Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 19, 2023
“Who’s Your One” Church Outreach
The Great Exchange
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Set in the context of his apostolic defense and articulation of ministry, Paul emphasizes both the compelling love of Christ and the reconciling initiative of God the Father behind it. At the heart of our experience of Christ’s love and reconciliation with God is the “great exchange” vividly described in 5:21. In the reconciling plan of God, Jesus took our place so that we might have His peace.
I. Recognize the source of reconciliation (18-19)
• “All this” in 5:18 points back to 5:14-17: compelling love and new creation
• the agent of reconciliation: through Christ
• having reconciled…having given…
• expansion: not counting trespasses and depositing the word
II. Respond to the summons for reconciliation (20)
• ambassadors through whom appeal is made
• imploring people to be reconciled
• reminder: God reconciles. Man is reconciled.
III. Savor the substance of reconciliation (21)
• the One not having known sin
• for us/for our sake He (God) made Him (Christ) to be sin
• that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Isa. 53:10, Rom. 5:6-11, Gal. 3:13)
IV. So What?
• “If our Lord’s bearing our sin for us is not the gospel, I have no gospel to preach.” (Spurgeon)
• “Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood, sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah, what a Savior!” (P. Bliss)
• Because the Lord invites and reconciles, share His message of reconciliation.
• One Life Initiative: Who’s Your One? pray for/engage with/invite 1 person (Palm Sunday/Easter)
• “In Psalm 103, David’s enumeration of the Lord’s benefits begins with forgiveness of sins. He understood what is of greatest importance. If we have everything but God’s forgiveness, we have nothing of worth.” (Carson)
• Keep on preaching the gospel to yourself.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 12, 2023
Sir, We Would See Jesus
John 12:20-36a
1. Background
• last of three significant events recorded
• last recorded words of public ministry
• connecting 12-19 and 20-26
2. Arrival of Seeking Greeks 20-22
• kept on asking
• representative of the world
3. Answer of Soon-Dying Savior 23-26
• the hour has come
• unless a grain falls
• application of analogy
4. Interlude of Prayer and Affirmation 27-30
• prayer of a troubled soul
• “the horror of death and ardour of obedience” (Bengel)
• implications of superintending sovereignty
• audible affirmation from heaven
5. Amplification of the Meaning of the Cross 31-36a
• judgment of the world
• a gospel lifting-up (John 3:14-15)
• acting on the light you have
6. So What?
• Because the cross of Christ is the “magnet” of Christianity, see it as the only death that liberates and the only design to imitate.
• “He is the best Christian who has the clearest knowledge of God in His attributes.” (Baxter)
• “Preach any Christ but a crucified Christ, and you will not draw men for long.” (Torrey)
• “Lift High the Cross” (Kitchin)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 5, 2023
For the Day of My Burial
John 12:1-11
1. Dinner Is Served 1-2
• after raising of Lazarus and conspiracy to kill Jesus
• six days before Passover at Bethany and emphasis on raising of Lazarus
• Martha serves and Lazarus reclines
2. Mary’s Costly Display of Love 3
• emphasis on costly oil/perfume
• anointing the feet and wiping them with her hair
• fragrance fills the room
3. Judas’ Indignation about “Waste” 4-6
• Iscariot, disciple, one who betrayed
• his question: 300 denarii to the poor people?
• exposure of his motivation: uncaring, thief, pilferer
4. Jesus Commends Mary 7-8
• command to leave her alone
• connection to burial of Jesus
• contrast between presence of the poor and presence of Jesus
5. Intensified Opposition 9-11
• plot to kill Lazarus
• Jesus: not a tragic victim but a voluntary sacrifice
6. So What?
• Because Jesus poured Himself out for you, pour yourself out in love for Him.
• “It’s beautiful when the worth of Jesus and the love of His followers match…when the value of His perfections and the intensity of our affections correspond.” (Piper)
• “Social activism, even that which meets real needs, sometimes masks a spirit that knows nothing about worship and adoration.” (Carson)
• “Broken and Spilled Out” (George/Gaither)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 26, 2023
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
John 11:1-57
1. The Death of Lazarus 1-16
• informed of Lazarus’ illness
• forecast of the outcome of the illness
• Jesus makes no immediate movement
• Jesus plans to go to Judea and His disciples protest
• Jesus confirms Lazarus’ death
2. Jesus Meets with Martha 17-27
• Lazarus dead for four days: Martha stirring /Mary sitting (Luke 10:38-42)
• Martha’s expression of regret and faith
• Jesus turns the conversation to resurrection: restoration, continuation and consummation
• acting on the truth of Jesus’ identity
3. Jesus Meets with Mary 28-32
• Martha calls her sister and she “rises”
• Mary’s homage and similar sentiment
4. Lazarus Is Raised 33-44
• indicators of expectation
• emphasis on emotions
• emphasis on the reality of Lazarus’ death (“He stinketh”)
• prayer of thanksgiving and summons (“Here! Outside!”)
• Lazarus comes out of the tomb
5. Reactions to the Miracle 45-57
• genuine trust
• plotting to kill Jesus: prophecy of Caiaphas and God’s sovereign superintendence
6. So What?
• Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life, respond to Him with total submission.
