Sermons That Exalt Christ

The Parable of the Soils - Part 2

Tom Pennington's sermon delves into Jesus's Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13:1-23), highlighting its foundational importance for understanding responses to the Gospel. He explains that the "seed" is the Word of God, the "sower" is anyone sharing it, and the "soil" represents four types of human hearts. The "hard soil" symbolizes an unreceptive heart that refuses to understand the Gospel, allowing Satan to snatch it away. The "rocky soil" depicts a superficial heart that initially receives the Word with joy but lacks deep roots, withering under affliction or persecution, indicating temporary, not saving, faith. The "thorny soil" illustrates a preoccupied heart where worldly worries, the deceitfulness of wealth, or life's pleasures choke out spiritual growth, rendering it unfruitful despite initial reception. Lastly, the "good soil" represents a heart prepared by God, which hears, understands, and bears abundant fruit through obedience to Christ. The sermon concludes by emphasizing that only a heart prepared by God leads to genuine, permanent faith, urging listeners to self-examine and repent to become good soil.

The Parable of the Soils - Part 1

Pastor Tom Pennington introduces Jesus' Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13) to explain the varying responses people have to the gospel. He sets the context, noting that earlier that day, Israel's leaders had accused Jesus of casting out demons by satanic power and demanded a sign, while even Jesus' own family thought He had "lost His senses." This marked a turning point, leading Jesus to teach in parables. From a boat on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus shared the parable with a large crowd, focusing on the condition of the soil where a sower's seed falls. He describes four types: "hard soil" (footpaths) where birds quickly ate the seed; "shallow soil" (over bedrock) where seeds sprouted quickly but withered due to lack of roots; "thorny soil" where thorns choked out the good plants; and finally, "good soil" that yielded abundant crops (hundredfold, sixty, or thirty). Jesus concluded this public teaching simply, "He who has ears, let him hear," without explanation. Later, He revealed to His disciples two reasons for speaking in parables: to reveal truth to those "granted to know" (the disciples), and to conceal it from those "not granted" (the crowds), fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy.

A Friend of Sinners - Part 1

The Great Commission

Pastor Tom Pennington begins a 2009 sermon series focused on evangelism, calling it the church's New Year's resolution, rooted in Matthew 28:16-20, the Great Commission. He outlines four essential components of this mission. First, the mission's **importance** is paramount, tracing back to God's plan for global redemption from Abraham through Israel and Christ, and now through the church. Matthew's placement of this command as Christ's final instruction, Jesus� deliberate calls for this gathering, and the presence of over 500 followers underscore its weight. Second, the **authority** behind the mission is Christ's absolute power "in heaven and on earth," granted by the Father. This comprehensive authority empowers Him to issue such a command, to call sinners, forgive sins, and guide His followers. Third, the **details** involve "going and making disciples of all the nations." This means actively sharing the gospel to bring people into an obedient, pupil-teacher relationship with Christ. This process includes public confession through baptism and subsequent teaching to "observe all that I commanded you"�emphasizing complete obedience to Christ's teachings. Finally, the mission's **support** rests on Christ's unwavering promise: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

The Return of the King - Part 2

This sermon on Matthew 2:1-12, "The Return of the King (Part 2)," establishes Jesus as the only rightful King. It focuses on the Magi's journey, pagan astrologers from the East whom God providentially led to Jerusalem to find the newborn King. Their arrival exposed three "unworthy reactions" in Jerusalem. The general populace showed "settled indifference," too preoccupied with daily life to investigate the King's birth. The religious leaders displayed "religious distraction," knowing prophecies of the Messiah's Bethlehem birth but failing to seek Him out, absorbed in their religious duties. King Herod exhibited "angry defiance," a paranoid usurper who feigned worship while secretly plotting the Child's murder. Conversely, the Magi modeled "unrestrained worship." Upon finding Jesus, they were filled with exceeding joy, fell to the ground in submission, and honored Him with costly gifts: gold for a King, frankincense for God, and myrrh for His destined death. They left spiritually transformed. God sent the Magi for their salvation, as a testimony to Israel, to confirm prophecy, and as an invitation for all to respond to Jesus as their rightful King. The sermon concludes by challenging listeners to choose between indifference, religious distraction, angry defiance, or the Magi's joyful, submissive worship.

The Nativity: A Virtual Tour

Pastor Tom Pennington led a virtual tour of the Nativity, tracing Mary and Joseph�s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Nazareth, their small, isolated hometown, was where the angel Gabriel announced Jesus' miraculous birth to Mary. After visiting her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, Mary returned, and Joseph, initially contemplating a private divorce upon learning of Mary's pregnancy, was divinely instructed in a dream to marry her. Nine months pregnant, Mary and Joseph embarked on a challenging 60-mile, at least three-day journey to Bethlehem for a Roman census. Bethlehem was historically significant as King David's birthplace and prophesied as the Messiah's. Jesus was born there in humble circumstances, laid in a manger "because there was no room for them in the inn." Pennington explained that "inn" (*katalyma*) might refer to a public lodging or a relative's guest chamber. He proposed possibilities for the lack of space: late arrival, fully booked lodgings, or even social rejection by relatives due to the perceived shame of an unwed pregnancy. Regardless of the precise reason, the circumstances underscored Jesus� profound condescension.