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.
Engage with the most recent teaching from God’s Word.
The preaching of God's Word is central to worship and of the utmost importance for the sanctification of every believer in Christ.
Explore messages organized to help you grow in Christ.
Search and filter sermons for quick access.
Old Testament: The Pentateuch - Part 1
This sermon emphasizes the Old Testament's foundational role for believers, presenting it as an "aerial tour" to understand its overarching history and message. It argues the Old Testament is a fundamentally Christian book, not pre-Christian, with its unifying theme identical to the entire Bible: "God is redeeming a people by His Son, for His Son, to His own glory." This central message means the Old Testament, penned by Moses and others, continuously points to Christ's coming. The text highlights that Christ is omnipresent in the Old Testament, from His creative act in Genesis 1:1 to His frequent appearances as "The Angel of the Lord"�identified as the pre-incarnate Son. The New Testament writers and early church fathers consistently affirmed that the Old Testament, including its laws and narratives, serves as instruction for Christians and testifies explicitly about Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero of its redemptive story. Therefore, all Christians are encouraged to diligently study the Old Testament to comprehend God's full plan of salvation centered on His Son.
How Can I Be Justified?
Addressing the age-old question of how sinners can be right with a holy God, Pastor Tom Pennington, examining Romans 4:13-16, explains Paul's defense of justification by faith alone. Building on previous discussions that justification is by God's grace and for all people, the sermon focuses on the *means* of being declared righteous. Paul asserts that God's promise to Abraham�to be heir of the world, signifying ultimate salvation and eternal life in Messiah's kingdom�was not achieved through the Law but through the righteousness of faith. This is because law-keeping cannot justify; it voids faith, nullifies God's promises (as perfect obedience is impossible), brings wrath, and increases guilt. Instead, justification *must* be by faith alone. This ensures it is entirely by God's grace, giving Him full glory, and makes salvation accessible to everyone�Jews and Gentiles alike, independent of law. Crucially, this faith-based justification guarantees the promise to all descendants, because it relies wholly on God's unwavering character and promise, not on human effort, providing unwavering security for all who believe in the Messiah.
Can I Be Justified?
This sermon, based on Romans 4:9-12, explores the critical question of who can be justified, emphasizing the Bible's living and active power to transform believers. Pastor Tom Pennington argues that God's plan for salvation, specifically justification by faith, is for both Jews and Gentiles. He substantiates this by examining Abraham's story: Abraham was declared righteous by faith in Genesis 15, predating his circumcision in Genesis 17 by 14-25 years. Circumcision, therefore, was not the basis for Abraham's justification but rather a *sign* and *seal* of the righteousness he had already received through faith. This divine timing served a crucial purpose: to establish Abraham as the spiritual father of all who believe�both uncircumcised Gentiles and circumcised Jews who follow his faith in the Messiah. The text highlights that Gentiles, despite their former spiritual alienation, have always been part of God's broader redemptive plan. Ultimately, the sermon concludes that external signs or rituals do not grant salvation; true justification comes through personal repentance and faith solely in Jesus Christ, just as Abraham believed.
Voting Your Conscience
In a unique 2016 sermon, Pastor Tom Pennington addressed the "bizarre" presidential election, aiming to guide Christians in making conscience-based voting decisions rather than endorsing a candidate. He began by outlining God's expectations for earthly rulers, even pagan ones. These include crucial character qualities like humility, morality, honesty, justice, and compassion, alongside the skill and wisdom necessary to govern effectively and select wise counselors. Pennington noted that neither major candidate met these divine standards. He then clarified that moral decisions fall into three categories: direct commands, direct prohibitions, or "issues of conscience," categorizing voting as the latter. For such decisions, Christians should pray, research, and choose what they believe best honors Christ. Pennington presented three valid options: not voting (though he found it less desirable due to civic responsibility), voting for a third-party or write-in candidate (which, while good for conscience, might be practically ineffective), or voting for the "lesser of two evils." Criteria for this third option included evaluating candidates' character (acknowledging both were deeply flawed), their agendas, party platforms (e.g., on marriage and abortion), potential Supreme Court nominations, and implications for religious liberty.
The Inerrancy, Preservation, and Translation of Scripture - Part 2
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon "The Inerrancy, Preservation, and Translation of Scripture (Part 2)" affirms the Bible's total inerrancy, upheld by Jesus and historical church teaching. He then details the miraculous preservation of Scripture, emphasizing that although original autographs are lost, thousands of meticulously copied manuscripts exist. These include an unparalleled number of Old and New Testament copies, dating remarkably close to the originals, with the Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrating near-perfect textual agreement over millennia. Pennington assures listeners that textual variations are overwhelmingly minor (spelling, word order) and do not affect any core Christian doctrine; significant variants are transparently noted in modern formal equivalence translations like the NASB and ESV. He distinguishes between translation philosophies: formal equivalence (word-for-word) is ideal for serious study, dynamic equivalence (idea-for-idea) is less precise, and paraphrase is essentially commentary. He cautions against the "King James Only" view, explaining its historical inaccuracies. Finally, Pennington challenges believers to adopt Jesus� high view of Scripture: read it all, memorize it for temptation, diligently understand it, obey its commands, and make it the central focus of their lives and ministry, recognizing it as God's best and enduring word.
The Inerrancy, Preservation, and Translation of Scripture - Part 1
This sermon emphasizes the crucial doctrine of biblical inerrancy, positing that Scripture, in its original form and correctly interpreted, is entirely true and without error in all it affirms, encompassing spiritual, moral, historical, and scientific matters. The speaker argues that the primary reason for believing in the Bible's inerrancy is Jesus Christ, who affirmed the Old Testament's divine authority and pre-authenticated the New Testament by selecting its writers. Historically, the Church, from early fathers like Augustine through the Reformation and the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, consistently upheld this total inerrancy. Modern challenges, emerging primarily after the 17th century, often distinguish between the Bible being infallible in doctrine but fallible in history or science�a view contrary to traditional Christian belief. Biblically, the speaker highlights that Scripture claims itself to be the infallible "Word of God" and "truth," breathed out by a God who cannot lie. Jesus Christ provided ultimate validation, affirming the entire Old Testament canon from "Abel to Zechariah" (Genesis to 2 Chronicles). He explicitly stated "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35) and "Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
No Results Found.
We couldn’t find anything matching your search.
Explore The Word Unleashed
Our ministry brings together expository preaching, theological precision, and practical application for the good of Christ's church and the daily living of Christ's people.
.webp)
Sermons
Listen to expository sermons that clearly teach God’s Word and guide you in daily living.
Radio
Tune in to gospel-centered programs that share biblical truth and strengthen your daily walk with Christ.
Training
Join courses and workshops designed to deepen your faith and equip you to serve others with biblical wisdom.
.webp)
From the Pastor's Desk
Read pastoral messages that encourage, instruct, and help you apply God’s Word to every part of your life.
.webp)
Hymns
Discover timeless hymns that lift your heart in worship and remind you of God’s abounding grace and faithfulness.
Podcasts
Stay rooted in Scripture through our podcast series.