Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

Universal Sovereignty, Particular Redemption

On Sunday February 26, 2017, Mike Gowens took his text from John 17:2: "As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him." This powerful passage from our Lord's intercessory prayer as he prepared to go to the cross teaches that though the Savior possesses universal power and authority, He purposed to redeem a definite and special people. The scope of his sovereignty is universal, but the extent of his grace is particular; therefore, we may be sure that all for whom He died will see His face in heavenly bliss one day. Here is one of many texts in the Bible that teaches the doctrine of limited atonement.

A Psalm for People Over 70

In this 2/19/17 message from the 71st Psalm, Elder Michael Gowens discusses the difficulties of aging and the challenge to finish strong. This Psalm reveals David's perspective on the closing chapter of his life, a perspective that serves to counsel us as we also face the twilight years of our pilgrim journey here. David kept going, because he kept trusting, kept praying, kept praising, kept growing, and kept ministering to others. Like him, you too may keep going down the home stretch of your earthly life when you see this period not as a burden and reason to complain, but as an opportunity to share your lifetime of experiential knowledge regarding the faithfulness of God.

The Song of the Astronomer

In this 2/12/17 message to the congregation of Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, Michael Gowens looks at the question in Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2, "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" As the shepherd boy David superintended his flocks in the hill country of Bethlehem-judah, he had occasion to consider the vastness and immensity of this grand universe that God has made. And the contrast between the majesty of creation and his own apparent insignifance struck him with wonder that such a glorious God would distinguish human beings with such a position of honor. The greatest wonder of all, however, is that God would favor sinners in His grace. Though mankind has failed in the God-given task of dominion over creation, yet the Last Adam has succeeded in rescuing His people from their fallen state and condition. Nothing is so effective to drive us to our knees in worship as this sense of wonder at the grace of God in Christ.

A Compass for Navigating Your Life

Elder Mike Gowens' message on 2/5/17 is taken from Micah 6:8. Here is a compass for navigating life. Though life itself is extremely complicated, this Divinely-inspired instruction for living is refreshingly simple. Perhaps life seems especially complex because people fail to follow the counsel given in this verse. It's certainly a thought that deserves consideration. Whether you are currently frustrated by the complexities of life or not, Micah 6:8 is a fitting reminder of the basics of living a life that pleases God. Here is Pastor Mike's personal "ground-zero," a text that tends to center all of life in terms of its priorities.

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.