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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Silencing Scripture
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "Trending vs. Truth Silencing Scripture" identifies the rejection of God's Word as the second root cause of society's moral confusion, following the abandonment of God. He details six cultural expressions of this silencing: outright rejection, contextualization of meaning, marginalization to personal faith, reinterpretation through contemporary lenses, deliberate dereliction (neglect), and substitution with human-derived authorities like experts, collective mindsets, or personal reason. Pennington explains the spiritual foundations for this among unbelievers, attributing it to an inherited predisposition against truth, darkened minds, satanic deception, and sinful suppression of truth. For believers, the sermon urges a biblical correction: abandon all other authorities and embrace God's Word alone. Drawing on Psalm 1, Proverbs 3, and Romans 12, he calls for delighting in and meditating on Scripture, trusting God's understanding over one's own, acknowledging His authority in all life's ways, and transforming minds by His Word. The practical implication is vital: unbelievers are unreliable moral authorities, and Christians must consistently start with Scripture when forming views on any issue, prioritizing God's perspective over personal opinions or societal trends.
The Abandonment of God
In "Trending VS Truth," Pastor Tom Pennington posits that the root cause of contemporary cultural confusion, especially regarding moral issues, is humanity's abandonment of the true God. He outlines five cultural expressions of this abandonment: Darwinian Naturalism, Philosophical Atheism, Paganism, Syncretism (blending distorted Christian views with other realities), and Practical Atheism (living as if God doesn't exist). Pennington argues that this rejection is not due to a lack of evidence, but a "willful ignorance" of God's existence and a "willful rejection" of His law, as detailed in Romans 1. He emphasizes that God has clearly revealed Himself to all people through creation, their conscience, and His providence. Additionally, God's special revelation is found in Scripture and ultimately in His Son, Jesus Christ. For unbelievers, this abandonment leads to profound moral confusion and a depraved mind. For believers, accepting God's self-revelation is the bedrock for moral clarity, urging them to root their views in God's eternal truth rather than popular cultural trends.
Desperate for Forgiveness
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "Desperate for Forgiveness" on Psalm 130 underscores the critical importance of daily sin confession for believers, cautioning against taking sin lightly. He presents Psalm 130 as a biblical model for repentance, where the psalmist cries "out of the depths" from an overwhelming sense of guilt, appealing for God's mercy. The sermon outlines three essential truths about God's forgiveness. First, receiving forgiveness is humanity's only hope, as God's perfect justice demands punishment for every sin, meaning no one can stand before Him without His pardon. Second, extending forgiveness is intrinsic to God's nature; He cancels the objective guilt of sin, though this requires a ransom. Third, God's forgiveness is not an end in itself but a means to cultivate a greater fear, love, and obedience towards Him. This profound forgiveness is made possible solely through the atoning death of Jesus Christ, who absorbed God's justice for our sins on the cross. True forgiveness leads to deeper devotion and a desire to turn from sin, a profound reality celebrated at the Lord's Table.
To God be the Glory, Amen!
Pastor Tom Pennington concludes a monumental seven-year, 190-sermon series on Paul's letter to the Romans, a significant milestone for him and Countryside Bible Church. He reiterates the book's central theme: "The Gospel of God," which proclaims justification by faith alone through Jesus Christ's perfect life, substitutionary death, and resurrection. The concluding sermon focuses on Romans 16:25-27, a doxology entitled "All Glory to God," which summarizes eight foundational truths about the gospel. Pennington emphasizes that the gospel is God's sovereign power to save and strengthen believers, His divinely revealed message�not a human invention�centered entirely on His Son, Jesus Christ. This gospel is God's eternal plan, revealed progressively through the incarnation, Old Testament prophets, and New Testament apostles. It is a universal message commanded for all nations, demanding an "obedience of faith"�initial belief leading to a life of ongoing trust and genuine obedience. Ultimately, the gospel's purpose is to bring all glory to God through Jesus Christ. The appropriate response to these profound truths is a resounding "Amen!"
A Pattern for Christian Relationships
This sermon on Romans 16:21-24, where Paul relays greetings from companions in Corinth to Roman Christians, provides a timeless pattern for Christian relationships. Pastor Tom Pennington outlines four key guidelines. First, cultivate lifetime Christian friends, exemplified by the deep bond between Paul and Timothy, offering mutual encouragement and challenge. Second, develop close ministry friends, like Paul�s traveling companions and his amanuensis Tertius, whose friendships are forged through shared service for the Lord. Third, build healthy relationships within a local church. The examples of Gaius (a wealthy host), Erastus (the city treasurer), and Quartus (a slave) demonstrate that diverse believers, regardless of social standing, are united as brothers and sisters in Christ. Finally, care about and connect with Christians in other places, reflecting the first-century church's commitment to a broader community of believers. These patterns emphasize that our deepest relationships, after Christ, should be with other Christians, primarily centered within the local church. These relationships must transcend all normal human differences�such as age, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic status�to truly reflect Christ's intention of uniting people from every background in worship and service.
Wolves in Shepherd's Clothing - Part 2
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "Romans Wolves in Sheep�s Clothing" warns against false teachers, who are a perpetual danger in the Christian church. Like disguised carnivorous caterpillars, these individuals are deadly deceivers. Paul urges believers to respond biblically by first measuring all teachers and their doctrines against the clear teaching of Scripture, emulating the discerning Bereans. Believers must actively "watch out" for those who deviate from the truth, identifying them by their "fruit." This "fruit" includes their character and conduct (revealing internal wickedness despite outward piety), the content of their teaching (does it truly exalt the Biblical Jesus and gospel, promote holiness, uphold God's Word, and foster selfless love?), and the spiritual state of their followers. Once identified, false teachers must be unequivocally "avoided"�no debate, friendship, or support should be extended, treating them as outside the Christian faith. Pennington further explains their "spiritual anatomy": they are spiritually dead, not slaves of Christ but of their own appetites (greed, self-indulgence). They employ smooth, flattering speech to camouflage their destructive heresies and primarily target the unsuspecting, such as immature believers, the desperate, and the vulnerable.
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