Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 20, 2020
The Savior in Your Distress
Isaiah 7:1-8:10
1. The setting of the Immanuel prophecy: judgment on unbelief 7:1-9
• Syria and Israel seek to form an anti-Assyrian alliance and Ahaz refuses to join
• Rezin and Pekah want to install a puppet king in place of Ahaz
• The LORD’S reputation: at stake in what happens to Ahaz
• how 2 Sam. 7 “hovers” over Isaiah 7: a promise made (2 Sam. 7:16; 23:3)
• encouragement through Isaiah and Shear-jashub: remnant concept
• Isaiah’s message: trust Yahweh
2. The tone of the Immanuel prophecy: exposure of true allegiance 7:10-25
• Yahweh offers Ahaz a “sign”
• response of Ahaz: unbelief
• Yahweh imposes a sign: Immanuel
• Ahaz’s savior: king of Assyria (2 Kings 16:7)
• prophetic detail: virgin birth
• Yahweh’s promise or Assyrian power?
3. The impact of the Immanuel prophecy: power of a promise kept 8:1-10
• focus on the believing remnant
• the message of an unusual name
• a case of ancient name-dropping
4. So what?
• In light of His precious promises and unlimited power, apply the promise of the LORD’S presence personally.
• connection to Christ and a son of David who believed (Matt. 1:18-25)
• “This is my anthem, this is my song, the theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long. God has been faithful, He will be again, his loving compassion, it knows no end. All I have need of, His hand will provide… He’s always been faithful to me. “ (Groves)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 13, 2020
Awe-Stricken Reverence
Isaiah 6:1-13
1. Vision of the Lord 1-7
• setting: year of Uzziah’s death
• sight of the Lord: seated, elevated, expansive
• sight and sound of seraphim: superlative use of “holy”
• sensation of shaking accompanied by smoke
• Isaiah’s response: from “low” to “woe”
• touched by an angel
2. Commission from the Lord 8-13
• the questioning voice
• Isaiah’s availability
• recognition of the Lord’s sovereignty
• prescribed message: what Isaiah is to say
• duration of the proclamation: how long Isaiah is to say it
• making sense of a stump
3. So what?
• The proper perspective of the Lord’s character facilitates worship and fuels faithfulness.
• connection to Christ: John 12:41
• Remember that the true King is enthroned and will remain so eternally.
• “Well for us if the passing of all that can pass drives us to Him who cannot pass, if the unchanging God stands out more clear, more near, more dear, because of change.” (Maclaren)
• “…His Sovereign majesty, may we in glory see, and to eternity love and adore.” (Wesley)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 6, 2020
Guest Speaker: Sherry Forester
The Secret of Contentment
Philippians 4:10-20
Contentment is possible when we rest in God’s sovereignty and rely on His strength.
I. PROVIDENCE OF GOD (4:10)
God sees/knows everything before it happens.
• Omniscient, all-seeing, all-knowing
• Psalm 139:16
God controls all things.
• Sovereign = supreme, independent, self-governing
• Jeremiah 29:11
God’s ways don’t always make sense.
• I know I’m supposed to let Jesus take the wheel, but when I do, He seems to enjoy off-roading!
• Isaiah 55:8
God controls circumstances for our good and His glory.
II. PEACE OF GOD (4:11-13)
• v.11 Paul learned to be content in all circumstances
• v.12-13 The secret to contentment is relying on God’s strength. We can’t always change our problems, but we can rely on God’s strength during our problems.
Difficult situations are opportunities to rely on God’s strength.
III. PROMISE OF GOD (4:14-20)
• v.14-16 Paul remembered how God had supplied his needs
• v.19 God promises to meet all our needs
• v.20 God is glorified when we trust Him to meet our needs
God can be trusted to meet all our needs.
“All I have needed your hand has provided. Great is your faithfulness Lord unto me.”
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 30, 2020
Wisdom When Trials Come
James 1:1-8
1. Background
• NT wisdom literature
• original audience: persecuted, dispersed Jewish believers
• 54 imperative commands
• Wise believers can count trials as causes for joy when they understand God’s power over them and purpose behind them.
2. Count your trials as causes for joy (2-3)
• recognition of the nature of trials: certainty, contingency and variety
• reason for the command: knowing…testing…faith…produces endurance
• matter of perspective and not denial
3. Trust the processes of your trials (4)
• full effect of endurance
• the purpose/goal of maturity
4. Ask God for wisdom in the midst of your trials (5-8)
• if = since
• the generously giving God
• assurance of provision
• ask in faith
• don’t suppose
5. So What?
• Grasp the ultimate goal of wisdom: conformity to Christ to the glory of God.
• Trials tend to traumatize those who value present comfort/security over continual conformity to Christ
• If He is Lord over your experiences, He will not waste your experiences.
• “This is all my hope and peace: nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my righteousness: nothing but the blood of Jesus.” (Lowry)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 23, 2020
Christ Crucified: The Wisdom of God
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
1. Background
• pastoral letter to a troubled and triumphant church
• Paul spent 18 months in Corinth prior to writing this letter
• objective: unity rooted in the wisdom of Christ crucified
• confirmation of calling (1:1-9) and contention in the church (1:10-17)
• Because Christ crucified demonstrates the complete superiority of God’s wisdom and power to a dying world, depend on it and declare it confidently.
