Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 7, 2021

The Threat of Subtraction by Addition

Colossians 2:16-23

-therefore: connecting 2:16-23 to its context
-Since Christ’s accomplishment on the cross is sufficient, enjoy your freedom and reject legalism.

1. First Command: Let no one judge you… (16-17)

• with reference to food, drink, festival, Sabbath
• in light of the shadow/substance contrast

2. Second Command: Let no one disqualify you… (18-19)

• the one delighting in asceticism and angel worship
• the one detailing what he has “seen”
• the one dilating himself based on his flesh
• the one diminishing the nourishment of the Head

3. One Pressing Question: Why do you submit…? (20-23)

• negative prohibitions connected to perishing things
• promotion of man-made religion which feeds pride
• OT commentary: Isa. 29:13

4. So What?

• “Legalism is always nailing a sign to the cross that says ‘necessary but not enough.’” (MacGorman)
• Grace: God achieves and man receives, Legalism: man achieves and God receives
• Bondage to sin is broken by a more compelling joy, or “the expulsive power of a new affection.” (Chalmers)
• EE/CWT question: If you were to stand before the Lord and He were to ask you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” what would you say?
• “Come behold the wondrous mystery, Christ the Lord upon the tree. In the stead of ruined sinners hangs the Lamb in victory. See the price of our redemption, see the Father’s plan unfold-bringing many sons to glory, grace unmeasured, love untold.” (Boswell/Papa/Bleeker)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 31, 2021

Keep Walking!

Colossians 2:6-15

– therefore: connecting 2:6-15 with its context
– In light of Christ’s accomplishment on the cross, remain faithful and resist falsehood.

1. Commit to Continuance (6-7)

• walk: conduct, lifestyle, consistent with the gospel
• rooted, built up, established, abounding

2. Proceed with Caution (8)

• danger of incarceration through speculation and deception
• the standard: according to Christ

3. Grounds for Continuation and Caution (9-15)

• hymn-like quality (4 “in Him” and 4 “striking” participles)
• filled in His fullness (9-10)
• circumcision (11), burial/resurrection (12), death/new life (13), expunged record (14), disarming/triumph (15)

4. So What?

• “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, oh my soul…” (Spafford)
• “And when before the throne I stand in Him complete, ‘Jesus died my soul to save’ my lips shall still repeat…” (Hall)
• “There we leave you in that blessed dependency, to hang upon Him that hangs on the cross.” (Donne)
• Cling to Christ!

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 24, 2021

Avoiding a Ride on Heresy Highway

Colossians 1:24-2:5

– Connections to 1:15-20 and 1:21-23

1. Paul’s stewardship: Prize maturity (24-29)

• rejoicing in sufferings
• filling up what is lacking…
• making the word known
• Christ the hope of glory
• Paul’s “faithful dependence” and “furious drive”

2. Paul’s concern: Promote stability (1-5)

• new hearts and common hope
• encouraged through unity
• enriched with understanding
• established against error
• purpose and commendation

3. So What?

• Living in absolute submission to Jesus Christ safeguards believers from spiritual seduction.
• At the heart of every cult is a defective doctrine of Jesus Christ.
• “Admonition is love’s authentic expression in time of danger.” (MacGorman)
• Prosperity of soul is the best prosperity. (3 John 2-4)
• “Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought; But when I see Thee as You art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought.” (Newton)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 17, 2021

Gospel Supremacy

Colossians 1:1-14

* Background/Context: author, occasion, Colossian “heresy” and theme

1. Don’t hit “delete!” (1-2)

• identification of recipients
• extension of grace and peace

2. Attention! God at Work! (3-8)

• You grow spiritually when you appreciate God’s actions for you and affirm His message to you.

A. Appreciate God’s role as the author of new life. (3-5a)

• gratitude for activity and new existence
• upward, outward and forward

B. Affirm God’s message as the ultimate solution. (5b-6)

• centered in Christ
• word of truth
• undeserved but desperately needed
• productive

C. Assess your present status. (7-8)

• example of Epaphras
• note the progression

3. Praying for Others (9-14)

• Since nothing matters more than God’s honor, pray that the lives of His people may honor Him.

A. Understand the perspective of prayer. (9a)

• unbroken communion
• unceasing support

B. Affirm the priority in prayer. (9b)

• to know God
• ignorance is not bliss

C. Emphasize the pleasure of God in prayer. (10-12)

• life that pleases God
• what it looks like: exhibiting fruit, applying knowledge, appropriating strength, giving thanks

D. Praise the God who qualifies, delivers and transfers. (13-14)

• redemption
• forgiveness

4. So What?

• Cultivate a text-driven perspective.
• Pray in response to and anticipation of God’s word. (Before You Open Your Bible by Matt Smethurst)
• “The pipe of love is often dry because the pipe of prayer is not deep enough.” (John Piper)
• “Sweet hour of prayer…” (William Walford, 1845)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 10, 2021

Gospel Enablement

Philippians 4:10-20

-previously: prerequisites for peace (2-7)
-bridge to this text: think and practice (8-9)

