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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180 Degrees: A Study of Biblical Repentance
This sermon defines biblical repentance as a radical 180-degree turn from sin to God, an essential component of conversion alongside faith. It clarifies that repentance is not a self-earned work, an external ritual, or mere regret, but rather a supernatural gift from God involving intellectual (embracing truth), emotional (godly sorrow), and volitional (forsaking sin) changes. The process begins with conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit and God's Word, leading to godly sorrow accompanied by hope in God's mercy, and ultimately producing true repentance that manifests tangible "fruits" like earnestness and a desire for holiness. The text emphasizes two crucial lessons: First, repentance is an indispensable part of the gospel message, consistently preached by Christ and the apostles, contrary to "easy believism." Second, it is a lifelong pattern for believers, evident in prayer for forgiveness and ongoing turning from sin. Finally, the sermon offers comfort, highlighting God's gracious and compassionate nature, which always responds to genuine repentance with abundant forgiveness, as exemplified by the Ninevites in the book of Jonah. This consistent and merciful response is rooted in God's very character.
Thank God!
Pastor Tom Pennington introduces Psalm 107, highlighting God's nature as a Savior and Deliverer, using an anecdote about his daughter seeking his help for a broken toy to illustrate the universal human instinct to cry for help. He explains that while humans often seek aid from others, our deepest problems necessitate turning to God, who, unlike false idols, uniquely responds. The psalm features four illustrative scenarios of physical rescue (travelers, prisoners, the sick, seamen) that also represent spiritual deliverance. Focusing on the prisoners' narrative (Psalm 107:10-16), the sermon outlines three steps to divine rescue. First, one must recognize their hopeless spiritual condition, a "prison of our own making" due to sin and rebellion against God's counsel, often brought about by God's humbling hand. Second, they must repent of their sins, crying out to God with genuine willingness to forsake sin and turn to Him in faith, as God requires true repentance for rescue. Third, after receiving salvation, the proper response involves giving thanks, experiencing joy, sharing God's works with others, and thoughtfully considering His steadfast love.
The Faith to Believe
The sermon "The Faith to Believe" clarifies true biblical saving faith, distinguishing it from common misconceptions. Faith is presented as both a divine gift and a human response, integral to the "order of salvation." It is not mere natural trust, intellectual acceptance of historical facts about Jesus, belief due to miracles, or temporary emotional reactions. Rather, saving faith stands in direct opposition to human effort or "works," received solely "by grace alone, through faith alone." True faith involves three key elements: "knowledge" (intellectual understanding of Gospel truths like Christ's deity), "assent" (emotional conviction that these truths are real and applicable), and most importantly, "trust" (the volitional act of complete personal reliance and surrender to Christ alone for salvation). Faith functions as an instrument, an "empty hand" receiving God's free gift of righteousness, never being the cause or grounds for salvation itself. The object of saving faith is crucial: it is exclusively the person of Jesus Christ, not a general truth, plan, or prayer. The quantity of one's faith matters less than its proper object. To strengthen faith, believers are encouraged to shift focus from their own weaknesses and challenging circumstances, instead dwelling on God's unchanging character, power, faithfulness, and promises.
Your Faith: Dead or Alive? - Part 3
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "Your Faith: Dead or Alive" from James 2:14-26 asserts that genuine saving faith is invariably accompanied by obedience and good works. He argues this biblical truth, defining a "changed life" for his church, has been dangerously overlooked. Pennington emphasizes James's consistent message: true faith isn't mere intellectual assent but actively transforms one's life, leading to decreasing sin and increasing holiness. He contrasts this with "easy believism," critiquing figures like Charles Ryrie and Zane Hodges who propose a disconnect between faith and works, suggesting true Christians can lack a changed life. Pennington deems this a "weak gospel" with severe implications. To prove historical consistency, he cites early church fathers (Clement, Ignatius, Augustine), Reformation leaders (Luther, Calvin), and later theologians (Spurgeon, Tozer), all affirming that faith without works is dead and true justification results in transformation. Pennington clarifies that Paul and James are not contradictory; Paul opposes salvation by works, while James combats lawlessness, both agreeing that true faith yields good works. The sermon concludes by urging self-examination to discern living, saving faith from dead, damning faith, and advocating for a gospel presentation that immediately emphasizes Christ as both Savior and Lord.
Born Again: The Miracle of Regeneration
Tom Pennington's sermon, "The Miracle of Regeneration," explores this essential theological concept, defining it as a radical, pervasive, and instantaneous act of God that imparts new spiritual life. Regeneration is not self-reformation, the addition of a new spiritual component, or merely perfecting one's fallen nature. Instead, it is necessary because humanity is spiritually blind, inherently fleshly, and powerless to enter God's Kingdom without divine intervention, as highlighted in John 3. Biblical metaphors such as new birth, creation, and resurrection illustrate that individuals are passive in this process; God acts alone, a "monergistic" work. This mysterious yet instantaneous transformation changes every faculty of a person's being�mind, heart, and will�enabling them to understand God's truths. The profound effects of regeneration include a cleansed heart, the ability to see and enter God's Kingdom by faith, a newfound capacity to believe in Christ (preceding saving faith), and the power to obey God, avoid a life of habitual sin, and love others. Ultimately, true regeneration is evidenced by the production of the fruit of the Spirit in one's life, a clear contrast to the "deeds of the flesh," demonstrating a genuine, Spirit-wrought transformation.
Your Faith: Dead or Alive? - Part 2
Pastor Tom Pennington introduces his sermon on James 2:14-26 by comparing those with "dead faith" to flat-earth believers, highlighting how such faith is out of touch with reality. He explains James's distinction between a real, saving faith and a deceiving, dead faith, focusing on an "autopsy of dead faith" with three characteristics. Firstly, dead faith is marked by an empty profession (v.14-17). Simply claiming faith without a consistent pattern of obedience, or "works," is useless, like offering empty blessings to someone in need without providing practical help. Works, in this context, are the attitudes and actions commanded by the Bible that demonstrate a life's true direction. Secondly, dead faith shows a consistent pattern of excuses (v.18). People with dead faith argue that faith and works can be separated or rely solely on internal feelings. James refutes this, stating that works *display* faith; one cannot demonstrate courage without an act of courage, nor true faith without corresponding acts of obedience. Thirdly, dead faith holds biblical orthodoxy without genuine fear (v.19). While it can embrace correct doctrines about God and Christ ("You believe that God is one. You do well."), the sermon emphasizes that "the demons also believe, and shudder.
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