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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Kangaroo Court: The Illegal Arraignment of Jesus Christ
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Kangaroo Court: The Illegal Arraignment of Jesus Christ," illuminates the profound miscarriage of justice in Jesus' initial hearing before Annas. The term "kangaroo court" describes a process where justice is rushed and circumvented, evident in Jesus' arraignment. Jewish law mandated formal accusations from witnesses and prohibited self-incrimination or questioning by judges. Yet, Annas, Caiaphas's powerful father-in-law who had pre-judged Jesus, illegally interrogated Him about His followers and teaching. Jesus insisted on due process, asking Annas to question witnesses instead of Him, which prompted an officer to strike Him. This preliminary hearing preceded a series of six trials�three Jewish (charging blasphemy) and three Roman (charging sedition). Though Pilate repeatedly declared Jesus innocent, the predetermined verdict led to His crucifixion. Pennington offers two primary insights: he urges listeners not to emulate Annas, who rejected Jesus due to perceived threats to his position, wealth, and religion; and he establishes Jesus' absolute innocence before human law. This blamelessness is central to Christian faith, affirming that Jesus, undeserving of death, willingly bore the punishment humanity justly deserved.
Kyrie Eleison
The sermon explores Mark 10:46-52, the healing of blind Bartimaeus in Jericho, as a profound parable for spiritual salvation. As Jesus makes His final journey to Jerusalem, He encounters Bartimaeus, a desperate blind beggar, often misjudged as suffering divine punishment. Hearing Jesus is near, Bartimaeus boldly cries out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" recognizing Him as the Messiah, despite the crowd's attempts to silence him. Moved by compassion, Jesus stops the entire procession to call Bartimaeus. When asked what he desires, Bartimaeus requests his sight, demonstrating deep faith by addressing Jesus as "Rabboni" (My Lord, My Master). Jesus declares, "Your faith has made you well," granting not only physical sight but also spiritual salvation. Immediately, Bartimaeus follows Jesus, glorifying God. This true story serves as a living parable, teaching seven steps to receive spiritual rescue: one must recognize their spiritual blindness and helplessness, acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and only source of hope, place complete trust in Him, cry out persistently for mercy, expect opposition, understand that true salvation initiates a lifetime of following Jesus, and believe that Jesus welcomes all who truly seek Him, regardless of social standing.
Five Hallmarks of a Biblical Church - Part 3
The text, "Five Hallmarks Of A Biblical Church, Part 3," highlights the third hallmark: a biblical view of man, essential for effective ministry. It contrasts this with prevalent psychological theories (depth, behaviorism, humanistic psychology) which incorrectly diagnose man's problems as external or environmental, denying his inherent sinfulness. A truly biblical church understands that man, though created in God's image, is a fallen sinner due to Adam's original sin. This results in both personal guilt before God and inherited pollution, characterized by total depravity (sin permeating all aspects of humanity) and total inability (man's incapacity to change his sinful nature). This root problem of sin leads to alienation from God, slavery to sin, and conflict with others, ultimately culminating in divine judgment. Therefore, a biblical church teaches that man's sole hope lies outside himself, in salvation and sanctification through Jesus Christ. Such a church prioritizes holiness, addresses sin directly using biblical language like "repentance" and "salvation" rather than psychological terms, encourages genuine internal change over mere support, and recognizes the ongoing struggle with sin in believers, even among seemingly religious individuals.
The Great Exchange: His Life for Mine!
The sermon deeply explores Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many," highlighting it as a central theme in Mark's Gospel. This pivotal verse illuminates Jesus' identity, mission, and the profound reason for His death. Firstly, Jesus' self-designation as the "Son of Man" (from Daniel 7) reveals His divine nature and heavenly origin, while His offer to "give His life" confirms His full humanity, establishing Him as the God-Man, a perfect union of divine and human natures. Secondly, His purpose for coming was not to be served, as He will be in His second coming, but to serve others�embodying true greatness�and ultimately to die, making His death the primary goal of His incarnation and entire life. Finally, His death as a "ransom for many" was necessary to reconcile God's justice and wrath with His grace. It was a voluntary, sacrificial act, a redemptive price paid to God, not Satan, to free lives legally forfeit due to sin. This substitutionary act involved Jesus offering His life "in the place of" or "in exchange for" ours.
So You Want to be Great?
The sermon, titled "The Memoirs of Peter So You Want To Be Great?", examines how true greatness is defined by Jesus, contrasting it with human ambition. The speaker first establishes Jesus as the epitome of greatness through His perfect moral character and unparalleled historical accomplishments. The central passage, Mark 10:35-45, highlights James and John's selfish request for positions of honor in Jesus' kingdom. Misunderstanding Jesus' immediate purpose and the nature of His suffering, they confidently claim readiness to share His "cup" (divine wrath) and "baptism" (overwhelming suffering), which Jesus affirms they will experience in a different sense. Jesus then corrects their worldly view, teaching that true greatness in His kingdom is not about lording authority over others, but about becoming a humble "servant" and "slave of all." He exemplifies this, declaring that the "Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." This passage rebukes selfish ambition, calling believers to imitate Christ's selfless service, where greatness is measured by our dedication to serving others, acknowledging our profound need for His redemptive sacrifice.
Five Hallmarks of a Biblical Church - Part 2
This sermon, "Five Hallmarks of a Biblical Church, Part 2," emphasizes the critical role of Scripture as the church's foundation. Pastor Tom Pennington uses the Leaning Tower of Pisa analogy, built on an unstable foundation, to illustrate how a church can collapse if not grounded in God's Word. He defines "hallmarks" as distinguishing marks of genuineness. Building on the first hallmark (a high view of God), this message focuses on the second: a high view of Scripture. Citing 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Pennington states the church is the "pillar and support of the truth," meaning it upholds and guards God's divinely revealed Word. He identifies four key qualities of Scripture, drawn from 2 Timothy 3:10-17: 1. **Inspiration**: All Scripture is "God-breathed," originating directly from God's mind, down to the very words. 2. **Relevancy**: It is eternally "profitable" and useful for all times, regardless of contemporary opinions. 3. **Sufficiency**: The Bible is fully "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation" and to equip believers for "every good work," requiring no supplemental resources. 4. **Authority**: It carries inherent divine authority, demanding proclamation, obedience, and diligent handling.
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