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)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 12, 2020
Wisdom Personified
Proverbs 8:6-21
1. Context
• call of wisdom 1-5
• consideration of wisdom’s existence 22-31
• contrast through personification
• God’s wisdom: perfectly factual knowledge + immediate and perfect situational insight + omnipotent resolve in all its forms
• main idea: Knowing that God’s wisdom brings lasting benefits, value it with increasing intensity.
2. Hear Wisdom’s Appeal (6-11)
• unmatched virtue
• incomparable value
3. Consider Wisdom’s Activity (12-16)
• hatred of evil
• giving what She possesses
4. Ponder Wisdom’s Reward (17-21)
• benefits for those who love Her
• better than gold which stands the fire-test
• edifying and eternal wealth
5. So What?
• Treasure the revelation of God’s wisdom. Psa. 19:10-11
• Avoid obsession with the vanity and vexation of existence without wisdom. 1 Cor. 3:18-22
• Treasure the incarnation of God’s wisdom. 1 Cor. 1:20-25
• “Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds. Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us. Truths unchanged from the dawn of time that will echo down through eternity…” (Getty)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 5, 2020
Are You Still Listening?
Proverbs 5:1-23
In light of the devastating consequences of sexual sin, apply God’s wisdom and enjoy fulfillment in marriage.
1. Acknowledge the dominant principle (1-2)
• pay attention
• the internalization of wisdom
2. Discern the deceptive promise (3-6)
• from lip to lip
• from smooth to bitter
• trajectory of death
3. Consider the devastating price (7-14)
• avoid association
• impact: economic, social, physical, spiritual
4. Apply the designed prevention (15-20)
• exclusive fidelity
• exquisite delight
5. Cultivate a disciplined perspective (21-23)
• the LORD’S awareness
• the fatal consequence
6. So what?
• Make sure you get your wisdom from on high rather than from online.
• Connection to Christ: Eph. 5:22-33
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 28, 2020
Stay in Your Lane
Proverbs 4:20-27
Main Idea: In light of wisdom’s strategic significance, apply it intentionally and specifically.
-hearing ears (20-22)
-guarded heart (23)
-accurate mouth (24)
-focused eyes (25)
-directed feet (26-27)
So What?
-insight from Psalm 119
-“O be careful…”
-connection to Christ in John 17
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 21, 2020
Wearing Wisdom Well
Proverbs 3:21-35
1. Setting
• blessing of wisdom (13-18)
• reminder of the source of wisdom (19-20)
• main idea: Because God’s wisdom is the sole source of security, cling to it with humility.
2. Prioritize wisdom and the security it provides 21-26
• first of 7 “Do not” statements: Don’t lose sight…
• command: keep/guard wisdom
• consequence: security in all situations
• the security of sleep (Psa. 121:4)
• principle: those who keep are kept
3. Relate to others on the basis of wisdom’s security 27-35
• like a good neighbor…reliable kindness
• 5 more “Do not” statements
• consequence: blessing or cursing
• cultivation: the promise of grace for the humble (1 Pet. 5:5-11)
4. So what?
• “Sleep is a daily reminder from God that we are not God.” (Piper)
• “The habitual eyeing of the world keeps the feet on a slippery path.” (Lawson)
• connection to Christ: clothing ourselves with the humility of ultimate Wisdom (Phil. 2:5-11)
• “If you but trust in God to guide you and place your confidence in Him, you’ll find Him always there beside you to give you hope and strength within; for those who trust God’s changeless love build on the rock that will not move.” (Neumark)
