Blessed Hope Chapel Treasure Valley (Boise, Idaho) is a body of believers made up of people from different backgrounds and stories joined together through the gospel of Christ. Blessed Hope Chapel Treasure Valley is a start-up church and a sister church of Blessed Hope Chapel in Simi Valley, California. Our fellowship currently meets in the city of Eagle, Idaho, led by Pastor Nick Pinneri
According to Oxford Dictionary the word argue means, “To give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one’s view.” In 1 Corinthians Ch.1 we see the Apostle Paul put on his arguing hat and he doesn’t take it off for sixteen chapters. He presents evidence after evidence and reason after reason in chapter one to persuade the Corinthians of what true wisdom really is. The Corinthians thought they were wise, but the Apostle showed them that the wisdom they’re pursuing has no value in the Kingdom of God.
There was a city in the first century Roman Empire that was so debauched, so immoral, and so perverse that one Bible commentator states of it, “It became the most frivolous, dissipated, corrupt, and ultimately the most effeminate and feeble portion of Greece.” Though the Apostle Paul spent a year and six months ministering to the church in this city, the church struggled to be different from the world all around it. In the letter of first Corinthians, we see the Apostle Paul patiently and lovingly walking alongside a carnal church, pleading with them, appealing to them, and hoping they’ll embrace the more excellent way—the way of love. Perhaps one of the most defining verses in the letter is found in first Corinthians 16:14, “Let all that you do be done in love.” If they could only understand that love was the one cure that could bring healing and peace to all their sin and dysfunction.
In a sermon titled, “It’s Always Been In You” Steven Furtick shouted the blasphemous words, “I am God almighty!” Sadly, he never retracted those words but rather continues going on in the ministry as if nothing happened. Recently, he was in the news again when a member on his staff mentioned Elevation church would not be using words like “resurrection” “Calvary” or “blood of Jesus” in their Easter invitations because they didn’t want anyone to feel like an outsider. Many American churches have become nothing more than an entertaining social club seasoned with some religious jargon and some feel good verses. They have left the true gospel behind for that which is no gospel at all. May we pray that those churches repent and humbly turn to God and worship Him in spirit and truth.
For the Apostle Paul, Peter, and the disciples the resurrection of Christ is not something they believed, it’s something they knew to be true. Paul emphatically states in 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus appeared to all of them and then Paul goes on to show the absurdity of doubting the resurrection. Paul’s bottom line is if there’s no resurrection, there’s no hope, no heaven, no forgiveness, no meaning and purpose to life. Once Paul establishes the absolute absurdity of that thought process he implores us all to be steadfast and immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing our toil is not in vain. Everything we go through in our humble obedience to Christ is worth it, He sees it and will reward it. So we should be encouraged because the resurrected Christ said lo I’m with you always even to the end of the age!
Matthew 20:18,19 states, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Jesus told His disciples plainly and clearly that He would be mocked, flogged, and crucified but they were blind to it. Sadly, today many are blinded to the reality of the cross of Christ. The centrality of the message of the cross of Christ was so important to the Apostle Paul that he told the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 2:2 “I have determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” The crucified Christ is at the center of the Gospel message, and is our only hope for salvation, reconciliation, and peace with God.