Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

Blessed are the Seed-Sowers

On 1/2/22, Michael Gowens looks at Isaiah 32:20: "Blessed are they that sow beside all waters." From the agrarian imagery, he draws lessons concerning the purpose of the gospel and the nature of biblical evangelism. Every believer is called to lavishly sow the precious seed of Divine truth, trusting God for the results.

Faith’s Victory Over Fear

Pastor Gowens' 12/26/21 message is taken from the 56th Psalm. From the historical backdrop of David's asylum in enemy territory, the Psalm develops the crippling power of fear in the believer's life. The focus of Psalm 56, however, is not on fear itself, but how David gained victory over fear by faith in God. As we look forward on the unknown tomorrow, we too may triumph over fear by faith.

The Song of Mary

Mary's "Magnificat" is one of four songs surrounding the advent of the Messiah, as recorded in Luke 1-2. In this 12/19/21 sermon, Michael Gowens emphasizes the connection of this song of praise to several Old Testament passages, as well as its God-centered tone. The incarnation of Christ is compelling cause for praise and worship to the Lord.

I Believe in the Virgin Birth

Elder Gowens delivered this sermon on Sunday, 12/12/21. Looking first at the Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, Gowens moves to the two New Testament narratives connected to this prophecy, the first in Matthew 1 and the second in Luke 1, emphasizing the important role played by the supernatural in the Christian gospel.

A New & Better Covenant

In this 12/5/21 message, Michael Gowens returns to Hebrews 8:6-13 to look more specifically at the text. He offers several reasons the New Covenant is superior to the Old. This is message #25 in the ongoing exposition of Hebrews.

Covenant: The Key that Unlocks the Bible

Mike Gowens' 11/28/21 sermon is based on Hebrews 8:6-13. In this message, Gowens develops the important concept of "covenant" as it is used in Scripture. An understanding of this theological idea is critical for grasping the meaning of the Bible, for "covenant" is the unifying theme between the Old and New Testaments. This is message #24 in the Hebrews study.

The Main Point of Hebrews

On Sunday 11/7, Pastor Gowens considered Hebrews 8:1-6, a passage that highlights the principal theme of the epistle. To the Jews in the first-century Mediterranean world, believers that had left the synagogue for the Christian church had walked away from 1,500 years of rich history and tradition for virtually nothing. They had no church buildings, no special ceremonies, no prescribed festivals, and certainly no priest. But the apostle affirms that Christians do, in fact, have a Priest, and He is the penultimate Priest. In fact, Christians have the reality, not merely the shadow. This is message #23 in the Hebrews study.

The Beauty of Holiness

This message by Michael Gowens, delivered on 10/24/21, is based on 1 Chronicles 16:29. It explores the third dimension of the triad of philosophical virtues - the good, the true and the beautiful. Gowens describes the importance God places on beauty and proceeds to distinguish beauty that appeals to the senses and the intellect from that which appeals to the soul, i.e. the beauty of holiness. Such beauty is personified in the Lord Jesus Christ, and displayed by His church, the perfection of beauty and the joy of the whole earth.

The Superior Priesthood of Christ

Elder Mike Gowens' 10/10/21 sermon continues the Hebrews 7 passage concerning Melchizedek and the parallels between that mysterious figure and Jesus Christ. The text is Hebrews 7:11-19. This is message #22 in the ongoing exposition of Hebrews.

Christ‘s Ancient Priestly Order

The 10/3/21 sermon by Elder Mike Gowens is a look at Hebrews 7:1-10 and one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible, a king-priest named Melchizedek. Going back to the brief historical narrative of Genesis 14, then moving to Psalm 110, Gowens discusses the mystery, the history and the superiority of this fascinating character, and what it means for the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ.