Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 2, 2020

Preaching the Gospel to Yourself

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

-prior to our text: restatement of the 10 Commandments (5:1-21) and summary of Law giving (5:22-33)

1. The purpose of the instruction (1-3)

• that you may do
• that you may fear…by keeping…
• hear and do

2. The passion expressed in the shema (4-5)

• context of polytheism
• foundational fidelity to the only One you should worship (4:35, 39)
• heart, soul and might: totality of being

3. The proclamation of the passion (6-9)

• on your heart
• diligent teaching
• wherever you are and whatever you are doing
• constant reminders

4. The principle of exclusive worship (10-19)

• remembering the LORD’S provision
• lest you forget…
• a jealous God
• avoidance of disloyalty

5. The power of reviewing the past (20-25)

• brought us out…that He might bring us in…
• for our good always
• connection to Christ (Matt. 22:34-40)

6. So What?

• Because you transmit what you treasure, make sure the LORD is your greatest treasure.
• “May the living God, who is the portion and rest of the saints, make these our carnal minds so spiritual, and our earthly hearts so heavenly, that loving Him and delighting in Him may be the work of our lives.” (R. Baxter)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 26, 2020

A God so Near

Deuteronomy 4:1-40

Our text this morning highlights the significance of consistent obedience in light of the incomparable character of God.

1. Moses speaks to Israel (1-8)

• listen and do…
• judgment on idolatry
• a God so near…

2. Moses appeals for vigilance (9-14)

• keep your soul
• lest you forget…
• generational rehearsal of history

3. Moses warns about idolatry (15-24)

• watch yourself
• lest you act corruptly…
• lest you raise your eyes to heaven…
• lest you forget the covenant
• the jealousy of God

4. Moses looks into the future (25-31)

• if you act corruptly…
• but from there…
• the mercy of God

5. Moses highlights God’s greatness (32-40)

• two questions
• purpose: that you might know…
• call to obedience

6. So what?

• Because the LORD alone is God and comes near with holy jealousy and abundant mercy, remember His character and obey His commands.
• connection to Christ (Matt. 1:23, John 1:14, 1 John 5:3)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 19, 2020

A Womb with a View

Psalms 139:13-18

What is a human life worth? Not much, apparently, if we consider the manner in which American culture treats its unborn and aged. Sadly, a mother’s womb has become a hazardous site in our country and the plight of the aged is riddled with accounts of neglect and abuse. More than twenty-five years ago, former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, lamented this devaluation of human life when he said, “When I graduated from medical school the idea was, ‘How can I save this life?’, but for a great number of the medical students now it is, ‘Should I save this life?’”
The best resource to consult if we want to gain a true measure of the value of human life is its Author. The God of creation, who created us in His image, gives us several insights into His perspective in the pages of Scripture. One specific instance of this perspective is found in Psalm 139. Addressed to the Choirmaster, this psalm of David celebrates God’s intimate knowledge of us and His intricate fashioning of us as His unique handiwork. As the Author and Sustainer of human life, God values our existence. Because He values life, so should we.

I. With intimate intricacy He defines our individuality (13-14)

• inward parts, “kidneys”, depths of being
• a “from the womb” perspective
• the “Knitter” who weaves together
• He is awesomely wonderful! He made us!

II. With infinite insight He orchestrates our existence (15-16)

• hidden from humans but not from God
• embroidered with skill
• “…Your eyes saw my ‘embryo’”
• “…Your scroll recorded my days before days”

III. With absolute amazement ponder His providence (17-18)

• the value of His thoughts
• the vastness of His thoughts
• waking or sleeping…

IV. So what?

• Mourn the 60 million+ victims of abortion and pray for God’s mercy
• Relate to others, especially the pre-born and aged, as “precious in His sight”
• Live with a profound sensitivity to God’s presence and power

“Great God! from Thee there’s nought concealed, Thou seest my inward frame; To Thee I always stand revealed Exactly as I am!
Since I can hardly, therefore, bear What in myself I see; How vile and black must I appear, Most holy God to Thee!
But since my Saviour stands between, In garments dyed in blood, ‘Tis He, instead of me, is seen, When I approach to God.
Thus, though a sinner, I am safe; He pleads, before the throne, His life and death on my behalf, And calls my sin His own.
What wondrous love, what mysteries, In this appointment shine! My breaches of the law are His, And His obedience mine.” (John Newton)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 5, 2020

Endings Are for Beginnings

Numbers 27:12-23

-list of tribal family heads for selective service and land apportionment (Numbers 26)
-Moses: the mediator/leader who does not enter

1. The LORD Addresses Moses (12-14)

• story told four times
• sees land but will die
• rebellion against the word of the LORD (20:1-13)
• lessons of justice, sanctification and pastoral care (1 Cor. 10:1-5)

2. Moses Speaks to the LORD (15-17)

• no excuses
• appoint a shepherd
• foreshadowing of Christ (Matt. 9:35-38)

3. The LORD Responds to the Request of Moses (18-21)

• publicly commission Joshua
• invest Joshua with authority
• contrast between Moses and Joshua

4. Moses Obeys the LORD’S Command (22-23)

• as the LORD directed
• connection to Christ: Matt. 26:31-32, John 10:11 and Hebrews 13:20
• imperfect and perfect mediator (Heb. 3:1-6)

5. So What?

• Because the LORD is holy, follow His instructions and rely on His provision.
• Accentuate the LORD’S holiness in the eyes of His people!
• “Unbelief makes the past look brighter and the future look bleaker.” (B. Dempsey)
• Remember that without grace you are undone.
• “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, though my weary steps may falter and my soul athirst may be, gushing from the rock before me, lo, a spring of joy I see…” (Crosby)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 10, 2019

Transformed Relationships

Ephesians 6:1-9

-When you submit to the authority of Jesus, you serve others with a view to pleasing Him.

