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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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.
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.
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