Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

On Sunday, August 10, 2025, Elder Gowens considers the subject of "practical sanctification" from Ephesians 4:22-32, focusing specifically on the importance of speaking in a God-honoring and edifying way. The tongue may very well be the area in which our commitment to holiness is most evident.

The 8/3/25 sermon considers Revelation 22:7-15, from which passage Mike Gowens draws four practical helps for believers while they await the eternal state. This "application" section of the Revelation answers the question "What should believers do in the meantime, i.e. before the consummation of all things?" 

Br Gowens' 7/27/25 sermon considers Revelation 17:14, a text that summarizes the message of this book. In this big-picture look, Gowens first explores the purpose of Revelation, then the theme of the book. 

In this 7/13/25 sermon, Michael Gowens considers the thrilling account of Saul's encounter with the risen Christ on Damascus Road, recorded in Acts 9:1-6. His two questions, "Who art Thou, Lord?" and "What would'st Thou have me to do?" are basic and fundamental to the life of Christian discipleship.

Elder Tim McGrady was our guest minister on 7/20/25. In this edifying sermon, Elder McGrady lays out a compelling case for the Divine preservation of God's word.

In the Sunday morning (6/29/25) service of our 2025 Annual Meeting, visiting preacher Elder Samuel Bryant considers the profoundly simple and simply profound 23rd Psalm.

Elder Samuel Bryant was the guest minister for our 2025 Annual Meeting. In the Saturday afternoon service (6/28/25), Br Sam exposits Ephesians 1:1-11.

Elder Samuel Bryant was the guest minister for our 2025 Annual Meeting. In the second message of the weekend (Saturday morning, 6/28/25), Brother Bryant exposits Ephesians 6:10ff.

Elder Samuel Bryant was the guest minister during out 2025 Annual Meeting. This first message was delivered on Friday evening, 6/27/25, and is based on Hebrews 4:14-16.

The 7/6/25 sermon by Mike Gowens is the 6th and final message in the Romans 8 study called "On the Road to Assurance." This message focuses on vs 31-39, emphasizing the comforting truth of the Divine Preservation of the Saints, or the doctrine of eternal security. God's elect ones are safe in His love. Nothing can separate us from Him for all eternity. This passage offers six arguments for the sec...

The 6/22/25 message by Michael Gowens is based on Romans 8:28-32 and is #5 in the "On the Road to Assurance" series from this glorious chapter. "God is for us" is Paul's inspired declaration, and because He is for us, none may successfully oppose. How may the believer know that God is on his/her side? Both the everlasting covenant (vs 28-30) and the gift of His own Son at the cross (v. 32) affirm...

In this Father's Day sermon (6/15/25), Michael Gowens considers Proverbs 20:1-7, a passage that gives several characteristics of a faithful man. What is the outcome of such a man's life? The godly husband and father exerts a multi-generational impact for good upon his family.

This message, #4 in the series on Romans 8, considers verses 18-27, and was delivered on Sunday, 6/8/25. Everyone, even God's children, experiences the pain of living in a world under the curse of sin. No one is immune from suffering. But the believer may face life's struggles in hope of the glory that awaits him. 

Br Gowens' 6/1/25 message from Romans 8:5-17 is the third in a study on Romans 8 titled "On the Road to Assurance." In this sermon, Gowens addresses the tension between the child of God's legal standing before God and his practical struggle with "the flesh," or indwelling sin. But just as God has provided the righteousness of Christ to resolve sin's penalty, He has also provided the indwelling of...

Brother Gowens' 5/25/25 sermon is a continuation of the series of messages on Romans 8. In this message, Gowens considers verses 1-4, a passage that expresses the very heart of the gospel message, and shows the relationship between the truths of justification/regeneration--the objective ground of salvation--and the believer's quest for subjective assurance.

In this 5/18/25 sermon, Mike Gowens offers a survey, or overview, of Romans 8, arguably the premier chapter on Christian assurance in the Bible. He insists that Paul's emphasis on "freedom" is best understood against the tension described at the end of Romans 7. This is message #1 in a mini-series of studies from this tremendous chapter.

This message from 5/11/25 is a tribute to the mother of King Lemuel, from Proverbs 31. This unnamed woman made a tremendous impact on the young prince, and the lessons she taught him were included for our benefit in the final chapter of Solomon's Proverbs. So many unnamed wives and mothers have taught the most valuable life lessons to their little ones, behind the scenes and out of the limelight....

Brother Gowens' 5/4/25 message was based on 1 Kings 20:28. The Syrian army believed that if they could lure the Israelites into the valley, they would prevail in battle. But God would not allow such a defamatory claim to be perpetuated. Although Ahab was a wicked King, God, motivated by a supreme concern for His own glory, determined to give Ahab and his army the victory. The narrative teaches the...

What is the big picture of Holy Scripture? How may one make sense of world history? In this 4/27/25 sermon, Michael Gowens explores Psalm 2, a passage which distills and crystallizes the answer to these questions in summary form. This Psalm is a sort of meta-narrative, comprehending the message of the entire Bible in a dozen or so Divinely-inspired verses.

The 4/20/25 sermon by Elder Gowens is based on John 20:19-29, one of the half-dozen post-resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ. This Resurrection Sunday message is a reminder of the breathtaking fact of the empty tomb and the several reasons we have to live surprised by joy.

In this 4/13/25 sermon, Michael Gowens traces the "blessed man" statements through the Psalms to discover the reasons for his blessedness, or fulfillment in life.

This 4/6/25 message by Mike Gowens is the third and final segment in the mini-series on "Church Membership." Gowens considers the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22 as the springboard for the sermon, stressing the importance of compliance with the banquet protocols if one will enjoy the privileges of the banquet. This very practical message emphasizes a half-dozen responsibilities that att...

The 3/30/25 message by Michael Gowens is Part 2 in a mini-series on "Church Membership." This sermon, based on Revelation 22:14ff explores several benefits of membership in the church.

On Sunday, March 23, 2025, Mike Gowens began a mini-series of 3 messages on the subject of "Church Membership." This message, sermon #1 in the series, is based on Moses' conversation with his brother-in-law Hobab, in Numbers 10:29-32. Gowens invites believers to join with the church on its pilgrimage to their God-given inheritance.

The 3/16/25 sermon by Michael Gowens is based on Zechariah 9:11-12. This powerful Messianic passage contains the heart of the gospel message. Making an important distinction between the indicatives and imperatives of Scripture, Gowens proceeds to preach the gospel from this text.