In this message from 6/30/24, Mike Gowens returns to Matthew 13 in the "Kingdom Parables" series. This parable teaches that the kingdom of God is both a present reality and a future prospect. In its present form, it exists in a state of conflict and tension. Bible students think of this fact as the "militant" phase of the kingdom. The future kingdom will be the "triumphant" phase.

Br Gowens' text for this 6/23/24 message is Isaiah 53:1. Like the prophet Isaiah who bemoans the general unpopularity of his prophetic message among the people, those who proclaim the true gospel also have occasion to lament the fact that it is frequently rejected and dismissed by the masses. In this message, Gowens explores the reasons that true believers tend to be in the minority.

Elder Gowens' message on Father's Day (6/16/24) considers the intriguing language of the last two verses of the Old Testament: "...and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to their children, and the heart of the children to the fathers..." (Mal. 4:6). The ministry of John the Baptist aimed to foster repentance at a grass roots level in the first and most basic institution that God ordained, i.e. the family. Once again today, the need is great that people "turn their hearts toward home."

Elder Mike Gowens' sermon from 6/9/24 returns once more to Matthew 13 in consideration of another of Jesus' "kingdom parables." This parable concerns the most basic component in the life of discipleship, i.e. the regular reception of the word of God into an honest and good heart. Brother Gowens insists that it is simply not possible to live a productive Christian life without ongoing exposure to God's word.

In this first sermon in a series on the Kingdom Parables (delivered 6/2/24), Michael Gowens emphasizes the importance of evaluating the kingdom of God and making the personal sacrifices necessary to procure such a priceless treasure. The text for this message is Matthew 13:44-46.

Brother Gowens' 5/26/24 sermon, once again, considers Jesus' ministry at Jericho on his way to the cross. The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 is the basis of this message in which the transforming power of Jesus Christ is on display. Here is the Good Shepherd "seeking and saving" one of His own beloved sheep.

The 5/19/24 sermon by Mike Gowens considers Luke 18:35-43 and focuses on the first of two ministry encounters Jesus had with people in Jericho. Our Lord and his disciples are proceeding to Jerusalem where he will be tried and sentenced to death. Yet Jesus "stands still" to resolve a physical need in the life of a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. When Jesus passes by, he brings transformation to the lives of his little children.

The 5/12/24 sermon by Michael Gowens explores the various phases or categories of this sublime Bible doctrine that is so crucial to understanding the gospel message. Gowens begins the message by considering a passage in John 17, then spends the bulk of his time in the Pauline epistles, focusing especially on the important prepositional phrase, "in Christ."