I. Children (1-3)

• obedience
• three grounds for obedience

♦ nature-right-dikaios
♦ law-commandment-Exodus 20:12
♦ gospel-in the Lord

II. Parents (4)

• parental authority presupposed
• focus on restraint in the exercise of authority
• negatively: don’t provoke
• positively: discipline and instruction
• analyze and intercede

III. Slaves (5-8)

• obedience
• Christ-centered instruction and motivation

IV. Masters (9)

• do the same
• avoid threats
• remember your Master

V. Abolition of Slavery

• NT neither condemns nor condones
• slavery in the first century
• internal revolution

VI. So What?

• Concentrate more on your responsibilities than your rights.
• Shared knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Judge is a leveling reality.
• “Our great need is the clear-sightedness to see Jesus Christ and to set Him before us.” (Stott)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 27, 2019

Holy Intoxication

Ephesians 5:18-21

-Because your fruitfulness hinges on submission to the Holy Spirit, obey the command to seek His filling continually.

1. Overview

• sealed (1:13), grieved (4:30) and filled
• a person and not an impersonal force
• incentives for right living

♦ judgment (5:5-7)
♦ light (5:8-14)
♦ wisdom (5:15-17)
♦ fullness (5:18-21)

• the issue here: sanctification-the process of conformity to Christ
• “But our duty and God’s grace are nowhere opposed in the matter of sanctification; for the one absolutely supposes the other. We cannot perform our duty without the grace of God; nor does God give His grace for any other purpose than that we may perform our duty.” (John Owen)

2. The Prohibition

• first imperative: don’t get drunk
• method and result

3. The Command

• second imperative: do be filled
• method and result
• the linguistic lesson: plerousthe

♦ imperative mood: authoritative command, obligation and not option
♦ plural number: for the whole Christian community, no secret technique or formula
♦ passive voice: acted on
♦ present tense: keep on…

• “When we speak of the baptism of the Spirit we are referring to a once-for-all gift; when we speak of the fullness of the Spirit we are acknowledging that this gift needs to be continuously and increasingly appropriated.” (John Stott)

4. The Impact

• musical joy
• comprehensive gratitude
• loving submission

5. So What?

• Drink deeply of the things of the Holy Spirit.
• For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 20, 2019

Dressing for Spiritual Success

Ephesians 4:17-5:4

I. Review

• 4:1-16: called to unity
• 4:17-5:4: called to purity
• Since God calls us to be a holy people, we must cultivate a lifestyle of purity.

II. Take off the Old Clothes (4:17-19)

• vain
• dark
• alienated
• insensitive
• unrestrained

III. Put on the New Clothes (4: 20-24)

• Christ: learned…heard…taught
• continual mind-renewal
• put off/put on

IV. Seven Concrete Examples (4:25-5:4)

• don’t lie…speak the truth
• don’t sin in your anger…avoid exploitation
• don’t steal…work and give
• don’t use your mouth for evil…use it for good
• don’t grieve the Holy Spirit…be sensitive to Him
• don’t be unkind and bitter…be kind and loving
• don’t joke about sex…give thanks for it

V. So What?

• objective: integration of Christian experience (what we are), Christian theology (what we believe) and Christian ethics (how we behave)
• “Holiness is not a condition into which we drift.” (Stott)
• passive spectator or active participant?

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 13, 2019

Guest Speaker: Dr. Barry McCarty

Professor at SWBTS

Praying with Power

Colossians 4:2-4

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 29, 2019

To Him Who Is Able

Ephesians 3:14-21

Our text this morning contains the second profound prayer of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. Because of God’s incomparable character and unlimited capacity, you can experience His enablement and empowerment.

1. Introduction (14-16a)

• For this reason… (v. 14, v. 1: parenthetical digression of 3:2-13)
• posture points to intensity
• from exposition to intercession
• concept of family which proceeds from God the Father
• according to His inexhaustible resources

2. The Prayer (16b-19)

• strength: strengthened with power through the Spirit in your inner man so that Christ may be at “home”
• love: rooted (horticultural) and grounded (architectural) in love (depth as opposed to the superficial)
• knowledge: grasp of the surpassing love of Christ (four dimensions) with all the saints
• fullness: filled with all the fullness of God (points to completion)

3. The Doxology (20-21)

• “The highest aspirations are not beyond God’s power to bestow.” (J. Stott)
• able to do, able to do what we ask, able to do what we ask or think, able to do all, more, much more, way much more (according to resurrection power)
• The Giver gets the glory in the church and in Christ in the realm of time and for eternity.
• Amen: so be it!

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 22, 2019

Being Built Together

Ephesians 2:11-22

-The most serious form of alienation is theological.
-Two focal groups: Gentiles and Jews
–When you remember that Christ brings near the far off, you can celebrate your status with the saints.

1. Remember your former status (11-12)

• separated, alienated and estranged
• without hope and without God

2. Reflect on what Christ has done (13-18)

• brought near
• became our peace
• broke down wall
• by abolishing, creating and reconciling
• preaching of peace and provision of access

3. Recognize your present status (19-22)

• God’s kingdom
• God’s family
• God’s temple (Isa. 28:16)

4. So What?

• Remember to remember!
• Refuse to build walls that have been torn down by Christ.
• Recognize that “the ground is level at the foot of the cross.”
• Remember to “pass the peace.”