Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 31, 2021

He Can Make You Clean!

Luke 5:12-16

This text records the first of three accounts of Jesus responding to the needs of real individuals. Here, Jesus, The Great Physician, meets a physical need which points to the meeting of a greater need.

1. Desperate Condition

• full of leprosy
• disfiguration, humiliation and isolation (Lev. 13:45-46)
• symbol and parable of sin

2. Distinct Self-Awareness

• worshipful submission: on his face
• not heal but make me clean
• confidence in the ability of Jesus

3. Dramatic Touch

• compassionate contact
• comforting words
• immediate “departure”

4. Definite Instructions

• don’t tell, but do go and show…
• practical and prophetic (Gal. 4:4-5)
• more crowds and more communion

5. So What?

• Because Jesus can deliver the diseased, magnify His power in the midst of your weakness.
• “There are times when the least thing in the world we feel we deserve is comfort, and yet there it is. The everlasting lovingkindness of the Lord our God is ever on its way to comfort us. “ (Carmichael)
• “The Great Physician now is near, the sympathizing Jesus. He speaks the drooping heart to cheer. Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!” (Hunter)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 24, 2021

In the Power of the Spirit

Luke 4:16-21

1. Introduction

• crucial role of The Holy Spirit: defensively and offensively
• fulfillment in the person of Jesus (Isa. 61:1-3)
• unfinished sentence and two-act drama
• extension of the mission (John 20:21, Eph. 1:22-23)

2. The Holy Spirit’s Crucial Role

• conceived (1:35), descended (3:22), led (4:1) and anointed (4:18)
• a refusal and a result
• from the wilderness to the synagogue

3. The Comprehension of the Mission

• release, recovery and liberation
• two errors to avoid: limitation and absence (Rev. 3:17)
• ultimate objective

4. The Mobilization of the Message

• speak, show and pray
• heralding good news
• target: the captive, blind and oppressed
• going on offense with Jesus in the power of The Spirit

5. So What?

• Recognizing The Spirit’s crucial role in the life of Jesus, employ the defensive and offensive elements of Holy Spirit dependence.
• “If the highest value is communion with Him, then we will never wish to live shamefully before Him and will always long to display His beauty to others.” (J. Elliff)
• “Holy Spirit, breathe on me, fill me with power divine. Kindle a flame of love and zeal with in this heart of mine.” (McKinney)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 17, 2021

Divine Endorsement

Luke 3:21-22

1. The Preparatory Ministry of John the Baptist

• proclamation (1-6), confrontation (7-14), expectation (15-17), incarceration (18-20)

2. The Baptism of Jesus

• preceded by the imprisonment of John the Baptist
• turning point in redemptive history
• the coming of Jesus means the going of John
• the sinlessness of Jesus (Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21)
• alignment with those who turn and trust

3. The Priority of Prayer

• first mention of Jesus praying
• had been baptized and was praying…
• Luke’s picturing of prayer (6:12, 9:18, 9:28, 22:41, 23:34)
• connection between earnest prayer and God’s blessing

4. The Divine Display of Approval

• heaven opened
• Holy Spirit descended like a dove (Matt. 10:16)
• harmless and pure: visible form (Isa. 42:1-4)
• verbal declaration of delight and approval

5. So What?

• Heaven’s estimate of the person and work of Jesus demands continual turning to and trusting in Him.
• Recognize that the Father’s approval of the Son establishes Him as the sole focus of saving faith.
• Determine to wed prayer and Scripture in the quest to pray earnestly.
• “O that with yonder sacred throng we at His feet may fall! We’ll join the everlasting song and crown Him Lord of all.” (Perronet)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 10, 2021

A New Year at the Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16

1. Introduction

• recipients of Hebrews
• context of this passage: 3:1, 4:11-13, 5:1-3
• two key concepts: perseverance and prayer
• Since Jesus is your great and sympathetic High Priest, persevere and pray.

2. Command 1: Hold Fast (Persevere) 14

• clarifying the concept of “confession”
• Jesus: alive, with God, Son of God
• transcendence and immanence

3. Command 2: Draw Near (Pray) 15-16

• sympathizing yet sinless
• how we draw near
• what we may expect: reception of mercy and gracious help
• not scolded for being needy

4. So What?

• “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.” (Spurgeon)
• Affirm the vital connection between perseverance and prayer.
• “Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin; let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within. Thou of life the fountain art; freely let me take of Thee; spring Thou up within my heart, rise to all eternity.” (Wesley, “Jesus Lover of My Soul”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 3, 2021

Guest Speaker: Lloyd “Butch” Linville

Encouragement from the First Miracle

John 2:1-11

Outline not available.

