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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The Word: the Key Element of Worship
In his sermon, "Worship The Word: The Key Element of Worship," Tom Pennington emphatically argues for the indispensable centrality of God's Word in all true worship, both individual and corporate. He critiques contemporary "emerging church" movements that devalue authoritative preaching, opting instead for open discussions, entertainment, or music to replace the Word, attributing this shift to postmodernism's rejection of absolute truth. Pennington asserts that overwhelming biblical and historical evidence consistently establishes the Word's primacy. He traces this pattern from the Old Testament, highlighting the teaching roles of Levites, priests, prophets, and synagogues�exemplified by Ezra's public reading and explanation of the Law. Christ's own ministry was characterized by authoritatively teaching and explaining Scripture, setting a clear example. The early New Testament church, through the apostles' dedication to teaching and elders' responsibilities, maintained this focus, a practice also documented by early church fathers like Justin Martyr. The Word is central, Pennington explains, because it is God speaking to humanity, unlike other worship elements that are offerings from us to God. Moreover, it shapes and informs all other aspects of worship to be acceptable. He applies this by urging churches to remain Word-centered as a crucial litmus test for spiritual health.
The Great Tribulation: the Approaching Storm of God's Wrath - Part 1
The Great Tribulation is presented as a terrifying future period of unprecedented divine wrath upon the Earth, far exceeding any natural disaster. Likening it to Hurricane Camille, the speaker defines "tribulation" (Greek "thlipsis") as an intense "pressing together" or affliction. While those on Earth, including believers, will experience severe distress and persecution, the Bible primarily emphasizes the divine perspective: it is "the Day of the LORD," "Day of Vengeance," and "the Day of Wrath," culminating in Christ's return as judge. This seven-year period, with the "Great Tribulation" specifically denoting its more intense second half, is extensively prophesied across scripture�from Deuteronomy and Jeremiah's "time of Jacob's distress" for Israel, to Daniel's "seventy weeks," Jesus' Olivet Discourse, and especially Revelation 6-19. These passages vividly describe cosmic cataclysms and the "winepress of the fierce wrath of God." The sermon issues a stark warning: humanity must either accept Jesus Christ as Redeemer and find refuge in His atoning blood, thereby escaping this coming wrath, or face Him as a wrathful judge. Believers, conversely, are promised deliverance from the wrath to come.
The Heart of Worship - Part 8
Pastor Tom Pennington concludes his sermon series on John 4, asserting that true worship, like true living, must be centered in Christ. He reviews four previously established laws of worship: it must be internal, stemming from the heart; it must be knowledgeable, not merely emotional; it must be directed by God's truth; and it must be "in spirit," meaning authentic, passionate, and actively participative. The fifth and final law, emphasized in this session, is that true worship is not general but profoundly centered in Jesus Christ. This stems from Jesus' revelation to the Samaritan woman that He is the Messiah (John 4:25-26). Pennington explains two critical applications: first, we must worship *through* Christ, as He is the sole mediator and the only accepted channel to the Father (John 14:6). Second, we must worship Christ Himself, because as God the Son, He is inherently worthy of all adoration and is the designated object of the Father's design for worship (John 5:23). Generic worship of "God" is insufficient; true Christian worship consistently focuses on Jesus, who is the ultimate "temple" of God's presence and the very heart of our faith.
The Heart of Worship - Part 7
Tom Pennington's sermon, "The Heart of Worship (Part 7)," explains Jesus' teaching in John 4:24 that true worship must be "in spirit," meaning it is not superficial but arises from our inner being. Because "God is spirit"�an immaterial being�He desires worship from our spirits, not merely physical actions. This requires the complete participation of our entire being, making worship: 1. **Internal**: Engaging our minds and hearts, not just external motions. 2. **Authentic**: Sincere and genuine, never hypocritical or for show. 3. **Passionate**: Wholehearted, enthusiastic, and fervent. 4. **Active**: Where we are the "actors," and God is the "audience," not passive spectators. This principle applies to all aspects of worship, including singing and prayer. While certain physical displays like dancing, clapping, or lifting hands are mentioned in Scripture, their corporate practice should avoid drawing attention or distracting others. Preparing for such spiritual worship involves a transformed heart from God, confessing sin, restoring relationships, and actively choosing to worship, ensuring our worship is a profound and complete response to God's nature.
The Rapture - Part 2
The sermon "The Rapture (Part 2)" stresses that while studying Christ's return is important, the destination�being with Christ�outweighs obsessing over its exact timing. Pastor Pennington advocates for a balanced approach, avoiding both ignoring scripture and being dogmatic. He explains the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view, held by his church, as Christ's return in two stages. First, the Rapture, where Christ comes *for* His saints before the seven-year Tribulation, taking them to Heaven. Second, the Second Coming, where He returns *with* His saints after the Tribulation to establish His earthly kingdom. Pennington defends this view by citing biblical teachings of Christ's imminent return and the promise that believers are protected *from* God's wrath (e.g., Revelation 3:10). He also points to the absence of the church on earth during much of Revelation and passages like John 14, 1 Corinthians 15, and 1 Thessalonians 4, which describe believers being "caught up" to meet Christ. He addresses criticisms regarding the view's perceived recent origin, showing its core concepts predate popularization. Though acknowledging no view is perfect, he argues against Mid- and Post-Tribulation perspectives.
The Rapture - Part 1
This sermon introduces the biblical doctrine of eschatology, focusing on the Rapture, a term derived from the Latin "rapio" meaning "to snatch or seize," which translates the Greek "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. While all true Bible students believe in the Rapture, the debate centers on its timing. The core difficulty lies in reconciling two apparent streams of biblical data. Firstly, many scriptures emphasize Christ's "imminent" return, meaning He could come at any moment, urging believers to live in constant expectation without needing preceding signs. Secondly, other passages, notably Matthew 24, detail specific signs�false Messiahs, wars, famines, persecution, the Great Tribulation, and cosmic disturbances�that must precede Christ's return. Scholars propose three main solutions to this "exegetical dilemma": some deny imminency (Mid- and Post-Tribulational views), others redefine the signs to maintain imminency, and a third, the Pre-Tribulational view (held by the speaker's church), posits two distinct aspects of the Second Coming. In this view, the church is raptured before the Tribulation without prior signs, followed later by Christ's Second Coming to earth after the Tribulation, which is preceded by specific signs. The speaker notes that no view is definitively stated in Scripture or without its difficulties.
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