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.
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A Portrait of Faith - Part 1
Based on Romans 4:17-22, Pastor Tom Pennington examines the "portrait of faith" exemplified by Abraham to define true, saving faith. Pennington argues that Paul uses Abraham�s life to illustrate that justification is solely by God�s grace through faith, rather than by law or works. The sermon distinguishes genuine biblical faith from non-saving varieties, such as natural probability, historical acceptance of facts, or temporary emotional responses. Instead, Pennington identifies three essential elements required for saving faith. The first is **knowledge** (*notitia*), understanding the specific truths of the Gospel and Christ�s nature. The second is **assent** (*ascensus*), the intellectual conviction that these claims are true; however, Pennington notes that even demons possess this level of belief. Therefore, the defining element of saving faith is **trust** (*fiducia*). This involves a volitional surrender to Christ�s lordship, moving beyond mere intellectual agreement to total personal commitment. Pennington likens this to marriage: knowing about someone and agreeing they are trustworthy is insufficient without the "I do" of lifelong commitment. True justification requires this complete reliance on Christ, resulting in a life of obedience similar to Abraham�s.
Give Thanks & Sing!
The sermon connects the American Thanksgiving tradition, tracing its roots to the Pilgrims, back to biblical revelation, particularly Psalm 92:1-4. The pastor asserts that giving thanks and singing praises to God is "good" because it glorifies Him, fulfills His commands, edifies other believers, and enriches our souls. True thanksgiving involves verbally expressing gratitude directly to Yahweh, the one true God, and singing His praises, individually and corporately. Ingratitude is presented as a severe sin, with unbelievers often failing to acknowledge God as the source of blessings. Our thanksgiving should primarily focus on two aspects of God�s character: His "lovingkindness" (hesed), which signifies His profound, steadfast, redeeming love that sovereignly transforms and transplants believers, and His "faithfulness," meaning His unwavering reliability in keeping His promises. This gratitude should be constant, day and night, reflecting an intentional, Spirit-filled life. These core truths of God's eternal love and faithfulness are supremely celebrated in Christ at the Lord's Table.
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.
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