Sermons That Exalt Christ

A New Year's Prayer

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "A New Year's Prayer" from Numbers 6:22-27 highlights this ancient priestly benediction as a model for prayer. He first establishes the Bible's reliability, noting the discovery of 600 BC silver amulets bearing this very blessing, proving its historical significance. Pennington emphasizes three key instructions for utilizing this prayer. First, understand God's heart: blessing is His divine plan, not human invention, but it necessitates prerequisites. Spiritual blessing is accessible only through God's appointed mediator, Jesus Christ, and His accepted sacrifice for sins; repentance and faith in Him are essential. Second, when praying for God's blessing, recognize it's primarily spiritual�not a guarantee of earthly prosperity or a trial-free life. The prayer emphasizes Yahweh as the sole source of blessing, picturing His loving presence ("face shine") and pleasure ("lift up His countenance") toward His children. It specifically requests His protection, His grace (undeserved favor), and His comprehensive peace (shalom). Third, trust God's promises, as He emphatically declares, "I will bless them." This prayer embodies God's intention to do good for His people, a blessing fully secured by Christ�s sacrifice and continuing intercession.

Following the Shepherds to Bethlehem

Pastor Tom Pennington's Christmas sermon, "Following the Shepherds to Bethlehem," asserts that Jesus' birth is a verifiable historical event, not a legend. He presents the shepherds' response to Christ's arrival as a divinely intended pattern for how all should respond. Firstly, we are called to **believe** in Jesus and the gospel. Like the shepherds, we must accept the message about Jesus as true, from God, and obey it. This belief entails understanding humanity's fallen state, God's righteous judgment, and the necessity of Jesus' atoning work�His perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection�which offers forgiveness and right standing with God through grace, demanding repentance and faith. Secondly, we must **share** Jesus and His gospel, just as the shepherds "made known" what they had witnessed. Thirdly, we should **meditate** on Jesus and the gospel, mirroring Mary's example of "treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart." Finally, we are to **praise** God for Jesus and the gospel, reflecting the shepherds who returned "glorifying and praising God." The sermon connects these essential responses to the act of Communion, seeing it as a personal confession, proclamation, meditation, and exaltation of Jesus and His saving work.

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.