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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An Aerial View of the New Testament
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
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Embracing Our Church's Distinctives
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Five Hallmarks of a Biblical Church
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Look in the Mirror!
Lord, Teach Us To Pray
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We Were Made to Worship
When Life's Not Fair
Your Faith, Dead or Alive?
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2003-08-17

A Man After God's Own Heart

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "A Man After God's Own Heart" explores true spirituality through 1 Samuel 17, contrasting it with common misconceptions. He identifies four flawed views: external conformity, legalism (man-made rules), reckless liberty (a license to sin), and mysticism (prioritizing feelings over objective Scripture). The sermon highlights Saul's failure, leading God to seek "a man after His own heart," exemplified by David. The story of David and Goliath isn't about personal bravery or overcoming individual challenges, but about the profound motives driving David. Most people pursue personal peace, prosperity, or pleasure, but these, Pennington argues, are "cheap substitutes" for genuine faith. David's consuming passion, evident in his initial words and challenge to Goliath, was God's glory. He was deeply troubled by Goliath's taunting of "the armies of the living God" and fought so "all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel," emphasizing that "the battle is the Lord's." True spirituality is, therefore, a single-minded passion for God's reputation and glory, expressed through a life lived to exalt Jesus Christ, His redemptive work on the cross, and His church.

1 Samuel
17
Tom Pennington
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1 Samuel
2003
2003-06-22

Just Because - Part 2

This sermon on Romans 5:1-11 outlines seven profound benefits believers receive through justification by faith, providing security, comfort, and confidence. These include peace with God, standing in His grace, exulting in the hope of God's glory, and rejoicing in tribulations as God uses them for spiritual growth. Central to these is the fifth benefit: an unshakeable confidence in God's love, which the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts. This divine love is shown to be unconditional (Christ died for us while we were helpless, ungodly sinners), eternal (part of God's pre-meditated plan), sacrificial (Christ died in our place), unique (far surpassing human love), and powerfully proven by the cross. This understanding of God's unmerited love serves as the bedrock of our assurance. Moreover, believers are assured of being saved from God's future wrath, since God, having performed the greater act of justifying His enemies through Christ's death, will surely accomplish the lesser act of saving His reconciled children through Christ's ongoing life. The ultimate benefit and pinnacle of spiritual maturity is to glory in God's person�to delight and rejoice in His character and attributes, recognizing that all these truths ultimately point to Him.

Romans
5:1-11
Tom Pennington
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Romans
2003
2003-06-22

Just Because - Part 1

In "Just Because (Part 1)" from Romans 5:1-11, Pastor Tom Pennington explains the profound benefits of being justified by faith. Justification is God's legal declaration that believing sinners are righteous, achieved by crediting our sins to Christ and His perfect righteousness to us, leading to forgiveness and an eternally right standing before God. Pennington highlights four key benefits. First, **peace with God**: Before justification, humanity was at war with God due to hostility on both sides. Through Christ, this objective conflict ends, bringing peace externally and internally, calming the conscience. Second, **we stand in God's grace**: Justification introduces believers into a realm where God's undeserved kindness reigns, accepting us as adopted children, not based on merit. Third, **we exult in hope of the glory of God**: This "happy certainty" means believers confidently rejoice in both seeing God's glory and sharing in it through glorification, reflecting His image. Fourth, **we rejoice in our tribulations**: Unlike worldly reactions, Christians can find joy in suffering because they know trials produce perseverance, which builds proven character (evidence of genuine faith), and strengthens hope.

Romans
5:1-11
Tom Pennington
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Romans
2003
2003-05-18

Above All Earthly Powers

In "Above All Earthly Powers," Pastor Tom Pennington examines Daniel 5 to illustrate God's absolute sovereignty over human history and political leaders. Recalling Babylon's historical significance, Pennington introduces its last king, Belshazzar, who defiantly held a feast amidst a siege, desecrating sacred temple vessels and praising pagan gods. A mysterious hand then appeared, writing an undecipherable message on the wall. Daniel, summoned to interpret, revealed God's judgment: the kingdom was "Mene" (numbered, completed), "Tekel" (weighed and found wanting), and "Upharsin" (divided and given to the Medes and Persians). This prophecy was fulfilled that very night as Babylon fell to Cyrus, demonstrating that regardless of a regime's wickedness, or a ruler's power, God is in control and holds all leaders accountable. The sermon concludes by offering practical applications, encouraging believers to find comfort in God's sovereignty amidst political unrest, properly respect authority, humble themselves before God, and place ultimate hope not in transient earthly nations but in God's eternal, unshakable kingdom.

Daniel
5
Tom Pennington
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Daniel
2003

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