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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2013-03-24

Father, Forgive Them

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Father Forgive Them" (Luke 23:34), explores Jesus' first utterance from the cross. Amid unimaginable torment, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." This prayer, a stark contrast to the brutality He endured, reflected His unwavering love and trust in God. Jesus, bearing humanity's sins, asked the Father for forgiveness for all responsible for His crucifixion�Jewish leaders, Pilate, soldiers, and criminals. His reasoning highlighted their ignorance of intentionally killing God's Son, though it didn't negate their guilt for murder. The sermon emphasizes that forgiveness requires genuine repentance and faith. God answered Jesus' prayer both generally, by showing patience (delaying judgment on Jerusalem), and specifically, by bringing salvation to individuals like the penitent thief, Simon of Cyrene, the centurion, and thousands at Pentecost. This serves as a powerful model for believers to cultivate a forgiving spirit and actively pray for the salvation of unbelievers, recognizing that no sin is too great for Christ's atoning sacrifice. Ultimately, Jesus' prayer epitomizes His substitutionary payment, buying our forgiveness on the cross.

Tom Pennington
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Passion Week Sermons
2013
2013-03-24

The Great Exchange

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "The Great Exchange" from Mark 15:3-25 examines Jesus' third and final Roman trial before Pontius Pilate. Following three Jewish and two previous Roman hearings, Jesus, arrested after midnight, was brought to Pilate by early Friday morning. During the Passover, Pilate customarily released one prisoner. Aware the chief priests' envy fueled their desire to condemn Jesus, Pilate sought to release Him. He presented a choice between Jesus, whom he called "King of the Jews," and Barabbas, a notorious murderer and insurrectionist. The chief priests, however, incited the crowd to demand Barabbas's release and Jesus' crucifixion. Despite Pilate finding no fault in Jesus and his wife's warning, the crowd fiercely cried, "Crucify Him!" Driven by personal ambition and fear of Caesar, Pilate sacrificed Jesus, releasing Barabbas and ordering Jesus to be scourged and crucified. This act, called "the great exchange," depicts Jesus, the perfectly innocent and righteous One, being condemned and executed in the place of a guilty, condemned sinner like Barabbas. This substitutionary atonement is God's design, where Christ bore the sins due to humanity, allowing us to be pardoned and brought to God. We are called to live daily remembering this profound sacrifice.

Tom Pennington
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Mark - The Memoirs of Peter
2013
2013-03-17

Forgive Us Our Debts

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Matthew 6:12, "Forgive Us Our Debts," emphasizes the universal struggle with sin and the critical need for forgiveness. He identifies two common, unhelpful reactions to sin: minimizing its impact or succumbing to despair, both of which hinder confession and lead to spiritual stagnation. Jesus instructs us to acknowledge our sins as "transgressions" (straying from God's path) and "debts" (failure to render perfect obedience). This spiritual debt, which is immense and unpayable by human effort, was fully settled by Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross for all believers. The sermon clarifies two aspects of divine forgiveness: the "spiritual bath" of justification, a one-time act at salvation that pardons all sins and establishes our relationship with God as Father; and the "washing of feet," the daily act of confessing sins to maintain ongoing fellowship with Him. God's nature is one of abundant compassion, eager to forgive. Receiving God's forgiveness carries conditions: we must genuinely forgive others who have wronged us, as an unforgiving heart blocks our own access to divine pardon.

Tom Pennington
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The Sermon on the Mount
2013
2013-03-10

Q & A

Pastor Tom Pennington held a Q&A session addressing various theological inquiries. He firmly rejected the Big Bang and old earth theories, advocating for a literal six-day creation and historical Adam and Eve based on Genesis' narrative style and Jesus' affirmations, calling opposing views a compromise. Regarding eschatology, Pennington explained that the pre-tribulation raptured church returns with Christ for the millennial kingdom, living with glorified, sinless bodies alongside unredeemed individuals who will eventually rebel. He maintained that miraculous gifts ceased with the apostles, as their purpose was to confirm God's messengers during specific historical periods, citing biblical and historical evidence. He discussed the TULIP doctrines, clarifying that while elders agreed on most points, the "L" (limited atonement) referred to Christ's substitutionary death being specifically for the elect, distinct from the universal offer of the gospel and common grace. Pennington also affirmed hell as eternal torment, not annihilation, due to the infinite nature of sin against God. He concluded by asserting Jesus' impeccability in His humanity and that believers in glory will likewise be unable to sin, while confirming that biblical "wine" was fermented, its consumption being a matter of Christian liberty as long as it doesn't lead to drunkenness.

Tom Pennington
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Q&A
2013
2013-03-10

Give Us Our Daily Bread

This sermon profoundly explores the fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11), contrasting the unregenerate heart's ingratitude with a Christian's utter dependence on God. It emphasizes that while this petition addresses personal needs, it must always be prayed in the context of God's glory, kingdom, and will. The text reveals four key spiritual lessons embedded in these words: First, "Give" teaches a lesson in **grace**, highlighting that everything we possess�life, resources, skills, and financial prosperity�is an undeserved gift from God, regardless of our diligence. Second, "Give us" imparts a lesson in **love**, urging believers to pray not only for their own needs but also for their families, fellow Christians, and all those in need, fostering a responsibility to share and act. Third, "this day" emphasizes a lesson in **trust**, encouraging daily dependence on God, cautioning against worrying about tomorrow, and reminding us that accumulated wealth can vanish instantly. Finally, "our daily bread" teaches a lesson in **contentment**, prompting us to ask only for what is necessary for today, cultivating satisfaction, and warning against the spiritual dangers of pursuing excessive riches, a stark contrast to the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel.

Tom Pennington
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The Sermon on the Mount
2013
2013-03-03

Your Will Be Done

The sermon "Your Will Be Done" (Matthew 6:10) highlights the ultimate surrender exemplified by missionaries John and Betty Stam. This third, God-centric petition of the Lord's Prayer seeks three spiritual results. Firstly, it demands a deliberate rejection of all other wills: Satan's desire to promote sin and destroy faith, others' wishes (even well-meaning loved ones) that diverge from God's path, and especially our own will, requiring daily self-denial. Secondly, it calls for unconditional acceptance of God's sovereign will�His unchangeable plan that always occurs. This means embracing all life circumstances, whether good or bad, without complaint, by trusting God's perfect power, goodness, and wisdom. Thirdly, and primarily, it signifies willing obedience to God's revealed will in Scripture. Unlike His sovereign plan, God's commands are not perfectly obeyed on earth. This revealed will includes being saved, Word-saturated, sanctified, submissive, grateful, and prepared to suffer for Christ. Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, "not My will, but Yours be done," perfectly models this complete surrender and obedience.

Tom Pennington
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The Sermon on the Mount
2013

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