Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

A Still, Small Voice at Sinai

This 2/16/25 sermon by Michael Gowens continues the narrative of Elijah's despondency in 1 Kings 19. God is very kind and gentle with his weary servant, giving him a fresh revelation of Himself to encourage him on his way. This is message #12 in the Elijah series.

Elijah Under the Juniper Tree

In the 11th sermon in the Elijah series, Mike Gowens considers the reasons for Elijah's despondency in the aftermath of the victory on Mt Carmel. Like us, the prophet was very human, but God addresses his spiritual fatigue with tenderness and grace. This message was delivered on Lord's Day morning, 2/9/25.

Elijah & the God Who Answers

This sermon, based on the narrative in 1 Kings 18:41-46, was delivered 2/2/25. Elder Gowens returns to the theme of prayer, the dominant feature of Elijah's life and ministry, in this focus on the ending of the three-and-one-half-year drought. This is message #10 in the "Life & Times of Elijah" series.

Elijah & the Battle of the Gods

This 2/2/25 message by Michael Gowens focuses on the premier event in the life of the prophet Elijah, i.e. the contest high atop Mt Carmel with the 850 false prophets of the State. Everything in the narrative has been moving to this moment of crescendo in which the question of "Which is the true God, Baal or Jehovah?" will be resolved once and for all. This is message #9 in the Elijah series.

Elijah's Second Appearance Before King Ahab

Elder Gowens' 1/26/25 sermon looks at 1 Kings 18:1-16. After three years in hiding, Elijah is sent back to King Ahab in lieu of ending the drought. From this passage, Gowens extracts a number of practical lessons as well as a doctrinal lesson concerning the encouraging doctrine of the remnant.

Elijah & the Raising of the Widow's Son

Elder Gowens' 1/12/25 sermon looks at the narrative in 1 Kings 17:17-24. The unexpected trauma of the death of her son brought both the widow woman and the prophet Elijah to a point of spiritual crisis. This painful experience, however, led to tremendous spiritual blessings, and stands as an example to us of the glorious future awaiting us.

Elijah & God's Sovereign Grace

In this message from 12/8/24, Michael Gowens examines the narrative in 1 Kings 17:8-16 concerning God's provision for Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. The Lord Jesus cites this episode in Luke 4 as a case study of God's sovereign grace.

Good Cheer for the New Year

In this message from 1/5/25, Mike Gowens considers Nehemiah 8:10 before moving to four New Testament references to the exhortation, "Be of good cheer." A disposition toward cheerfulness is basic and fundamental to spiritual strength. In this message, Br Gowens reminds us of the reasons we have to "cheer up" as we face the unknown tomorrow. 

What is the Christian Life?

In this message from 12/29/24, Michael Gowens considers Galatians 2:20 to answer the question, "What is the Christian life?" From this familiar verse, Gowens extracts four characteristics of authentic Christian living, as well as the dominant feature of the Pauline example, namely, the Christ-centered nature of Christian living.

Christ the Word

This sermon by Mike Gowens was delivered on Sunday, 12/22/24. Gowens focuses on the prologue to John's Gospel (Jno 1:1-18), showing how John captured both his Jewish and his Greek readers with this important concept of the Divine Logos. In a logical progression of thought, John identifies the Word as the Son of God, names him Jesus Christ and reveals that this One who was both with the Father and coessential with the Father from all eternity past is the Lamb God provided as the sin-bearer.