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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An Aerial View of the New Testament
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Anchored - Section 1
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We Were Made to Worship
When Life's Not Fair
Your Faith, Dead or Alive?
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2008-05-25

Our Union with Christ: Three Compelling Illustrations - Part 1

Pastor Tom Pennington addresses the common pragmatic mindset that undervalues doctrine in favor of immediate "how-to" advice. He explains that Scripture, particularly Paul's letter to the Ephesians, prioritizes foundational theological understanding before practical commands, with the first three chapters building this crucial knowledge. Focusing on Ephesians 2:19-22, Pennington explores two compelling illustrations of believers' union with Christ, established through His work on the cross. First, Christians are "fellow citizens with the saints," transitioning from spiritual "strangers and aliens" to enjoying full rights and belonging in God's heavenly kingdom. This citizenship is shared with all believers throughout history, granting us privileges far surpassing any earthly identity. Second, believers are "members of God�s household," intimately integrated into God's family through both spiritual birth and adoption. The church serves as the visible expression of this divine family on earth. These profound truths carry several applications: our citizenship is exclusively in heaven, rendering us "aliens" to this world; we are genuinely family to other believers and should treat each other with that love and respect; and God truly is our compassionate, caring, and loving Father, desiring us to relate to Him intimately.

Ephesians
2:19-22
Tom Pennington
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Ephesians
Ephesians
2008
2008-05-18

How Blessed is the Man!

This sermon on Psalm 1 explores the question of how to achieve an effective, successful spiritual life. It posits that Psalm 1 presents two fundamental paths: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. The righteous man, described as "blessed" (eshere), enjoys an objectively enviable state of well-being, characterized by spiritual vitality, divine care, fruitfulness, permanence, and soul prosperity, much like a tree firmly planted by water. Achieving this life requires two foundational commitments. First, one must abandon every human way. This means rejecting the counsel of the wicked (their thinking and philosophies), the path of sinners (their lifestyles and habits, even subtle ones), and the seat of scoffers (associating or belonging with those who ridicule God). Second, one must embrace only God's way, found in His "Torah" or Word. This involves actively delighting in the Bible�finding profound joy and pleasure in it�and meditating on it day and night. Meditation entails deeply reflecting on Scripture to understand its meaning and devising practical ways to apply it to one's life. While Christ alone perfectly embodies this Psalm, it calls every individual to choose God's path, living a life shaped by His Word, to experience true spiritual prosperity.

Psalms
1
Tom Pennington
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Psalms
2008
2008-05-04

In Search of the Biblical Jesus - Part 2

Tom Pennington's sermon, "Sermons In Search of the Biblical Jesus (Part 2)," underscores the foundational truth of Jesus Christ's dual nature: fully God and fully man. Pennington notes that Christ's identity is consistently attacked by cults and liberal theology, necessitating a clear, biblical understanding. After briefly reviewing Jesus' humanity�His human birth, development, sinless weaknesses, and voluntary restriction of divine attributes during the incarnation�the sermon focuses on the extensive biblical evidence for His deity. Jesus bears divine titles like "God" and "Son of God," and manifests attributes unique to God, including self-existence, eternality, omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence. He also exercised divine prerogatives such as forgiving sins, executing judgment, and accepting worship�actions reserved for God alone. Scripture further identifies Jesus as Old Testament Yahweh. Most profoundly, Jesus Himself made direct "I AM" claims, echoing Exodus 3:14, especially in John 8:58. His Jewish audience understood this as a claim to deity, leading them to attempt stoning Him for blasphemy. Pennington argues that if Jesus is not God, He is either a liar or a lunatic, not merely a "good man." The Council of Chalcedon's summary affirms Christ's two natures are united without confusion, change, division, or separation, making Him forever the God-man.

Tom Pennington
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2008
2008-05-04

He Himself Is Our Peace - Part 3

This sermon by Tom Pennington addresses the pervasive hostility in our world, identifying human pride as its root cause. Drawing from Ephesians 2, Pennington explains that Jesus Christ is the only true source of peace. Christ�s death on the cross broke down the "dividing wall" between people, specifically Jews and Gentiles. This wall was the Mosaic Law, whose ceremonial aspects created social enmity and whose moral standards condemned humanity before God. By abolishing these barriers, Christ established peace both vertically, reconciling all people to God, and horizontally, uniting them into "one new man"�the church. In this new body, worldly distinctions like race, culture, or social status are made irrelevant. Because Christ has made peace, believers are called to live it out. This involves approaching God with confidence, rejecting the walls that divide humans, and actively seeking personal reconciliation with other Christians. Ultimately, the peace Christ secured on the cross must be reflected in the lives and relationships of His followers.

Ephesians
2:14-18
Tom Pennington
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Ephesians
Ephesians
2008
2008-04-27

He Himself Is Our Peace - Part 2

Pastor Tom Pennington opens by expressing gratitude for his diverse church, contrasting it with the challenging, often hostile, early Christian assemblies. He explains that Ephesians 2:14-18 addresses the deep divisions, particularly between Jewish and Gentile believers, by declaring "He Himself is our peace." Christ achieved this reconciliation, both vertically with God and horizontally among people, by making "both groups into one" and "breaking down the barrier of the dividing wall." This "dividing wall" metaphorically represents the profound spiritual animosity that historically separated Jews and Gentiles. Paul vividly illustrates this using the physical wall in Herod�s Temple, which Gentiles were forbidden to cross on penalty of death. This very wall was central to Paul�s arrest, as he was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile past it, highlighting the intense hatred it symbolized. Through Christ�s ministry, these formerly alienated groups, and all believers across racial, cultural, national, social, and gender lines, are united in peace and equality. This radical reconciliation means that any ongoing hostility among genuine Christians runs contrary to Christ's work, which breaks down all such dividing walls.

Ephesians
2:14-18
Tom Pennington
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Ephesians
Ephesians
2008
2008-04-20

He Himself Is Our Peace - Part 1

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Ephesians 2:14-18, "He Himself Is Our Peace," profoundly details how Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason for the union of all Christians with God and each other. The message explores two core truths stemming from Christ being our peace. Firstly, God is fundamentally at war with every sinner, a reality often overlooked. This isn't just about human hostility towards God, but God's righteous indignation and declared wrath against sin, making our natural state one of alienation and enmity. Secondly, in Christ, reconciliation with God is profoundly possible. Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies as the "Prince of Peace," bringing an end to this divine conflict. Reconciliation involves exchanging hostility for genuine friendship, transforming sinners from God's enemies into His beloved children. This peace was initiated by God through Christ's sacrifice, symbolically tearing down the barrier between humanity and a holy God, as seen in the temple curtain's rending. Ultimately, the sermon urges listeners to respond to God's appeal by turning from sin and embracing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, thereby ending the spiritual war and entering a relationship of complete peace and divine favor.

Ephesians
2:14-18
Tom Pennington
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Ephesians
Ephesians
2008

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