Wordsmith with Clay Smith

As America celebrates 250 years as a nation, what does it mean to reflect on our country's history through the lens of faith? In this special edition of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by Nels and Jennifer Peterson and Valentina Seleznev for a thoughtful conversation about freedom, religious liberty, civic responsibility, and the Christian's role in public life. Together, they explore the b...

In the season finale of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay is joined once again by Matthew Beaver to close out the series through the book of Ecclesiastes. Together, they reflect on the tension, frustration, and beauty found throughout the book as they unpack Solomon’s final words: “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Through an honest conversation about vanity, wisdom, suffering, obedience, and the temporar...

In this special episode,  Dr. Clay Smith sits down with the Southern Baptist Convention Presidential Candidate, Josh Powell.  Josh is also the Sr. Pastor at Taylor's First Baptist Church in Taylors, SC. Pastor Clay dives into what the Southern Baptist Convention is, what the president's role entails, and the question everyone wants to know: Why would anyone want to be president of the SBC? Clay Sm...

In this episode of Wordsmith, Clay Smith is joined by guest Justin Harp to explore Ecclesiastes 9:7–10 and the tension between life’s fleeting nature and God’s invitation to joy. Together, they unpack Solomon’s observations about work, celebration, relationships, and mortality—wrestling honestly with the reality that life can feel both meaningful and mysterious. Through thoughtful conversation, th...

In this episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith sits down with longtime friend and first-time guest Lynn McWhorter to explore the rich and often challenging truths found in Ecclesiastes 7. Together, they wrestle with questions we all face, why life can feel unfair, how to respond in seasons of both joy and hardship, and what it really means to trust God when we do not have all the answers. Through...

In this episode of the Wordsmith Podcast, Clay Smith is joined by Bobby Smith to explore Ecclesiastes 9—a passage that confronts one of life’s most unavoidable realities: death. With honesty and depth, they unpack why Scripture doesn’t shy away from difficult truths and how this often-avoided topic reveals both the brokenness of our world and the urgency of truly living. As they reflect on Solomon...

This week on Wordsmith, Pastor Clay sits down with Katy Yonker for a conversation centered on Ecclesiastes 5 and its honest look at money, wealth, and the human heart. Together, they explore why the pursuit of more never truly satisfies, how easily good things can become ultimate things, and the subtle ways money can shift from a tool into something we trust or even love. Through personal stories,...

In this special Holy Week episode of the WordSmith podcast, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by Kristen Carr to dive into the powerful reality of the resurrection in Matthew 28. Together, they unpack the first moments after the empty tomb, highlighting the unexpected role of the women as eyewitnesses and the mix of fear, joy, and worship that marked their encounter with the risen Jesus. As they reflect...

In this special Easter episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by Pastor Mitch Verdell for a meaningful conversation centered on the events of Holy Week. Together, they walk through the timeline of Jesus’ final days—from His triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple to the Last Supper, His time in the Garden of Gethsemane, and ultimately His trial before the high priest. Along the...

In this episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay Smith sits down with Student Pastor Logan Grantham to unpack a challenging passage from Ecclesiastes and explore what it really means to approach God. Together, they dive into how our view of God shapes the way we worship, the weight of our words in prayer, and the importance of living with reverence in everyday life. They also pull back the curtain on ser...

On this episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by Connection Minister Christina Wekall to unpack the meaning and importance of baptism. Looking at Acts 2, they explore what Scripture teaches, why baptism follows salvation, and how it serves as a public declaration of faith. Together, they address common questions and misconceptions, from salvation and obedience to different church backg...

In this episode of the Wordsmith Podcast with Clay Smith, Clay Smith welcomes longtime church member Jim LeClair for a thoughtful conversation about legacy, purpose, and the wisdom found in Ecclesiastes 4. Reflecting on Solomon’s words about a foolish king, they discuss how success and influence can easily lead to pride, isolation, and eventually being forgotten. Together they explore the differen...

