Ben Smith: All for the Kingdom

In this episode, pastor Ben Smith explains the biblical meaning of thanksgiving through Psalm 106. Unlike secular gratitude, which often focuses on personal blessings or accomplishments, true thanksgiving is a worshipful response to God’s character, mercy, and faithfulness.The sermon unfolds in three parts:A thankful heart is focused on who God is – God’s goodness, His inexhaustible praise, and faithful provision.A thankful heart confesses the reality of sin – examining Israel’s unfaithfulness and the importance of personal confession.A thankful heart rejoices in God’s faithfulness – celebrating His undeserved mercy and steadfast covenant love.Listeners are encouraged to consider how a God-centered heart transforms gratitude into authentic, enduring worship.Key Scripture: Psalm 106Speaker: Pastor Ben SmithSeries: ThanksgivingFormat: Expository Sermon\Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org. This sermon was originally preached on 11/23/2025.

In this episode, Pastor Ben Smith explores the story of Cain’s descendants and reveals how it’s possible to achieve success, build a legacy, and experience prosperity—yet remain entirely outside the presence and blessing of God. Genesis 4:17–24 presents a striking contrast between remarkable human advancement and deep spiritual emptiness, showing how worldly accomplishments can distract us from what truly matters.Pastor Ben highlights two major warnings from the passage:• The Busyness of Building for Nothing — how investing in things that cannot last leaves us empty.• Foolish Confidence — how prosperity without God leads to pride, moral compromise, and a false sense of security.This message challenges listeners to consider where their confidence, priorities, and pursuits truly lie. Are we chasing achievements that won’t endure, or seeking the lasting joy found only in a right relationship with God? Through the example of Cain’s line and the transformation of Zacchaeus, this episode reminds us that authentic purpose comes not from what we build, but from whom we belong to.Listen and be encouraged to pursue what endures—and to guard your heart from the distractions of purposeless prosperity.Key Scripture: Genesis 4:17-24Speaker: Pastor Ben SmithSeries: GenesisFormat: Expository SermonFind Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org. This sermon was originally preached on 11/16/2025.

In this week’s sermon podcast, “Sin’s Ruinous Rule” (Genesis 4:8–16), Pastor Ben Smith examines the tragic story of Cain and Abel to reveal the devastating consequences of unrepentant sin. Through careful exposition, he highlights three warning signs of sin’s growing destruction: 1. The Mastery of Sin – Without repentance, sin gains control over the heart, leading to escalating rebellion.2. Spiritual Blindness – Sin blinds individuals to danger, causing them to focus on temporary comfort while ignoring eternal consequences.3. Living Under God’s Judgment – Being unconcerned about God’s judgment is a warning sign of sin’s ruinous rule.Pastor Smith challenges listeners to recognize sin in their own lives, respond to God’s conviction, and embrace the hope and freedom found in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Key Scripture: Genesis 4:8–16 Main Theme: The Ruinous Rule of Sin Speaker: Pastor Ben Smith Series: Genesis Format: Expository Sermon Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org. This sermon was originally preached on 11/9/2025.

Episode Title: The Story of Elijah: Faith and Obedience (1 Kings 17:1–16)Episode Description:In this episode, Pastor Ben Smith dives into the story of Elijah, exploring faith and obedience in the face of hardship. From confronting King Ahab’s sin to experiencing God’s miraculous provision through nature and the unlikely generosity of a widow, this sermon reveals how God works through faithful obedience.Listeners will discover three key truths:1. God provides for obedience – He meets the needs of those who follow Him, often in unexpected ways.2. Suffering is part of life in a fallen world – Trials do not indicate God’s absence, but create opportunities for His glory to shine.3. Faith is proven through obedience – True belief is demonstrated through action, even when it is difficult or costly.Through Elijah’s story and a personal testimony from Pastor Ben’s life, this episode encourages believers to trust God fully, obey His commands, and witness His power in the midst of life’s challenges.Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 17:1–16Keywords: Elijah, Faith, Obedience, God’s Provision, Trials, Trust in God, Christian Living, SermonSpeaker: Pastor Ben SmithSeries: Heroes of the Faith: The Story of ElijahFormat: Expository SermonFind Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on January 26, 2020.

