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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Thyatira: Extra-Biblical Authority
The sermon on Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) examines a church praised for its love, faith, service, and growing perseverance, yet sternly rebuked for tolerating "Jezebel," a self-proclaimed prophetess. This woman, echoing her Old Testament namesake, led believers astray into immorality and the consumption of food sacrificed to idols. Her teachings provided a convenient justification for Christians to participate in pagan trade guild feasts, thereby avoiding social and financial persecution. Critically, Jezebel presented her doctrines as *extra-biblical revelation*, claiming direct divine authority. Christ promises severe judgment: sickness and death for Jezebel, "great tribulation" for her unrepentant followers, and death for her devoted "children," emphasizing His omniscience and righteous judgment. The church's principal error was allowing this woman to teach, compromising truth for worldly prosperity, and most significantly, supplanting the authority of Scripture with supposed new revelations. Christ urges the faithful to "hold fast" to sound doctrine, promising overcomers authority to rule with Him in the millennium and the ultimate reward of His own presence, the "Morning Star." The enduring lesson for all churches is to steadfastly reject all claims of extra-biblical revelation and uphold the sole sufficiency of God's written Word against cultural pressures and doctrinal error.
Pergamum: Undiscerning Tolerance
Tom Pennington's sermon on Revelation 2:12-17 examines the church in Pergamum, which he calls the "church of undiscerning tolerance." Pergamum, the capital of Roman Asia Minor and referred to by Christ as "Satan's throne," was a city steeped in emperor worship and paganism, making it a challenging environment for believers. Christ commended the church for their steadfast loyalty to His name, never denying their faith, even in the face of persecution and the martyrdom of Antipas. However, their primary failing was "undiscerning tolerance." The church allowed members to hold the "teaching of Balaam" and the "Nicolaitans," which advocated for participating in pagan temple feasts, eating food sacrificed to idols, and engaging in sexual immorality to assimilate into the surrounding culture. The faithful majority failed to exercise church discipline against these false teachers and sinning members. Christ called the church to repent, warning that if they did not, He would swiftly "make war against *them*" (the false teachers) with the "sword of His mouth." For those who overcome (true believers), Christ promised "hidden manna" (representing Himself as spiritual sustenance), a "white stone" (a symbol of victory and admission to His eternal celebration), and "a new name" (signifying their new, divinely-given character).
Wolves in Shepherd's Clothing - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "Wolves in Shepherd�s Clothing" (Romans 16:17-20) emphasizes Paul�s urgent warning against false teachers, a danger as critical today as in the first century. Paul�s caution, mirrored by Jesus in Matthew 7, reminds believers to be constantly vigilant. False teachers are insidious, appearing as spiritual guides or genuine Christians ("wolves in sheep�s clothing"), using pious language to mask destructive doctrines. They are identified by causing dissensions and hindrances, but primarily by teaching "contrary to the teaching which you learned"�the clear standard of Scripture. This includes promoting false sources of authority, a false Christ or gospel, antinomian license, legalism, or simply telling people what they want to hear. Modern examples include the Roman Catholic system (false authority/works-based gospel), cults (false Christ/gospel), and Prosperity Gospel preachers like Joel Osteen and Benny Hinn, who offer easy salvation while ignoring God's holiness. For unbelievers, false teachers blind them to the true Christ and biblical gospel. For true believers, while they cannot be led into damning error, such teaching can severely hinder spiritual growth, cause confusion, and distract from kingdom priorities. Therefore, unwavering discernment, rooted in God's Word, is absolutely essential.
Who Matters to God
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Romans 16:1-16, "Romans Who Matters to God," delves into the significance of the numerous individuals mentioned in Paul's closing greetings, transforming what might seem like a mere list into profound spiritual lessons. He begins by commending Phoebe, the letter's carrier, as a faithful servant and benefactor, clarifying that "servant" refers to her dedicated service rather than an official deaconess role. Paul then greets key figures like Priscilla and Aquila, noting their status as fellow workers who risked their lives for him and hosted a house church in Rome. The sermon highlights the remarkable diversity of the Roman churches, composed of Jews and Gentiles, freeborn and slaves, wealthy and poor, from various backgrounds and stages of faith. Despite these differences, their unity was rooted "in the Lord" or "in Christ," a phrase repeated nine times in the passage. Pennington extracts four key lessons: Christ intends His church to be diverse, its unity is found solely in Christ, true Christians love other believers and forge interconnected relationships, and most importantly, Christ cares deeply about every believer, knowing each by name.
Smyrna: Faithful in Suffering
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "Smyrna: Faithful in Suffering" from Revelation 2:8-11 addresses the reality of Christian persecution, both as a global phenomenon and an impending threat in America. He defines persecution broadly, encompassing insults, slander, and professional discrimination, not just physical violence. Drawing lessons from Christ's letter to the persecuted church in Smyrna, Pennington emphasizes Christ's self-description as "the first and the last" and "who was dead and has come to life," highlighting His eternal sovereignty and victory over death as a source of comfort. Christ acknowledges Smyrna's severe "tribulation" and "poverty" (spiritually, they are "rich"), and the "blasphemy" (slander) from those He calls a "synagogue of Satan"�unbelieving Jews used as instruments of persecution. The sermon outlines five responses to persecution: do not fear suffering (Christ controls it, is with you, gives courage, and preserves faith), do not mistake its source (Satan orchestrates it), do not miss its purpose (God uses it to test and prove genuine faith), do not question Christ's sovereignty (He determines its duration), and do not forget Christ's reward ("the crown of life," which is eternal life). All true believers, "overcomers," are promised they will never be harmed by the "second death" (eternal punishment).
Risen!
The sermon "Risen!" highlights the unparalleled uniqueness of Christianity, asserting that its founder, Jesus, rose from the dead, leaving an empty tomb, a claim no other major religion makes for its founder. This resurrection is the indispensable foundation of Christian faith; without it, Jesus was a fraud, and faith is rendered worthless. The text recounts the historical events: Jesus' crucifixion, hasty burial, and the Sabbath. On Sunday morning, faithful women, intending to anoint Jesus' body, discovered the massive tombstone rolled away by an angel after an earthquake. Angels proclaimed, "He has risen, just as He said," confirming the empty tomb and designating these women as the first witnesses. The sermon presents compelling evidence for this event: the impossibly displaced stone, the angelic testimonies, Jesus' own prophecies of His resurrection, the empty tomb (unchallenged even by His enemies), and His numerous post-resurrection appearances to over 500 people. Initially, the women reacted with a mix of fear, astonishment, and temporary speechlessness, yet also with profound joy and obedient faith, compelling them to share the news.
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