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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How to Pray for This Church - Part 3
This sermon, Part 3 on Ephesians 3:14-21, explores Paul's prayer for spiritual growth, emphasizing foundational principles of effective prayer: praying according to revelation, with humility, and aligning with God's character. The sermon�s core focus is Paul�s first specific request: for believers "to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16). This strengthening of the soul, our true self, is of vast extent, occurring "according to the riches of His glory" and enabling Christlikeness beyond imagination (Eph 3:20). It's accomplished by God's own power, which works in us "both to will and to work" for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13), mediated by the Holy Spirit. The ultimate result is that "Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith," signifying Christ becoming deeply at home in us, profoundly shaping our thoughts, speech, and actions to increasingly mirror His character. The text warns against two extremes in pursuing spiritual growth: the mystical "let go and let God" approach, which is debilitating, and the self-reliant "Christian self-help" approach. Instead, biblical growth balances divine power and human effort: "We expend the effort, and God produces the change.
How to Pray for This Church - Part 2
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Ephesians 3:14-21, "How to Pray for This Church (Part 2)," emphasizes prayer as an essential "exercise" for overcoming spiritual weaknesses, likening them to the "Achilles heel" in legendary heroes. He presents Paul's prayer as a crucial bridge between doctrinal understanding (Ephesians 1-3) and practical Christian living (Ephesians 4-6), serving as a model for effective prayer. Pennington highlights three observations from Paul's requests: first, prayer's priority should always be spiritual, focusing on inner growth over worldly needs. Second, Paul, despite being in prison, doesn't pray for a change in his circumstances, but for strength *within* them, advocating for sanctification through difficulties rather than their removal. Third, prayer is indispensable for spiritual growth; while scripture study and obedience are our responsibilities, genuine spiritual strength ("strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man") is ultimately a gift of God's grace. We must both diligently engage in spiritual disciplines and dependently pray for God to perform the inner transformation we cannot achieve ourselves.
Overcoming the Lust of the Eyes
Pastor Tom Pennington examines Jesus' third temptation in Matthew 4:8-10, where Satan offers Him all the world's kingdoms and their glory in exchange for worship. This temptation, reminiscent of the Faust legend, targets the "lust of the eyes"�a desire for personal prosperity, position, and power, bypassing God's ordained path of suffering. While Jesus was destined to rule these kingdoms, Satan proposed a shortcut, seeking an acknowledgment of his temporary dominion over the world. For believers, this temptation manifests as coveting wealth, pursuing it through unbiblical means (e.g., dishonesty, sacrificing spiritual priorities), trusting in riches, or taking undue credit for success, all of which constitute idolatry. Jesus decisively rebuffed Satan with Scripture, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, "You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only," emphasizing exclusive devotion to God alone. Jesus' perfect resistance provides both a pattern for believers to overcome temptation through God's Word and, more significantly, demonstrates His flawless obedience. This unblemished life qualifies Him as our perfect substitute, forming the foundation for our justification and showcasing His complete triumph over sin and temptation.
Overcoming the Boastful Pride of Life
Pastor Tom Pennington�s sermon, �Power Over Temptation,� examines Christ�s second temptation from Matthew 4:5-7, focusing on overcoming the �boastful pride of life��or self-promotion. He explains that while human temptations spring from sinful cravings, Jesus was tempted through His normal, God-given desires, demonstrating His sinless power and providing a pattern for believers. Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple, a highly visible spot, and tempted Him to jump, quoting Psalm 91. This was not just about testing God's power, but a subtle appeal to self-promotion�to publicly prove His Messiahship to the crowds and seize personal glory outside of God's chosen timing and method. Jesus rebuffed Satan by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16: �You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.� This teaches us not to presume upon God or seek our own glory apart from His will. For believers, the constant temptation to self-promotion perverts our God-given desire to glorify Him into seeking personal recognition. To overcome this, we must remember two things: we are created to promote God�s glory, not our own, and if God chooses to exalt us for His glory, He will do so in His own way and time.
How to Pray for This Church - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Ephesians How to Pray for This Church (Part 1)," examines Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 as a model for Christian prayer. He contrasts the devout but distanced prayer of the Jewish people at the Western Wall with the direct access Christians have to God through Christ. Pennington outlines three foundational principles for effective prayer, drawing from Paul's example. First, **pray according to revelation**; our prayers should be prompted and guided by God's Word rather than solely by our circumstances, allowing Scripture to shape our requests and understanding. Second, **pray with humility**. Paul "bows his knees," signifying deep reverence, submission, and homage to God as the sovereign King, emphasizing an attitude of awe and respect, not casual familiarity. Third, **pray according to God's character**, embracing His attributes: His immense greatness, His loving Fatherhood (through adoption), His unlimited power over all creation, His inherent goodness and generosity, and the limitless riches of His glory. Understanding these aspects allows believers to make audacious requests, trusting God's abundant provision and perfect wisdom. The sermon concludes by urging believers to commit to daily prayer, recognizing it as an essential command for spiritual life, not an option.
God's Great Secret - Part 3
In "Ephesians God's Great Secret (Part 3)," Pastor Tom Pennington contrasts human plans, which often have unintended consequences, with God's perfect eternal plan, which yields only wonderful results. This sermon focuses on the practical implications for believers now that God's "mystery" � His divine secret, once hidden but now revealed through Christ and the church � has been made known. Pennington outlines four key results. First, believers gain the privilege of *free speech before God*. Through Christ and faith, we can approach God in prayer and, in the future, stand in His literal presence with boldness, speaking openly without fear of reprisal. Second, we have *confident access to God*. This means an assured right to enter His presence, whether in current prayer or future physical encounter. These two privileges are granted not by merit, but "in Christ" and "through faith in Him." Third, believers receive *assurance of purpose in our trials*. Paul's tribulations, and even Christ's suffering, illustrate that hardship is often part of God's plan, intended for our good and His glory, challenging the notion that God's plan always involves external prosperity. Finally, the sermon stresses the *responsibility of the church as our great priority*.
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