Sermons That Exalt Christ

Joy to the World! - Part 3

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Joy to the World! (Part 3)," underscores that Jesus's incarnation brings unending, indestructible joy to believers. This joy originates from God and is shared with those saved by the gospel. While joy is certain upon receiving the gospel and cultivated by the Holy Spirit, it must be actively developed, especially amidst life's trials. To experience joy in difficulties, believers must practice joyful acceptance, acknowledging trials as from a good and wise Father. This leads to joyful endurance, remaining steadfast through challenges, and joyful confidence, fixing eyes on the hope of God's glory and eternal reward. Cultivating this biblical joy, which isn't mere human happiness or absence of grief, involves four principles: knowing God's word about circumstances (both generally and specifically), truly believing that word, regularly rehearsing it to oneself (preaching truth over lies), and expressing thanks and praise. Ultimately, for believers, joy will be consummated in an eternal, perfect, and unmixed state in God's presence. This enduring joy began with Christ's birth and is available to all who believe in Him.

Joy to the World! - Part 2

Joy to the World! - Part 1

Christmas, often a nostalgic time, frequently brings emptiness or sadness rather than lasting joy for many. However, true, enduring joy comes through Jesus Christ, the Messiah whose incarnation we celebrate. While worldly joy is brief and sought in temporary pleasures like wealth or perfect circumstances, biblical joy originates from God Himself. God is characterized by uncontainable, unbroken joy, an unchanging perfection of His nature shared by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father delighted in creation and His Son, Jesus. The Son endured the cross "for the joy set before Him," which included glorifying the Father and redeeming believers. The Holy Spirit produces joy in us. God also rejoices in His character, His people, repentant sinners, and obedience to His word. This ultimate source of joy became accessible to humanity through Jesus' birth, fulfilling ancient prophecies and bringing "good news of great joy." This joy is found by those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, enabling them to experience Christ's own full joy in their lives.

Forget None of His Benefits! - Part 2

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Psalm 103 calls believers to offer corporate praise and thanksgiving, emphasizing three main reasons for "those who fear Him"�those who repent and trust in Christ. First, God's unchanging nature (verses 6-8) is paramount. He is intrinsically the Savior of sinners, the benevolent source of revelation (general and special), and the embodiment of goodness. This includes compassion, grace, slowness to anger, and abounding steadfast love, a character consistently true from Exodus to today. Second, God's unchanging ways (verses 9-14) further compel thanks. Due to His nature, God is quick to reconcile with repentant sinners, not holding grudges. His immeasurable steadfast love ensures He doesn't deal with us according to our deserved punishment; instead, He pardons our sins, crediting them to Christ on the cross and imparting Christ's righteousness to us. Like a compassionate father, He treats us as His children, understanding our human frailties. Third, God's unchanging love (verses 15-18) provides profound gratitude. Contrasting with our brief, fleeting lives (like wildflowers), His steadfast love extends "from everlasting to everlasting" for those He chose and who respond in faith and obedience. This eternal, unceasing love is the ultimate reason for universal praise.

Forget None of His Benefits! - Part 1

This sermon, rooted in Psalm 103, emphasizes that true thanksgiving involves actively praising and expressing deep gratitude to God, rather than merely listing blessings. It contends that sinful humanity often struggles with gratitude due to pride, a misunderstanding of God's character, or a failure to remember His benefits. Psalm 103, penned by David, serves as a biblical model, calling for intentional, heartfelt praise to "Yahweh" from one's entire being, acknowledging both His "holy name" (unique character) and His "countless benefits." The sermon identifies five specific reasons for personal praise: God pardons our sin and guilt (a forgiveness made possible through Christ's sacrifice), restores and sustains our health (recognizing God as the ultimate healer), preserves our lives (protecting us from death and danger), initiates and sustains a loving relationship with us, and generously fills our lives with good things. Listeners are urged to adopt this intentional practice of thanking God for these profound blessings, seeking forgiveness and a relationship with Him through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and celebrating this pardon at the Lord's Table.

The Glorious Return of Jesus Christ

The sermon "Revelation: The Glorious Return of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 19:11-16) emphasizes the second coming of Jesus as a cardinal Christian doctrine, attested across Scripture, creeds, and early church fathers. This event, distinct from the rapture, occurs after the seven-year tribulation and inaugurates the millennium. Jesus will return not in humility, but as a victorious Warrior King, revealed in unimaginable glory. He is described as "Faithful and True," possessing piercing omniscience (eyes like fire), comprehensive authority (many diadems), a mysterious nature, and invincible power (robe dipped in the blood of His enemies, symbolizing past victories and future judgment). As "The Word of God," He embodies God's judgment. Accompanied by heavenly armies of believers in white linen, Christ alone will wage war, using the sharp sword of His mouth�His powerful Word�to strike down nations and destroy all unrepentant enemies. He will rule with a "rod of iron" and tread "the wine press of the fierce wrath of God," signifying His sobering mission to crush mankind's rebellion. Ultimately, He is revealed as "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS," possessing absolute, universal sovereignty.