Blessed Hope Chapel Treasure Valley Idaho Sermon Podcast

The ultimate gift of God’s grace is the person and work of Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians Ch. 8 Paul builds upon this truth as he urges the Corinthian church to participate in Christ’s glorious grace. As he brings the chapter to a close, Paul introduces several invaluable gifts of grace that were instrumental in his service unto the Lord.

Lawlessness Increasing and Love Growing ColdMatthew 24:3-14

As the Apostle Paul continued to rally the troops to raise support for the saints in Jerusalem, he let the Corinthians know it was to their advantage. Paul’s heart was to communicate to them that blessing others brings a great return on investment. It’s a return of joy, peace, and fulfillment in Christ that money can’t buy.

Colossians 2:1-7

Prior to the downfall of ancient Jerusalem, the Lord raised up a young king who brought reformation and momentary peace. He recovered the Word of God, and returned the people to God’s commandments. In these last days, the Lord is calling on the church to return to His Word and have a holy reverence for Him.

It was Francis Havergal who once sang the lines, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in endless praise.” The consecrated life is one that is holy and set apart to God. A life that is wholly dependent on Him and being led by His Spirit. In Romans 12:1 the Apostle Paul exhorts the church to lay everything on the altar for the sake of Christ. C.T. Studd summed it up well when he said, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

The Apostle Peter learned a lot during his ministry with Jesus. The Lord was patient with him yet firm when he failed. Prior to Jesus ascending to heaven he restored Peter with the words, “Shepherd my sheep…feed my lambs.” Peter’s shepherding heart shows forth in 1st Peter where he encourages the church to stay strong, be holy, and above all look to the Chief Shepherd who is the guardian and sustainer of our souls.

Evangelizing and Sharing The Gospel, Philippians 1:27

It was John Flavel who once said, “No doctrine is more excellent, or necessary to be preached and studied, than Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” The path of freedom begins and ends with the cross of Christ. In Galatians 2:20 the Apostle Paul sums it up best, “I’ve been crucified with Christ, it’s no longer I who live but Christ lives in me..” The Christian life, lived out by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, leads us to bear much fruit and live in freedom all our days.

As many are compiling New Year’s Resolutions, we as Christians should be more resolute than ever to live out Christ’s calling upon our lives. It all begins with an acknowledgement that apart from Him we can do nothing, yet also realizing that through Him we can do all things through Him who gives us strength. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and stay humble before Him the sky is the limit with what the Lord can do in and through His people!

It’s been said that the Gospel is “So simple a child can understand, and so profound that studies by the wisest theologians will never exhaust its riches.” With the vast depth of Scripture to ponder over at the end of 2025, it’s good to be reminded of this simple teaching—God’s people, filled with God’s Spirit, doing God’s work, unto God’s glory is the marching orders the church has been given until the King returns. A church empowered by the Spirit of God, is a church strong and secure, filled with the love, joy, and peace of God.

The amount of energy the sun produces in one second is nearly a million times more energy than humanity uses in an entire year. It’s this magnificent power that lights up the world day after day to sustain life on earth. The sun, which is a picture of the Son of God, is a metaphor for the spiritual power and light that radiates from our Lord Jesus Christ. Though many around Him refused to believe and receive the light, nevertheless, the promise of Scripture remains true—light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not and will not overcome it.

At one time or another every Christian will find themselves in spiritual “depths”. It’s the place where we feel overwhelmed and hemmed in by the circumstances of life. Throughout the Psalms the writers encourage us, and give us examples of what a weary soul is to do in such conditions—cry out to God from the depths of our soul and drive out the darkness with the glorious light of His Word.

The Corinthian church was left with a decision. Would they submit to the Lord or continue down the arrogant path they were on. The Apostle Paul dropped a heavy letter on them, and their response, coupled with holy reverence led Paul’s soul to be refreshed in the midst of all his afflictions.

The Lord brings comfort to His people in many ways. While the Apostle Paul was in Macedonia he was overburdened with afflictions and in desperate need of encouragement. God used a gentile friend who showed up at just the right time to give him the encouraging word and the comforting presence he needed to keep pressing on in the Lord.

As Christians in these last days staying clean in a dirty world is no easy task. The Apostle Paul concludes 2 Corinthians Ch.6 with an exhortation and encouragement to the church to be separate, be holy, and not be bound to unbelievers. With the power of the Holy Spirit in us we can do all these things through Christ who gives us strength.

1 Corinthians 12:31 states, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” Paul then embarks into what some would call the most important chapter in the New Testament. As the love of many grows cold, the Lord’s word for the church in these last days is to press in, burn brighter, and be fully saturated in the love of Christ.

Motivation can be defined as: “The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.” As the Apostle Paul bears his heart to the Corinthian church he makes clear his motivations in the ministry. He kept the main thing the main thing and though those around him questioned him, doubted his motives, or tried to get him off track, he would not budge. He lived and breathed to glorify Jesus Christ.

One of the literary devices in the toolbox of the Apostle Paul was juxtaposition. Throughout the second letter to the Corinthians Paul beautifully utilizes this poetic device to communicate hope, glory, and the joys that are store for all Christians. Through the pain, struggles, and questions of life Paul wants us to understand it’s light and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory that awaits us all.

It’s an honor to serve the Lord. The Apostle Paul never forgot this. Mercy guided his ministry and mercy sustained it. He was devoted to sharing this mercy with others and calling everyone to to see the light of the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ.