Thomas was a Protestant minister who was received into the Catholic Church in 1996. Bringing a wealth of experience and insight on the Word of God to audiences across the U.S. Thomas is a repeat guest on EWTN and Catholic radio as well as a sought after parish mission and conference speaker.
He is the co-author of “Adventures in Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come” and an international presenter for the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. He has taught as an adjunct professor at the St. Francis School of Theology in Denver, and is the former Director of the Denver Catholic Biblical School and the Denver Catechetical School. Thomas lives on his family ranch in southeastern Idaho where he works and writes for Ascension Press.
TALK TITLES
Prophets, Priests, and Kings
By virtue of our baptism, every Catholic is invited to participate in Christ's offices as prophet, priest and king. Using key characters from the Scriptures as a starting point, Thomas will explore the powerful invitation of Christ to live out these realities in our homes, parishes, and personal ministries, as foundational to furthering the mission of the Church and re-building a civilization of love.
Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit In Galatians 5:22-23, St. Paul reveals the 9 key characteristics of Christ that are implanted in the soul at baptism, but remain latent without our cooperation. Learn the 7 ways to cultivate these powerful traits in yourselves and others to reinvigorate your spiritual life, parish ministries and evangelization efforts. The "Rest" of the Story Learn the powerful principles behind the Sabbath rest from Creation to Christ that will transform the way you worship, serve, recreate, and restore your spiritual lives for service. Why a Jubilee Year of St. Paul & Seven Ways to be a "Paul-Bearer" Using the Pauline Letters as our guide, Thomas will explore seven practical ways to carry the man, his message and mission into our personal spirituality and our ministerial responsibilities during this Jubilee Year and beyond. The Pillars of the Earth: Learn the three pillars of Jewish spirituality used by Christ to frame the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7) and his final discourses (Mt. 23-25).
Along with illuminating the pillars, Thomas will introduce a person(s) who modeled it in their life and ministry, as well as a practical spiritual discipline for bringing them into our daily prayer life. Welcoming the Spirit and Your Students: Thomas Smith will draw on his years at the Catholic Biblical School to give you practical and practiced ideas for exercising the biblical gift of hospitality in a variety of classroom, educational, and parish settings. Learn the profound Scriptural roots of what Henry Nouwen called one of the most important realities that must be recovered in the modern Church - biblical hospitality. The audience will learn tips for creating sacred space, proven ideas to help students engage and pray the Scriptures weekly, as well as how to use opening and closing prayers to welcome the Spirit and set the tone and "mission" your students to carry the Word into the world.
Food for Life: The Art of Lectio Divina - Does your prayer often feel like a running monologue? Learn the singular spiritual practice that Pope Benedict XVI has said is the key to ushering a new Springtime for the Church and your prayer life. The four-step dynamic for creating a dialogue with the Word of God, called Lectio Divina, is unlocked in this presentation by tracing its Jewish roots, offering memorable metaphors and practical application. Increasing Your "Prophet" Margins- Learn the basics of who the prophets are, when they spoke, and to whom, as well as their methods and messages. You will discover how they prepare us for Christ and even help us to understand the book of Revelation. Finally, we will explore their continued relevance for our world today and our baptismal call to be prophets to the world. Becoming an Ambassador of the New Evangelization: Born a 6th generation Mormon, and later serving as a Protestant minister, Thomas will use his "scenic route" to Catholicism in 1996 as the powerful vehicle to communicate to audiences the keys for actively, respectfully and fearlessly participating in the New Evangelization.
