Preaching Doctrine That Dances: An Interview with Robert Smith

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Preaching Doctrine That Dances: An Interview with Robert Smith

Robert Smith is a gifted preacher and teacher of preachers. Now Associate Professor of Preaching at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, he also taught at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville. A member of Preaching’s Board of Contributing Editors and a frequent speaker at the National Conference on Preaching, Robert is also author of the book Doctrine That Dances (B&H), which was recently designated as the Preaching Book of the Year. Preaching editor Michael Duduit visited with Robert to talk about the importance of doctrinal preaching—and how such preaching can “dance.

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Preaching: Your new book, Doctrine That Dances, is about doctrinal preaching and teaching. How did that book come about?
Smith: When I was pastoring—I started as a pastor at 27 in 1976—I’ve always been concerned about doctrine. So for 32 years I’ve been preaching doctrine. I would preach doctrinal sermons. In every text doctrine comes out, as you know, good or bad doctrine. So you might say this has been a book under construction for a while.

But this book is arguing that doctrine doesn’t have to be dull. Doctrine can dance. I’m using that metaphor of dance—the whole idea of rhythm and excitement and joy and exuberance—and marrying exegesis with exuberance. In fact, I use the metaphor of the exegetical escort and the doxological dancer. Those are the two pillars that hold it up.

The exegetical escort has to do with substance; our purpose as preachers is to escort people into the presence of God with exegesis. Exegetical escorts are to escort people into the presence of God for the purpose of transformation. But the doxological dancer exists to embrace the doctrinal verities of Scripture so that the exuberant hearer can exalt in the exaltation of God—exalting in, rejoicing in God.

Doctrinal preaching and teaching was the first thing the early church participated in after the 3,000 people were saved. In Acts 2:42 it says, “After they added to the church they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine.” That was the very first thing, and I believe that there’s a sanctified sequence there. When we realize who we are preaching about—that we’re not ultimately preaching about a doctrine or a principle—that we’re preaching about a person; and when we preach about that person, we help people come to understand Him by familiarizing people with doctrine and principles. When you put person and principle together, then you can’t help but be excited about dancing. I’m not talking about emotionalism; I’m just talking about assurance and thanking God for the privilege of representing Him.