Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 18, 2021
As One with Authority
Luke 20:1-19
1. Context
• entering, weeping and cleansing (19:28-48)
• public debate with religious leaders (20:1-21:4)
2. Jesus Addresses the Authority Issue 1-8
• a question from the religious leaders
• Jesus answers with a question
• caught on the horns of a dilemma
3. Jesus Illustrates with a Parable 9-15a
• landowner hires out vineyard (Isa. 5:1-7)
• messengers sent and treated shamefully (Acts 7:51-53)
• beloved son sent and killed (Heb. 13:12-13)
4. Jesus Offers a Timeless Application 15b-19
• Jesus poses a question and answers it
• response of the target audience
• Jesus points to a prophecy about Himself (Psa. 118:22, Isa. 8:14-15, Isa. 28:16)
5. So What?
• Because the Lord’s authority prevails, flee to Him for refuge.
• “There is no refuge from Him-only in Him.” (Kidner)
• Savor the Lord’s strange strategy that overcomes the world.
• Reject the sentimental syrup and the postmodern virtue of universal tolerance.
• “Mine, mine was the transgression…” (Bernard of Clairvaux)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 11, 2021
The Story of the Self-Invited Guest
Luke 19:1-10
1. Contextual Considerations
• exclusive to Luke and reflective of his focus
• passing through Jericho with 18:31-34 on His mind
• basic structure: verses 1-5 (found) and verses 6-10 (changed)
2. Meet Zacchaeus: chief tax collector, rich (1-2)
• The Crowd: could not see, small in stature (3)
• Response of Zacchaeus: ran ahead, climbed sycamore tree (4)
3. Action of Jesus (5-6)
• Zacchaeus, hurry and come down
• must stay: divine appointment
• joyful reception
4. The Crowd: grumbled, guest of a man who is a sinner (7)
• Response of Zacchaeus (8)
♦ half of my goods to the poor
♦ fourfold restoration (2 Sam. 12:6)
5. Action of Jesus (9-10)
• salvation to a son of Abraham (Gal. 3:7-9)
• to seek and save the lost
6. So What?
• Because of the mission of Jesus, meeting Him means never again being the same.
• “He will happily trample on the prejudices of others to rescue someone from sin.” (Maclaren)
• “O for the wonderful love He has promised, promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me…” (Thompson)
• “Drown yourself in the immensity of God.” (Spurgeon/Begg)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 4, 2021
Easter Message
Of First Importance
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
-Because the content of the gospel is timelessly consequential, share in the triumph of its conquest.
1. The Gospel Demands Tenacious Trust 1-2
• reminder: gospel I gospelized
• reception and reliance
• no careless contemplation
2. The Gospel Transmits Timeless Truth 3-7
• delivered…received
• died, buried, RAISED, appeared…
• caravan of witnesses
• for our sins
• in accordance with the Scriptures
3. The Gospel Transforms Tainted Travelers 8-11
• life for a “wretched specimen”
• undeserved/unmerited favor of God
• opposed to earning and not to effort
• good news to celebrate
4. So What?
• “While passing through this world of sin…” (McKinney)
• “Either this man was, and is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.” (Lewis)
• Remember that “the corner has been turned.”
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 28, 2021
Hanging on His Words
Luke 19:28-48
1. Introduction
• preceding our text: Zacchaeus (19:1-10) and Ten Minas (19:11-27)
• moving toward Jerusalem and the cross: three symbolic acts that highlight the identity of Jesus
2. Jesus Enters Jerusalem (28-40)
• two disciples dispatched
• prophetic fulfillment (Zech. 9:9-10)
• disciples rejoice and praise (Psa. 118:26)
• objection from some Pharisees
• stones that cry out: inevitable praise
3. Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem (41-44)
• compassion/emotion of Jesus
• a peace hidden from their eyes (John 1:11)
• prediction of demise due to visitation insensitivity
• stones that fall down: inevitable destruction (Hab. 2:11)
4. Jesus Cleanses the Temple (45-48)
• denunciation of Temple practices (Mal. 3:1-4, Isa. 56:7, Jer. 7:11)
• daily routine in the Temple
• objective of the religious establishment
• people “hanging on His words”
5. So What?
• Because Jesus Christ has authority over all creation and alone can rescue it, hang on His words and join the chorus of His praise.
• “I hang upon the Savior, as actually perishing without His unbounded mercy and unintermitted care.” (Simeon)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 21, 2021
Beyond Religious Performance
Luke 18:9-14
Introduction
-What’s the real problem?
-Are we self-centered or God-centered?
-Recognition of contextual connections
1. Jesus targets the self-sufficient (9)
• misplaced trust
• mistreatment of others
2. Jesus teaches through vivid contrast (10-13)
• a religious performer: his attitude, actions and articulation
• a spiritual pauper: his attitude, actions and articulation
3. Jesus transmits a timeless truth (14)
• Only those who acknowledge the extremity of their need may enjoy the exaltation of intimacy with Jesus.
• A repeated NT theme: 1 Peter 5:5-7
• Recognize that self-justifiers remain unjustified.
• Understand the peril of religious performance.
