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 Shocking Plan Behind the Cross
Pastor Tom Pennington examines Mark 9:30-32, highlighting Jesus' second prophecy of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. As Jesus began His final journey to the cross, He privately taught His disciples about this essential truth, desiring anonymity to focus on their instruction. The "shocking plan behind the cross" is unveiled through Jesus' statement that the "Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men." Pennington clarifies that the Greek word "delivered over" (paradidomi), supported by passages like Isaiah 53, Acts 2:23, and Romans 8:32, reveals God the Father as the ultimate agent who intentionally handed His beloved Son over for humanity's redemption. Despite Jesus' prophecy, the disciples didn't fully grasp its meaning, a lack of understanding providentially orchestrated by God to spare them premature agony. Jesus' reasons for this prophecy were threefold: to provide hope and comfort by demonstrating God's sovereign plan, to serve as a divine apologetic confirming God's control, and to emphasize that His incarnation and ministry's central purpose was His sacrificial death. For believers, this carries profound implications: the cross must be the core of our message, just as it was for Jesus, proclaiming Christ crucified.
No Faith, Weak Faith, & Little Faith - Part 3
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "No Faith, Weak Faith, & Little Faith, Part 3" explores Jesus' healing of a demon-possessed boy in Mark 9:14-29, illustrating different levels of belief. The narrative first presents those with "no faith"�the scribes and crowd�who remain unconvinced despite Jesus' presence and power, prompting His rebuke of an "unbelieving generation." Next, the boy's father exhibits "weak faith," initially doubting Jesus' full capability ("if You can do anything"). Jesus challenges this by stating, "All things are possible to him who believes," leading the father to confess, "I do believe; help my unbelief," signifying a critical step toward genuine saving faith. The sermon's primary focus, however, is on the disciples, who represent believers with "little faith." They failed to exorcise the demon, despite Jesus previously granting them authority. Jesus attributes their inability to both their "littleness of faith" (Matthew's parallel account) and a lack of "prayer" (Mark's account). Pennington clarifies that faith and prayer are inextricably linked: minimal faith results in minimal prayer. True faith involves confidence in God's clear promises and His infinite ability to act. The disciples' failure, like often our own, stemmed from relying on themselves rather than on God through dependent, robust prayer.
Learning to Use God's Armor - Part 6
Pastor Tom Pennington, interpreting Ephesians 6:10-17, outlines Satan's three primary strategies against believers. First, Satan attacks the Word of God, seeking to undermine its truth, meaning, and our obedience, often through false teaching. Second, he intimidates through fear and persecution, aiming to silence Christians and discourage their faith, a tactic prevalent historically and increasingly today. Third, Satan seduces with personal temptation. This occurs by establishing an evil "world system" (cosmos/aion) that appeals to humanity's fallenness�the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. He also tailors external circumstances to exploit individual cravings and weaknesses, exemplified in Jesus's temptations or David's sin. Furthermore, Satan attempts to twist God-given trials, meant for spiritual growth and faith-strengthening, into opportunities for sin, bitterness, or doubt, as seen in Job's and Paul's suffering. Understanding these relentless attacks is vital. Believers cannot withstand Satan's power independently. The text stresses that only by being "strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" and "putting on the full armor of God" can one stand firm against these schemes, relying entirely on Christ's power, not personal resolve.
Learning to Use God's Armor - Part 5
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Learning to Use God's Armor, Part 5," underscores that the Christian life is a spiritual war against Satan, whose goal is to destroy faith and prevent growth. Citing Ephesians 6, he urges believers to be strong in the Lord and wear God's full armor to stand against the devil's schemes. This installment specifically addresses Satan's strategy of attacking the Word of God by distorting the true Christ and corrupting the true gospel. Satan achieves this by raising false teachers who appear as "angels of light" but preach a "different Jesus" and "different gospel" (2 Corinthians 11). These attacks manifest as heresy within denominations, distinct cults, or a subtle, slow departure from sound doctrine driven by a desire for "relevance" over truth (2 Timothy 4). Even mature believers can be swayed. To identify false teachers, assess if their message is widely appealing to unbelievers, if they deny fundamental Christian doctrines (on Christ or salvation), if their ultimate authority is outside Scripture (Deuteronomy 13), or if their practical living leads to license to sin or legalism.
No Faith, Weak Faith, & Little Faith - Part 2
This sermon, based on Mark 9:14-29, explores different levels of faith through Jesus' encounter with a demon-possessed boy. Descending from the Transfiguration, Jesus finds His disciples unable to cast out a demon, surrounded by an "unbelieving generation" (scribes and crowd) who possess no true faith despite witnessing many miracles. The boy's father, representing weak faith, approaches Jesus, despairingly asking, "If You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" Jesus challenges this doubt, declaring, "All things are possible to him who believes." The sermon clarifies that this means there are no limits to *God's* power, not that faith itself possesses inherent power. The father's pivotal response, "I do believe; help my unbelief," embodies genuine saving faith: acknowledging his own insufficient belief while desperately pleading for Christ to grant him the faith he needs. Jesus, seeing this humble reliance, casts out the particularly wicked demon. The message emphasizes that God often allows people to reach the end of their own resources so they may fully depend on Him. True faith, even if weak, is a gift from God, demonstrated by confessing one's inability and entrusting everything to Christ's mercy.
Learning to Use God's Armor - Part 4
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Learning to Use God's Armor, Part 4," utilizes C.S. Lewis's "Screwtape Letters" to highlight Satan's objective for believers: to undermine faith, sabotage growth, and prevent likeness to Jesus Christ. Drawing from Ephesians 6:10-17, the sermon emphasizes that Christians are engaged in a spiritual war and must "put on the full armor of God" to stand firm against the devil's "schemes." Satan's master strategy is lying and deception, primarily manifested as an attack on the Word of God. He employs four key tactics: 1. **Denying or Questioning Truthfulness:** Challenging the Bible's factual accuracy, as seen in Genesis 3 and modern theological liberalism. 2. **Questioning Sufficiency:** Suggesting the Bible isn't enough, requiring additions like secular psychology, ongoing revelation, or scientific integration. 3. **Perverting Meaning:** Misinterpreting or twisting Scripture, as Satan attempted with Jesus in Matthew 4, to mislead or justify sin. 4. **Promoting Disobedience:** Encouraging antinomianism, where grace is used as an excuse to ignore God's commands. Pennington warns that these attacks occur even within Christian institutions. Believers must understand these tactics, be on guard, and recognize that they can only stand firm in the strength of Jesus Christ by utilizing the armor God provides.
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