Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 23, 2022

Captured but Not Carried Away

Daniel 1:1-21

1. Orientation to Daniel 1-7

• context of judgment/exile (1-3): Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord “gave” (Lev. 26, Isa. 39)
• deportation of “unblemished” youths (4): relocation
• rationing, re-educating and renaming (5-7)
• focus on Daniel yet greater focus on the God of Daniel
• parallels with the present (Heb. 11:13, 1 Pet. 2:11)

2. Resolution of Daniel 8-16

• resolve to avoid defilement of prescribed diet and its motivation (8)
• chief’s rejection of request (9-10): note “God gave…favor”
• steward’s acceptance of proposal (11-14)
• supernatural result (15-16)

3. Elevation of Daniel 17-21

• endowment with exceptional skills (17): note “God gave…”
• graduation elevation (18-20)
• preservation of a dependent life (21)
• connection to Christ: Luke 4:4, Phil. 2:5-11, 3:20

4. So What?

• While in “captivity,” nothing is more important than knowing the God in control of your past, present and future.
• “God suffers no man to be a loser by faithfulness, and more than makes up all that is surrendered for His sake.” (Maclaren)
• Treasure the truth of an unchanging, unlimited God. (Knowing God, J. I. Packer)
• “You are almighty, You are great and majestic, You are strong, invincible, And there’s no one like You…” (“Eres Todopoderoso,” D. Montero)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 16, 2022

Introduction to Daniel

From Chaos to Christ

Psalms 2:1-12

1. The World’s Hostility (1-3)

• futile plotting and perceived bondage
• “God’s plan made a hopeful beginning

But man spoiled his chances by sinning
We trust that the story
Will end in God’s glory
But at present the other side’s winning. ” (J. Boice)

2. The Lord’s Laughter (4-6)

• unmoved
• installation
• “To be intimidated by the world is as spiritually fatal as being overly attracted to it.” (T. Keller)

3. The Rightful King (7-9)

• extent of reign
• expression of reign

4. The Required Response (So What?) (10-12)

• serve
• submit
• “There is no refuge from Him-only in Him.” (D. Kidner)
• Because of God’s installation and exaltation of His Son as ultimate Ruler, submit to Christ now.
• “O Worship the King” (Grant) and “This Is My Father’s World” (Babcock)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 9, 2022

Introduction to Daniel

Can These Bones Live?

Ezekiel 37:1-14

1. Background

• Ezekiel: “God strengthens” in a context of judgment and exile

2. Sobering Inspection 1-2

• hand and Spirit of the LORD
• prophetic vision of a valley full of dry bones drawing from an exilic “proverb” (37:11)

3. Sovereign Interrogation 3

• the LORD’S question and Ezekiel’s response

4. Supernatural Intervention 4-10

• command: preach over the bones

♦ content, confirmation and consequence

• command: preach to the breath

♦ content and consequence

5. Specific Identification 11-14

• bones: whole house of Israel
• command: preach to Israel

♦ content and confirmation

• NT/Christ connections: Jn. 11:25-26, 20:22; 1 Cor. 15:50-58

6. So What?

• Solely because of His sovereign and gracious intervention, trust the LORD to give life to the dead through His Word and Spirit.
• “Faith has the prerogative of seeing possibilities of life in what looks to sense hopeless death.” (Maclaren)
• “If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God.” (Spurgeon)
• “Mercy Walked In” (Mote) and “Breathe on Me” (McKinney)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 2, 2022

New Year Message

A Word of Warning for a New Year

Ezekiel 28:11-26

1. Overview of Ezekiel

• word and hand of the LORD (1:1-3), “Son of Man”
• with Daniel in days of Babylonian exile
• themes of retribution and restoration
• background on Tyre and Sidon

2. Funeral Lament for a Proud King 11-23

• picture of exalted position corresponding to self-deification
• flagged for excessive self-celebration (Prov. 3:34)
• connection to the Fall/garden (Gen. 3)
• specific denunciation and certain doom
• prophetic perfect: as good as done
• accompanying prophecy against Sidon
• repetition of “…they will know that I am the LORD”

3. Forecast of Future Restoration 24-26

• another repetition of “…they will know that I am the LORD”
• security for the scattered and scorned
• manifestation of holiness
• NT/Christ connections: Luke 19:10, Heb. 13:20-21, James 4:6. 1 Pet. 5:5

4. So What?

• In light of the LORD’S power and provision, resolve to pursue a posture of biblical humility.
• “Every departure from God’s path is a pitting of one’s will, and a backing of one’s judgment, against His; but the contempt which it spells is too irrational to acknowledge.” (D. Kidner on Prov. 14:2)
• “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (Watts)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 26, 2021

Christmas Series

Worship with the Wise Men

Matthew 2:1-23

1. The Wise Men Arrive: Interrogation 1-2

• primary focus on Messiah and not the Magi or a madman
• not just the where, but the who

2. Herod’s Response: Consternation 3

• hostility of Herod and distress of Jerusalem

3. An Ancient Prophecy: Verification 4-8

• inquiry and the apparent indifference of religious leaders
• testimony and fulfillment of Micah 5:2 and a deceptive dispatch

4. A Case of Sovereign Grace: Orchestration 9

• leveraging creation to point the Magi to Messiah (Isa. 60:1-3)

5. A Model of Meaningful Worship: Prostration 10-12

• joy, humility, generosity, obedience
• gifts that focus and foreshadow and a warning in a dream

