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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Christ's Goal for His Church
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Ephesians 4:13 outlines Christ's ultimate goal for the church: for "we all" to attain "the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." This destination isn't reached through sudden events or spiritual fads, but through a lifelong, often slow and painful, process likened to a long journey or physical growth. Every true Christian will ultimately reach this goal, not by their own efforts alone, but by God's faithfulness and Christ's preservation until His return, when all believers will be made perfect in Him. The multifaceted goal involves three key objectives. Firstly, "unity of the faith" signifies agreement on fundamental Christian doctrines, fostering unity based on truth. Secondly, "unity of the knowledge of the Son of God" refers to a growing, intimate devotion to Jesus Christ himself, moving beyond mere intellectual knowledge to a personal relationship. Finally, the church is to become "a mature man" reaching "the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ," meaning a moral resemblance to Christ, embodying His virtues.
The Sabbath & the Heart of God - Part 2
Tom Pennington's sermon "The Sabbath and the Heart of God (Part 2)" on Mark 3:1-6 examines Jesus's final conflict with the Pharisees over Sabbath authority, following an incident affirming the Sabbath allows for necessity. This segment focuses on mercy, as Jesus, declared "Lord even of the Sabbath," heals a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees, observing Jesus to find grounds for accusation, consider healing on the Sabbath unlawful unless life-threatening. Jesus challenges their legalism, asking if it is lawful to do good or harm, save a life or kill, on the Sabbath. They remain silent, revealing their hardheartedness. Jesus, angered yet grieved, heals the man, demonstrating that withholding good when able is sin. The Pharisees, filled with rage, immediately conspire with the Herodians to destroy Jesus, illustrating their self-centeredness and anger towards God's righteousness. Pennington concludes by highlighting God's heart through Jesus's actions: creating the Sabbath for man's benefit, caring for physical needs and suffering, and expressing anger at sin while simultaneously grieving for hardheartedness and extending an invitation to repentance and grace.
Church by the Book - Part 2
This sermon, "Church by the Book Part 2," highlights that Jesus Christ is actively building His church, His ultimate priority, according to a divine plan revealed in Scripture. Drawing from Matthew 16, where Jesus promised to build His church, the text elaborates on Ephesians 4:7, 11-12, outlining five interconnected parts of this plan. First, Christ distributes spiritual gifts to every church member (v. 7), empowering each for service. Second, Christ appoints leaders�apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers (v. 11)�as gifts to the church. While apostles and prophets laid the foundational revelation, evangelists and pastor-teachers (who are also elders and overseers) continue to lead, identified by their desire for the work, godly character, capacity to teach and manage, and congregational confirmation. Members are called to appreciate, imitate, and submit to these biblically qualified leaders, as their authority stems from God's Word. Third, these leaders equip the saints (v. 12a) for ministry through diligent teaching of God's Word and prayer, preparing them to function effectively. Fourth, members then accomplish the work of service (v. 12b), engaging in worship, nurture, and evangelism, rejecting the notion that ministry is solely for paid clergy or that there are no leaders.
The Sabbath & the Heart of God - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Mark 2:22-3:6 examines Jesus's confrontation with the Pharisees over Sabbath observance, highlighting their legalistic mindset that prioritized meticulous human traditions over God's clear word and the "weightier provisions of the law" like justice and mercy. The Pharisees accused Jesus's hungry disciples of breaking the Sabbath by picking grain, equating it to forbidden work. Jesus refuted their accusations with several "iron-clad" arguments. He reminded them of biblical examples where necessity (David eating consecrated bread) or God-ordained ministry (priests working in the temple) superseded ceremonial law. Citing Hosea, Jesus emphasized God's desire for compassion over sacrifice. He also taught that the Sabbath was made for man, intended as a blessing and rest, not an oppressive burden. Most importantly, Jesus declared Himself "Lord even of the Sabbath," an unequivocal claim to deity and authority to redefine its purpose. For Christians, the sermon clarifies that we are not bound by the Old Testament Sabbath's specific regulations, as Christ is the "substance" to which the Sabbath was a "shadow" (Colossians 2:16-17).
Church by the Book - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Churches by the Book Part 1," emphasizes the importance of Christian unity, drawing an analogy to extreme corporate team-building exercises that forge cohesive work. He applies this to Ephesians 4:2-16, where Paul outlines how Christians, by working together and using their spiritual gifts, preserve the unity the Holy Spirit created. The sermon focuses on the first part of "Christ's plan for unity": Christ distributes spiritual gifts to His church. These "grace gifts" (charismata) are unique capacities for service, given to every believer at conversion, distinct from natural talents. While some gifts were temporary "sign gifts" for confirming the apostles' message, permanent "edifying gifts" (categorized as speaking or serving) exist today, forming a unique blend for each individual. Discovering one's gift involves studying Scripture, prayer, self-assessment, seeking confirmation, and faithfully serving. Christ sovereignly determines each person's gift and its measure, which should prevent both pride in visible roles and discontentment in less visible ones. The immediate purpose of these gifts is to serve the church for the "common good" and mutual edification. Ultimately, exercising our gifts properly glorifies God by exalting Christ, demonstrating His perfect design for His church.
New Wine, Old Wineskins
Tom Pennington's sermon on Mark 2:18-22 examines Jesus' teachings on fasting and its profound implications. He critiques modern attempts to make Jesus culturally palatable, asserting that Jesus' first-century ministry was inherently counter-cultural. The passage features John's disciples and Pharisees questioning why Jesus' followers don't fast. Pennington explains Jewish fasting was intended for humbling oneself, not earning God's favor. Jesus responds by identifying Himself as the "bridegroom," signifying a time of celebration, not mourning. He states that fasting will be appropriate only when He is "taken away" (referring to His crucifixion), a sorrow that will eventually transform into joy following His resurrection. Jesus further illustrates this through the parables of new patches on old garments and new wine in old wineskins. These parables underscore that His teachings represent a radical, fundamentally new system, incompatible with the rigid, legalistic framework of first-century Judaism. He wasn't a reformer to mend an outdated system but the initiator of something entirely distinct. Pennington concludes that this principle applies today: Jesus cannot be merely integrated into or contained by false religions, works-based systems, or modern ideologies like humanism or feminism.
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