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 Scandal of the Cross
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "The Scandal of the Cross" (Galatians 6:14) illuminates the offensive nature of the Christian message. To the first-century world, proclaiming a crucified carpenter as God's Son and Savior was profoundly scandalous, as crucifixion was a humiliating punishment reserved for the worst criminals (Galatians 5:11). God, however, purposefully chose this "foolish" method to contradict human wisdom and ensure that all glory for salvation belongs to Him alone (1 Corinthians 1:18-29). Historically, this message was a "stumbling block" to Jews and "foolishness" to Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23), a reaction that largely persists today. Christians are thus called to respond to the cross in three ways. First, they must "boast only in the cross," renouncing all self-righteousness and personal accomplishments, acknowledging that every spiritual and temporal blessing flows solely from Christ's work (Philippians 3:4-8). Second, believers must "die to the world," allowing the Holy Spirit to crucify their desires for its values, pleasures, and honors, fostering a new set of priorities (1 John 2:16).
Understanding Your Spiritual Gift
This sermon by Tom Pennington addresses the topic of spiritual gifts from 1 Peter 4:10-11, using the human body as an analogy for the church. Pennington explains that every Christian receives a unique spiritual "charisma" at conversion for selfless service. He distinguishes between temporary "sign gifts" that ceased with the apostles and permanent "edifying gifts" (speaking and serving) for today. He outlines five crucial instructions for spiritual gifts: First, **recognize your specific assignment** � every believer has a God-given capacity, discoverable through scripture, prayer, self-assessment, wise counsel, and faithful service. Second, **understand their exclusive purpose** � gifts are for "serving one another" to edify the body. Third, **have the proper attitude** � be a "good steward" of God's grace, avoiding pride or discontent, knowing God sovereignly determines each gift and its results. Fourth, **learn their legitimate exercise** � speaking gifts must relay God's utterances, while serving gifts must be empowered by God's strength. Finally, **pursue the ultimate goal** � that "in all things, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." The sermon concludes by urging believers to get involved, find their role, and faithfully use their gifts, as the church needs every member to function properly and bring God glory.
God at Work: The Divine Role in Sanctification
The sermon, "God at Work: The Divine Role in Sanctification," reconciles the apparent contradiction in Philippians 2:12-13, which exhorts believers to "work out their salvation" while stating God "is at work in you, both to will and to work." The speaker emphasizes that the Bible, unlike culturally accepted irrationality, contains mysteries but no true contradictions. He elaborates on five features of God's role in sanctification. First, God's powerful and constant energy ("energeto," the same power that raised Christ) works *within* believers, as humans lack the capacity to sanctify themselves. Second, this work is extensive, occurring deep within our souls, where the Holy Spirit indwells. Third, the essence of God�s work is "both to will and to work": God works *to will* by changing our desires, inclining our hearts towards spiritual good, as our natural wills are unable to choose it independently due to sin. He then works *to work* by empowering us to act upon these divinely-inspired desires and decisions. Fourth, this internal transformation is for God's good pleasure, meaning He delights in displaying His love and goodness. Finally, our effort in sanctification (v.
Heaven Rules
Tom Pennington's sermon, "Heaven Rules," from Daniel 4, emphatically asserts God's absolute sovereignty over all nations, directly refuting deistic notions of a distant, uninvolved God. He introduces Daniel, a prophet highly esteemed by God, whose ministry during the Babylonian captivity served to uphold God's honor among pagan nations, demonstrate His power, and improve the welfare of exiled Jews. The sermon highlights Daniel chapter 4 as a prime illustration of this theme. It details King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel's interpretation, and God's subsequent humbling of the world's most powerful monarch. Nebuchadnezzar, boasting in his own might, was afflicted with seven years of insanity until he finally acknowledged God's everlasting dominion and confessed that "the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes" and that "heaven rules." Pennington derives three core applications for believers: God's sovereignty controls all earthly rulers, nations rise and fall by His divine choice, and God actively humbles the proud. Christians are encouraged to acknowledge God's intimate involvement in world affairs, including political leadership, and to remain humble, attributing all personal successes and accomplishments to God's grace rather than their own abilities. God alone is the King of the universe.
Men at Work: Every Believer's Role in Sanctification - Part 4
In "Men at Work: Every Believer�s Part in Sanctification," Pastor Tom Pennington emphasizes that believers must intensely "work out their salvation" (Philippians 2:12), not to earn it, but to diligently pursue sanctification�God�s ongoing deliverance from sin. Likening this to cultivating a garden or an Olympic athlete's training, he stresses that while believers expend strenuous effort, God ultimately orchestrates the spiritual growth. The process for this biblical change, drawn from Ephesians 4, involves three crucial steps: 1. **Lay Aside the Old Self:** Actively shed past sinful habits and ways of thinking, recognizing that one's old self died with Christ. 2. **Be Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind:** Allow the Holy Spirit, through consistent engagement with God's Word, to radically reorient one's mental disposition, fostering true knowledge and Christ-likeness. This inward transformation is paramount, distinguishing sanctification from mere self-reformation. 3. **Put On the New Self:** Consciously apply scriptural truths and virtues, responding in obedience to replace sinful patterns (e.g., generosity instead of stealing). To practically apply this, believers should identify specific sins, study Scripture to find opposite virtues, develop a daily plan, and expend maximum effort, trusting God's grace for the transformative change.
Men at Work: Every Believer's Role in Sanctification - Part 3
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "Sanctification Men at Work," challenges the passive view of sanctification as a "spectator sport." Drawing from Philippians 2:12-13, he asserts that while God initiates and produces change, believers are actively commanded to "work out your salvation." This doesn't mean earning salvation, but rather diligently cultivating Christ-likeness. Pennington identifies four foundational elements for the believer's role. First, **motives** include following Christ's example, preparing for His return, honoring spiritual leaders, and imitating our holy God. Second, sanctification demands an **ongoing pattern of obedience**, not just initial belief. Third, the **attitude** must be "with fear and trembling," signifying profound reverence and awe for God, who is a "consuming fire," not a casual acquaintance. Finally, "working out your salvation" metaphorically means **cultivating** one's spiritual life like a garden�sowing God's Word and consistently striving for obedience. This process requires strenuous, dedicated effort, akin to a runner pressing towards a goal. Ultimately, while believers exert this crucial effort, God is the one who graciously produces true spiritual growth.
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