Posts by Josh Moody
Ephesians 4:1-16: Five Principles of Unity
1 Kings 11, Psalm 119:49-56, Luke 2:21-40, Ephesians 4:1-16 Ephesians 4:1-16: How do we maintain and further the unity of the church? Five principles of unity emerge from this amazing section of Paul’s teaching. First, focus on the calling that you have received. Our unity in Christ is furthered as we reflect on Christ and what he has…
Read MoreEphesians 3:14-21: A Prayer of Great Power
1 Kings 9-10, Psalm 119:41-48, Luke 2:1-20, Ephesians 3:14-21 Ephesians 3:14-21: What a prayer! What do we learn from this prayer of Paul’s? We learn that the gospel motivates praying. “For this reason.” What reason? The reason is the truth and power of the gospel. A people that love the gospel will be a praying people. We learn…
Read MoreEphesians 3:1-13: The Proclamation of the Gospel
1 Kings 8, Psalm 119:33-40, Luke 1:67-80, Ephesians 3:1-13 Ephesians 3:1-13: When we think of the word “mystery,” we often think of something “mysterious,” perhaps a whodunit or a magic and sorcery movie or a strange ghostly apparition of some kind. But, for Paul and in the Bible generally, the word “mystery” tends to have a more precise…
Read MoreEphesians 2:11-22: How Do We Have Racial Reconciliation?
1 Kings 6-7, Psalm 119:25-32, Luke 1:57-66, Ephesians 2:11-22 Ephesians 2:11-22: At the start of chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul described the beauty and power of the gospel. But what are the practical implications of this gospel for how we live? The massive implication that Paul focuses on here is that in Christ, both…
Read MoreEphesians 2:1-10: Ten Key Components of the Gospel
1 Kings 4-5, Psalm 119:17-24, Luke 1:39-56, Ephesians 2:1-10 Ephesians 2:1-10: This is one of the most glorious summaries of the gospel in the New Testament. What are the 10 key components of this gospel? First, outside of Christ we are dead. How often is this message diluted! Around us, according to Paul, are the walking dead! A spiritual…
Read MoreEphesians 1:15-23: 10 Lessons from Paul’s Prayer
1 Kings 2-3, Psalm 119:9-16, Luke 1:26-38, Ephesians 1:15-23 Ephesians 1:15-23: When we listen to godly men and women pray, it is worth observing exactly how they pray and what they pray. How much more so when we have the opportunity to overhear the apostle Paul pray, as he prays here in this second half of chapter 1…
Read MoreEphesians 1:1-14: 10 Ways that Election Is Beautiful
1 Kings 1, Psalm 119:1-8, Luke 1:1-25, Ephesians 1:1-14 Ephesians 1:1-14: We often think of election—or the choice of God—as some negative or nefarious idea snuck in by conniving overly complicated theologians to the detriment of the simple truth of the Bible. But here as we come to Ephesians chapter 1 and the election of God, his choice…
Read MoreMay 26-31, 2023
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.…
Read MoreGalatians 6: Amen and Amen
2 Samuel 23-24, Psalm 118, Mark 16, Galatians 6 Galatians 6: Having so passionately warned the Galatians against legalism, Paul has now been helping them see that this gospel of grace and peace does by its very nature and power lead to a changed life. This “walking in the Spirit” he has exhorted them to follow. Now, in…
Read MoreGalatians 5:13-26: The Fruit of the Spirit
2 Samuel 22, Psalm 117, Mark 15:42-47, Galatians 5:13-26 Galatians 5:13-26: If we are set free from legalism, does this mean that the Christian has no responsibility to live a moral life? Not at all! There are two dangers frequently fallen into by the unwary. On the one side of the path is the ditch of legalism.…
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