What makes a person right with God?In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith preaches from Genesis 4:1–7, exploring the testimony of Cain and Abel to reveal what true acceptance before God requires. Through this powerful passage, we learn that being right with God depends not on human desire or opinion but on obedience, faith, and submission to His will.Pastor Smith addresses the modern idol of self—the belief that personal autonomy and preference define truth—and shows how this false worship has deeply influenced our culture, from the breakdown of marriage and family to the devaluation of life itself. Yet this message goes beyond cultural critique; it calls the church and every believer to repentance, faith, and wholehearted submission to God’s Word.Through the example of Cain’s rejected offering and Abel’s accepted one, listeners will discover three essential truths about what it means to be right with God:1. You must give a worthy offering.Worship that pleases God is not based on what we think is beautiful or impressive, but on obedience and atonement for sin.2. Your heart’s desire must be to please God.Cain’s anger reveals a self-centered heart, while Abel’s faith displays true joy in honoring the Lord.3. You must submit to the will of God.True freedom is not found in doing things “your way,” but in surrendering to the authority of God and being ruled by His righteousness.Drawing from Scripture and practical examples, Pastor Smith reminds us that righteousness before God cannot be achieved through human effort. It is received only through Jesus Christ, the one perfect, acceptable sacrifice who makes sinners right with a holy God.Key Scripture: Genesis 4:1–7Main Theme: True acceptance with God comes through obedience, faith, and submission—not self-will or personal autonomy.Speaker: Pastor Ben SmithSeries: GenesisFormat: Expository SermonFind Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 10/26/2025.

Pastor Ben Smith shares a sermon from the archives titled “It Is Good to Be Near God” from Psalm 73. This message explores what the “good life” truly is—not in wealth, comfort, or success, but in the nearness of God. Through the psalmist’s honest struggle and renewed faith, we’re reminded that real peace, hope, and refuge are found only in His presence.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on August 4, 2019, at Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

Episode Title: Death for Life (Genesis 3:20–24)Speaker: Ben Smith, Sr.Episode Notes:In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith, Sr. examines the first act of redemption in Genesis 3:20–24. When Adam named his wife Eve and God clothed them with garments of sacrifice, He revealed that true redemption comes not by ignoring sin, but through the death of a righteous substitute.This message explores the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement and teaches three principles of redemption:Redemption requires faith.Redemption requires a righteous sacrifice.Redemption is a gift of grace.Listeners will gain insight into God’s grace, justice, and redemptive plan from Eden to the cross, and learn how the death of Christ brings new life for all who believe.Scripture: Genesis 3:20–24“Redemption and new life in Christ do not come through ignoring or excusing sin, but through death and the substitutionary atonement of a righteous sacrifice.”Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 10/12/2025.

Episode Title: “Created Male and Female: A Biblical View of Gender from Genesis Scripture: Genesis 1:27–31; 2:18–25Episode Notes:In this message, Pastor Ben Smith explores what it means to see gender through a biblical lens—rooted not in culture or emotion, but in the timeless truth of God’s Word.From the very first chapters of Genesis, God reveals that humanity was created male and female—by His design, for His glory, and for our good. Yet in today’s world, that truth is often rejected or redefined. This sermon offers clarity and compassion for a confused culture, reminding believers that God’s design is perfect and His Word is unchanging.Key Themes:·       Gender is by divine design—God made us male and female on purpose.·       Gender is God declared—your identity is not self-chosen but Creator-given.·       You are called to celebrate the goodness of God’s creation rather than redefine it.Pastor Ben challenges listeners to hold fast to God’s truth, speak with grace, and live as testimonies of His perfect design. Even in a culture that celebrates confusion, Christians are called to reflect the light of creation’s goodness and declare, “What God has made is very good.”Listen and be encouraged to see God’s wisdom, goodness, and sovereignty in the way He created you.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on October 4, 2015, at Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith preaches from Genesis 3:8-19 on “The Curse of Sin.” He explains how Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden shattered God’s good creation and brought devastating consequences. Sin, at its core, is rebellion against God’s will, and it disrupts every part of life.The sermon highlights three main truths:Sin breaks fellowship — separating people from God, straining relationships with others, and even causing inner conflict within ourselves.Sin breaks cooperation — creation itself became hostile, relationships were disordered, and work and family life became filled with pain and conflict.Sin breaks purpose — humanity’s God-given calling is now marked by hardship, and the ultimate curse of sin is death.Yet even in the midst of judgment, God offers hope. In Genesis 3:15, He promises that one day the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head — a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The sermon closes with the assurance that through Christ’s death and resurrection, believers have victory over sin, Satan, and death.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 9/28/2025.

