Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

Sin’s ”Double Cure”

Mike Gowens' 11/27/22 message looks at Psalm 32:1-2. Taking his cue from a line in the hymn "Rock of Ages" by Augustus M. Toplady, Elder Gowens explores the theological need in the sinner for both justifying and sanctifying grace. Christ's precious blood is effectual to remit both legal guilt and the cleanse from personal corruption.

The Church’s Prophetic Voice

In this 11/6/22 message, Elder Mike Gowens considers Paul's message to Felix (Acts 24:24-27), the Roman procurator that had jurisdiction over his case. Paul, though respectful, does not patronize the governor. He reasons of "righteousness, temperance and judgment to come." This episode is an example of an occasion in which those whose principal business is to proclaim the comfort of the gospel must also be prepared to speak as God's appointed moral authority in this world.

The Return of the Seventy

In this 10/30/22 sermon, Elder Gowens considers Luke 10:17-24. When the seventy returned from a successful ministry outing, Jesus taught them the true source of the preacher's joy. Happiness in the life of a gospel minister, and in every believer's life, does not derive from gifts or ministry successes, but in the sovereign grace of God.

The Commission to the Seventy

This 10/23/22 message by Mike Gowens looks at Luke 10, the account of Jesus sending the seventy out to minister in His name. Although this early commission is not a parallel in every respect to New Testament gospel ministry, yet it lays out a number of important principles from which we can learn. 

A Christian Benediction

Elder Gowens concludes his exposition of Hebrews with this 10/16/22 sermon from Hebrews 13:20-21. The apostle's benediction is marvelously inclusive, containing both the doctrinal and practical emphases he has developed throughout this sublime epistle. This is message #52 in the series.

Living Like a Pilgrim

This 10/2/22 sermon by Michael Gowens considers Hebrews 13:1-14, the concluding chapter in the epistle to the Hebrews. The chapter is a classic example of paranesis, an ancient rhetorical device containing a series of apparently disconnected imperatives once the main point has been developed. The glue that holds together these seemingly random admonitions, however, is verse 14: "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one that is to come." Such a pilgrim perspective provides the grid for loving others, practicing moral purity and being content with God's provision. This is message #51 in the Hebrews study.

The Highest Knowledge

On 10/9/22, our guest minister was Elder E. W. Hooven. This expository commentary on Colossians 1 develops the contrast between the Gnostics, a heretical influence within the early church teaching that they had knowledge higher than God's special revelation in scripture, and the apostolic gospel concerning the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. There is no higher knowledge than Jesus Christ and him crucified.

The Law That Liberates

We were privileged to welcome Elder Martin Onyoni, pastor of First Primitive Baptist Church in Kisii, Kenya, on September 20, 2022. He delivered an excellent doctrinal sermon on the two laws in Romans 8:1-2. Though the law of sin and death brought the entire human family under bondage, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus liberates the family of God.

The Coming Great Earthquake

In message #50 from the study in Hebrews, Brother Gowens considers the 5th and final "warning passage" in the epistle to the Hebrews. The textual basis of this sermon is Hebrews 12:25-29. This passage concludes the main teaching portion of the epistle by returning to the theme with which the letter begins, i.e. God's full and final revelation of himself in Christ. And it calls us to respond to His word with reverence, for the world as we know it will not last forever. Only the kingdom of God is permanent.

The Glory of Corporate Worship

The 9/25/22 sermon by Michael Gowens looks at Hebrews 12:18-24, one of the most surprising passages in the New Testament. The context indicates that the subject under consideration is "public worship with the church." The language employed, however, is far from anything merely routine, ordinary or earthly. The apostle teaches that corporate worship is literally a taste of heaven. If we ever truly understand what this passage teaches, it will revolutionize the way we view worship. This is message #49 in the Hebrews series.