Faith that Speaks— Anytime, Anywhere

In this blog series Tom will discuss the nature and characteristics of Scripture and how it applies to the Christian today.

Many churches today operate by worldly standards and principles, rather than what the Bible specifically teaches. But the Scripture is clear that Jesus Christ requires that His church operate by His criteria. To abandon the Scripture is to disregard our Lord's clear commands on how to conduct His church. In the series, Tom Pennington will work through the New Testament Scripture to identify Five Hallmarks of a Biblical Church.

The New Testament often presents Jesus as a compelling teacher who taught with all authority. The gospel writers emphasize this by documenting Jesus' teaching in various synagogues across the ancient world. As He taught the Old Testament, Jesus' pattern was to read the text, explain the text, and apply the text. His daily life was characterized by such commitment to the word of God. Join Tom Pennington as he teaches on Jesus' authority by giving an overview of what it was like during A Day in the Life of Jesus.

The ideas that shape our culture are often far older than we realize. From the ancient philosopher Protagoras' declaration that "man is the measure of all things" to today's widespread belief that life is ultimately about personal fulfillment, the influence of human-centered thinking remains powerful. Yet Scripture presents a radically different perspective: we are not the center of the universe—God is. Join Tom Pennington as he explores Ephesians 2 to help us see that in God's plan of redemption, All the World's a Stage.

Historians tell us that out of thousands of years of recorded history, humanity has experienced only a few centuries of peace—and the Bible reveals why: the deepest wars are not merely fought between nations but within the human heart of every person. Today, as we begin exploring James 4, Pastor Tom helps us discover that the source of our quarrels, arguments, and broken relationships is far closer than we often realize. Rather than pointing the finger at others, the Bible challenges us to examine ourselves and uncover the sinful desires that fuel conflict in every area of life. Join Tom Pennington from James 4 as we consider the theme of War and Peace: Learning to Deal with Conflict.

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus addresses the three great pillars of Jewish piety: giving, praying, and fasting. But He begins with a staggering warning against the sin of hypocrisy—practicing our righteousness before men to be noticed by them. Our Lord teaches that those who perform for the applause of the crowd have no reward from their Father in heaven. Join Tom Pennington as he considers the Sermon on the Mount and a Christian perspective on giving—For His Eyes Only: Giving to the Glory of God.