Matt Smethurst

How does the role of deacons relate to the role of elders?

By Matt Smethurst | 01.12.2022

In this video, Matt Smethurst explains how there must be a clear distinction between the offices of elder and deacon.

Episode 179: On How to Plant a Church (with Eric Bancroft & Matt Smethurst)

By E. Bancroft, J. Leeman, M. Smethurst | 09.14.2021

Is being a church planter different than being a pastor? What can the book of Acts teach us about church planting?

Why Deacons are Crucial

By J. Leeman, J. Sanchez, M. Dever, M. Smethurst | 07.12.2021

A conversation between Mark Dever, Jonathan Leeman, Matt Smethurst, and Juan Sanchez.

Why Deacons Are Crucial for Healthy Churches

By G. Chang, J. Leeman, J. Sanchez, M. Smethurst | 04.29.2021

A panel discussion at TGC21 about the crucial role deacons play in the church.

On Deacons (with Matt Smethurst) | Pastors Talk, Ep. 167

By J. Leeman, M. Dever, M. Smethurst | 04.13.2021

What does the Bible say about deacons? How are they different than elders? Should they balance the authority of the elders?

Pastors Talk on Christian Journalism

Episode 98: On Christian Journalism (with Collin Hansen & Matt Smethurst)

By C. Hansen, J. Leeman, M. Dever, M. Smethurst | 10.01.2019

How can Christian websites like TGC and 9Marks serve pastors and church leaders? How can the resource rather than obstruct? 

Deacons

By Matt Smethurst

How They Serve and Strengthen the Church Deacons are essential to a church’s health—yet confusion abounds regarding their biblical job description. What’s their God-given role in a local congregation and … keep reading…

9 Ways to Pastor Those Longing for Marriage

By Matt Smethurst | 9Marks Journal: Pastoring Singles | 03.20.2017

As you shepherd those longing for a spouse, don’t miss the opportunity to listen, to comfort, and to speak truth in love.

20 Quotes from Jonathan Leeman’s New Book on Elder-Led Congregationalism

By Matt Smethurst | 03.28.2016

Here are 20 quotes from Jonathan Leeman’s new book, Understanding the Congregation’s Authority.

50 Quotes from Bobby Jamieson’s New Book “Going Public: Why Baptism Is Required for Church Membership”

By Matt Smethurst | 07.07.2015

“After trusting Christ, baptism is the first thing faith does. It’s how faith shows itself before God, the church, and the world. Baptism is where faith goes public.”

Book Review: Redeeming Church Conflicts, by Tara Barthel and David Edling

Review by Matt Smethurst | 9Marks Journal: Wanted: Apostolic Pastors | 05.08.2012

Barthel and Edling have done the church a vital service in applying biblical counseling principles to the realm of congregational conflict.

Book Review: Taking Your Church to the Next Level, by Gary McIntosh

Review by Matt Smethurst | 9Marks Journal: Book Reviews on the Mission of the Church | 10.27.2010

I doubt whether this book is a biblically faithful and therefore helpful book for pastors. I’d be more inclined to recommend it to a friend in business than to a pastor.