• “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me…” (Toplady)
• Serve Jesus with broken-hearted joy.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 14, 2021
The Son Who Stayed Home
Luke 15:11-32
1. Contextual Considerations
• identification of target audience in 15:1
• intensification in the three parables of Luke 15
• inclusion of 15:25-32
2. An Unusual Request 11-13
• man with two sons
• younger son requests inheritance
• division of property
3. A Journey into a Far Country 14-16
• squandered his property in reckless living
• severe famine and need
• feeding pigs
4. A Return Journey 17-20a
• when he came to himself
• contrasting his status with hired servants
• rehearsal of speech
5. A Compassionate Reception 20b-24
• the father’s actions: saw, felt, ran, embraced, kissed…
• the younger son’s confession
• robe, ring, shoes and festive celebration
6. An Angry Older Brother 25-32
• informed of his brother’s return
• an angry protest and an embellishment
• the father’s response
7. So What?
• Because of God’s heart for the lost, extend His compassion and join His celebration!
• “And so through all the length of days Thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise within Thy house forever.” (Baker)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 7, 2021
Two Insensitive Jews and a Surprising Hero
Luke 10:25-37
1. A Neglected Setting (25-29)
• transparent motivation
• crucial question
• correct response
• diversionary tactic
2. A Familiar Story (30-35)
• avoidance: fear of contamination and complication
• engagement: distinguished by compassion
• expression: through care, courage and commitment
3. A Timeless Challenge (36-37)
• identifying a neighbor
• modeling of mercy
• called not to calculate but to care
• called not to sentimental feeling but to sacrificial action
• called not to achieve but to receive
• from the Good Samaritan to the Great Shepherd
4. So What?
• In light of the matchless mercy of Jesus, remember that loving your neighbor begins with the dimensions of your heart rather than the dimensions of your neighborhood.
• “If the truth were known…” (Miracle of Mercy by Stephen Curtis Chapman)
• “Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer; But this I know with all my heart-His wounds have paid my ransom.” (How Deep the Father’s Love for Us by Stuart Townend)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 28, 2021
Providence, Pandemic and Perspective
Job 38-42
1. Introduction
• defining providence
• distinguishing providence from fate
2. Observations from Job 38-42
• Job suffers and his “friends” respond
• Job wants a meeting to present his “case” (31:35)
• Job is given a series of “knowledge” tests (38:3)
• Job gets a guided tour of the created order (38:4-39:30)
• Job is left speechless (40:1-5)
• The “lesson” continues (40:6-41:34)
• The reminder from 41:11
• repentance, rebuke and restoration (42)
• connection to Christ (Phil. 2:5-11)
3. What the LORD is saying through this pandemic
• Remember that you are not in control (Deut. 32:39)
• Worship only Me (Isa. 45:22-23)
• View your circumstances from My perspective (Psa. 34:18-22 and Isa. 40:8)
• Think bigger thoughts of Me (Isa. 55:8-9)
• Maximize the “mist” that is your life (James 4:13-17)
4. So What?
• The pervasive providence of God points us to the necessity of Christ being our pervasive reality.
• “The same sovereignty that could stop Covid yet doesn’t is the very sovereignty that sustains our souls in it.”
• “When your by-and-by is beautiful and sure, your here-and-now will be sweet and fruitful.”
• “This is not a season for sentimental views of God.” (Piper in Coronavirus and Christ)
• “He’s got the whole world in His hands…” (Warner)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 14, 2021
Extravagant Love
Luke 7:36-50
1. Contextual Considerations
• reviewing 7:1-35: servant healed (1-10), son raised (11-17), John the Baptist and application (18-35)
• specific connection to 7:31-35
2. A sinful woman shows up at Simon’s house (36-38)
• Jesus accepts an invitation
• understanding “reclining at table”
• an uninvited guest
• wet His feet with her tears, wiped His feet with her hair, kissed His feet and anointed them with oil
3. Simon’s evaluation of the ministry of Jesus (39)
• he said to himself…
• evaluation: interaction invalidates identity as a prophet
4. Jesus tells a story (40-43)
• awareness of Simon’s self-dialogue
• two debtors: 500/50 denarii
• canceled debt and a question
• Simon’s accurate judgment
5. Jesus confronts Simon with the striking contrast (44-50)
• Simon: zero hospitality-loves little
• Sinful Woman: extravagant devotion-loved much
• public declaration of forgiveness
• summarizing word to a sinful woman
6. So what?
• Because you’ve been forgiven much, love much.
• “So now I’m giving back to Him all the praise He’s worthy of. I’ve been forgiven and that’s why I love Him so much…” (Alabaster Box, CeCe Winans)
• A healthy love for Jesus is rooted in the constant awareness of the depth of His forgiveness.
• “God be with you till we meet again, By His counsels guide, uphold you, With His sheep securely fold you, God be with you till we meet again, Till we meet, Till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus’ feet…” (Besing, Ranking, Tomer)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 7, 2021
Rock or Ruin?
Luke 6:46-49
1. Context
• Sermon on the Mount
• beatitudes (20-23), woes (24-26), love of enemies (27-36), judging others (37-42), fruit-bearing (43-45)
2. Jesus asks a question (46)
• implications of “Lord”
• exposure of inconsistency
3. Jesus makes a comparison (47-48)
• hearing and doing
• rock foundation
• flood survival: no collapse
4. Jesus offers a contrast (49)
• hearing and not doing
• no foundation
• flood disaster: complete ruin
5. So what?
• Only as you hear and heed the words of Jesus are you prepared to live presently and eternally.
• Your obedience, or lack of it, has consequences now and in the future.
• “Entrance to the Kingdom does turn on obedience after all-not the obedience which earns merit points, but which bows to Jesus’ lordship in everything and without reservation.” (Carson)
• Cultivate holy fear: There is a heaven to be gained and a hell to be shunned. (Isa. 1:5-6, 18-20)
• “…all other ground is sinking sand…” (Mote)
