Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

Joseph's Blessing

Elder Michael Gowens' 6/16/19 sermon is taken from Genesis 49:22-26. Jacob's dying benediction concerning Joseph's character and influence serves as a fitting summary of his entire life. In the vivid imagery of these verses, the Holy Spirit sketches a tale of trial and triumph, of adversity and advancement. And in reviewing the life of the patriarch Joseph, we too may find encouragement in the reminder that the mighty God of Jacob who strengthened and elevated this man from his sore afflictions is likewise the source of our strength today.

The Word Above All Earthly Powers

In the 6/9/19 message, Elder Michael Gowens considers the scene recorded in Revelation 10, in which a giant angel is depicted as holding in his hand a little book. From the details observed in this scene, Pastor Gowens proceeds to develop a bibliology, elaborating on the Authority, Preservation, Sufficiency, and Transparency of Scripture. Revelation 10 is an especially encouraging picture. It reminds us that nothing is more relevant and important in our day than the faithful and consistent teaching of the word of God.

An Arrow of Divine Justice

On Sunday, June 2, 2019, Elder Mike Gowens considers an intriguing text recorded in 1 Kings 22:34: "And a certain man drew a bow at a venture and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness." Gowens insists that this act that appeared on the surface to be purely random was, in fact, a providential expression of God's perfect justice. For people who frequently struggle with the apparent injustices and inequities of life in this world, the truth that God, in His time, will balance the scales of justice, making all wrongs right, offers rich encouragement. 

Christian, This is Your Life

Elder Mike Gowens' 5/26/19 sermon is taken from Ephesians 2:1-10, arguably the most comprehensive passage in the New Testament concerning the Doctrine of Regeneration. Gowens exposits this key passage by discussing (1) What We Were (vs 1-3), (2) What We Are (vs 4-6, 8-9), (3) What We Shall Be (v. 7), and (4) What We Ought to Be (v. 10). If a person once grasps the fact of native depravity and helplessness to remedy that tragic plight, he must necessarily agree with Paul that salvation is by grace alone, if anyone is ever saved.

Paul the Christian

What can a preacher do when he no longer has a platform for ministry? How may any believer find incentive to keep going when the circumstances of life are adverse? Paul's personal affirmation of the meaning of life in Philippians 1:21a captures the surprising answer to these questions in terms of the great privilege of pursuing life as a genuine and sincere Christian. Although Pastor Gowens' May 5, 2019 message on this text did not properly record, he spoke on the same theme two weeks later at Bethany PBC in Ecru, MS. This audio file is the recording from that effort. 

The Way of Peace

On 5/19/19, Lic. Andrew Herrin delivered the message in the pastor's absence. His message from Matthew 5:9 urges believers to pursue a lifestyle of peace and reconciliation in interpersonal relationships, taking their cue from the Lord Jesus Christ, the penultimate Peacemaker.

A Love Surpassing Motherhood

In this 5/12/19 sermon, Elder Michael Gowens looks at the compelling analogy in Isaiah 49:15-16 - a comparison between a mother's devotion to her infant child and the Lord's covenant commitment to His people. Though we can think of few bonds as strong in the realm of nature as that between a mother and her child, yet God's covenant love for His children is stronger still. That inviolable loyalty to the objects of His everlasting love is the basis of both their eternal security and temporal hopes for the future. Note: Be advised that a power outage drove our congregation into the Fellowship Hall for worship, resulting in the use of a portable recording unit with a condenser mic instead of our ordinary sound system. Thanks for your consideration.

Making Sense of Suffering

In James 5:10-11, Job is given as an example of someone that persevered in suffering. But how, we wonder, did he keep going in the face of so many setbacks? In this 4/28/19 message, Elder Michael Gowens seeks to answer that question as he turns to the Old Testament book of Job to consider four great supports to faith in the midst of adversity. Job's case teaches us that we don't live by explanations. We live by faith.

The Significance of Jesus' Resurrection

In morning worship on 4/21/19, Elder Michael Gowens begins with the inspired, historical record of the resurrection of Jesus in Mark 16:1-14. He then proceeds to ask how the fact of the resurrection is relevant to believers today. Why is the resurrection of Jesus important? Brother Mike answers the question in three ways: (1) It is theologically significant; (2) It is pastorally significant; (3) It is eschatalogically significant. In other words, the relevance of the resurrection of Jesus arises from its relation to the doctrine of Christ's Person and Work, its spiritual value to the believer in the face of the many soul-struggles he experiences in life, and what it teaches us concerning the future and the ultimate question of the end of the world.

Imitate Your Heavenly Father

Elder Mike Gowens turns to Ephesians 4:31 - 5:2 to encourage the cultivation of loving, interpersonal relationships in this 4/14/19 sermon. Who has not felt the sting of relational tension? Who has not frequently felt defeated as he/she fails to interact Christianly with other people in the home, the church, the work place and the community? No area of life has the capacity to produce greater happiness than healthy relationships with the people that God has placed in our lives. Equally true is the fact that nothing tends to produce greater pain and distress than when those relationships break down. This passage offers practical instruction for dealing with other people, a subject relevant to each of us.