The Fall of Man (Genesis 2:25–3:7)Genesis 3 is a pivotal moment in Scripture when Adam and Eve chose to believe the lies of Satan rather than trust the will of God. Satan's work has always been to draw us away from God—through doubt, half-truths, and deception. Adam and Eve's choice in the garden was not just their story; it's ours too. As Romans 3:23 reminds us, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."To understand our own sin, we must first understand the first sin. What does their rebellion teach us about the danger of Satan's lies? At the heart of every temptation is an invitation to reject God and trust the deceiver instead of the Creator. This text teaches three vital lessons: the need to trust God's wisdom, trust His word, and trust His design.This sermon explains from Genesis 2:25–3:7, the pivotal scripture detailing the Fall of Man and the origin of sin. It explores the theological foundations of this passage, how Satan's lies led Adam and Eve to rebellion, and the profound consequences that changed the human condition forever. Understanding this first sin is crucial for understanding one's own sin and God's work of redemption.Sermon Outline: Three Ways We Must Trust GodI. Trust God's Wisdom (Genesis 3:1-3)II. Trust God's Word (Genesis 3:4-5)III. Trust God's Design (Genesis 3:6-7)Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben's sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 9/21/2025.

Today, marriage is under attack. It is under attack by those who hate God. It is under attack by those who are living in rebellious sin. And it has even suffered friendly fire from those in the church who do not fully grasp the significance and biblical foundation of marriage.Genesis 2:18-25 is the most fundamental scripture for understanding the Bible’s view of marriage. The Bible will say much more about what marriage is and how Christians are to function as husbands and wives; however, all these other scriptures rest on the foundation of Genesis 2:18-25.Because marriage is so familiar, you may be tempted to think that having a biblical view of marriage is automatic and assumed, but the truth is that for many today, their view of marriage is more informed by Hollywood, secular pragmatism, and politics. How then are you to understand marriage from a biblical worldview? This testimony of God’s creation of Eve and ordaining marriage teaches three elements of a biblical worldview of marriage: that it is a good union (18-23), an exclusive union (24a), and a holy union (24b-25).Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 9/14/2025.

All for the Kingdom Podcast – Episode #232: "Breath of Life, Genesis 2:4-17" Subtitle: Man's unique creative purpose to glorify God, dwell with God, and love God.Join Pastor Ben in this insightful expository sermon as he delves into Genesis Chapter 2:4-17, exploring the profound theological depths of man's unique creation, his intended purpose, and the transformative power of Christ's redemption. This sermon unpacks fundamental truths about man's relationship with God, addressing both the goodness of creation and the pervasive impact of sin.Key Scripture: Genesis 2:4-17Episode Highlights:• Man's Unique Creation: Discover how man was distinctly made in God's image, possessing both a physical nature (formed from dust) and a spiritual nature (God's breath of life). This uniqueness sets humanity apart from all other creation, designed specifically for a relationship with God. The sermon contrasts this with false teachings that deny man's uniqueness or spiritual nature.• Man's Purpose: To Glorify, Dwell, and Love God:◦ Glorify God: Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, a core doctrinal truth emphasized by historical catechisms. This involves both reflecting God's glory and finding soul satisfaction in rejoicing in it.◦ Dwell with God: God created man to dwell with Him, a principle element of the Garden of Eden and recurring throughout scripture, from Noah to Abraham, Israel, and ultimately for the redeemed in the New Jerusalem (heaven). Dwelling with God requires being a people of God, in a place of God, receiving the provision of God.◦ Love God: Man was created with the freedom to choose God or to sin. This includes the ability to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which gave the ability to distinguish between good and evil. Death results from the desire for evil that stems from this knowledge and the choice to disobey.• The Garden of Eden: A Real Place of Provision: The Garden is not a metaphor, but a real, physical place of God's perfect provision and blessing. Man was placed there "to work it and to keep it," indicating that labor was part of God's good design before the Fall. In the Garden, desire and good were in perfect unity.• The Corruption of Sin: Since Genesis 3, sin has corrupted man's heart, leading to a desire for things that don't glorify God and causing man to hide from God's presence out of shame. The sermon touches on the profound impact of Adam's sin, which brought death into the world (Romans 5:12).• Redemption Through Christ: Only through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ are people made able to fulfill their purpose of glorifying and rejoicing in God. Jesus, unlike Adam, knew the distinction between good and evil but lived a sinless life, offering salvation through his perfect obedience (Romans 5:19, Hebrews 4). The good news of the gospel is not man's free choice of God, but God's sovereign grace in choosing to so love the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 9/7/2025.

