Matt Smethurst

Writer

Oct 3, 2025

About

God saved Matt at a young age through the faithful witness of his parents. Years later at James Madison University in Virginia, God used the ministry of Cru to give him a deep passion for theology, evangelism, and discipleship. Upon graduating Matt moved to East Asia, where he served as a missionary for two years. It was there that he sensed a strong desire to preach and pursue pastoral ministry. After returning to the States he participated in a pastoral intern program in Washington, D.C., before moving to Louisville to attend Southern Seminary (from which he graduated in 2012). Matt and his beautiful wife, Maghan, are the proud parents of two kids and have belonged to Third Avenue for six years. As an elder Matt desires for our church to serve as a launching pad for the spread of gospel grace around the world. Matt serves as managing editor of The Gospel Coalition.

Posts (5)

May 1, 2023 ∙ 5 min

19 Ways to Stay Christian in College

Michael J. Kruger’s book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021) is a wonderful resource for high school or college students preparing to live for Christ in a potentially hostile environment. Don’t confuse not having an answer with there not being an answer. The two are not the same. Even if you don’t have answers to difficult questions, that does not mean there are none. . . . Here’s the big point: you’re not going to be...

Jun 12, 2019 ∙ 4 min

Message is More Valuable than Motives

We all know what it’s like to do the right thing for the wrong reason. But what about the reverse? Have you ever done the wrong thing for (what you thought was) the right reason? Your motives were pure, but you still blew it. Motives Matter One thing that separates biblical Christianity from almost every other religion is its laser-like focus on our hearts. Our Creator cares what we do, to be sure, but most fundamentally he cares how and why we do certain things. He’s interested in those...

Feb 18, 2019 ∙ 4 min

3 Easy Ways to Share Your Faith

“Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words.” This classic quote, misattributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, is both clever and catchy. It just isn’t biblical. Evangelism—communicating the good news of King Jesus—always requires words. Christians are called to adorn the gospel with actions (Titus 2:10), to be sure, but our actions are not the gospel. No amount of righteous living can replace the necessity of verbally proclaiming God’s saving achievement in Christ. But even...

Jan 28, 2019 ∙ 5 min

7 Ways to Approach Your Bible Study This Year

Share 0 If you’re a Christian, you believe reading the Bible is important. But have you considered how to approach it in the first place? What kind of “heart posture” is necessary? God cares deeply about these questions. Here are seven ways we should approach his Word in 2016. 1. Approach It Humbly The Bible is tangible evidence that the Maker of the universe is an initiator, a revealer, a talker. There are, after all, only two options when it comes to knowledge of our Creator: revelation or...

Oct 15, 2018 ∙ 5 min

Daniel: Not Just a Kid's Bible Story

Why is Daniel so strategic? Isn’t this just a Bible book filled with colorful stories that children love? Author and editor Matt Smethurst relates the true significance of the Book of Daniel: “Have you ever noticed that Daniel tends to be more popular among children than among pastors? After a parade of inspiring stories in the first six chapters (think: fiery furnace, writing on the wall, lions’ den), the book becomes real weird real fast. Don’t write it off just yet. The 32nd (and latest)...