Wordsmith with Clay Smith

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...

In this special bonus episode of the WordSmith Podcast, Pastor Clay welcomes Adrian and Jennifer Coetzer for a rich and practical conversation all about Advent. Whether you’ve celebrated Advent for decades or are hearing about it for the first time, this episode will help you understand its history, meaning, and importance as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Clay, Adrian, and Jennif...

In this episode of WordSmith, Pastor Clay Smith welcomes first-time guest and Johnson Ferry elder, Bryan Tyson, as they wrap up a year-long journey through the Book of Romans with a final look at Romans 16. Clay and Bryan explore Paul’s deeply personal closing—his long list of greetings, faithful friends, and ministry partners—and what it reveals about the relational heart behind rich theology. To...

In this week’s episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith sits down with Meredith Stuart to explore Romans 15 and the heart of Paul’s mission. They dive into Paul’s personal reflections, his passion for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, and the profound connection between our identity in Christ and living out God’s calling. Meredith shares her own journey as a missionary in China, the joys and ch...

Welcome to The Wordsmith Podcast with Clay Smith! In this episode, Pastor Clay is joined by Student Pastor Logan Grantham for an honest and heartfelt conversation about revival, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Together they dive into 2 Kings 22–23 and the story of King Josiah—an 18-year-old whose encounter with God’s Word sparked repentance and change across a nation. Clay and Logan talk about...

Join Pastor Clay Smith and Elder Mitchell Taylor as they dive into Genesis 12:1-3 and see God's heart for the nations. This pivotal passage details God's call to Abraham, which is explored here as a foundation for global missions and God's pursuit of His people. Mitchell shares his compelling personal journey from a "transactional faith" to full surrender to Christ, setting the stage for a deep di...

Welcome to the WordSmith podcast! Join Pastor Clay Smith and a returning special guest, Bryan Hanson, as they dive deep into the Bible, focusing on John chapter 4, to explore Jesus' powerful and intentional encounter with the Samaritan woman. Clay and Bryan discuss how this biblical account reveals the incredible nature of God's love and why Jesus declared that His "food is to do the will of him w...

In this episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by special guest George Etheridge, a longtime Johnson Ferry member and elder, to explore the powerful and deeply personal prayer of Jesus in John 17:20–26. Together, they reflect on what it means that Jesus prayed for us, the significance of supernatural unity in the church, and how our oneness as believers points the world to Christ. Georg...

In this episode of the Wordsmith podcast, Pastor Clay Smith sits down with church elder and returning guest Tom Goodwin for an insightful discussion centered on Matthew 14:22–33, the powerful story of Jesus walking on water and Peter's dramatic step of faith. Clay and Tom explore what this miracle reveals about Jesus's divinity and sovereignty, and they offer practical wisdom for applying its less...

This episode of the Wordsmith Podcast with host Clay Smith features guest Pastor Adrian Coetzer discussing Romans 15:1-13, focusing on the theme of commitment and discipleship within the church. Adrian draws on a personal story about his grandfather sharpening knives to illustrate how the "strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength," emphasizing that spiritual growth requires a...

In this episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay welcomes back David Anderson to dive into the second half of Romans 14. They explore the difficult but crucial questions Paul poses: Are you a stumbling block? Or even worse, a spiritual wrecking ball?  Listen in as they unpack what it means to be a "stumbling block" and why some of us act like bulldozers when we face conflict. Discover how to pursue peace...

In this episode of WordSmith, Clay Smith and guest Shane Bruce discuss Christian freedom as they unpack Romans 14. They explore how believers with different convictions can coexist, highlighting the difference between the "strong in faith" and the "weak in faith" within the early church. The conversation emphasizes that Christian unity is about coming together under the lordship of Christ, not abo...

In this episode, Clay welcomes back special guest Meredith Beatty to delve into the practical wisdom found in the second half of Romans 13. They discuss the powerful connection between love and the fulfillment of the law, exploring how a genuine love for our neighbor embodies the heart of God's commands.   Drawing on the metaphor of a doomsday clock, Clay and Meredith examine how being mindful of...