Work and rest are both good and part of God’s created order. Rest is inseparably related to work, as is work to rest, and must be understood and enjoyed according to God’s design.Work is often perceived negatively as a requirement, and not something good, desirable, or pleasant. This, of course, is the consequence of sin that caused work to become a burden and rest to be a snare. Likewise, though rest seems more desirable than work, it too is corrupted by sin. In sin, rest is often disconnected from work and purpose, and it becomes a sinfully lazy habit.God resting after his labor on the seventh day and declaring it holy is a testimony both to the purpose and goodness of labor and the purpose and goodness of rest. Genesis 2:1-3 calls the church to honor God with both your work as unto the Lord and rest as a response of obedience.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 8/31/2025.

Man’s nature and purpose are not according to the autonomous will of man but determined, ordained, and commanded by the sovereignty of God. A biblical worldview affirms the sovereignty of God over all of creation, including man, but the world claims that each person has total autonomy, independent of any authority. Genesis 1:26-31 testifies to the creation of man and man’s nature and purpose.In the sermon from Genesis 1:26-31, Pastor Ben explains that God’s creation of man demands that you honor every human life as God’s image bearer, be a good steward of God’s creation, and submit to God’s authority to create and command.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.Special thanks to David Carnes for his beautiful rendition of This Is My Father’s World from the album Journey… a Praise Offering. You can explore this recording and more of his music at Apple Music.This sermon was originally preached on 8/24/2025.

Genesis chapter one is the testimony of creation. By God’s authority, out of His will, and according to His command, He created all things.As with all of scripture, Genesis chapter one is a testimony of God that reveals His authority, will, and nature. It is not a story about men but a testimony to who God is and how He is working.Genesis chapter one does not answer every detail you may wish were included. There are many questions about how God accomplished His work that are left unanswered. Not the least of which is how God created all that is from nothing. In His perfect providence, God has given us His word to declare that He is the author and creator of all things while leaving unanswered the mysteries that the mind of man cannot conceive. Genesis chapter one is a foundational text for a Christian worldview and many of the most fundamental doctrines. From Genesis chapter one, Pastor Ben Smith preaches on how God’s creation forms how Christians understand God and all that He has made.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 8/17/2025.Special thanks to David Carnes for his beautiful rendition of This Is My Father’s World from the album Journey… a Praise Offering. You can explore this recording and more of his music at Apple Music.

From the archives. Originally preached in September 2020, this sermon is from James 5:12-20 titled “Confess and pray.”

Pastor Ben Smith preaches expositionally from Psalm 16 on how the power, providence, and salvation of God give hope to Christians in the present and for eternity.Psalm 16 is a Psalm of David. God would make a way for David to be king, but there would be a long period where he was a fugitive on the run from an enraged and unhinged monarch. Psalm 16 may have been written during this chaotic period of David's life.On the run, hunted, and under constant threat, David finds real and lasting peace and security in the power, providence, and faithfulness of God.Everyone is looking for peace and security, but how do you find real and lasting peace and security? How can you find unshakable hope and peace in a world filled with so much trouble? Psalm 16 declares the sureness, goodness, and faithfulness of God and encourages the church to know the sure hope of God, in God's refuge, providence, and eternal salvation.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 8/3/2025.

When God saves you, He transforms you, and your life will bear the evidence of His holiness. David begins Psalm 15 with a question.Who can sojourn or abide with God, and who can dwell or remain in the presence of God? The simple answer to this is no one, unless they have been redeemed and made righteous through saving faith.David answers his opening question with six characteristics of a life that has been transformed by God. These six characteristics are not an exhaustive list but are representative of the transformation that God brings to your life through salvation that produces in you a life after God’s own heart. Find Out More:For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org. You can also find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.This sermon was originally preached on 7/27/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.orgFor more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

In this expositional sermon from 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18, pastor Ben Smith makes clear that being saved through faith in Jesus Christ is the only source of peace and the only hope of grace. Although simple and brief, these concluding words to the Thessalonian church testify to the hope and blessing of salvation, encouraging the church to continue in the faith.These are Paul’s last recorded words to the Thessalonian church. He signs the letter to ensure that they will know that these words are authentically his (17). The church had received a counterfeit letter (2 Thessalonians 2:2), and Paul wanted to assure the church that this letter was genuine, authentic, and authoritative. In addition to his signature, he prays for them and blesses them. Both the prayer and the blessing are founded on their salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul wanted to remind the church of the blessings that flow from salvation in Jesus Christ.These verses encourage the church with two blessings that flow from salvation in Jesus Christ: 1) The peace that comes only from Jesus Christ, and 2) the grace of Jesus Christ.Find Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.This sermon was originally preached on 7/20/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at www.BenSmithSr.org. For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.