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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Do You Have Eternal Life?
Tom Pennington's sermon on 1 John uses the analogy of spiritual "vital signs" to determine if one has eternal life, focusing on how individuals respond to sin. He asserts that God is pure light, and a genuine relationship with Him necessitates a changed life. Pennington outlines three false responses to sin from those who profess faith but lack true salvation: 1. Claiming fellowship with God while persistently "walking in darkness" (living a sinful lifestyle), which John calls a lie. 2. Denying an inherent sinful nature ("no sin"), believing oneself to be fundamentally good despite occasional "bad decisions," thus deceiving oneself. 3. Denying specific acts of sin ("not sinned"), effectively calling God a liar and rejecting the need for a Savior, often seen in outwardly moral but self-righteous individuals. In contrast, true believers demonstrate two responses to sin: 1. Their lives are marked by "walking in the Light," signifying a pattern of obedience and holiness, even if not perfect. Though they still sin, the "blood of Jesus His Son cleanses" them continually, sustaining their fellowship with God. 2. They engage in continual confession of sin.
Lies Christians Believe (Part 6): Blind Faith
In a sermon titled "'Blind Faith'," part of the "Lies Christians Believe" series, Pastor Tom Pennington warns against Christians unthinkingly adopting cultural narratives, comparing it to "drinking the Kool-Aid." The specific lie addressed is: "Science Is Fact, Christianity Is Blind Faith," urging believers to renew their minds with God's Word (Romans 12:1-2) rather than conforming to the age. Pennington outlines the lie's two assertions: that modern science offers empirically proven, universally accepted facts, while Christian faith is an irrational leap without evidence. He traces this mindset back to Enlightenment philosophies (rationalism, empiricism, Kant) and details its "lethal consequences" within the church. These include downplaying the mind in favor of emotions, systematically adopting scientific views over biblical ones (like rejecting six-day creation), causing youth to lose faith, and marginalizing Christianity to subjective personal values instead of objective, all-encompassing truth. Countering the "Science Is Fact" assertion, Pennington argues that all truth originates from God, and the unregenerate mind is inherently biased and irrational. He contends that human science, driven by fallen logic and biased senses, has a mixed track record, citing flaws in medical research and naturalism's presuppositions about eternal matter.
Bible Study for Every Christian (Part 5): Interpretation
This text argues for the Christian's privilege and responsibility for personal biblical interpretation, contrasting it with the Roman Catholic Church's 16th-century stance. While the Council of Trent decreed that only the Magisterium (Pope and bishops) could authentically interpret Scripture, the Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther, asserted the individual's conscience is captive to God's Word. The author contends that the Bible itself supports private interpretation, as obligations for faith and obedience are personal, Scripture is addressed to all believers, and individuals are praised for evaluating teachings against God's Word. Effective interpretation aims to discover the "one divinely intended meaning" of a passage, guided by three main principles. First, interpret based on **authorial intent**, discerning what the original writer aimed to communicate, rather than seeking personal coded messages or immediate application. Second, interpret **Scripture with Scripture** (analogy of faith), acknowledging the Bible's singular divine author and internal consistency, using clear passages to illuminate obscure ones. Third, interpret **literally**, applying normal literary rules to language, grammar, history, and genre, unless the context clearly indicates a figure of speech or allegory. Dangers to avoid include allegorizing, spiritualizing, proof-texting, treating narrative as normative, and cultural backloading.
Lies Christians Believe (Part 5): The Stuff Mart
Pastor Tom Pennington, in his sermon series "Lies Christians Believe," challenges the prevalent cultural lie that "Possessions Will Make Me Happy." He notes that society, particularly young adults, increasingly prioritizes wealth and fame over spiritual growth or community service. This worldly mindset, Pennington argues, directly contradicts Romans 12:2, which calls believers to resist conforming to the world and instead be transformed by renewing their minds with God's truth. Materialism, defined as finding fulfillment in belongings, manifests as a continuous craving for "more," leading to excessive debt and extravagant lifestyles. This desire for possessions is a symptom of the fallen human heart and violates the First and Tenth Commandments, which forbid idolatry and covetousness. Materialism has detrimental effects on the church, hindering ministry, reducing charitable giving, stressing families, and encouraging lavish church spending. The sermon counters this lie with three biblical truths: First, God owns everything, and we possess nothing truly our own. Second, what we have is a temporary stewardship from God. Third, money and possessions can never bring true or lasting happiness, as affirmed throughout Scripture (e.g., Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Luke 12).
Bible Study for Every Christian (Part 4): Meditation
Tom Pennington's sermon, "Bible Study for Every Christian Part 4: Meditation," emphasizes meditation as the crucial bridge between merely knowing God's Word and actually living it out. Contrasting the abundance of modern resources with historical scarcity, Pennington highlights the common gap between knowledge and application. Biblical meditation, unlike pagan practices that empty the mind, involves deliberately filling one's mind with Scripture. As the third step in inductive Bible study, meditation is vital because, according to Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1, it leads to spiritual prosperity, wisdom, and a stable, fruitful life. What it is involves recalling, internally discussing, and deeply reflecting on Scripture to gain insight (illumination by the Holy Spirit) and to plan practical application. This deep thinking allows the truth to permeate one's understanding. To practice meditation, after observation and study, one must intentionally set aside time. Methods include asking key questions about the passage's relation to the gospel, Christ, and God, making general observations, repeating the text with varied emphasis, rephrasing it in one's own words, praying through it, and considering specific applications to daily life. This deliberate, profound engagement with Scripture is essential for spiritual growth and true transformation.
Lies Christians Believe (Part 4): A Right to be Happy
This sermon, "Lies Christians Believe: A Right to Be Happy, Part 4," challenges the pervasive American belief that the ultimate goal of life is personal happiness, urging Christians to renew their minds with God's Word rather than conform to worldly thinking (Romans 12:1-2). The pastor identifies "The Goal of Life Is My Personal Happiness" as a dangerous lie, manifesting in sentiments like "I deserve to be happy," "it's all about me," and "self-fulfillment." This idea originated in Eden (Genesis 3:6) and evolved through philosophies like hedonism and humanism, asserting that humanity's purpose is its own contentment. Within the church, this lie fosters man-centered Christianity, excuses sin by claiming "God wants me to be happy," fuels anger during trials, creates "designer churches" for "consumer Christians," and leads to man-centered evangelism and missions focused on human needs rather than divine glory. Biblically, the truth reveals three principles: 1) The end of all being is not man's happiness, but the glory of God (Romans 11:36). 2) We best glorify God when our happiness is found exclusively in Him (Psalm 16:11). 3) God's primary goal for believers is likeness to His Son, not personal comfort, often achieved through trials (Romans 8:28-29).
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