Posts by Josh Moody
Luke 2:41-52: Our Father’s House
Luke 2:41-52, Ephesians 4:17-24, Psalm 119:57-64, 1 Kings 12 Luke 2:41-52: What a rare, precious gift of insight into the development of not just a godly man, but the God Man! At 12 years old, many a boy of talent verges on the preciousness, plain spoken, if not presumptuous and arrogant. Do we see these traits in Jesus,…
Read MoreLuke 2:21-40: Simeon and Anna
Luke 2:21-40, Ephesians 4:1-16, Psalm 119:49-56, 1 Kings 11 Luke 2:21-40: These early days of Jesus as he fulfills all the law perfectly is the fulfillment of all the law promised. The sacrifice his parents offer (Luke 2:24) is the sacrifice for those who cannot afford much (Leviticus 12:8). Note that poverty can be combined with great piety.…
Read MoreLuke 2:1-20: True Good News
Luke 2:1-20, Ephesians 3:14-21, Psalm 119:41-48, 1 Kings 9-10 Luke 2:1-20: Luke carefully sets this most momentous birth in the realm of the historical and the factual: “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered” (2:1). Note: it is important for us to remember that Jesus’ birth is not…
Read MoreLuke 1:67-80: The Way of Peace
Luke 1:67-80, Ephesians 3:1-13, Psalm 119:33-40, 1 Kings 8 Luke 1:67-80: Now is Zechariah’s song, and it is structured around the “visitation” (1:68, 78) that Zechariah saw that God was bringing about through his prophet John, and was in fulfillment of the Old Testament promises and prophecies (Genesis 50:24, 25). Christ shall be a “horn of salvation” (1:69:…
Read MoreLuke 1:57-66: The Hand of the Lord
Ephesians 2:11-22, Psalm 119:25-32, Luke 1:57-66, 1 Kings 6-7 Luke 1:57-66: Now it is Elizabeth’s turn to give birth. Her neighbors hear of the extraordinary birth—to one so old (Luke 1:18)—and they rejoice with her (1:58). Note when someone else has great mercy shown to them, some extraordinary blessing or other, our response is to be joy…
Read MoreLuke 1:39-56: God My Savior
Luke 1:39-56, Ephesians 2:1-10, Psalm 119:17-24, 1 Kings 4-5 Luke 1:39-56: Mary is so excited about the news that she has to go and tell Elizabeth. As soon as she enters the house—crying out eagerly for Elizabeth—the baby in Elizabeth’s womb hears the greeting and leaps for joy. John the Baptist, in Elizabeth’s womb, is already performing his…
Read MoreLuke 1:26-38: Incarnate
1 Kings 2-3, Luke 1:26-38, Ephesians 1:15-23, Psalm 119:9-16 Luke 1:26-38: How different is the response for Mary than for Zechariah! Mary is a virgin and is favored by God. The Lord is with her. When the angel comes to her and speaks these words, the young woman is understandably “afraid.” When she is told that the…
Read MoreLuke 1:1-25: The Certainty
1 Kings 1, Psalm 119:1-8, Luke 1:1-25, Ephesians 1:1-14 Luke 1:1-25: The Gospel of Luke is written by a medical doctor, who was a companion of Paul’s, for a specific purpose: “that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (1:4). In other words, the point that Luke is making, and seeking to establish, is…
Read MoreThe 4 Loves of a Healthy Church
by Dr. Josh Moody What makes a church healthy? This is importantly distinguished from what makes a church a true church. That would be a subject for another article. But if we assume that the church we are attending, or thinking about, is a true church, then what is it that makes a church more (or less) healthy?…
Read MoreMay 26-31, 2025
In keeping with the Bible reading plan we are using, the last days of each month are designated as “free days.” May 26-31 then are intended to allow you to catch up on reading you may have missed or to study passages more in depth that intrigued you during the first 25 days of the month.…
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