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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The Temptation of Jesus Christ - Part 1
The text explores Jesus' temptation in Matthew 4:1-11, presenting it as a powerful display of His sufficiency over sin. This event, strategically timed after His baptism, reveals the collaborative work of the triune God in redemption, with the Father initiating, the Son executing, and the Spirit perfecting divine plans. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desolate wilderness for testing, enduring forty days of direct temptation by Satan. Unlike humanity, whose temptations stem from both external forces and internal lusts (the "flesh"), Jesus' temptations were solely external; He possessed no sinful craving. Furthermore, due to His divine nature, God's decree, and the Spirit's power, Jesus was impeccable�He could not sin. Despite this, His temptation was profoundly real and more intense than any human experience, as He faced its full fury without ever yielding. This unwavering sinlessness is paramount for human salvation, making Jesus the perfect, sinless substitute who could bear our sins and credit His righteousness to believers, enabling our forgiveness and declaration of righteousness before God.
Q & A
Pastor Tom Pennington�s Q&A sermon addresses diverse theological and practical questions for Christian living. He delineates biblical law into three categories: moral laws, reflecting God�s unchanging character, which still abide; civil laws, specific to ancient Israel, now overseen by government; and ceremonial laws (sacrifices, feasts, Sabbath observance), which are fulfilled in Christ. He advises interpreting biblical narratives by differentiating between actions God merely records and those He commends, acknowledging that even biblical heroes were flawed. Pennington clarifies that while believers primarily pray to the Father, it is acceptable to address the Son or Holy Spirit, as all are equally God. Regarding practices like Lent, he classifies them as "issues of conscience," cautioning against legalism and advocating for consistent daily self-discipline over seasonal observances. He explains that after death, unbelievers experience conscious torment, while believers are immediately "present with the Lord," both awaiting future bodily resurrection. He also discusses the regulative principle of worship, stating that church practices, including special music, must be scripturally prescribed. Pennington further affirms the unified character of God across the Old and New Testaments, underscoring Jesus's pervasive presence in the Old Testament, and encourages believers to let scriptural truth, rather than fleeting emotions, govern their lives.
The Baptism of Jesus the Messiah
The text examines Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:13-17), presenting it as a crucial event that proves His identity and inaugurates His redemptive work. At around thirty years old, Jesus journeyed to John the Baptist with "settled determination" to be baptized, despite John's initial refusal, recognizing Jesus' moral perfection. Jesus insisted, stating it was "fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Immediately after His baptism, a "Supernatural Testimony" unfolded: the heavens opened, the Spirit of God descended visibly like a dove, and an audible voice from God the Father declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." This powerful affirmation confirmed Jesus as the unique Messiah (Psalm 2) and the suffering Servant (Isaiah 42), empowering Him for ministry and marking its official commencement. Theological implications for believers are profound: Jesus' baptism proved His perfect righteousness, essential for Him to be a sinless substitute. It symbolized His identification with sinful humanity, willingly aligning with those He came to save, and served as a "vicarious repentance" on behalf of His people. This foundational event demonstrates Jesus as the complete, perfectly righteous Savior who identifies with and atones for humanity.
Messiah's Messenger - Part 4
This sermon, "Matthew Messiah�s Messenger (Part 4)," explores John the Baptist's primary mission as the forerunner of Jesus, focusing on Matthew 3:11-12. John's ministry had three key aspects: announcing the Messiah's impending arrival, His divine nature, and His divine ministry. John proclaimed the Messiah as "The Coming One," emphasizing His imminent arrival as prophesied in the Old Testament. He underscored the Messiah's divine nature by declaring Him "mightier" than himself and admitting he was unworthy to perform even the most menial task of removing His sandals, signifying the Messiah's inherent divine power and personhood. Crucially, John announced the Messiah's dual divine ministry: to baptize with the Holy Spirit for salvation and forgiveness for believers, and with "fire" for condemnation and eternal judgment for unbelievers. This dual role is powerfully illustrated by the winnowing fork metaphor: the Messiah will thoroughly clear His threshing floor, gathering His "wheat" (believers) into His eternal kingdom while burning the "chaff" (unbelievers) with "unquenchable fire." The sermon concludes by urging listeners to repent and believe in Jesus as Savior, or face Him as their just Judge, highlighting the critical choice regarding one's eternal destiny.
Messiah's Messenger - Part 3
The text, based on Matthew 3:1-12 and 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, distinguishes between godly sorrow, which leads to genuine repentance and salvation, and worldly sorrow, which produces false repentance and spiritual death. Pastor Tom Pennington explains how John the Baptist's ministry revealed this contrast when Pharisees and Sadducees sought baptism. John's prophetic message to these religious leaders, whom he called a "brood of vipers," outlined six characteristics of false repentance. These include an unspiritual motive, driven by self-preservation rather than remorse for sin against God; an unchanged heart, evident in spiritual danger and moral deception despite outward piety; and an unconcerned conscience, lacking fear of God's coming wrath. False repentance also manifests as an unchanged life, bearing no "fruit in keeping with repentance"; an unfounded confidence in personal righteousness or spiritual heritage; and an unrealistic hope that divine judgment will not come or will not be just. John emphasizes that God's judgment is certain and imminent for those without true repentance. The only escape from God's wrath is through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus the Messiah, who saves believers from future condemnation.
Messiah's Messenger - Part 2
Pastor Tom Pennington�s sermon, "Matthew Messiah�s Messenger (Part 2)," examines John the Baptist's ministry as a divine prelude to Jesus. He asserts that salvation begins with God's regeneration, enabling conversion through simultaneous repentance from sin and faith in Christ. John's ministry, prophesied in Isaiah and Malachi, served to prepare people for the Messiah's arrival. His austere lifestyle, characterized by camel hair and a diet of locusts and wild honey, underscored his role as a Nazirite, rebuking religious hypocrisy and embodying the spirit of Elijah. John's widespread public ministry drew thousands to the Judean wilderness for a unique "baptism of repentance." This immersion, distinct from Christian baptism, was a proselyte baptism for Jews, signifying their spiritual bankruptcy and the urgent need for a new beginning to enter Messiah's kingdom. It required confessed sins and was a powerful illustration of the forgiveness made possible by Jesus. Pennington concludes with four crucial implications: John confirmed Jesus as the promised Messiah and God; repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation; genuine repentance is a test of true faith; and the Christian life demands continual, relational repentance.
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