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.

Black and white close-up of a person writing in a notebook with an open book beside them.
A man giving a speech at a podium.

Explore messages organized to help you grow in Christ.

Search and filter sermons for quick access.

2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
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
Christmas Sermons
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
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
Missions Sunday
No Whining Allowed
Ordination Services
Passion Week Sermons
Power Over Temptation
Preserving the Unity of the Church
Psalm 23
Q&A
Recovering a Lost Legacy
Revelation
Riches to Rags
Romans
Ruth
Sanctification
Six Steps to Spiritual Stability
Sunday Evening Online
Systematic Theology
Thanksgiving Sermons
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?
1 Corinthians
1 John
1 Peter
1 Samuel
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians
2 Thessalonians
2 Timothy
Acts
Colossians
Daniel
Deuteronomy
Ecclesiastes
Ephesians
Exodus
Galatians
Genesis
Hebrews
Isaiah
James
John
Lamentations
Luke
Malachi
Mark
Matthew
Numbers
Philippians
Proverbs
Psalms
Revelation
Romans
Ruth
Titus
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
2016-02-07

Found Righteous - Part 1

The sermon, "Found Righteous (Part 1)," from Romans 3:21-31, introduces justification by faith alone as the foundational truth of Christianity, crucial for the church's existence. Pastor Tom Pennington emphasizes Paul's shift at "But now" (Romans 3:21) from humanity's universal unrighteousness to revealing "the righteousness of God." This divine righteousness is a gift, fundamentally different from human attempts to earn it through law-keeping. Justification is defined as a *legal declaration* by God, not an internal process of making someone righteous. It's a courtroom verdict where God declares the ungodly righteous, crediting faith. This involves three transactions: God credits our sins to Christ, Christ's perfect righteousness to us (an "alien righteousness"), and based on this, God forgives our sins and declares us forever righteous. This "magnificent exchange" means Christ bore our guilt, and we receive the credit for His obedience, making justification the core of the gospel. Listeners are urged to abandon self-righteousness for this gift through faith in Christ.

Tom Pennington
Access Now
|
Romans
2016
2016-01-24

Your Day in Court - Part 2

Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon on Romans 3:19-20 concludes the "bad news" section of Paul�s letter, emphasizing humanity's universal guilt before God. He outlines God's five-part verdict for every person apart from Jesus Christ. First, all are **responsible before God's law**, whether written or innate, meaning no one can claim ignorance at judgment. Second, all are **guilty with no defense**, as the overwhelming evidence silences every mouth, leaving no excuses. Third, humanity **abides under God's wrath**, likened to living on death row with no appeals, constantly under divine anger (John 3:36). Fourth, all are **hopeless before the divine standard**; no human effort or "works of the Law" can justify or change one's guilty status, as only perfection is acceptable. Finally, all are **fully aware of their true condition**, as the Law acts as a mirror, providing intimate knowledge of personal sin, not to cleanse but to reveal spiritual depravity. This "bad news" is crucial for understanding the desperate need for the "good news" of Christ, who offers forgiveness and righteousness by faith. For Christians, this knowledge should inspire profound gratitude, holiness, and a passionate desire to share the gospel, pleading with others to be reconciled to God.

Tom Pennington
Access Now
|
Romans
2016
2016-01-17

Your Day in Court - Part 1

In "Your Day in Court (Part 1)," Pastor Tom Pennington highlights humanity's pervasive tendency to avoid responsibility, first through frivolous lawsuits and then by assuming one can navigate God's justice system similarly. Citing Romans 3:19-20, he asserts that God's justice is absolute and inescapable. Pennington explains Paul's argument: all humanity, both Jews with the written Law and Gentiles with the "work of the law written in their hearts" (conscience), are universally and totally depraved, without excuse. Our sin permeates every aspect of our being, stemming from a lack of fear of God. Consequently, every individual is fully responsible before God's law; ignorance does not negate guilt. For those without Christ, this means a future judgment where God will impart perfect justice, holding them accountable for every thought, word, and action, with no exceptions. However, this stark reality underscores the profound grace offered through the gospel. For believers, Christ "cancelled out the certificate of debt" of our sins by nailing it to the cross, providing complete forgiveness and righteousness. Understanding our inherent guilt before God intensifies appreciation for the salvation found in Jesus Christ.

