Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

Dress for Spiritual Success

Pastor Mike Gowens' text for this 1/22/17 sermon is Isaiah 52:1: "...Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem." What comprises this spiritual wardrobe for the child of God? God's word describes three particular types of spiritual garments: (1) Garments of Grace; (2) Garments of Godliness; & (3) Garments of Glory. When God's people don the wardrobe specified in Scripture, they are dressed for spiritual success.

The Pharisee & the Publican

In this 1/15/2017 message from the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18, Elder Michael Gowens extracts three important lessons for every Christian. First, he observes that the true followers of Christ largely derive from the common, ordinary and lower classes of society. Secondly, he discusses the priority given in Scripture to the virtue of humility. Finally, he looks at the Publican's experience as an example of Justification by Faith. 

Job's Mystery Solved in Christ

On Sunday, January 9, 2017, Elder Mike Gowens brought a message from Job 9:2 on the great doctrine of "Justification by Grace." In the course of the sermon, Gowens defines this important term, explains the reason for Job's perplexity, and reveals the solution to this greatest of mysteries in the Gospel. No other theme is more pertinent to the the child of God than this. Justification at the cross is what makes the Gospel "good news" to sinners. 

You Have Not Passed This Way Before

The late Corrie Ten Boom once said, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." In this 2017 New Year's Day sermon, Elder Michael Gowens looks at Joshua 3:4 and parallels our uncertainty toward the future to the children of Israel as they prepared to enter the uncharted territory of the Promised Land. Though they didn't know the way forward, they knew the Lord and trusted Him to provide and protect. Like them, we don't know about tomorrow, but we trust a sovereign God.

The Gospel According to Gabriel

The angel Gabriel was the first herald of the good news of the Savior's advent into this world. In this 12/25/16 sermon, Elder Michael Gowens explores Luke 2:1-14 to answer the question, "What made Gabriel's announcement 'good tidings of great joy'?" Gabriel's gospel is good news due to three great features of this message: (1) Its target audience; (2) Its content; (3) Its effect. Today, the gospel of the grace of God is still good news, though the heralds of it are not angels, but men who not only proclaim it as objective fact but who witness it in their own experience.

The Savior's Easy Yoke

Before a 12/18/16 baptismal service, Pastor Mike Gowens delivered this sermon based on Matthew 11:28-30. Compared to the burden of suffering for sin, or the burden of pleasing other people, or the burden of living life as a Lone Ranger, the yoke of serving such a wonderful Savior is easy and his burden is light. Indeed, there are sacrifices to be made in the life of Christian discipleship; furthermore, it is not always an easy path to travel. But Jesus promises to help everyone who responds to the gospel call with his guidance and strength. No burden to be borne in this world is as easy as the burden of following such a wonderful Savior.

Man of Sorrows, What a Name!

Elder Mike Gowens' 12/11/16 sermon looks at Isaiah 53:3: "He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief..." This message is especially targeted at those who struggle during the Holidays because of recent heartaches, painful memories of the past, loneliness, relational tensions, separation from loved ones, or one-hundred-one other reasons that the season may not be all merry and bright. The Messiah himself was no stranger to the pain of living in a world under the curse of sin. Such pains seem especially exaggerated during the Holiday season. But as is always the case with the trials and afflictions we encounter in this life, the solution is to sharpen focus on the Savior. May this message be that catalyst for your own renewed view of the One who came to bear the sorrows and griefs of His people.

Glory in His Grace

This 11/27/16 sermon by Michael L. Gowens is based on a text in Jeremiah 9:23-24. In this passage, the prophet warns the people of God against boasting in their wisdom, might, or wealth, for these things could not deliver them in the day of trial. Instead, he urges them to glory in God's grace which had brought them to a knowledge of the true God. In a day in which boasting is considered a sin with which we can be tolerant, this text reminds us that glory belongs to the Lord alone.

Worship Involves Thanksgiving

In this 11/20/16 sermon, Elder Michael Gowens discusses Hebrews 13:15 and the connection between public worship and the importance of thanksgiving to God. Every Sunday should be Thanksgiving Day to the people of God. 

The Forgotten Beatitude

In this 11/13/16 sermon based on Matthew 11:6, Elder Mike Gowens explores three reasons a person might be tempted to be offended by the Lord Jesus Christ. Some people are offended at his doctrine. Others stumble at the stigma attached to Christian discipleship. Still others are offended when they pass through trials and afflictions, like John the Baptist experienced when Jesus spoke the words of our text. Yet, the Lord Jesus says, "Blessed are the unoffended." This "beatitude" is just as important as the more familiar ones recorded a few chapters earlier. In fact, we forget it at our peril.