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 4
In a sermon on James 4:1-10 titled "War and Peace: Learning to Deal with Conflict, Part 4," Tom Pennington introduces God's "greater grace" as the refreshing solution to sinful quarreling, following weeks of stern rebuke from the book of James. Previously, Pennington explained that sinful conflict stems not from external issues or people, but from our internal craving for pleasure, which James identifies as "spiritual adultery"�friendship with the world over God. This sermon focuses on the third practical step to conflict resolution: applying the right solution, which is "grace." The word "but" in James 4:6 signifies a stark contrast between humanity's profound sinfulness and God's merciful response. God, despite being jealous for our complete allegiance, is inherently gracious, offering this divine favor constantly from eternity past, through Christ's sacrifice, at salvation, and as an ongoing supply for daily living. This grace is "greater" than our sins' guilt and power, and sufficient for all our trials, as highlighted by Paul's experience with his "thorn in the flesh." The sermon defines grace as God's goodness shown to those who deserve wrath.
War and Peace: Learning to Deal with Personal Conflict - Part 3
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "James War and Peace: Learning to Deal with Conflict, Part 3" delves into James 4:1-10, revealing the true source and profound nature of sinful conflict. He asserts that most quarrels, from international wars to marital disputes, originate not from external issues or other people, but from our own hearts�specifically, the pursuit of selfish pleasures and sinful cravings. Conflict arises when our desires are obstructed. Pennington clarifies that while rare, righteous conflict for Christians can exist, such as in church discipline or defending sound doctrine. These must be driven by motives glorifying God and expressed with a gracious spirit, free from anger or malice. However, he emphasizes that the vast majority of our arguments are selfish and sinful. The sermon then magnifies the real sin behind common conflict, equating it to "spiritual adultery" against God, a term James uses for his readers. This concept, rooted in the Old Testament portrayal of Israel's unfaithfulness, means "friendship with the world is hostility toward God." Worldliness is defined as eagerly pursuing the world's sinful pleasures or making legitimate pleasures the primary purpose of life, reflecting a mindset of self-satisfaction (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life).
The Church: Why Does It Matter?
Tom Pennington's sermon "The Church: Why Does It Matter?" addresses a concerning "mega-shift" among evangelicals who no longer prioritize the local church. He critiques George Barna's book "Revolution," which suggests the local church is obsolete, advocating for alternative "macro" or "micro" faith communities instead. Pennington identifies external societal causes for this drift, including materialism, modern busyness, family over-commitment, a quest for self-fulfillment leading to a "designer church" mentality, and individualism. Internal church-related causes include megachurch anonymity, seeker-sensitive approaches that de-emphasize believer needs, unhelpful para-church ministries, and the decline of expository preaching, which leaves congregants spiritually unfed. Pennington asserts the church's vital importance through four scriptural arguments: 1. **The Example of New Testament Believers:** Early Christians were deeply committed to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and communal care within their tight-knit church communities. 2. **The Teaching and Pattern of the Apostles:** Apostles consistently established churches, ministered within them, and directed their epistles to specific local congregations, demonstrating the church's centrality. 3. **The Commands of the New Testament:** Scripture explicitly commands believers to assemble for worship, give through the church, and employ their spiritual gifts within its body. 4.
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.
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