Sermons That Exalt Christ
The preaching of God’s Word is central to the life of the church. Tom's pulpit ministry is dedicated to providing clear, biblical teaching to equip believers, strengthen faith, and exalt Christ.
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The preaching of God's Word is central to worship and of the utmost importance for the sanctification of every believer in Christ.
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Be Careful How You Build
Tom Pennington�s sermon, "Be Careful How You Build," (1 Corinthians 3:9-17) charges newly ordained minister Peter, and all church leaders, to build Christ's church faithfully. The message outlines three critical instructions. Firstly, leaders must "build on the right foundation," which is Jesus Christ and the New Testament revelation concerning Him. Building on anything other than divine truth results in a structure that is not the true church. Secondly, they must "use the right materials," signifying quality teaching and pure motives. Inferior teaching or self-serving ambition (like "wood, hay, and straw") will be consumed by Christ's evaluative fire at judgment, leading to a loss of reward, though salvation remains secure. Finally, leaders must "remember the rightful owner." The church is God's temple, His holy sanctuary. To damage or destroy it through factionalism, heresy, or personal agendas will incur God's severe judgment. The sermon emphasizes that leaders are part of a multi-generational building project with an established blueprint, urging them to follow God's plan, build with integrity, and acknowledge God's ultimate ownership.
False Claims and Empty Rituals - Part 3
In his sermon on Romans 2:25-29, Tom Pennington addresses the problem of "false claims and empty rituals," arguing that many people are "mislabeled" regarding their faith, believing they belong to God but lacking genuine spiritual connection. He explains Paul's challenge to first-century Jews who relied on their ethnicity, knowledge of Scripture, and the ritual of circumcision for salvation. Pennington emphasizes that external morality, biblical knowledge, and religious rituals�whether circumcision for Jews or baptism for some Christians�are insufficient. They represent justification by works, which demands impossible perfect obedience and fails to address the root problem: the unregenerate human heart. True belonging to God's people, Paul argues, is an inward transformation�a "circumcision of the heart" accomplished by the Holy Spirit, not by adhering to the "letter" of the law or external observance. God looks beyond outward appearances to the heart, which is the source of all thoughts and actions. Pennington applies this truth by urging listeners, especially professed Christians, to self-examine: Has the Spirit of God truly changed their hearts, making them "new creations" who authentically love God and others, rather than merely performing external religious acts? This internal change, not outward observance, is the real evidence of salvation.
False Claims and Empty Rituals - Part 2
Tom Pennington's sermon "False Claims and Empty Rituals (Part 2)" on Romans 2:25-29 addresses the dangerous misconception of relying on religious rituals for salvation. Citing examples like the Roman Catholic Eucharist and ancient Jewish circumcision, he explains that many mistakenly believe certain acts confer righteousness or guarantee acceptance by God. Paul's argument in Romans posits only two paths to God: justification by works or justification by faith in Jesus Christ. Pennington clarifies that if one seeks salvation through rituals�such as circumcision, baptism, or reciting a "sinner's prayer"�they are, knowingly or unknowingly, choosing the path of justification by works. This path, however, demands *perfect* and consistent obedience to God's entire Law. A single transgression invalidates any ritual or perceived merit, rendering it useless and leading to condemnation. Circumcision, for instance, was intended as an outward symbol of an inward spiritual cleansing and heart change performed by God, not a means of salvation itself. Since humanity is incapable of perfect obedience, rituals and personal efforts offer no hope for salvation.
False Claims and Empty Rituals - Part 1
Tom Pennington's sermon on Romans 2:25-29, "False Claims and Empty Rituals (Part 1)," confronts the misconception that external religious adherence guarantees salvation. It highlights Paul's critique of "religious" individuals (first-century Jews) who placed confidence in nationality, morality, scriptural knowledge, and especially, the ritual of circumcision. Pennington clarifies that circumcision, unique to Israel, was a *sign* of a necessary *inward* spiritual cleansing and heart transformation, divinely accomplished by the Spirit, not a human work. Old Testament texts (Deuteronomy 10, Jeremiah 4, Deuteronomy 30) emphasized a "circumcised heart," a change God performs. Abraham's righteousness, Romans 4 shows, came through faith *before* his circumcision. First-century Jews, however, wrongly saw the physical act as a "passport to Heaven," a false confidence Paul (and the Jerusalem Council) vehemently rejected as a "false gospel." The sermon concludes that no external ritual, Christian or otherwise, can save; true salvation requires a divine "new birth" (John 3), a radical heart change by the Holy Spirit, achieved through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone, abandoning all other hopes.
In God We Trust - Part 2
The sermon addresses the legalization of same-sex marriage as a "watershed moment" dividing true and false Christianity. The speaker cites immediate consequences: a Montana man seeking a polygamy license, the Oregon bakery case where Christians faced persecution and speech restrictions, and the Episcopal Church's affirmation of same-sex weddings, demonstrating a trend of capitulation. Scripture is presented as unequivocally defining homosexuality as sin, making this issue a test of loyalty to Christ over culture. Christians are urged to respond by remembering God's sovereignty, acknowledging His divine abandonment of a pagan culture, and trusting Christ to build His church. They must treat unbelievers with dignity, realize the gospel shines brightest in darkness, and expect persecution, responding with joy, love, prayer for deliverance and gospel advance. Additionally, Christians are called to diligently pray for national leaders' salvation, wisdom, and just rule, for the nation's welfare, and for preservation from judgment due to the righteous. As citizens, they should be concerned about constitutional breaches and moral decline, and be prepared to legally defend religious liberty, always prioritizing the gospel and avoiding disrespectful or violent resistance.
In God We Trust - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington addresses the 2015 Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges), calling it a monumental event that compels him to provide biblical guidance. He warns the decision immediately threatens religious liberties, anticipating radical activists will seek to silence all disagreement. Pennington asserts that the Bible's teachings on marriage (one man, one woman) and homosexuality (sin) remain unchanged, regardless of cultural or legal shifts. He outlines six Christian responses: 1. **Remember God is on His throne**: Do not fear or despair; God is sovereign over nations and rulers, even when they act in rebellion. 2. **God is behind this change (as judgment)**: This cultural shift reflects human rebellion and God's "divine wrath of abandonment" (Romans 1), where evil is called good. 3. **Christ will build His church**: Nothing, not even death or persecution, will overpower His church. 4. **Care about attitudes toward unbelievers**: Treat all people with consideration and respect, honoring those in authority, even while disagreeing with their policies, and avoid sinful anger or disrespect. 5. **The gospel shines brightest in darkness**: This cultural climate provides a clearer mission field for evangelism, as the primary goal is saving souls, not merely improving society. 6.
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