Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life

by Robert Smith Jr.

Publisher:

B&H

, 2008

Overview

Preaching magazine’s 2008 Book of the Year! The theme of doctrinal preaching and teaching comes to life through the enthusiastic and inspired writing of professor Robert Smith in Doctrine That Dances.

Key Features

• Deals with doctrinal preaching and with handling biblical truth as the "true and living Word"
• Explores doctrinal preaching as both cranial and cardiological, involving head and heart, fact and feeling
• Seeks to encourage readers to get involved in doctrinal preaching no only to be ushered into God's presence to learn about Him, but also to worship the God who is the object of study

Contents

Top Highlights

“Doctrine has a subservient role to preaching. While doctrine may exist to make preaching as disciplined as it needs to be, doctrine’s mission is to be a servant to proclamation. Doctrine’s purpose is not merely to be derived, constructed, and formalized and to remain in the archives of academia for scholarly use only. Rather, doctrine is the possession of the church and must be preached. Preaching extracts its communicative strength from the reservoirs of doctrine and draws its riches from the wells of its truths. The doctrine behind and below the sermon gives it stability.” (Page 15)

“The church of Jesus Christ is often concerned about fanaticism; the greater concern should be about infanticide. Christians are experiencing spiritual immaturity and spiritual death. One of the reasons for this is that worshippers are being served sermonic snacks instead of the doctrinal meat of the Word of God. If doctrine is presented with joy and accuracy, the hearers will not only stand it, they will crave more of it.” (Page 6)

“Doctrinal preaching serves not only to usher people into the presence of God to learn about Him but also to worship the God who is the object of study.” (Page 4)

“The doctrinal preacher must prevent the church member from engaging in unintelligible worship” (Page 4)

“The exegetical escort is one who ushers hearers into the presence of God for the purpose of transformation. Once the exegetical escort has ushered hearers into the presence of God and given them the Word, the escort’s job is over. The escort leaves them in the throne room of God and lets God transform them.” (Page 75)

Praise for Doctrine That Dances

At a time when so much of the conversation on preaching deals with presentation, Robert Smith has reminded us that effective teaching must also take the theological task seriously. He makes his case so well that his book, Doctrine that Dances, is our Preaching Book of the Year.

Michael Duduit, editor, Preaching magazine

Away with dull doctrinal sermons! Using the metaphor of music, the author shows us how to blend cogitation and celebration—mind and heart—in our preaching of Bible doctrine. You can benefit from his wide knowledge and experience in traditional western homiletics as well as African American preaching. We have much to learn from each other, and this book is a valuable contribution to the current conversation.

Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of Moody Church, general director of Back to the Bible, and coauthor of Preaching in Black & White

A masterful preacher and teacher himself, Smith provides direction for students, young pastors and veteran preachers alike. Pulpits across the land will be strengthened as preachers implement the guidance offered in this volume. Doctrine That Dances will become mandatory reading for a new generation of preachers. It is a joy to recommend this marvelous work.

David Dockery, president, Union University

Dr. Robert Smith, Jr. is one of the most compelling voices in American preaching today . . . Doctrine That Dances describes the preacher’s task in a way that is at once personal, passionate, and provocative. This book describes the kind of preaching that is at the heart of the awakening that must come.

Timothy George, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School and a senior editor at Christianity Today

Product Details

• Title: Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life
• Author: Robert Smith Jr.
• Publisher: B&H
• Print Publication Date: 2008
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Doctrinal preaching; Preaching
• ISBNs: 9781430077022, 9781433668999, 1433668998, 1430077026
• Resource ID: LLS:9781433668999
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-01-16T19:01:28Z

About Robert Smith Jr.

Robert Smith Jr. is the Dr. Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University in Birmingham, AL. He earned his PhD at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has spoken at more than 105 universities, colleges, and seminaries in the United States, Great Britain, and the Caribbean. He and his wife, Wanda, PhD, have four adult children (one in heaven).