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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Tradition! - Part 3
This text argues that religious systems can deviate significantly from their original purpose, becoming "false religion" characterized by a shift from divine authority to human tradition and from salvation by grace to works-righteousness. Using Harvard University's transformation as an analogy, the author asserts that 1st-century Judaism had undergone this radical change by the time of Christ. The sermon directly refutes the "New Perspective on Paul" (advocated by scholars like N.T. Wright), which claims that 1st-century Judaism was grace-based and that Jesus and Paul's critiques were primarily about ethnocentrism, not legalism. The author presents biblical evidence from Paul's personal testimony (Romans 7, Philippians 3) and Jesus's explicit condemnations of the scribes and Pharisees (Mark 7, Matthew 23, Luke 18). Jesus repeatedly labeled them hypocrites, self-righteous, and children of hell, stressing their empty, external worship and reliance on their own deeds for salvation, exemplified by the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Ultimately, the text identifies two markers of false religion: the rejection of *sola scriptura* (Scripture alone as authority) and *sola gratia* (salvation by grace alone).
Three Primary Effects of the Spirit's Influence - Part 3
This text examines the role of music in Christian worship, critiquing the modern trend of incorporating secular music. The speaker advocates for the regulative principle of worship, asserting that only practices directly prescribed by Scripture are acceptable, in contrast to the normative principle which permits anything not explicitly forbidden. Of the seven divinely commanded elements for corporate worship, music is highlighted as essential. Music serves a dual purpose: horizontally, to teach and admonish believers, and vertically, to praise God. Acceptable forms include psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The sermon strongly argues for the inclusion of all musical instruments in worship, citing extensive Old Testament patterns where God commanded the use of orchestras, choirs, and music directors, a prescription never repealed in the New Testament. The New Testament's command to sing psalms, which inherently call for instrumental accompaniment, and heavenly depictions of worship with instruments further support this. Crucially, worship music must be offered "with your heart"�sincerely, passionately, and actively�and intentionally directed "to the Lord" Jesus Christ. God despises insincere, merely external worship. Music is a divine gift, and every believer is called to participate wholeheartedly, directing their praise to Christ as if He were present.
The Demonstration of the Spirit's Power
This sermon outlines Paul's philosophy of preaching in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, contrasting it with the Corinthian church's cultural preference for eloquent rhetoric, influenced by the Sophists. Paul arrived in Corinth not with "superiority of speech or wisdom" but determined to proclaim "Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." This meant centering all teaching on Christ and His atoning work, not merely a simple gospel message, nor tailoring it to cultural tastes. Paul preached in "weakness and in fear and in much trembling," highlighting his dependence on God's grace over personal ability. His message was a "demonstration of the Spirit and of power," indicating that true spiritual impact comes from the Spirit energizing God's Word, not from human methods or persuasive techniques. Paul's intentional approach was "so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God," ensuring God receives all glory and human pride is demolished. For teachers, this necessitates focusing on God's message, depending on His grace, and trusting the Spirit's power. For listeners, it's a call to desire God's Word, resisting cultural demands for entertainment or mere relevance, so that their faith genuinely rests on divine power.
Three Primary Effects of the Spirit's Influence - Part 2
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Three Primary Effects of the Spirit�s Influence, Part 2," examines Ephesians 5:19-21, emphasizing that being "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) results in a love for God-centered music, thankfulness, and submission. This message specifically focuses on the first effect: a deep love for God-centered music. Christian music serves both horizontal and vertical purposes. Horizontally, it�s for "speaking to one another"�teaching and admonishing with biblical truth, prioritizing communication and edification over mere entertainment. Vertically, it�s for "singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord"�expressing praise, thanksgiving, repentance, and petitions. The ultimate goal of all music is to glorify God. Paul identifies acceptable music as "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs," advocating for variety. Regardless of style, lyrics must be biblical, meaningful, and balanced, encompassing Old and New Testament themes, subjective and objective expressions, and a blend of old and new compositions. The sermon concludes with a "spiritual diagnostic," urging listeners to evaluate their musical preferences to ensure they reflect a Spirit-filled life, and offers practical steps like memorizing lyrics and actively engaging with God-centered music to cultivate this love.
Tradition! - Part 2
In "Tradition! (Part 2)," Pastor Tom Pennington uses Mark 7:1-13 to expose the destructive power of religious legalism, drawing parallels to modern Jewish life in Israel, where extensive traditions often overshadow biblical commands. Jesus confronted the Pharisees for criticizing His disciples' unwashed hands, a human tradition, not a divine law. Jesus declared them "hypocrites" whose external show of piety masked hearts far from God, making their worship worthless. He accused them of actively "setting aside" and "invalidating" God's commands for their man-made traditions. A key example was "Corban," a vow to dedicate property to God. This tradition allowed individuals to avoid financially supporting their needy parents, directly violating the Fifth Commandment to honor them. The religious leaders, motivated by greed for Temple funds, upheld this system, effectively annulling God's Word. Pennington asserts that first-century Judaism, by prioritizing human oral tradition (later the Talmud) over divine revelation (Torah), had become a false religion. He encourages believers to embrace "Sola Scriptura" � "not beyond what has been written" � relying solely on God's complete and sufficient Word, examining personal rules to ensure they don't undermine God's will, and cultivating authentic faith with hearts truly devoted to Him.
Tradition! - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington�s sermon, "Tradition! (Part 1)," examines Mark 7:1-13, illustrating the deep conflict between Jesus and first-century Jewish religious leaders concerning human tradition versus God's Word. Drawing an analogy to "Fiddler on the Roof," Pennington describes how tradition profoundly influenced Jewish life, resulting in an elaborate system of external rituals, such as ceremonial hand-washing, not prescribed in the Old Testament. These "traditions of the elders" were elevated above God's divine commandments. When the Pharisees accused Jesus' disciples of eating with "impure hands," neglecting these man-made rules, Jesus exposed their error as the spiritual bankruptcy of substituting human tradition for divine revelation. He asserted that the ultimate source of authority must be the "commandment of God" and the "Word of God" exclusively, not "precepts of men." First-century Judaism had become "worthless" by equating oral traditions, like the Mishnah, with the sacred written Torah. Pennington concludes with three vital implications for believers today: First, Scripture alone must be the sole source of authority ("Sola Scriptura"), rejecting any human additions or personal opinions. Second, it is crucial not to twist or distort the meaning of Scripture, but to interpret it accurately and humbly.
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