6. A Matter of Prophetic Fulfillment: Validation 13-23

• flight (13-15 , Hos. 11:1), children killed (16-18, Jer. 31:15), Nazareth (19-23)

7. So What?

• In light of God’s objective in and orchestration of the first Christmas, commit yourself to wondering worship.
• “The New Testament knows nothing of an incarnation that can be defined apart from its relationship to atonement.” (J. Denney)
• from “came and saw” to “go and tell” (Matt. 28:16-20)
• “O Worship the King…” (Grant)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 19, 2021

Christmas Series

A King for Christmas

Micah 5:1-5

1. Overview of Micah and His Prophecy

• Who is like Yahweh?
• a third “now”: from a period of distress to a proclamation of hope

2. The LORD Works amidst a Backdrop of Humiliation and Hopelessness 1

• prophetic address
• siege and summons

3. The LORD Offers a Hope-Filled Announcement 2

• divine address: but you…”house of bread” and “fruitful”
• “from Bethlehem…for Me”
• ruler over Israel: from David to a greater David (1 Sam. 16:1, Acts 2:25-36)
• back to Bethlehem and David’s “distant” days (2 Sam. 7:12-16)

4. The LORD Provides a Realistic Perspective for the Future 3

• affliction (verse 3) precedes enjoyment (verse 2)
• the mother and brothers of Messiah (Rom. 8:29, Heb. 2:11-14)

5. The LORD Describes the Reign of His King 4-5

• a standing Shepherd and His secured sheep and another “now” (Rev. 22:16)
• the LORD promotes His glory, keeps His promises, protects His people

6. So What?

• Because of the LORD’S promises and performance in Christ Jesus, worship the true King this Christmas.
• “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” (Wesley), “Once in Royal David’s City” (Alexander)
• “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (Wade)
• We need a King!

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 12, 2021

Christmas Series

When the Lord Sings over You

Zephaniah 3:14-17

1. Background/Context

• prophecy during the reign of Josiah about 20 years before Jerusalem’s fall (1:1)
• from the reality of judgment to the reverberation of joy

2. The LORD’S People Rejoice in Him 14-16

• the humble and lowly rejoice and exult (2:3, 3:12)
• a triple invocation
• grounds for joy: judgments taken away, enemies cleared away, the LORD’S presence

3. The LORD Rejoices Over His People 17

• repetition of presence and a triple promise
• a Mighty Warrior who saves
• the glad God who rejoices
• He “will rest” or “be silent” in His love
• He will rejoice over them with loud singing
• elaboration of 3:18-20

4. Connections to the Christ of Christmas

• Mt. 21:4-9, Jn. 3:16, Lk. 15:11-32, Gal. 3:29, Eph. 2:8-10
• third Sunday of Advent: Joy in Immanuel (Mt. 1:22-23)
• “Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of incarnation.” (Packer)

5. So What?

• Because, having saved you, the LORD sings over you, rejoice in His presence and promises.
• The Warrior, whose righteous judgment scorches, offers mercy that saves and secures.
• Delight in the depth of God’s mercy.
• “If His mind is so set on you and His power so engaged for you…” (Simeon)
• “He comes to make his blessings known far as the curse is found…” (Watts)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 5, 2021

Christmas Series

Christmas and the God of Hope

Romans 15:4-13

1. Introduction

• contextual connections: Romans 14 and 15:1-3
• Because Christ is the ultimate confirmation of God’s promises, you can have hope this Christmas-and forever!
• Why Christmas?

2. Receive One Another on the Basis of Common Hope 4-7

• because the Scriptures instruct us
• so that we might have hope
• through endurance and encouragement
• so that we may glorify God

3. Recognize the Praise that Flows from the Confirmation of This Common Hope 8-15

• Christ serves on behalf of the truth of God
• Christ confirms the promises of God
• Gentiles are commanded to praise: 2 Sam. 22:50, Psa. 18:49, Deut. 32:43, Psa. 117:1
• a hope-laced prophecy: Isa. 11:10
• a prayer request: from hope to hope

4. So What?

• Bank on the basis of hope.
• Fuel your hope by feasting on the Word.
• Remember that Christmas is about hope-filled mercy.
• “…a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees…” (J. S. Dwight)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 28, 2021

The Refreshment That Pauses

Philemon 4-7

-Paul “pauses” to reflect on Philemon’s refreshment with a particular purpose in mind: reconciliation between Philemon and his runaway slave, Onesimus.
-Because the Gospel transforms your relationship with God, you can pursue transformed relationships with others.

1. Offer Grateful Affirmation 4-5

• contextually: between introduction and appeal, sets trajectory for the rest of the letter
• the “when” and the “why” of Paul’s thankfulness

2. Engage in Thoughtful Intercession 6

• getting the facts of “fellowship” straight
• “All are bound together in a mutual bond that makes our much-prized individualism look shallow and petty.” (N. T. Wright)
• “When we act in accord with the blessings we have in Christ, we grow closer to Christ.” (R. Melick)

3. Express Specific Appreciation 7

• because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
• relief, rest and refreshment

4. So What?

• Because the Gospel transforms your relationship with God, you can pursue transformed relationships with others.
• “The Gospel is the change that changes everything.” (B. McCarty)
• Who is resting today under the shelter of your encouragement?
• Are you presently interceding for any “runaways” in your sphere of relationships?
• “The arrow shot travels far beyond the archer’s eye.” (A. Maclaren)
• “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” (J. Fawcett)