Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

On the Road to Assurance: No Comparison

This message, #4 in the series on Romans 8, considers verses 18-27, and was delivered on Sunday, 6/8/25. Everyone, even God's children, experiences the pain of living in a world under the curse of sin. No one is immune from suffering. But the believer may face life's struggles in hope of the glory that awaits him. 

On the Road to Assurance: No Dominion

Br Gowens' 6/1/25 message from Romans 8:5-17 is the third in a study on Romans 8 titled "On the Road to Assurance." In this sermon, Gowens addresses the tension between the child of God's legal standing before God and his practical struggle with "the flesh," or indwelling sin. But just as God has provided the righteousness of Christ to resolve sin's penalty, He has also provided the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to break sin's power.

On the Road to Assurance: No Condemnation

Brother Gowens' 5/25/25 sermon is a continuation of the series of messages on Romans 8. In this message, Gowens considers verses 1-4, a passage that expresses the very heart of the gospel message, and shows the relationship between the truths of justification/regeneration--the objective ground of salvation--and the believer's quest for subjective assurance.

Romans 8: The Believer's 'Magna Carta'

In this 5/18/25 sermon, Mike Gowens offers a survey, or overview, of Romans 8, arguably the premier chapter on Christian assurance in the Bible. He insists that Paul's emphasis on "freedom" is best understood against the tension described at the end of Romans 7. This is message #1 in a mini-series of studies from this tremendous chapter.

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle

This message from 5/11/25 is a tribute to the mother of King Lemuel, from Proverbs 31. This unnamed woman made a tremendous impact on the young prince, and the lessons she taught him were included for our benefit in the final chapter of Solomon's Proverbs. So many unnamed wives and mothers have taught the most valuable life lessons to their little ones, behind the scenes and out of the limelight. But no one has the potential to influence the wider world to a greater degree than a wise and godly mother.

The God of Hills & Valleys

Brother Gowens' 5/4/25 message was based on 1 Kings 20:28. The Syrian army believed that if they could lure the Israelites into the valley, they would prevail in battle. But God would not allow such a defamatory claim to be perpetuated. Although Ahab was a wicked King, God, motivated by a supreme concern for His own glory, determined to give Ahab and his army the victory. The narrative teaches the important lesson that God is not limited by any circumstance. 

Psalm 2: The Bible's Meta-Narrative

What is the big picture of Holy Scripture? How may one make sense of world history? In this 4/27/25 sermon, Michael Gowens explores Psalm 2, a passage which distills and crystallizes the answer to these questions in summary form. This Psalm is a sort of meta-narrative, comprehending the message of the entire Bible in a dozen or so Divinely-inspired verses.

Surprised by Joy

The 4/20/25 sermon by Elder Gowens is based on John 20:19-29, one of the half-dozen post-resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ. This Resurrection Sunday message is a reminder of the breathtaking fact of the empty tomb and the several reasons we have to live surprised by joy.

In Pursuit of Happiness

In this 4/13/25 sermon, Michael Gowens traces the "blessed man" statements through the Psalms to discover the reasons for his blessedness, or fulfillment in life.

With Privilege Comes Responsibility

This 4/6/25 message by Mike Gowens is the third and final segment in the mini-series on "Church Membership." Gowens considers the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22 as the springboard for the sermon, stressing the importance of compliance with the banquet protocols if one will enjoy the privileges of the banquet. This very practical message emphasizes a half-dozen responsibilities that attend membership in the church.