1. The Learned Commodity of Contentment (10-13)

• rejoicing in a “blossom” of concern
• a delicate appreciation
• the discipline of sufficiency in Christ
• a learned “secret”
• enablement for the assignment

2. The Promised Provision that Promotes Cooperation (14-20)

• exclusive partnership
• a grace-centered commendation
• a fragrant offering
• fullness according to wealth
• directed doxology

3. So What?

• When you rely on the enabling power of Christ, you can live with consistent contentment and confident generosity.
• You can do what the Lord assigns you to do because of the power that He keeps on pouring into you.
• “The power of Christ in Paul was not for the gratification of Paul’s whims but for the carrying out of Christ’s will.” (Robertson)
• “For Paul, contentment is not found in creating our own security but by abandoning our security to Christ.” (Ferguson)
• “Under the shadow of Your throne Your saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Your arm alone, and our defense is sure.” (Watts)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 3, 2021

Gospel Protection

Philippians 4:4-7

-You can enjoy the protection of God’s supernatural peace when you meet its biblical prerequisites.

A Context of Confinement (1:13), Conviction (4:1) and Conflict (4:2-3)

1. Command #1: Rejoice Continually (4)

• inclusive command
• specific focus

2. Command #2: Relate Reasonably (5)

• from observation to imitation
• imminent and intimate incentives

3. Command #3: Request Comprehensively (6)

• clear prohibition
• balanced perspective
• panorama of prayer

4. A Result to Anticipate (7)

• with the result that…
• guaranteed coverage
• the peace of God going…the God of peace guarding

5. So What?

• Our capacity to rejoice in the Master is connected to our concentration on His worth.
• “Thy mighty name salvation is, and keeps my happy soul above: Comfort it brings, and power and peace and joy and everlasting love. Jesus, mine all in all Thou art: My rest in toil, my ease in pain, the medicine of my broken heart. In war my peace, in loss my gain, my smile beneath the tyrant’s frown, in shame my glory and my crown.” (C. Wesley)
• “Watch over your child ____, O Lord, as his days increase; bless him and guide him, and keep him unspotted from the world. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he falls; and in his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 26, 2021

Gospel Mindset

Philippians 2:5-11

-“Mind the gap…”
-Believers maximize unity as they cultivate the mindset of Christ Jesus exemplified in the cross.

1. Mind the Mind of Christ Jesus (5)

• connection to 1:27-2:4
• command, not a suggestion
• construction: the names a matter of precision

2. Mark the Ministry of Christ Jesus (6-8)

• considered…

♦ though existing in the form of God

• emptied…

♦ having taken the form of a slave
♦ having been made in the likeness of men

• humbled…

♦ having been found in human form
♦ having become obedient to the point of death
♦ even death on a cross

3. Mark the Magnification of Christ Jesus (9-11)

• its reason
• its nature and goal

4. So What?

• “Rescue me from the one who tells me of life and omits Christ, who is wise in the ways of the world and ignores the movement of the Spirit.” (Peterson)
• “The hands that order our circumstances are pierced with nails.” (Eims)
• “There will be three effects of nearness to Jesus-humility, happiness, and holiness. May God give them to you, Christian!” (Spurgeon)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 19, 2021

Guest Speaker: Sherry Forester

God’s Unexpected Ways

Acts 16:6-40

I. Unexpected Plans (Acts 16:6-15)

• v.6-8 God’s “no”
• v.9-10 God’s “go”
• v.11-15 God’s plan begins to unfold
• With one plan, God accomplishes much.

II. Unexpected Problems (Acts 16:16-25)

• v.16-18 Unexpected situation
• v.19-25 Unexpectedly life goes downhill
• Our perspective is either our prison or our passport.

III. Unexpected Provisions (Acts 16:26-40)

• v.26-28 Unexpectedly life goes uphill
• v.29-34 A life is changed
• v.35-40 Moving on
• God’s sovereign plans are never without purpose.

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 12, 2021

Gospel Obsession

Philippians 1:12-26

-When advancing the gospel is your primary goal, you can view your circumstances as God-given opportunities to promote it.

1. Acknowledge Christ’s Providence in Your Past (12-14)

• apprehension about imprisonment
• advancement in the midst of adversity
• attracting attention to Christ

2. Advance Christ’s Cause in Your Present (15-18a)

• promoting the proclamation of Christ
• method, motive and message
• cause for rejoicing

3. Aim to Honor Christ in Your Future (18b-26)

• discernment: increased fruit or immediate gain
• desire: constrained or exchanged
• devotion: progress and praise

4. So What?

• “Live here in light of there under the conquering authority of the King.” (Stowell)
• “I cannot but run with all my might, for I am closer to the goal.” (Simeon)
• Resolve to magnify Christ in the midst of your current “restrictions.”
• A reminder from Samuel Rutherford
• “The men of grace have found glory begun below; Celestial fruits on earthly ground from faith and hope may grow…Then let our songs abound, and every tear be dry; We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground to fairer worlds on high.” (Watts)