Episode 25: A Conversation with Dr. Robert Smith

Preaching
Written By Ben Smith

Dr. Robert Smith

In episode 25 of The 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.

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.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

 

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

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.

 

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Ben Smith

Originally from Columbus, GA, pastor Ben Smith has served churches in Texas, South Carolina, and Georgia. Ben and his wife Dana make their home in Waycross, GA, where Ben has pastored Central Baptist Church since 2012.

Pastor Ben preaches each Sunday at Central Baptist. An audio podcast of his sermons is published weekly. Pastor Ben also hosts the podcast View From the Pulpit, dedicated to helping the church recover an understanding of expository preaching.

https://bensmithsr.org
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Episode 24: A Conversation with John Roland