Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

The 10/25/26 sermon by Michael Gowens is taken from Psalm 45, a royal-wedding psalm. Few occasions call for such exquisite attire as a wedding, especially the wedding of a king to his queen, and this royally commissioned Psalm, one of five Messianic Psalms, highlights the royal raiment of both the bridegroom and the bride. The focus of the passage, however, is not on the queen but on her King. The church's love for Christ, her Bridegroom, is on display in every line of this Divinely-inspired "song of loves." Psalm 45 reminds us that such a holy fascination of affection toward Christ is foundational to authentic Christian experience.

The 10/18/26 sermon by Michael Gowens is message #4 in "The Believer's Beautiful Garments" series. The sermon is based on Romans 13:10-14, a passage in which the apostle exhorts the Christian to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" in discipleship. Gowens explores several ways this exhortation applies to the believer's daily walk.

Continuing the topic of the Christian's Beautiful Garments (a sequence of sermons taking as their cue the imperative to "put on thy beautiful garments" in Isaiah 52:1), Michael Gowens brings this message from Isaiah 61:3: "...to give unto them...the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." This sermon was delivered 10/11/26.

Elder Gowens' 10/4/26 sermon continues the theme of the Christian's Beautiful Garments with a look at Isaiah 60:10 and the gracious gift of imputed righteousness. By nature, every human being is dressed in the tattered garments of depravity. As a result of the Lord Jesus Christ's substitutionary atonement, however, each of God's covenant people are now covered by the white linen garment of salvation. Of all the beautiful garments in the believer's wardrobe closet, this is by far the loveliest.

This 9/27/26 sermon by Michael Gowens is based on 1 Peter 5:5-6. Gowens defines this important virtue, then proceeds to provide several biblical examples, and finally addresses various helps to self-humbling.

This 9/20/26 sermon is the conclusion of this study in Philippians. Mike Gowens considers Philippians 4:19-23 and extracts four important blessings, or resources available to the church for her ongoing life and labors: 1) The Church's Promise; 2) The Church's Purpose; 3) The Church's People; 4) The Church's Provision.

This 9/13/26 sermon by Michael Gowens considers Philippians 4:14-19 and comprises the "thank you" section of Paul's letter. The apostle commends the church at Philippi for their generosity and humbly expresses his sincere gratitude. Gowens employs the passage to make application to us today, emphasizing that we too will have opportunity to be both givers and receivers in serving Christ, and therefore should give with liberality and joy, and receive with humility and thanksgiving.

This 9/6/26 sermon by Mike Gowens is based on Philippians 4:10-13 and is #35 in the exposition of Philippians series. The virtue of contentment is not native to human beings; it is a discipline that must be learned. Neither is it a mere Stoic resignation to adverse circumstances, but a sweet, inward peace derived from an understanding that Jesus Christ is the believer's sufficiency. 

This 8/30/26 sermon by Michael Gowens is based on Philippians 4:8-9 and is #34 in the study of the Philippian Epistle. In this richly pastoral passage, Paul the Apostle gives very practical advice concerning the importance of disciplined thinking in living the Christian life.

This message from 8/23/26 is based on Philippians 4:6-7 and is #33 in the study through that epistle. Gowens emphasizes the priority of prayer as both the remedy for anxiety and the conduit for subjective peace.