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 Belt of Truth
This sermon, delivered on Reformation Sunday, stresses that Christians are in a constant spiritual war against demonic forces, as outlined in Ephesians 6. Unlike physical body armor that evolves, believers have access to God's spiritual armor, which represents Christ's strength and objective truths about Him, essential for resisting Satan's schemes, including attacks on God's Word, intimidation, and temptations. The first and foundational piece of this armor is the "belt of truth." Analogous to a Roman soldier's belt that cinched his tunic for freedom of movement and anchored other equipment, this spiritual belt prepares believers for battle. The "truth" Paul refers to is not personal sincerity or integrity, but God's objective truth found in the gospel and revealed in Jesus Christ�the entire truth contained in Scripture. This truth protects believers by freeing them from sin's slavery, enabling sanctification and spiritual growth, and shielding them from Satan�s attacks on the Bible's authority and sufficiency, as well as from personal temptations. A deep knowledge of God's Word exposes sinful hearts and Satan's tactics. To "put on" this belt means actively engaging with Scripture�reading, studying, meditating, applying, and living out its truths by the Holy Spirit's power.
Satisfied!
According to this sermon by Tom Pennington, the primary purpose of sacrifice, including Christ�s death on the cross, was to satisfy God. The central concept is "propitiation," which means satisfying God's holy wrath against sin. Citing Romans 3, the text explains that God�s perfect justice demands that sin be punished. This created a dilemma: how could God forgive and declare sinners righteous without compromising His own character? The solution was the cross, where God publicly displayed Jesus as the propitiation. God poured out the full punishment for sin upon His own Son, thereby satisfying the demands of His justice. This divine transaction allows God to be both "just and the justifier" of those who have faith. By punishing sin in Christ, God vindicated His righteousness, enabling Him to extend grace to humanity. Therefore, believers are assured that they will never face God's wrath, as it was fully and permanently absorbed by Christ on their behalf.
The Disciple's Greatest Danger - Part 1
In his sermon "The Disciple�s Greatest Danger (Part 1)," Pastor Tom Pennington explores Mark 9:42-48, focusing on Jesus� severe warning against causing fellow believers to sin. Jesus declares that whoever causes "one of these little ones who believe to stumble" would be better off drowned with a heavy millstone around their neck. This powerful imagery highlights Jesus' profound personal investment in His followers; He takes any harm to a believer as a direct offense against Himself. The "little ones" refer to all everyday believers. This dire consequence, "it would be better," suggests two possibilities: either the person consistently causing others to sin may not be a true Christian, or a genuine believer who leads another into sin will face such severe divine chastening in this life that a premature, violent death would have been preferable. Pennington outlines common ways we cause others to sin: harboring provincial attitudes or spiritual superiority, setting a poor example, abusing our influence or authority, teaching false doctrine, persuading others to sin with us, and misusing Christian liberty. Each of these actions, if leading a brother or sister into sin, is deemed an attack on Christ.
Not One of Us: Overcoming Christian Provincialism
The text defines "provincialism" as a narrow viewpoint, illustrating it with an anecdote about church members rarely leaving their county. It then applies this concept to Christian circles, focusing on Mark 9:38-41. Here, John and the disciples attempted to stop someone casting out demons because he "was not following us," demonstrating a provincial, sectarian spirit rooted in a lack of personal deference and association, and tied to their own ambition. Jesus corrects this by commanding, "Do not hinder him." He provides three reasons: our chief concern must be Jesus' glorification (as anyone working miracles in His name won't speak evil of Him); there are only two sides, for or against Christ ("he who is not against us is for us"); and how we treat fellow believers is how we treat Christ. The apostle John later understood this balance, differentiating between false teachers (to be avoided) and true believers (to be welcomed). Legitimate applications include not resenting others' ministry success, rejecting provincialism towards other true churches or denominations, and not severing ties over non-fundamental doctrinal differences (defined by the denial of the true gospel or Christ's person/work).
Learning to Use God's Armor - Part 8
Pastor Tom Pennington, in his sermon on Ephesians 6:10-17, explains the Christian�s spiritual battle, likening it to Israel�s conquest of the Promised Land. This battle is against supernatural forces, not flesh and blood, and cannot be won by human strength. Believers are commanded to "put on the full armor of God" to stand firm against the devil's schemes. This "armor of God" has an intentional order and its metaphor is flexible, focusing on essential spiritual qualities rather than precise attachments. Its origins are twofold: Roman soldiers and, more importantly, Old Testament prophecies, particularly from Isaiah, where "the servant of the Lord" (Jesus Christ) is depicted as a warrior wearing this very armor. Crucially, the armor is not subjective internal human virtues, which are insufficient against spiritual enemies. Instead, it represents objective, external truths and acts of God. It is a gift from God and is, in essence, Jesus Christ�s own personal armor. Therefore, "putting on the armor of God" means understanding and applying the rich truths of Christ's righteousness, truth, peace, faith, salvation, and His Word. Our ultimate defense and spiritual growth come from comprehending and embracing what God has done for us in Christ.
Learning to Use God's Armor - Part 7
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon from Ephesians 6:10-17 emphasizes that Christian life is an abrupt, relentless spiritual war, contrasting peaceful home life with the constant battle for our souls. The formidable enemy is Satan, an utterly evil, unscrupulous being who orchestrates attacks through a vast, hierarchical army of demons. This warfare is universal, intensely personal (a "wrestle" in our minds), spiritual (not against people, but against supernatural powers), and hierarchically organized. Satan employs schemes like attacking God's Word, intimidating with fear, and seducing with temptations. Crucially, humanity, even in its perfect state like Adam, cannot withstand this powerful enemy alone. However, the good news is that Jesus Christ has already triumphed over and disarmed these demonic forces at the cross. Christians, therefore, can stand firm and conquer, not through their own willpower, but by drawing on Christ's inherent strength and putting on the full armor of God to experience His victory.
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