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 27, 2020

Lesson postponed till January 10, 2021.

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 20, 2020

Christmas Message

Doctrine for the Holidays

1 John 1:1-4

1. Introduction

• why doctrine matters all the time, but especially at Christmas
• Because of the reality of Jesus Christ, you can enjoy supernatural fellowship and superabundant joy.

2. The reality of Jesus Christ makes saving faith possible

• eternally
• historically
• experientially

3. The reality of Jesus Christ makes fellowship powerful

• amazing
• unifying
• mobilizing

4. The reality of Jesus Christ makes fullness profound

• obedience
• affection
• orientation

5. So What?

• “…And we will never face life alone, now that God has made Himself known, Father and Friend with us to the end, Emmanuel.” (Chapman)
• “Jesus was the only man who had a heavenly Father but no heavenly mother, who had an earthly mother but no earthly father; who was older than His mother and who was as old as His Father.” (Lee)
• “…Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity…” (Wesley)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 13, 2020

Urgent Worship

Luke 2:15-20

1. Introduction

• one of the Lord’s chief aims:
• four expressions of urgent worship

2. The Conversation of Shepherds (15)

• after an announcement and authentication
• repeated and reciprocal
• exhortation based on the information

3. The Determination of Shepherds (16)

• from word to action
• hunger to see and know

4. The Proclamation of Shepherds (17-18, 20)

• message received and relayed
• response to revelation: wonder
• glory and praise based on what is heard and seen
• just as He said

5. The Meditation of Mary (19)

• She kept on “keeping together…”
• preservation and evaluation
• true nourishment through quiet reflection

6. So What?

• Because of the Lord’s revelation of Himself in Christ, respond in urgent worship.
• “One of God’s chief aims in saving sinners is to make them true worshipers.” (MacArthur)
• “Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand. Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in His hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand. King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth He stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, in the body and the blood. He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food.” (Moultrie, adaptation of 5th century Liturgy of St. James)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 6, 2020

For the Sake of His People

Luke 2:1-12

The Lord’s providential orchestration of events surrounding Christ’s birth reflects His passionate concern for His people and His glory.

1. Confirmation of the Scope of His Control (1-5)

• Luke’s meticulous record
• a decree and a registration
• providential coordination (Micah 5:2, Prov. 21:1)
• glory and conformity

2. Confirmation through a Seeming Contradiction (6-12)

• what He surely could have done
• what He willed to do: no vacancy (2 Cor. 8:9)
• swaddled in a manger
• hammered on a cross
• an unsettling otherworldliness

3. So What?

• Because God reigns over both the massive and miniscule issues of your life, joyfully rest in His stewardship of your circumstances.
• “Some providences, like Hebrew letters, must be read backwards.” (Flavel)
• “God rules over even motel capacities for the sake of His name and people.” (Piper)
• “Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, when Thou camest to earth for me; but in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room for Thy holy nativity. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee…” (Elliott)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 29, 2020

Doing the Humanly Impossible

Luke 1

Luke is the only gospel writer who records the foretelling of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. By focusing our attention on both the similarities and differences between these events, Luke teaches us important truths about the power of God, the preeminence of Jesus and our response to the One who does the humanly impossible.

-summary of Luke 1: an emerging pattern and invitation to compare/contrast

1. The Power of God

• prediction of births (1:13 and 1:31)
• nature of births (1:7 and 1:35-36)

2. The Preeminence of Jesus

• words of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:11 and John 3:30)
• affirmation of Gabriel (1:32-33)

3. Our Response to the One who does the humanly impossible

• Zechariah: “I can’t be sure.” (1:18-20)
• Mary: “I don’t understand.” (1:34)
• explanation and declaration (1:35-38)
• resulting praise (1:46-55; 67-79)

4. So What?

• Because God excels at doing the humanly impossible, trust His promises.
• “The Son of God became man to enable men to become the sons of God.” (Lewis)
• “And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love; For that child so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heaven above, And He leads His children on, To the place where He is gone.” (“Once in Royal David’s City,” Alexander)