Bethel Pulpit - Primitive Baptist Sermons

Brother Gowens' 3/16/25 sermon considers Paul's profession in Romans 1:16 and emphasizes four main reasons believers should not be ashamed of Christ, his gospel or his church.

On Sunday, 3/2/25, Elder Gowens delivered the last message in the Elijah series. This message taken from 2 Kings 2 emphasizes both doctrinal and practical lessons that may be gleaned from the dramatic account of Elijah's translation to heaven.

The 2/23/25 message by Mike Gowens is #13 in the Elijah study. Gowens considers practical lessons from God's reinstatement of Elijah in the wake of his bout with despondency. This sermon is based on 1 Kings 19:13-21.

This 2/16/25 sermon by Michael Gowens continues the narrative of Elijah's despondency in 1 Kings 19. God is very kind and gentle with his weary servant, giving him a fresh revelation of Himself to encourage him on his way. This is message #12 in the Elijah series.

In the 11th sermon in the Elijah series, Mike Gowens considers the reasons for Elijah's despondency in the aftermath of the victory on Mt Carmel. Like us, the prophet was very human, but God addresses his spiritual fatigue with tenderness and grace. This message was delivered on Lord's Day morning, 2/9/25.

This sermon, based on the narrative in 1 Kings 18:41-46, was delivered 2/2/25. Elder Gowens returns to the theme of prayer, the dominant feature of Elijah's life and ministry, in this focus on the ending of the three-and-one-half-year drought. This is message #10 in the "Life & Times of Elijah" series.

This 2/2/25 message by Michael Gowens focuses on the premier event in the life of the prophet Elijah, i.e. the contest high atop Mt Carmel with the 850 false prophets of the State. Everything in the narrative has been moving to this moment of crescendo in which the question of "Which is the true God, Baal or Jehovah?" will be resolved once and for all. This is message #9 in the Elijah series.

Elder Gowens' 1/26/25 sermon looks at 1 Kings 18:1-16. After three years in hiding, Elijah is sent back to King Ahab in lieu of ending the drought. From this passage, Gowens extracts a number of practical lessons as well as a doctrinal lesson concerning the encouraging doctrine of the remnant.

Elder Gowens' 1/12/25 sermon looks at the narrative in 1 Kings 17:17-24. The unexpected trauma of the death of her son brought both the widow woman and the prophet Elijah to a point of spiritual crisis. This painful experience, however, led to tremendous spiritual blessings, and stands as an example to us of the glorious future awaiting us.

In this message from 12/8/24, Michael Gowens examines the narrative in 1 Kings 17:8-16 concerning God's provision for Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. The Lord Jesus cites this episode in Luke 4 as a case study of God's sovereign grace.

In this message from 1/5/25, Mike Gowens considers Nehemiah 8:10 before moving to four New Testament references to the exhortation, "Be of good cheer." A disposition toward cheerfulness is basic and fundamental to spiritual strength. In this message, Br Gowens reminds us of the reasons we have to "cheer up" as we face the unknown tomorrow. 

In this message from 12/29/24, Michael Gowens considers Galatians 2:20 to answer the question, "What is the Christian life?" From this familiar verse, Gowens extracts four characteristics of authentic Christian living, as well as the dominant feature of the Pauline example, namely, the Christ-centered nature of Christian living.

This sermon by Mike Gowens was delivered on Sunday, 12/22/24. Gowens focuses on the prologue to John's Gospel (Jno 1:1-18), showing how John captured both his Jewish and his Greek readers with this important concept of the Divine Logos. In a logical progression of thought, John identifies the Word as the Son of God, names him Jesus Christ and reveals that this One who was both with the Father and...

On Sunday 12/15/24, Michael Gowens considered the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 and explored the several ways that Messiah's name is wonderful.

Elder Gowens' sermon on 12/8 is message #5 in the Elijah series. In this message, Gowens looks at 1 Kings 17 and the account of Elijah at the Brook Cherith, drawing several practical lessons from the narrative as well as an overarching doctrinal lesson concerning Divine providence.

Message #4 in the Elijah series by Elder Mike Gowens was delivered on Sunday, 12/1/24. In this sermon, Gowens considers James 5:16-18 in which Elijah is cited as the premier example of the power of prayer. 

In this message from the Elijah series, Mike Gowens considers a single phrase in 1 Kings 17:1: "...before Whom I stand..." Elijah was God-conscious. He lived all of life in the presence of God. Study along as Br Gowens explores the implications of this important concept.

In this 11/17/24 message, Michael Gowens considers Philippians 4:6-8, focusing on the phrase "with thanksgiving." It is appropriate to make requests of God, but such petitionary prayer should always be framed in thankfulness of the Lord's manifold mercies.

What was the secret of Elijah's courage and holy boldness? In this 11/3/24 sermon, Elder Gowens traces the answer to that question to the prophet's conviction that Jehovah is the true and living God. The scripture text for message #2 in this series is 1 Kings 17:1.

On Sunday Oct 27, 2024, Pastor Gowens introduced a new, biographical study of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. This first message in the series considers 1 Kings 17:1-6 and focuses on the historical backdrop of the times in which Elijah lived and ministered.

The 10/20/24 sermon by Mike Gowens is the 9th and final segment in the "Kingdom Parables" series. In this message, Gowens considers Mt 25:14-30 and emphasizes that kingdom living involves investing the resources God has entrusted to individual believers for the good of His kingdom.

This sermon by Elder Mike Gowens was delivered October 13, 2024. The text is Mt 15:30. Elder Gowens explores several narratives from the Gospels in which people in various circumstances either sat, knelt, fell or bowed at Jesus' feet. Down at the feet of Jesus is the place for every true believer.

Pastor Gowens' sermon from October 6, 2024 is message #8 in the Kingdom Parables series. In this message he focuses on the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. The lesson taught in this parable is, namely, kingdom living means living in anticipation of the Redeemer's return. Brother Gowens insists that eschatology matters right now.

Pastor Gowens' 9/29/24 sermon looks at the text in Psalm 94:19: "In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul." In the frenetic pace and incessant responsibilities of life in the modern world, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. The sheer busyness of life can keep the mind in a whirl. The Psalmist, however, learned where to find peace and comfort to calm his racing thoughts....

In message #7 of the Kingdom Parables series, Michael Gowens considers Matthew 22:1-14. This parable teaches that participation in the King's banquet presupposes submission to the King's protocols. One may not partake of the blessings of the kingdom on his/her own terms. This message was preached on 9/22/24.