In this special episode of the Wordsmith Podcast, Pastor Clay Smith dives into the question: What is an Elder? Drawing from his own experience, Clay explains the biblical role of an elder, clarifying the qualities and responsibilities of these leaders. He discusses the difference between elders and deacons, the biblical call for a plurality of elders, and the four key responsibilities of an elder:...

Join Pastor Clay Smith and a special guest, Nels Peterson, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, for a fascinating and timely conversation on the Christian's relationship with governing authority, as they dive deep into Romans 13:1-7. Peterson shares his unique perspective on what it's like to navigate the legal system with a biblical worldview, highlighting the concepts of working hard, tel...

Clay and his long-time guest, John Farish, dive into Romans 12:14-21. They discuss how to handle personal conflict with both Christians and non-believers, examining Paul's powerful advice to bless those who persecute you and resist the urge to seek revenge. Clay and John provide practical insights on living out biblical commands in a modern world, from dealing with road rage to understanding that...

In this episode, Clay sits down with his long-time friend Mitch Verdell, pastor to Johnson Ferry's 60+ ministry, to delve into Romans 12:9-13. The discussion explores how these verses provide a roadmap for authentic Christian living, emphasizing that true love must be "free of hypocrisy." Clay and Mitch discuss the challenge of consumerism in the church, encouraging listeners to move from a mindse...

Following a summary of Paul's call in the first two verses to present ourselves as a "living sacrifice" and be transformed by a renewed mind, they examine how this thinking is to be lived out within the church community. They discuss the importance of moving beyond a consumeristic view of church to one of mutual service and dependency, where each person's unique spiritual gift contributes to the "...

Join us for the season two premiere of Wordsmith, where Pastor Clay Smith sits down with special guest, Pastor Bobby Smith. After a sabbatical, Clay shares his experiences and the profound themes he uncovered this summer. This discussion leads to a deep dive into Romans 12:1-2, where Paul's words challenge us to present ourselves as living sacrifices. Clay and Bobby explore the interplay between o...

In this special bonus episode, Pastor Clay examines the vital topic of rest and Sabbath as he prepares for his summer sabbatical. Drawing inspiration from the biblical account of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, Clay asks a poignant question: "Are you running on empty?" He then offers four crucial "gauges" for listeners to assess their own lives. These include examining the people in your life and the authen...

In this season finale of the Wordsmith podcast, Pastor Clay Smith welcomes Bryant Wright, founding pastor of Johnson Ferry, for a deep dive into the often-debated Romans 11. They tackle “replacement theology” and affirm that God has not rejected Israel. Their conversation explores the future salvation of Israel, drawing on Bryant’s books Seeds of Turmoil and The Stage is Set. They discuss the mean...

Join Pastor Clay and special guest Adrian Coetzer, the Executive Pastor for Disciple-Making at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. On Episode 27 of the Wordsmith podcast, they dive into Romans 9:30–10:21.  They turn to the deep theological truths in Paul’s letter, focusing on faith as central to righteousness. Adrian shares his foundational Bible study approach of asking, "What does this tell me about G...

In this bonus episode of "Wordsmith," Pastor Clay tackles a frequently asked question: "What is a Baptist?" Moving beyond the trend of de-emphasizing theological specifics, the episode aims to provide clarity for a generation curious about denominational convictions. Clay shares his personal journey from being a "Baptist by convenience" to a "Baptist by conviction," explaining his decision to embr...

In this episode, Pastor Clay welcomes back John Farish, a beloved elder of Johnson Ferry. Their conversation immediately delves into a deep dive into Romans chapter 9, a complex and often debated passage of the Bible. Before tackling this theological heavyweight, John shares his current reading obsession: Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, which he's re-reading for the third time and cons...

Join Pastor Clay this week on the WordSmith Podcast as he welcomes first-time guest Steven Bonham! Steven, a long-time staff member at Johnson Ferry, shares his journey from children's ministry to adult ministries and his current role in pastoral care. He also opens up about his love for the Atlanta Hawks and what it's like to be a "utility player" on staff. Clay and Steven then dive into one of t...