2. Christ crucified exposes human wisdom’s futility (18-21)
• synonym for the gospel: word of the cross
• disregard results in division and distraction
• failure to address ultimate issues
• contrast: perishing/folly and being saved/power
• supporting OT reference: Isa. 29:13-14
• God’s pleasure in what appears “foolish”
3. Christ crucified exceeds human wisdom’s effort (22-25)
• demand for signs: the spectacular
• demand for wisdom: the intellectual
• a rescue rooted in divine determination
• stumbling block and folly (Deut. 21:22-23)
• foolish wisdom and weak strength
• pulverizes pride (1:31 and Jer. 9:23-24)
4. So What?
• “How soon faith would freeze without a cross.” (S. Ford)
• Dynamic divine determination calls for delighted dependence.
• “Alas, and did my Savior bleed…” and “Forbid it Lord that I should boast…” (Watts)
• “When through the deep waters I call you to go, the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow. For I will be with you, your troubles to bless and sanctify to you your deepest distress.” (Rippon)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 16, 2020
Wisdom-Driven Praying
Proverbs 30:7-9
1. Background
• only recorded prayer in Proverbs
• words of Agur (“reverence”) in 30:1-33
• affirmations in 30:1-6: our inability apart from God and God alone as the source of true wisdom
2. Observe the character of the requests 7
• praying with the intensity of a dying sinner
• two specific requests with one amplification
3. Observe the content of the requests 8
• remove far from me falsehood and lying (words)
• give me neither poverty nor riches (possessions)
• amplification: feed me with the food needful
4. Observe the considerations behind the requests 9
• exemplary prayer
• full…deny…desertion
• poor…steal…desecration
5. So What?
• Knowing that God is the sole and all-sufficient source of wisdom, depend on His provision and desire His glory.
• Prioritize dependence on God.
• Pursue the glory of God.
• Connection to the NT and to Christ: Matt. 6:9-13
• “All the way my Savior leads me, cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living Bread…” (Crosby)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 9, 2020
Honey for Your Life
Proverbs 24:13-14
Because of the dynamic and enduring nature of God’s wisdom, savor and saturate yourself with His word.
1. Aim for the internalization of wisdom
• context: prohibition about the way of the wicked in 13-22
• metaphor of physical eating
• beneficial consumption
2. Cultivate an appreciation for wisdom
• medicinal and magnificent (16:24)
• pleasing the palate of the soul
3. Recognize the duration of wisdom 14
• the connective “so”
• outlook and appetite
• cause and consequences
• internalization and endless delight
4. So what?
• Nourish your soul with the honey of God’s word.
• A honey “salad” from the Psalms: 19:10, 119:41-48, 119: 97-104
• connection to Christ: Hebrews 12:1-3 and John 4:34
• “Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life. Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.” (P. Bliss)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 2, 2020
The ‘Splendid’ Crown of Old Age
Proverbs 16:31-17:6
In light of God’s purpose for your advancing years, pursue conformity to His character
1. Ponder the biblical perspective 31/6
• ascription
• escalation
2. Learn the legacy of the long fuse 32-33
• internal control
• sovereign contingency
3. Practice a preference for peace and quiet 1
• paired with verse 32
• concord over consumption
4. Value character more than circumstances 2-3
• wise slave and shameful son
• possession over position
• omnicompetence of the ultimate Tester
5. Apply the lessons of listening 4-5
• the case of the captured ear
• the liar and the mocker and their destiny
• clinging to truth and compassion
6. So what?
• Take your cues about aging from Scripture.
• Focus on finishing well to the glory of God.
• NT connection: 2 Tim. 4: 6-8 and Heb. 12:1-3
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 26, 2020
Necessary Fear
Proverbs 15:33-16:6
Because every step of meaningful progress hinges on the fear of the LORD, adopt a posture of humility and aim to please Him.
1. Recognize the unifying principle 33
• fear of the LORD
• instruction in wisdom
• coupled with humility
2. Prioritize the LORD’S evaluation 1-3
• man proposes and God disposes
• the balanced scales of sovereignty
• the practice of self-suspicion
• embracing a precious promise
3. Acknowledge the accountability factor 4-6
• comprehensive sovereignty
• arrogance that abominates
• fear and function
4. So what?
• Remember: what matters is what God thinks…
• The right kind of fear will keep you from the wrong kind of function.
• The first destination on the path of pleasing God is dependence.
• Connection to Christ: manifestation of atoning mercy and faithfulness
• “Worthy of reverence, worthy of fear, worthy of love and devotion; Worthy of bowing and bending of knees, worthy of all this and added to these…” (York)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 19, 2020
Course Navigation
Proverbs 14:8-15
1. Overview
• connection to 14:1-7 and the “how to” response to walking in wisdom
• distinct literary/poetic device: chiasmus (each of 8 verses paired with another)
• main idea: Because wisdom warns of the deceptive nature of appearances, navigate your course by faith and not by sight.
2. Prudence and Foolishness 8/15
• discernment of the wise
• deception of the foolish
3. Restitution and Reward 9/14
• the wise: making amends and receiving favor
• the foolish: rejecting restitution and receiving judgment
4. Heartache and Joy 10/13
• the private nature of emotional experience
• the reality of mingled grief and joy
5. Life and Death 11/12
• the flourishing upright and the exterminated wicked
• the disaster of the seemingly right way
6. So What?
• Prize the preciousness of absolute truth.
• Cultivate the discipline of discernment.
• Connection to NT and Christ: 2 Cor. 4:1, 13-18
• “…And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight…” (Spafford)
