Posts by Josh Moody

Joshua 22-23, Psalm 80, Mark 4:1-2, 1 Corinthians 7:17-40 1 Corinthians 7:17-40: Paul continues to work out the implications of the principles related to sex and marriage that he taught in the first part of this chapter. The first part of this new section establishes an important application regarding slavery. While Paul argued that new Christians should make the…

Joshua 20-21, Psalm 79, Mark 3:20-35, 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 1 Corinthians 7:1-16: These verses have, of course, engendered much conversation down through the years. Several points need to be made for us to understand them and to be able to apply them to our lives. First, Paul is concerned that we exercise the “gift” that we have received…

Joshua 18-19, Psalm 78:40-72, Mark 3:1-19, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 1 Corinthians 6:12-20: What is the right Christian attitude to sexual immorality? To understand Paul’s teaching here, we need to have the backstory of the Bible’s approach to sexual ethics. From a biblical standpoint, marriage tells the story—it is as Paul calls it elsewhere a “mystery”—of the gospel love…

Joshua 15-17, Psalm 78:1-39, Mark 2:18-28, 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 1 Corinthians 6:1-11: In this passage, Paul deals with two complicated (and controversial) matters. They were controversial in ancient Corinth, and they are controversial also today. First, is it legitimate for a Christian to take another Christian to a law court? Paul’s argument here is that the very question…

Joshua 13-14, Psalm 77, Mark 2:13-17, 1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5: The great challenge: how can a church be both a friend for sinners and discipline Christians who unrepentantly continue in public and flagrant sin? Despite its challenge—and the great need for wisdom from God sought in humble prayer in community of godly leaders—it is a necessary…

Joshua 10-12, Psalm 76, Mark 2:1-12, 1 Corinthians 4 1 Corinthians 4: What is the nature of true apostleship? Or to put it more broadly, what marks out or characterizes godly Christian leadership? Paul is defending himself to the Corinthians who were doubting his credentials. And in that defense, he establishes several important principles. First, Christian leaders are…

Joshua 8-9, Psalm 75, Mark 1:35-45, 1 Corinthians 3   1 Corinthians 3: Paul now begins to address their conflict over human leaders more directly. In the process he establishes some very important principles that pertain to church health and dysfunction. First, divisiveness in church life is a sign of a lack of maturity. We should be hungering…

Joshua 6-7, Psalm 74, Mark 1:21-34, 1 Corinthians 2 1 Corinthians 2: In this passage Paul first explains his evangelistic strategy, and then his discipleship philosophy. First, his evangelistic strategy. Paul deliberately voided himself of superior eloquence of “Sophia” (Greek for wisdom) that was so well-known of the “Sophists” of his day. He did not use their techniques…

Joshua 3-5, Psalm 73, Mark 1:9-20, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 1 Corinthians 1:18-31: An extraordinary passage with an extraordinary message: all is centered on the cross so that God would get all the glory! First, consider why people do not center on the cross? Paul tells us it is because it seems like foolishness. We do not understand its…