Southeastern welcomes Robert Smith, Jr. to campus for Adams Lecture Series

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) welcomed Robert Smith, Jr. for the annual Adams Lecture Series Feb. 4-6.

Smith preached from Psalm 23, explaining how the Holy Spirit is actively at work throughout the passage and in the daily life of the believer. What this Psalm exemplifies is that a dependence on the Spirit produces peace amid struggle. 

“Those who trust the Father as shepherd are empowered by the Spirit of Christ to live a life of tranquility in the midst of turbulence,” said Smith. 

On Thursday, Smith preached from Acts 12 on the work of God to use the trials and blessings of life to create a melody in the believer’s life, displaying the glory of God. Smith described this as the Christian being a “theo-musicologist,” explaining that God weaves the minor and major chords together to create a symphony that displays his greatness. 

“When worship takes place in the Spirit of Christ, we overcome tribulation and participate in celebration to the glory of God,” said Smith. 

In a library talk Tuesday morning, Smith spent time speaking with students about the role of the preacher as it relates to the preaching event. This included the value of prayer, preparation and delivery. 

“I’m not responsible for your transformation; I’m responsible for your transportation,” said Smith, noting that the role of the pastor in the preaching event is to deliver the message of the Bible clearly and compellingly to congregants. However, only God has the power to transform hearts. 

Ph.D. students also had the pleasure of hearing Smith as he discussed the importance of compelling sermon delivery, preaching the Christocentric narrative of Scripture and helping people see how the Bible comes to bear on the lives of congregants. 

“Doctrine has to point beyond itself to the One who is to be glorified and the One who is to be worshiped,” he emphasized.  

Smith holds a Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Sacred Theology (STD, Honorary Doctorate) from Temple Community Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio and a Doctor of Divinity Honoris Causa from Newburgh Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana. Smith serves as professor of Christian Preaching and holds the Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School. 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 the New Mission Missionary Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio for 20 years. Smith is the author of the award-winning book “Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life,” which was selected as the winner of the 2008 Preaching Book of the Year Award by Preaching Magazine and 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 has written “The Oasis of God: From Mourning to Morning—Biblical Insights from Psalms 42 and 43.”

To access the full messages from the Adams Lecture Series, click here

Office of Marketing and Communications

[email protected]