Tom Pennington
Access Now
|
Romans
2016
2016-01-17

Q & A

Pastor Tom Pennington opens a Q&A session, encouraging congregants to ask questions on various topics. He first addresses biblical fasting, clarifying it is a practice tied to extended prayer during difficult life circumstances, not for earning God's favor, long durations, or weight loss, as Jesus assumed believers would fast appropriately. Next, he interprets Romans 11, explaining "all Israel will be saved" refers to a massive future ingathering of Jewish people at the end of the Tribulation, not every historical Jewish individual, aligning with God's ultimate covenantal plan. He affirms the biblical principle of self-defense, stating Scripture permits taking a life to protect one's own or an innocent person's life. On Ephesians 3:17, "Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith," Pennington clarifies "dwell" means to be "at home," signifying a deep, faith-based communion with the ever-present Triune God, not a mystical feeling or initial indwelling. He distinguishes between sinful fear of punishment (cast out by love) and a healthy "fear of God," which is reverent awe and a desire not to offend a loving Father.

Tom Pennington
Access Now
|
Q&A
2016
2015-12-27

Trilemma: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord - Part 4

In a sermon titled "Trilemma: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord (Part 4)," Tom Pennington explores the crucial question of Jesus' identity from Mark 3:20-35. He begins by establishing Jesus' historical existence through secular and scriptural evidence, and the reliability of New Testament accounts detailing His life and divine claims. Pennington highlights Jesus' clear assertions of deity, such as in John 8 ("Before Abraham was, I am") and Mark 14 ("I am" to the high priest). These claims, Pennington asserts, leave only three logical conclusions, a concept popularized by C.S. Lewis: Jesus was either a deluded lunatic, a demonic liar, or the divine Lord He claimed to be. Mark 3 illustrates these options: Jesus' family believed He had "lost His senses" (lunatic), while the scribes accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebul (liar/demonic). In contrast, His disciples accepted Him as Lord. Pennington emphasizes that there is no middle ground or neutral position regarding Jesus. True faith extends beyond intellectual acceptance to active obedience, where "whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother." This means genuine followers are considered Jesus' spiritual family, prioritizing their relationship with Him and His teachings above all else.

Tom Pennington
Access Now
|
Christmas Sermons
2015
2015-12-20

Trilemma: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord - Part 3

Pastor Tom Pennington�s sermon, �Trilemma: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord (Part 3),� addresses the essential question of Jesus� identity, presenting a positive outline for sharing the gospel. He asserts Jesus was a real historical figure, verified by secular sources and eyewitnesses, whose life and teachings are reliably documented in historically robust ancient manuscripts. These documents show Jesus unequivocally claimed to be God and the world's savior. Pennington argues that Jesus� claims force humanity into a �trilemma�: he was either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. Using Mark 3:20-35, he illustrates these responses. Jesus� own family thought him a lunatic, attempting to restrain him for "losing his senses." Conversely, scribes from Jerusalem accused him of being a demonic liar, possessed by Beelzebul, after he healed a demon-possessed man. They deliberately misattributed this manifest work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, a choice Jesus condemned as the unforgivable sin. Jesus logically refuted their accusation, highlighting the folly of Satan undermining his own kingdom. The sermon concludes that if Jesus were not God, he could not be a good moral teacher; he would necessarily be an unspeakably evil impostor.

Tom Pennington
Access Now
|
Christmas Sermons
2015

No Results Found.

We couldn’t find anything matching your search.

Now Playing -
Now Playing
00:00
-00:00