In this episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay is joined by the “two Bryans” — Bryan Hanson and Brian Fox — for a conversation about one of the most meaningful weeks in the life of Johnson Ferry: MOVE Week. Together, they reflect on how MOVE has evolved from a missions conference for leaders into a call for the whole church to live on mission. Rooted in John 4 and Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan wo...

In this episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay welcomes Lee Taylor back to the podcast to dive into Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 and God’s design for community. Together they explore what it really means that “two are better than one” and why a threefold cord is not quickly broken. In a world that is more digitally connected than ever—yet increasingly lonely—they discuss the growing epidemic of isolation, the c...

In this episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay sits down with attorney and longtime friend David Yonker to talk through Ecclesiastes 4 and the hard realities it brings up—oppression, injustice, and the human longing for things to be made right. Drawing from his experience as a former prosecutor, David shares real-life perspective on the brokenness he’s seen and the limits of human systems to fix it. As...

What does it really mean that there’s “a time for everything”? Pastor Clay is joined by returning guest Bobby Smith to explore Ecclesiastes 3:1–15 and the rhythms of life it describes. From joy and grief to silence and celebration, they talk about why the Bible speaks honestly about every season and how these words resonate with real life. Together, they reflect on God’s sovereignty in both the hi...

In this episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by Meredith Stuart to explore what Scripture says about work, purpose, and meaning. Walking through Ecclesiastes 2:18–26, they unpack Solomon’s honest struggle with toil and the tension we all feel between frustration and fulfillment in our work. Together, they discuss why work was God’s idea from the beginning, how our heart posture shapes...

On this episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by longtime friend Tom Goodwin as they open Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 and wrestle with a question we all feel: Can pleasure really satisfy? Together they explore Solomon’s “test” of the good life—wine, work, wealth, entertainment, and relationships—and why it ultimately leaves him empty. Tom shares how Ecclesiastes shaped his faith as a college s...

In this week’s episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay welcomes David Anderson for a thoughtful conversation through Ecclesiastes and the pursuit of wisdom. Building on Sunday’s message, Clay and David explore what it really means to seek understanding—not just through knowledge, but through a life shaped by God’s Word. Together, they unpack the difference between information and transformation, tracing...

In this episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by longtime friend and gifted teacher John Farish as they launch a new series through the book of Ecclesiastes. Together, they wrestle with some of life’s most honest and uncomfortable questions: Why does so much of life feel repetitive? Where do we look for meaning, satisfaction, and purpose? Through thoughtful conversation and careful eng...

Join us for the Season Three premiere of the WordSmith podcast as Pastor Clay is joined by Lee Taylor, Family Disciplemaking Pastor at Johnson Ferry, for a meaningful conversation to kick off the new year. This episode introduces the Five Ways of Jesus: worship, community, service, generosity, and multiplication. Clay and Lee talk about how these practices flow out of intimacy with Christ and why...

In this bonus New Year episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by a very special first-time guest—his wife, Terrica Smith. Together, Clay and Terrica talk honestly about their own health journeys and why physical health matters for followers of Jesus—not as vanity, but as stewardship. Clay connects Scripture to the way we care for our bodies, exploring how our habits impact our ability t...

In this special bonus Christmas episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by Ron Hughes and Barbara Jarrett from Johnson Ferry’s Pastoral Care team to talk about a side of the season many people quietly carry: loneliness, depression, grief, and strained family dynamics. Together, they explore why the holidays can intensify pain and expectations, how to be honest with God in hard emotions,...

In this episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay Smith welcomes Brian Fox from Johnson Ferry’s Global Team—who helps care for and equip those sent to share the gospel around the world.  Together, Clay and Brian turn to Luke 19 and revisit the familiar story of Zacchaeus and the sycamore tree, uncovering fresh insight into the heart of Jesus. They explore Christ’s intentional pursuit of the lost, the cont...

Welcome to the WordSmith Podcast with Clay Smith. In today’s episode, Clay is joined by returning guest Bobby Smith for a conversation that blends theological depth, Christmas warmth, and plenty of laughs. As we continue our Advent journey, Clay and Bobby dive into Isaiah 11, a powerful prophecy written nearly 700 years before the birth of Jesus. Together, they unpack the imagery of the “shoot fro...