• Lazarus: “God has helped”
• “What a foretaste of deliverance; how unwavering our hope…” (“Come, Behold the Wondrous Mystery,”) (Boswell/Bleecker/Papa)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 19, 2023
I Am the Good Shepherd
John 10:1-21
1. Background
• continuation (10:21), castigation and contrast (Ezek. 34:23, Isa. 56:9-12, Psa. 23:1)
• part of the seventh discourse in John (10:1-42)
• tender regard and total rule (Rev. 2:27, Matt. 2:6, Mic. 5:2)
2. Jesus Tells a Story 1-6
• figure of speech: walls, door and door-keeper
• character assessed on the basis of approach
• emphasis on “voice”
3. Jesus Identifies Himself as the Door 7-10
• door and shepherd: both connected to salvation
• exclusive means of entrance
• salvation, security and sustenance
• life abundant in contrast to steal/kill/destroy
4. Jesus Identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd 11-18
• lays down His life for the sheep (repeated emphasis)
• not a hired hand
• the identity of “other sheep”
• emphasis on complete authority and voluntary sacrifice
5. The Repeated Pattern of the Religious Leaders 19-21
• schism: deranged or divine?
• intention of Jesus: transformation from blindness to blazing light (Heb. 13:20-21)
6. So What?
• Because Jesus is a different kind of Shepherd who sacrifices Himself voluntarily for His flock, rely on Him exclusively.
• “For every soul the entrance into the flock of God is through the door of the dying Christ who laid down His life for the sheep, and makes them His sheep who trust in Him.” (Maclaren)
• “…Another sheep safely home.” (Patterson)
• “And so through all the length of days Thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise within Thy house forever.” (“The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” Baker)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 12, 2023
One Thing I Know
John 9:24-41
1. Background
• after Feast of Tabernacles, light/darkness imagery continues, healing of man born blind
• healing on Sabbath 9:1-7, interaction with neighbors 9:8-12, preliminary discussion 9:13-17, examination of parents 9:18-23
2. Ongoing Controversy 24-27
• pious and blasphemous attack
• sticking with the facts
• a pointed question
3. Attempted Contrast 28-29
• Jesus and Moses
• repetition of “know”
4. Insightful Confirmation 30-34
• the truly amazing thing
• matching their use of “know”
• implication and expulsion
5. Ultimate Clarification 35-41
• “The Jews cast him out from the Temple, and the Lord of the Temple found him.” (Chrysostom)
• disclosure of Jesus
• confession and worship
• condemnation of unbelief
6. So What?
• Knowing that Jesus does the works of God and seeks worshipers, confidently and courageously worship Him.
• “Application is the alignment of God’s people to God’s demand.” (Kuruvilla)
• “There are only two ways of dying: in your sins or in Jesus Christ.” (Lloyd-Jones)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 8, 2023
Jesus, a Samaritan Woman, and Worship
John 4:1-26
1. Jesus Sits at a Well in Sychar 1-6
• from Galilee to Samaria
• weary and by the well at noon
2. Jesus Offers Living Water to a Samaritan Woman 7-15
• comes to draw water
• a request and the resulting conversation
3. Jesus Discloses Himself as the Focus of Worship 16-26
• speaking uncomfortable truth
• a sidetrack to reality
• worship in spirit and truth
• a stunning confirmation
4. So What?
• Because who God is determines how you must worship Him, prioritize His word and prize His Son.
• “Worship is a transitive verb, and the most important thing about it is its direct object.” (Carson)
• Elements of true worship: Word-based, God-centered and Christ-exalting
• “Worthy of Worship” (York/Blankenship)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 1, 2023
Guest Speaker: Dr. Jim Sibley
Ambassadors in Hostile Territory
1 Peter 1
No lesson outline available.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 18, 2022
Christmas Message
Home for Christmas
Matthew 1:1-17
1. Overview of Matthew’s Genealogy
• book of “genesis” and significance of its names
• flowing forward from Abraham to Jesus
• structure: 42 generations in 3 groups of 14 generations each
• Jesus as rightful heir to the throne
2. Note the Emphasis on the Identity of Jesus
• Christ
• son of David (2 Sam. 7:12-16)
• son of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)
3. Note the Specific Inclusion of Five Women
• Tamar (Gen. 38:1-30)
• Rahab (Josh. 2:1)
• Ruth (Gen. 19:30-38, Deut. 23:3)
• wife of Uriah (2 Sam. 11)
• Mary (Matt. 1:18-25)
4. “Plug In” the Applications This Christmas
• Remember that everything we celebrate at Christmas hinges on who Jesus is.
• See the genealogy as the receipt that proves the reliability of God’s promises.
• Recognize God’s capacity to overcome the effects of sin and shame as He works out His purpose.
• Because of God’s mercy and grace in Jesus, you can come home for Christmas.
• “Child in the manger, Infant of Mary, Outcast and Stranger, Lord of all, Child who inherits all our transgressions, All our demerits on Him fall. Once the most holy Child of salvation gently and lowly lived below; now as our glorious mighty Redeemer, see Him victorious o’er each foe.” (“Child in the Manger,” Mary Macdonald)
