Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

After Darkness, Light

The 12/11/22 sermon by Michael Gowens looks at Isaiah 9:1-2, a Messianic prophecy concerning the effect of Christ's advent into the world. Elder Gowens begins by developing the light/darkness metaphor that is so prolific in Scripture, and proceeds to apply the metaphor to this important prophecy.

Making An Example of Paul

Elder Michael Gowens' 12/4/22 sermon looks at 1 Timothy 1:12-17, one of the autobiographical passages so characteristic of the Pauline epistles. Paul employs two similar words in this passage to affirm that just as he was the prototypical sinner, so he is the quintessential example of God's transforming power and grace. He never lost his sense of wonder at God's amazing grace, and neither should we.

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.