a minor in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Bart has served in various denominational capacities with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. At the SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, June 14-15, 2022, Bart was elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He and his wife, Tracy, have two children.

Find Dr. Barber on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbartbarber/

Follow Dr. Barber on X: https://x.com/bartbarber

Listen to Pastor Barber’s latest sermons on:

·      YouTube: https://youtube.com/@drbartbarber

·      Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0hINKd4GBOMJ8RxrFMqZ3d

Glossary of Key Terms

Biblical Theology: The study of what a particular book, chapter, or section of the Bible conveys about a specific theme or doctrine, examined on its own terms within its historical and literary context.

Christology: The study of the nature and person of Jesus Christ, including his divinity and humanity.

Conclusory Sermons: A series of sermons preached after completing an expository series through a book, designed to summarize and emphasize key doctrinal themes found within that book.

Eschatology: The study of the "last things" or end times, including topics such as the second coming of Christ, the millennium, and the final judgment.

Exegesis (Exegetical Work): The critical interpretation and explanation of a biblical text, involving careful study of the original languages, historical context, and literary features.

Expository Preaching: A style of preaching that aims to explain and apply the meaning of a specific biblical passage, often working through books of the Bible sequentially.

Historical Theology: The study of the development of Christian doctrines and beliefs throughout the history of the church, often focusing on significant figures and movements.

Homiletical/Homiletics: Relating to the art or science of preaching or giving sermons; the principles of sermon preparation and delivery.

Hypostatic Union: The theological term used to describe the union of the divine and human natures in the single person of Jesus Christ.

Logos Software: A popular digital library and research tool used by pastors and scholars for biblical study and sermon preparation.

Pericope: A distinct passage or section of scripture, often used as the basis for a sermon or study.

Pathos: An appeal to emotion, used in rhetoric to persuade or connect with an audience.

Systematic Theology: The study of Christian doctrines arranged in a systematic and logical order, integrating teaching from across the entire Bible on various theological topics.

Text Driven: Refers to preaching or teaching that derives its main points and structure directly from the biblical text being studied.

Trinitarian: Relating to the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that God is one God in three co-eternal consubstantial persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 16: A Conversation with Wayne Woods 

Episode Theme: A preacher’s preparation and the role of preaching in the church

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Wayne Woods, pastor of Ten Mile Baptist Church in Alma, GA, about how God called him to the ministry, how he learned to preach, and the relationship between preaching and pastoral care.

Key Highlights:

Call to Ministry: Woods discusses how God worked in his life to call him to ministry after a full career with the United States Navy and how the maturity with which he entered the ministry helped him in his pastoral work.

Learning to Preach: Woods shares lessons he learned in seminary and beyond on how to prepare a sermon and how to preach.

All Preaching is Invitational: Sometimes, only the final conclusion of a sermon is considered invitational to respond to the gospel. Pastor Woods shares how every part of the sermon should be an invitation to the gospel.

Making the Gospel Clear: Pastor Woods and Ben discuss the need to be graciously bold with a clear gospel message in every context, and as the culture grows more secular, there is a growing appreciation for the true gospel.  

Join Ben Smith and Wayne Woods for a straightforward discussion of the calling of God to preach, the power of God to use His word, and the joys and sorrows of faithful ministry.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Wayne Woods

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Wayne Woods is the pastor of Ten Mile Baptist Church, Alma, GA. He has served churches in Georgia and Alabama. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Woods served as a U.S. Navy pilot flying P3 Orion sub-hunters. After retiring from the Navy and working a few years in the private sector, Woods felt called of God to the ministry. On an Easter Sunday, Woods said yes to God and immediately made plans to begin his seminary studies at Mid-America Baptist Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.

Wayne and his wife, June, have two adult children.

For more information on Ten Mile Baptist Church, Alma, GA, visit https://tenmilebaptist.com/

You can find videos of Wayne Woods’s preaching at the Facebook page of Ten Mile  Baptist Church https://www.facebook.com/tenmile.baptist

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.