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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2 Corinthians
An Aerial View of the New Testament
An Aerial View of the Old Testament
Anchored Section 1
Anchored Section 2
Anchored Section 3
Baptism Services
Bible Study for Every Christian
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Christmas Concert Messages
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Committing to Christian Relationships
Daniel
Deadly Dangers
Embracing Our Church's Distinctives
Ephesians
Five Hallmarks of a Biblical Church
Hold Fast
Hook, Line and Sinker
John
Just by Faith Alone
Lies Christians Believe
Look in the Mirror!
Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Mark - The Memoirs of Peter
Marriage & Family by God's Design
Matthew
Missions Sunday
No Whining Allowed
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Power Over Temptation
Preserving the Unity of the Church
Psalm 23
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Recovering a Lost Legacy
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Riches to Rags
Romans
Ruth
Sanctification
Six Steps to Spiritual Stability
Sunday Evening Online
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Thanksgiving Sermons
The Deadly Sin of Anger
The Distinctives of Countryside Bible Church
The First Testament of Jesus Christ
The Memoirs of Peter
The Reason We Live
The Sermon on the Mount
Trending vs. Truth
United in Christ!
Watch Your Mouth!
We Were Made to Worship
When Life's Not Fair
Your Faith, Dead or Alive?
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2018-03-25

God Forsaken

Tom Pennington's sermon on Mark 15:33-37 reveals God's commentary on the cross through three divine miracles. A miraculous darkness from noon to 3 PM symbolized God's judgment against sin, signifying Jesus bearing the full weight of divine wrath as a substitute for humanity. Next, Jesus' "mega-voice" cry, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" at 3 PM, highlighted His complete abandonment by the Father. This agonizing separation occurred as Jesus, though sinless, bore the sins of all believers, enduring the eternal judgment � separation from God � that we deserve, so that we never would. This was the "cup" of wrath He willingly drank. Lastly, Jesus' miraculous death was an act of sovereign will, not forced. Unlike typical crucifixion victims, He voluntarily "laid down His life" at 3 PM, the time of the Passover lamb sacrifice, uttering "It is finished." This intentional surrender completed His redemptive work. These miracles underscore both God's righteous judgment against sin and His profound love, offering salvation through Christ's substitutionary death, which remains humanity's only hope for reconciliation with God.

Tom Pennington
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Passion Week Sermons
2018
2018-03-18

The Spirit of Christ In Us - Part 2

This sermon transcript on Romans 8:5-13, "The Spirit of Christ In Us," explores the Christian's absolute security through a radical, Spirit-wrought transformation, comparing it to metamorphosis. Pastor Tom Pennington distinguishes true believers from unbelievers based on their fundamental change in nature, mindset, conduct, spiritual condition, and relationship with God. Unbelievers, "in the flesh," are hostile to God and spiritually dead, whereas believers, "in the Spirit," delight in God's Word and experience life and peace. This fundamental shift, called regeneration, is accomplished by the "Spirit of life" through the Gospel. The Holy Spirit, and the entire Trinity, permanently "dwells" within genuine believers, making their bodies a temple�a key identifying mark and a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. While a believer's physical body remains mortal ("dead because of sin") and an instrument for sin, their spirit is "alive because of righteousness" through Christ. This indwelling Spirit is an absolute guarantee of future glorification. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies, resurrecting and transforming them into glorified bodies like Christ's.

