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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Human Responsibility - Part 4
This sermon, "Romans Human Responsibility (Part 4)," delves into why many, including God's chosen people, Israel, have rejected the Messiah, focusing on human unwillingness to embrace salvation by faith. Pastor Pennington illustrates the historical gravity of confessing "Jesus is Lord" with the story of Polycarp's martyrdom under Roman persecution. He contrasts two fundamentally opposed ways people seek a right standing with God: 1. **Righteousness based on Law:** This demands perfect, lifelong obedience to God's law, which is humanly impossible and results in a curse (Galatians 3:10). Our own sincere efforts are utterly insufficient. 2. **Righteousness based on Faith:** This path, unlike the law, is easily accessible and does not require superhuman deeds, as Christ has already perfectly accomplished all that is needed. True, saving faith, as explained in Romans 10:9-10, involves two inseparable aspects. First, one must **believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead**. This entails an intelligent comprehension and assent to all of Jesus' claims�His deity, Messiahship, sinless life, substitutionary death, and resurrection�which validates His entire saving work. Second, one must **confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord (Kurios)**.
When Empires Fall - Part 2
This sermon on Daniel 5 underscores God's absolute sovereignty over the rise and fall of human empires and leaders, fulfilling ancient prophecies from Isaiah and Jeremiah regarding Babylon. Despite witnessing God's power through his ancestor Nebuchadnezzar, King Belshazzar blasphemously defied God by hosting a feast using sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple. A mysterious hand then wrote "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" on the wall. Daniel interpreted this divine message: God had numbered Belshazzar's kingdom, weighed him and found him deficient, and decreed its division to the Medes and Persians. That very night, the seemingly impregnable city of Babylon fell as Cyrus's forces, precisely as prophesied, diverted the Euphrates River and entered through open gates, executing Belshazzar. This dramatic event exemplifies that no government, empire, or ruler, regardless of defiance, power, or wickedness, can escape God's sovereign control, reach, or ultimate verdict.
Human Responsibility - Part 3
The text, based on Romans 9:30-10:21, addresses human responsibility in salvation, particularly why many Israelites rejected Christ. It establishes two fundamental realities: God is perfectly righteous and demands righteousness from all who enter His presence, yet humanity is inherently unrighteous (Romans 3:10). This dilemma offers only two paths: attempting to earn righteousness through personal merit and good works, which inevitably fails, or receiving it as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul expresses profound sorrow and prays for Israel's salvation, highlighting their personal accountability for unbelief. He identifies their primary errors as a misunderstanding of the Law's purpose�believing it's a means to earn favor rather than a guide to Christ�and an unwillingness to embrace salvation by faith alone. While many possess "zeal for God," it is "not in accordance with knowledge." They fail to comprehend "God's righteousness," which is the divine gift of a right standing through faith in Christ, and instead strive to establish their own righteousness through works. This self-righteous pursuit is futile and condemned by the Law itself.
Q & A
Pastor Tom Pennington opens a Q&A session by reflecting on the Shepherds Conference, highlighting messages from John MacArthur on divine evaluation and Sinclair Ferguson on holiness. He sets ground rules for questions, emphasizing genuine inquiry over challenging the pastor. The session covers several theological questions: 1. **Bible Smuggling:** Asked about lying to smuggle Bibles, Pastor Tom advises against direct contradiction of truth, citing God's inability to lie, while acknowledging Christian liberty and courage. He suggests truthful but benign answers. 2. **Assurance of Salvation:** To balance self-examination with assurance, he recommends "for every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ." Focus on the *direction* of growth in love, humility, and holiness, not perfection. He encourages using specific Bible verses as a "short sword of the Spirit" against doubt (e.g., Psalm 9:10, John 10:27-29, Philippians 1:6, Jude 24-25). 3. **Fasting:** Fasting is a valid, scriptural practice but should not be a regimented routine or a means to earn favor with God. It should be a heartfelt response to anguish or a deep need for prayer, connected to spiritual earnestness. 4.
Four Soils - Part 2
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "Four Soils" from Matthew 13:1-23 explores the Parable of the Sower, highlighting the critical role of the human heart's condition in responding to the gospel. The "seed" is identified as the Word of God, specifically the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The "sower" is anyone who shares this divine truth. Jesus describes four types of "soil," each representing a different heart. The **hard soil** symbolizes an unreceptive heart that hears the gospel but doesn't genuinely understand it, allowing the evil one to snatch it away. The **rocky soil** signifies a superficial heart that initially receives the word with joy but lacks deep roots; it quickly withers under affliction or persecution, revealing temporary faith. The **thorny soil** illustrates a preoccupied heart where worldly worries, the deceitfulness of wealth, and life's pleasures choke out the gospel, rendering it unfruitful. Finally, the **good soil** represents a heart prepared by God, which hears, understands, and consistently bears fruit�Christian character and good works�demonstrating true, lasting faith. This parable offers crucial insights: there are only four responses to the gospel, three of which are initially favorable but not genuine. True, permanent faith flourishes only in a heart divinely prepared.
Four Soils - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington examines Matthew 13:1-23, using the Parable of the Sower to explain varied responses to Jesus' ministry and reconcile divine sovereignty with human responsibility. The parable describes four types of soil: hard-packed paths, where seeds are devoured by birds, symbolizing those who hear but lack understanding, allowing Satan to snatch the message; rocky ground, where seeds sprout quickly but wither without deep roots, representing superficial enthusiasm that fades under adversity; thorny soil, where weeds choke the growth, illustrating faith suffocated by worldly worries and desires; and good soil, which yields abundant crops, signifying those who hear, understand, and bear lasting fruit. Jesus explained that He spoke in parables to reveal truth to those "granted" understanding (His disciples) and simultaneously conceal it from those whose hearts were dull and unwilling to perceive. Unbelief is attributed both to Satan's blinding influence and individuals' *own* active choice to love darkness and sin, thus bearing personal responsibility. Conversely, genuine faith and spiritual understanding are entirely the result of God's sovereign grace and election, meaning believers can take no credit for their prepared hearts.
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