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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The Future According to Jesus - Part 1
In "The Future According to Jesus, Part 1," Pastor Tom Pennington explores humanity's universal fascination with the future, focusing on Jesus' Olivet Discourse in Mark 13. The sermon unpacks the disciples' questions to Jesus after His prophecy of the temple's destruction: "When will these things be," "what will be the sign of Your coming," and "what will be the sign of the end of the age?" Pennington explains that first-century Jews, including the disciples, held a specific eschatological view. They did not anticipate a long gap between the Messiah's first and second comings, nor between the various end-time events. Instead, they expected the Messiah to appear once, triggering a rapid, "staccato" succession of predetermined events. This envisioned sequence included a period of great tribulation, the return of Elijah, Messiah's appearance, the defeat of hostile powers, the renovation of Israel, Jerusalem, and the temple, the gathering of dispersed Jews, the establishment of His global kingdom, a renovation of the entire world, a general resurrection, and a final judgment. Jesus' selective reading of Isaiah 61 in Nazareth, stopping before prophecies about His second coming, subtly highlighted this misunderstanding.
When Your World Is Shaken
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "When Your World Is Shaken," based on Psalm 46:1-2, addresses how believers should respond to life's inevitable troubles. He explains that living in a fallen world means everyone will face trials, from natural disasters to personal illnesses like his wife's breast cancer diagnosis, or man-made conflicts. Psalm 46, an ancient song for public worship, provides a foundation of trust in God during these overwhelming circumstances. It reveals three profound truths about God: 1. **God is our refuge**, meaning He is our protective shelter from external dangers, an inaccessible place of safety. We make Him our refuge by actively trusting His providence and pouring out our hearts to Him. 2. **God is our strength**, not merely *giving* strength, but *being* our strength. He empowers us internally to endure through trials, exchanging our human weakness for His omnipotent power. 3. **God is our very present help**, instantly available and abundantly supportive when we feel helpless. "The Lord of hosts is with us." Because God is our refuge, strength, and ever-present help, believers "will not fear," even if the world seems to be collapsing around them.
The Power of Your Influence - Part 4
In a sermon on Matthew 5:13-16, "The Power of Your Influence," Pastor Tom Pennington explores the metaphors of Christians as "salt of the earth" and "light of the world." He identifies a significant historical drift in their interpretation, especially due to liberalism's "social gospel" and the "emergent church's" "missional" theology, which often prioritize humanitarian efforts and societal transformation over individual salvation and gospel proclamation. Pennington argues that good works are deeds performed by true Christians for God's glory, serving as evidence of genuine faith, not a means to salvation. While believers should embody Christ-like character and perform good works for all people (though primarily for fellow believers), these actions are never an end in themselves. Rather, they must function as a platform for sharing the gospel, guiding others to glorify God. He firmly states that the church's core mission is to "make disciples of all nations," not to solve all societal ills. Individual Christians are called to balance their character, good works, and gospel message, allowing all three aspects to shine collectively as light in the world.
Not One Stone!
The text analyzes Jesus' profound prophecy regarding the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, contrasting it with Old Testament prophets whose authenticity was proven by accurate predictions and doctrinal consistency. Jesus, a true prophet, declared on the Tuesday of Passion Week that "not one stone will be left upon another" of Herod's magnificent temple, a structure that astounded his disciples and historians with its immense size and beauty. This prophecy followed Jesus' severe condemnation of religious leaders for exploiting the vulnerable; the "widow's mite" incident is reinterpreted not as commendation for sacrificial giving but as an indictment of their religious extortion. Jesus, leaving the temple for the last time, pronounced judgment on this corrupt system. Forty years later, in 70 A.D., Roman General Titus, despite intending to preserve it, saw the temple completely demolished by his soldiers, who reportedly dismantled stones to extract melted gold, fulfilling Jesus' words literally, as affirmed by historian Josephus.
The Widow's Mite: A Misunderstood Story with a Shocking Lesson
Tom Pennington's sermon reinterprets the familiar "Widow's Mite" story (Mark 12:41-44), arguing its traditional meaning, which commends sacrificial giving, is a profound misunderstanding. He begins by noting how greedy religious figures, from L. Ron Hubbard to modern "health, wealth, and prosperity" teachers, exploit the poor. Pennington asserts that Jesus was not praising the widow's act of giving her last two coins; rather, He was condemning the corrupt religious system that compelled her to such destitution. This revised interpretation is supported by the immediate context: Jesus had just denounced scribes for "devouring widows' houses" (Mark 12:40), and directly after the story, He prophesied the temple's destruction, linking it to the exploitation of the vulnerable. Scripture, Pennington explains, never commands giving *all* one has to live on, but instead mandates care for widows and warns against their exploitation. The widow was a victim of religious extortion, her complete indigence serving as a stark indictment of the temple leadership's greed. The sermon concludes with applications for Christians to care for widows within their families and churches, and to oppose false teachers who exploit the needy, reminding listeners that God promises severe judgment for those who take advantage of the helpless.
The Power of Your Influence - Part 3
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Matthew 5:13-16, "The Power of Your Influence (Part 3)," declares that Christians are "the light of the world." He establishes God and Jesus as the ultimate light, contrasting with a world of "utter darkness." Christians, as Jesus' followers, are also light, reflecting His truth and purity. Pennington outlines four truths about this influence: it is **illuminating**, exposing sin and revealing beauty; **inevitable**, like a city on a hill; **predetermined**, as God strategically placed us to shine; and **prescribed**, meaning our visible good works must glorify our heavenly Father, not ourselves. Our purpose on Earth is to be both salt and light. He details three ways Christians shine: through our **character**, by reflecting Jesus; our **good works**, by living out the gospel's implications; and our **message**, by proclaiming Jesus and His truth. Ultimately, our ability to shine comes solely from our connection to Jesus, the true Light, and our responsibility is to radiate His glory in all aspects of our lives.
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