Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

Living in Liberty

In this 8/17/18 sermon, Elder Mike Gowens looks at the narrative of the man born blind in John 9, the sixth of seven miracles unique to the Gospel of John. Jesus had just taught the people that He is the Light of the world (cf. 8:12). Now, he illustrates the significance of that title by dispelling the darkness in this man's life. It was a life-changing gift of grace. The Pharisees, however, were not nearly so happy, and excommunicated the man from the synagogue. The courageous and joyful man, however, was undeterred by the fear of man. He refused to live under the burden of legalism, for Jesus had transformed his life. Though he didn't know much at first, he knew one thing very well: "Whereas I was blind, now I see." And this new believer found a warm welcome among the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Preaches Sovereign Grace

On Sunday 8/12/18, Elder Michael Gowens looks at Luke 4:16-31 and the first recorded public sermon Jesus delivered in his hometown synagogue at Nazareth. This discourse was not lengthy, but it had a powerful impact on the skeptical people gathered that day for worship. In fact, it made them so angry that they ushered Jesus to the brow of the hill in an attempt to throw him over the edge. It was an inauspicious beginning to his public ministry, but it necessarily set the tone for the coming 3 1/2 years. For the message of sovereign grace that so angered the proud townsfolk in Nazareth was truly considered to be good news to the Lord's humble poor elsewhere in his travels. Sovereign grace is still considered "the gospel" by those who know themselves to be poor and needy sinners.

Spiritual Gifts in the Body of Christ

In this 8/5/18 sermon, Elder Michael Gowens looks at three primary passages of Scripture in which the apostle Paul discusses the gifts of the Spirit: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. Each passage develops the "body" metaphor of Church-life, and each emphasizes the important Pauline emphasis of "every member ministry" in the body of Christ.

The Kingdom Parables

Guest preacher Elder Mike Ivey (TX) takes us to Matthew 13 in this final service of our July 2018 5th Weekend Meeting. Each of these parables highlights a particular characteristic of the kingdom of God. Once again, Elder Ivey brings his characteristically fresh, insightful and substantive approach to the interpretation of this important passage of holy scripture.

The Image of God Restored in the Resurrection

In the Saturday evening (7/28/18) session of our 5th Weekend Meeting, visiting minister Elder Michael Ivey continued his exposition of 1 Corinthians 15. This message covers verses 20 through 52, and focuses on the resoration of the imago Dei at the resurrection.

Saved by the Hope of Resurrection

On Saturday afternoon, 7/28/18, guest minister Elder Mike Ivey (TX) brought an excellent sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:1-19. He demonstrates the logical case Paul makes in this chapter for the bodily resurrection of Christ, and for the coming event of our resurrection at the Savior's glorious return. As we wait in the meantime for the final resurrection of our bodies, we may be saved from despair as we anticipate the glory that awaits us at that triumphant day.

The Doctrine of Adoption

Elder Mike Ivey was our guest minister during the July 2018 Fifth Weekend Meeting. This message from the initial service on Friday evening, July 27, was based on Ephesians 1:5. Elder Ivey explains the intriguing history of the Roman adoption process, then looks at the references to this concept in the Pauline epistles of Ephesians, Galatians and Romans to make application to the gracious gift of adoption into God's family.

Tears in God's Bottle

Elder Mike Gowens' sermon on 7/22/18 draws from the interesting metaphor of an old-fashioned tear-bottle (or lachrymatory) in Psalm 56:8. The metaphor suggests the comforting thought that God marks, collects and remembers the tears of his children in this world. Of course, life in this world presents ample occasion to shed tears. But how wonderful it is to anticipate a heavenly world in which every tear will be wiped away. Until then, our merciful Father in heaven has provided a cloth to dry our many tears by means of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the precious promises of His word.

Irresistible Grace

In the 7/15/18 sermon, Elder Mike Gowens looks at Paul's Damascus Road encounter with the risen Christ, recorded in Acts 9:1-9. After working through the details of the narrative, Gowens highlights the expression at the end of verse 5, "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks," showing that depraved sinners, like Saul, are involved in a long war against the God of heaven. This spirit of resistance and rebellion against the Lord, however, is no match for the supernatural power of Divine grace. The story of everyone who has been conquered by such power, whether or not they share an experience as dramatic as Paul's, is "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."

The Martyrdom of Stephen

On Sunday 7/8/18, Elder Michael Gowens looks at Acts 7:54-60 and the account of Stephen's dying testimony. In the middle of the greatest trauma of his life, Stephen found help and strength by means of a special blessing. He was granted a sight of the risen Christ in His ascended glory and majesty, and the triumphant reality he witnessed so completely superseded the tragedy of his present circumstances that his presence was almost angelic. Subsequent accounts of faithful martyrs in Christian history duplicate Stephen's narrative so that we may safely say that Christ gives special assistance to His people when the world turns against them.