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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War and Peace: Learning to Deal with Personal Conflict - Part 2
Tom Pennington's sermon "Learning to Deal with Conflict, Part 2" argues that modern society's obsession with trivial pleasure, as predicted by Aldous Huxley, is spiritually deadly. While God provides legitimate pleasures like food, family, and marriage, pleasure becomes sinful when it supplants God, is pursued to excess, or is explicitly forbidden. Such sinful pleasure is fleeting, never truly satisfying, and ultimately enslaves. Pennington asserts that the true source of all human conflict�from personal arguments to national wars�stems from sinful cravings ("hedone") warring within our hearts (James 4:1-3). Our self-centered desires, not external issues or other people, fuel our anger, envy, and quarrels. He explains that unfulfilled cravings can lead to metaphorical "murder"�hatred in the heart�which then erupts into outward fighting. These desires often remain unfulfilled because we either neglect to ask God for good things or pray with selfish motives, seeking only to indulge our sinful "pleasures" rather than aligning with God's will. The sermon concludes that our greatest need is for God to transform our desires, shifting our affections from chasing "cardboard pleasures" to finding ultimate, lasting joy and satisfaction in God Himself, the "fountain of living waters," instead of futile, "broken cisterns."
War and Peace: Learning to Deal with Personal Conflict - Part 1
In his sermon "James War and Peace: Learning to Deal with Conflict, Part 1," Tom Pennington addresses the pervasive issue of conflict. He notes that human history, from ancient times to the present, has been dominated by war and fighting, extending into every sphere of life, including workplaces, friendships, families, and even churches. Pennington asserts that the common tendency to blame external factors or other people for conflict is misguided. Drawing from James 4:1-10, he reveals that the true source of all quarrels and conflicts lies within individuals. Specifically, the Bible identifies this source as "your pleasures" or "cravings" (hedone/lusts) that "wage war in your members." These are self-centered desires and expectations that, when unmet or thwarted, drive us into arguments and strife. The pastor emphasizes that to deal with conflict effectively, one must first identify this internal origin. It's crucial to stop pointing fingers and instead ask, "What self-centered craving am I trying to protect by engaging in this argument?" Understanding that our own unfulfilled desires are the root of the problem shifts the focus from external issues to internal self-examination.
Jonah: A Virtual Tour
The Book of Jonah offers a virtual tour, highlighting its historicity and God's sovereignty. Jonah, a prophet, is commanded to preach repentance to Nineveh, a notoriously violent Assyrian city. Knowing God's compassion, Jonah flees to Tarshish, unwilling for Ninevites to receive mercy due to prejudice and fear of indictment for Israel. God sends a storm; Jonah, identified by lots, is thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish for three days. Repentant in the fish's belly, he declares, "Salvation is from Yahweh," and is vomited onto land. God recommissions Jonah, who obeys, preaching judgment to Nineveh. The entire city genuinely repents, prompting God to relent from calamity. Jonah, angered by God's mercy, despairs. God uses a plant, a worm, and a wind to teach him compassion: if Jonah cared for a temporary plant, shouldn't God care for His vast city of creatures? Lessons include avoiding prejudice, not limiting God's mercy, and fulfilling our gospel mission. Ultimately, the book reveals God's sovereign and saving character: "Salvation is from Yahweh." Jesus linked Jonah's three days in the fish to His own death and resurrection, urging all to repent and believe.
Isaiah: A Virtual Tour
Tom Pennington's virtual tour of Isaiah highlights the prophet's central message: "Yahweh is sovereign and Yahweh is salvation." Pennington first addresses the challenge to Isaiah's single authorship, refuting anti-supernaturalist claims by citing unanimous Jewish scholarship (e.g., Dead Sea Scrolls), historical Christian consensus, New Testament attributions, and Jesus's own testimony, affirming God's power to reveal specific future events. Isaiah's ministry in Judah occurred during a period of prosperity but severe moral and spiritual decline. Commissioned by God in Isaiah 6, he proclaimed judgment on the nation for its rebellion, specifically its reliance on military alliances, empty religious rituals, and idols instead of God. Yet, amidst the warnings, Isaiah consistently promised a faithful remnant would be preserved. The theme "Yahweh is salvation" underscores God as the exclusive source of both physical deliverance and spiritual redemption. This salvation, the text emphasizes, is ultimately accomplished through a "Suffering Servant"�the Messiah, Jesus Christ�who brings a glorious future for both Jews and Gentiles, culminating in a new heavens and new earth. The sermon concludes by urging listeners to place their complete trust in God alone for all physical challenges and eternal salvation, rejecting self-reliance or any other false hope.
Wisdom from Hell vs. Wisdom from Heaven - Part 5
This sermon on James 3:13-18 contrasts "wisdom from Hell" with "wisdom from Heaven," highlighting how appearances can be deceiving in both advertising and spiritual life. "Wisdom from Hell" is earthly, natural, and demonic, marked by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, leading to disorder and evil. Conversely, "wisdom from Heaven" originates from God, is planted with genuine saving faith, and matures throughout life. Its chief characteristic is purity, encompassing both moral and devotional devotion to Christ. This divine wisdom is further defined by seven complementary qualities: it is peaceable (peace-loving, preserving and promoting peace); gentle (gracious, bighearted towards others); reasonable (open to persuasion and learning, not stubborn); full of mercy (sympathy leading to action); full of good fruits (practical acts of mercy, demonstrating genuine faith); unwavering (consistent and stable); and without hypocrisy (genuine and sincere, performing spiritual acts for God, not for human acclaim). Ultimately, heavenly wisdom produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. The sermon encourages listeners to use these characteristics as a test of their spiritual maturity and a roadmap for growth, drawing hope from God's perfect embodiment of these very virtues.
Wisdom from Hell vs. Wisdom from Heaven - Part 4
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Wisdom from Hell vs. Wisdom from Heaven, Part 4," identifies a pervasive "elephant in our culture": rampant sexual idolatry. He cites alarming statistics on television and internet pornography consumption, noting its widespread impact across all demographics, including young people, and a growing societal acceptance of sexual sins. Pennington contrasts this modern depravity with the First Century Greco-Roman world, the context for James's epistle. He explains James 3:13-18, outlining two forms of wisdom. "Wisdom from Hell" is earthly, natural, demonic, and marked by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, leading to disorder. Conversely, "Wisdom from Heaven" originates from God as a gracious gift, accompanying genuine saving faith in Christ. Its foremost characteristic is purity, meaning both moral and sexual integrity�freedom from all forms of sexual sin ("pornea")�and whole-hearted devotion to Christ. Achieving this divine purity involves several steps: coming to Christ for salvation, radically fleeing temptations (like problematic media), meditating on what is pure, seeking guidance and accountability from other Christians, maintaining an eternal perspective, obeying God's truth, actively engaging in sanctification, and ultimately finding complete joy and satisfaction in God rather than any idol.
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