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)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 22, 2020
Thanksgiving Message
The Path to a ‘Good Place’ This Thanksgiving
Psalms 13:1-6
1. Background
• lament psalm for Thanksgiving?
• from desperate intensity to dependent sufficiency
2. Indication of David’s Anguish 1-2
• individual lament
• four-fold use of “How Long…?”
• forgotten, forsaken, sorrowful, subdued
• Num. 6:22-27
3. Direction of David’s Appeal 3-4
• “…O LORD my God…”
• consideration and illumination
• grounded in dependence
4. Consolation of David’s Affirmation 5-6
• affirmation of trust
• anticipation of thanksgiving and praise
• basis of consolation: bountiful dealing
5. So What?
• Because of God’s mercy, trust God and anticipate joy even in your trial.
• “We are to bring our emotions underneath the jurisdiction of God’s character and God’s purpose…God’s care for his children is like the sun: it’s constant. Even though the clouds obscure it, it doesn’t mean the sun isn’t there.” (Begg)
• Connection to Christ: Psalm 22, Isa. 49:15
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 15, 2020
When Kings Fall Silent
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
1. Background
• 4th “Servant” song
• 700 years before Christ’s birth
2. The Servant’s Exaltation and Humiliation 13-15
• action and exaltation of the Servant
• exaltation of the Servant
• contrasting revulsion
• world-wide impact: sprinkled nations and shut mouths
3. The Rejecting Response of Rebel Subjects 1-3
• a question expecting a negative answer
• observed and misunderstood
• despised and rejected
4. The Revelation of the Ransoming Substitute 4-9
• His suffering explained
• the voluntary and undeserving nature of His suffering
• a suffering Substitute for straying sheep
5. The Reality of the Substitute’s Ultimate Triumph 10-12
• the LORD’S pleasure
• a concise exposition of atonement theology
• the LORD’S testimony to His Servant
6. So What?
• Because of the stunning impact of the suffering Substitute’s substitution, bow before Him in worship now!
• NT connections: Mark 10:45, 1 Cor. 15:3, Rom. 15:21
• Man of Sorrows! What a name, for the son of God, who came, ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood; sealed my pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Guilty, vile, and helpless we; spotless Lamb of God is He; Full atonement! Can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior! (Bliss)
• Celebrate and share the story of your Substitute!
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 8, 2020
A Greater Deliverance
Isaiah 49:1-13
1. Background
• the identity of the “Servant”: the corporate/individual tension
• the Moses/Christ connection (Deut. 18:15, Ex. 32:7-10)
• “second” Exodus language
2. The Servant’s Declarative Description 1-3
• command to listen (Mark 9:7)
• prepared and named (Gen. 35:10)
• summoned to show “splendor”
3. The Servant’s Focused Fortification 4-6
• antidote for despondency
• resting in the wisdom and power of God
• extension from Israel to the nations
• the deliverance/salvation the world needs
4. The Servant’s Certain Success 7-13
• despised yet exalted (Isa. 52:13-53:12)
• promise of a “second” Exodus
• provision and protection along the way
• comprehensive joy
5. So what?
• Knowing that the Lord comprehensively and compassionately delivers His people through Christ, set your sight on Him when nothing seems to make sense.
• “Despondency arises through listening to ourselves and our self-assessment instead of looking to God and recalling His purposes.” (Motyer)
• Keep looking to Christ, The sure and steady Anchor. (Heb. 6:19-20)