Tom Pennington
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Romans
2018
2018-03-18

Christology: The States of Christ - Part 1

Tom Pennington introduces Christ's "humiliation" as the ultimate "riches to rags" story, beginning with His Incarnation. Eternally existing in the "form of God," Jesus voluntarily "emptied Himself"�not relinquishing deity, but veiling pre-incarnate glory and restricting the independent use of divine attributes. He became fully human, a bond-servant, yet remained sinless and fully God. His humiliation continued through a life of profound suffering: enduring temptation, rejection, and persecution as the holy God-man in a sinful world. This culminated in His obedient death on a cross, the most cursed form of execution. His burial, a key gospel element, confirmed His real death, proved His Messiahship and innocence, and precisely identified the tomb for the future resurrection. The text then transitions to Christ's "exaltation," centered on His resurrection. This foundational event confirmed Jesus' divine claims, securing believers' regeneration, justification, and future glorification. His resurrection body was perfected, immortal, and material. Supported by Old Testament prophecy, Jesus' own predictions, and the historically attested empty tomb, the resurrection perfectly validates Christ's entire mission and forms the bedrock of our faith.

Tom Pennington
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Anchored Section 3
2018
2018-03-11

Q & A

Pastor Tom Pennington addresses various questions about Christian doctrine and practice. He explains that *fasting* is not a prescribed routine for earning God's favor, but a response to overwhelming circumstances, dedicating time to prayer. Regarding the *Trinity*, God is one being in three distinct, equally divine persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), all deserving of worship, despite their differing roles. Pennington clarifies biblical narratives: Jonah did not die in the fish; Jesus's "three days and three nights" referred to a timeframe, not Jonah's death. Saints raised at Christ's crucifixion were resurrected *after* Jesus, demonstrating His power over death. He affirms the biblical principle of *self-defense* against threats to life, cautioning against vigilantism. The *Holy Spirit* indwells every believer at conversion, and biblical tongues were *known languages*, supporting cessationism. Finally, Pennington clarifies that *heavenly rewards* are not merit-based but purely *grace*, God rewarding believers for what He accomplished through them, with the ultimate reward being His "Well done."

Tom Pennington
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Q&A
2018
2018-03-11

The Spirit of Christ In Us - Part 1

Pastor Tom Pennington, in a sermon from Romans 8:5-13, emphasizes the security of believers, debunking common, but flawed, sources of assurance such as a one-time profession, a specific prayer, or baptism alone. Citing Matthew 7:21-23, he warns that true faith is evidenced by obedience, not mere pronouncements. The core of a Christian�s security, Pennington explains, comes from the Holy Spirit�s radical transformative work. The sermon distinguishes between two groups: those "in the flesh" (unbelievers) and those "in the Spirit" (true believers), highlighting five fundamental differences. These include their inherent nature, mindset, patterns of conduct (like "deeds of the flesh" versus "fruit of the Spirit"), spiritual condition and eternal destiny, and their relationship with God. Unbelievers are characterized by hostility, unwillingness, and inability to please God, while believers have peace with God, submit to His Word, and can obey and please Him. This profound, God-wrought change in nature provides genuine assurance to those who see the Spirit's fruit in their lives, and serves as a call for those still "in the flesh" to seek Christ for this essential transformation.

Tom Pennington
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Romans
2018
2018-03-04

No Condemnation! - Part 2

The sermon on Romans 8:1-4, "No Condemnation!" highlights the eternal security of believers in Jesus Christ, who are delivered from God's condemnation. While unrepentant sinners face an infinitely worse condemnation than any earthly sentence for breaking God's laws, for those "in Christ Jesus," there is "now no condemnation"�meaning no guilty verdict or penalty. This freedom arises from "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," which liberates believers from "the law of sin and of death." This refers to justification�God declaring believing sinners righteous through Christ's work�rather than daily victory over sin. What the Law couldn't achieve due to human weakness, God did by sending His sinless Son "in the likeness of sinful flesh" as a sin offering. God condemned our sin in Jesus's flesh on the cross, pouring out His wrath on Christ as our substitute. The ultimate result is "that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us." This signifies God's purpose in salvation is both justification and sanctification, enabling believers to live righteous lives, loving God and neighbor, by walking "according to the Spirit." This growing obedience always accompanies justification, demonstrating God's plan for believers to reflect Christ's moral character.

Tom Pennington
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Romans
2018

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