Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

The Life of Faith

In this sermon from 5/29/22, Michael Gowens takes the congregation into Hebrews 11, the celebrated "faith" chapter of the Bible. This chapter is an embellishment of the principle stated in Hebrews 10:38, "Now the just shall live by faith." Before embarking on the portrait gallery of faithful saints, however, Br Mike focuses in this sermon on the definition and dynamics of faith, spelled out in verses 1-3. This message is #37 in the study of this epistle.

An Encouragement to Persevere

Elder Gowens continues the study in Hebrews with message #36 from Hebrews 10:32-39. After the sobering warning of the previous verses, the writer once again strikes the note of encouragement, urging his readers to patient endurance and fidelity to Christ. This message was delivered on Sunday, 5/22/22.

Drawing Closer, Not Back

This message by Mike Gowens was delivered May 15, 2022. Based on Hebrews 10:25-31, Gowens addresses the fourth and arguably most sobering "warning" passage in the epistle. Although the language does not support the false notion that one may lose the gift of eternal life, yet the apostle is clear that a decision to walk away from the true gospel is tantamount to a presumptuous sin. The solution to falling away is to draw nearer to the Lord. This is message #35 in the Hebrews series.

I Will Not Leave You Orphaned

Elder Gowens' Mother's Day sermon (5/8/22) is based on Psalm 27:10. Even good and godly parents are limited in their ability to care for their children, but the Psalmist expresses confidence in the Lord, who is able to compensate for both the father's and the mother's shortcomings.

Drawing Near With the Church

Continuing in Hebrews 10 (vs 25-31), Michael Gowens emphasizes the importance of public worship with the saints in this 5/1/22 sermon. In what is arguably the most sobering warning against apostasy in the New Testament, the inspired writer asserts that the sad harvest of falling away often begins with absenteeism on the Lord's Day. If believers would but realize the tremendous privilege of drawing nigh to God in public worship, however, they may inoculate themselves against the peril of deconversion. This is message #34 in the Hebrews study.

How to Live in Babylon

The 4/24/22 message by Elder Gowens takes a look at God's counsel to the exiles in Jeremiah 29:4-13. Comparing popular culture to the kind of challenges the Israelites faced in Babylon, Brother Mike extracts from the text seven priorities for living a faithful Christian life in a fallen world.

Drawing Near to God

Elder Gowens' 4/10/22 sermon looks at Hebrews 10:19-25. The privilege reserved for the high priest, and that only once per year, under the Old Covenant, is now, via the merit of Christ alone, available to every heaven-born soul. And how may we draw near to God? This passage answers that question in the context of public worship. This is message #33 in the ongoing Hebrews study.

Christ the Gardener

Elder Gowens' message on 4/17/22 looks at the account of Jesus' first post-resurrection appearance, a revelation to Mary Magdalene. It is more than intriguing that John records (by Divine inspiration) Mary's supposition that he was "the gardener." Consistent with the use of the literary figure of double-entendre in John's Gospel, Gowens argues that Mary's initial assessment of the man speaking to her was, in fact, very accurate. The garden tomb, consequently, is the happy Gospel sequel to paradise lost in the original garden.

Perfected Forever

On Sunday, 4/3/22, Mike Gowens continues his look at the Epistle of Hebrews by focusing on Hebrews 10:1-18, especially the contrast between verses 1 and 14. The Law could not make anyone perfect, but Jesus Christ perfected forever those set apart in the everlasting covenant as His own. This perfect salvation originates in the Father's perfect will (vs 5-10), is secured by the Son's perfect work (vs 11-14), and is manifested in the Spirit's perfect witness (vs 15-18). This is message #32 in the Hebrews study.

The Last Things

The 3/27/22 sermon by Mike Gowens focuses on Hebrews 9:27-28, a passage that frames the eschatological "bad news" in terms of the gospel's "good news." Human history is bracketed by the original appointment with death and final judgment at the end of time. Redemptive history, however, is bracketed by the two comings of Jesus Christ - the first to resolve the problem of death and judgment, and the second to consummate the work of salvation. This is message 31 in the Hebrews series.