The 4/14/24 message by Elder Michael Gowens is taken from 1 Peter 2:3. Reference to senses (like "taste") in the Scriptures must be understood in terms of spiritual experience. Newly born babies learn and grow principally by means of experiencing their world. Likewise, the experience of tasting that God is gracious is the catalyst for the believer to grow further toward spiritual maturity ..read more

Brother Gowens' sermon on 4/7/24 looks at Acts 10 and the character sketch of the Roman centurion named Cornelius. The description given of this outstanding man indicates that he was already a born again child of God, even before Peter preached the gospel to him. What a comfort to know that God has people in every nation, many of whom are yet unevangelized! May He bless us to reach them with the good news of the God that saved them ..read more

Elder Gowens' 3/31/24 message is based on Matthew 12:38-40. The only sign, or miracle, necessary for the believer is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He lives, you can face tomorrow ..read more

This 3/24/24 sermon by Michael Gowens is an exposition of 2 Peter 1:1-11, with a primary focus on the seven virtues that should adorn the essential grace of faith in the believer’s life. Pastor Gowens makes a case for the view that the main idea in the context, and the one that ties these virtues together, is the idea of manliness, or robust discipleship ..read more

A sermon based on Isaiah 56:7, delivered by Elder Michael Gowens on March 17, 2024 ..read more

"Preaching is not only proclamation, but it is also witness." In this message from Psalm 66:18, Pastor Gowens enlists this definition of the joy of preaching to give personal witness to the Lord's goodness to him. He does so by tracing his own story through salient Scripture passages ..read more

Brother Gowens' 3/3/24 sermon is the third and final in a short series of messages from John 1:35-51. In this message, he considers how the Lord Jesus overcame Nathanael's skepticism ..read more

Brother Gowens' 2/25/24 message continues the look at John 1:35-51 in which Jesus gathers the first disciples to himself. Andrew and John were seekers. Peter was encouraged to follow Jesus by the faithful testimony of his brother. But Philip was not seeking or demonstrating any interest in the Lord. Instead, Jesus sought him out and called him to follow. Like Philip, many contemporary disciples must say, "He sought me and found me; I am a Christ-follower today because of pure grace ..read more

Michael Gowens' 2/18/24 sermon looks at John 1:35-51, the account of the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and the first disciples He gathered to Himself. Like these first disciples, we too may have different stories in terms of coming to the decision to follow the Lord Jesus, but the call to be like the Master - the goal of discipleship - is the same from person to person.  ..read more

Pastor Gowens' 2/11/24 sermon continues the "Traveling Light" series with a look at the death of Lazarus in John 11.  Grief, and particularly the grief of bereavement, is a debilitating burden. But several helps to deal with painful loss emerge from this dramatic account - Christ's love, God's truth and Hope in the resurrection ..read more