Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 27, 2025
Under the Mighty Hand of God
1 Peter 5:5
1. Introduction
• context of suffering (4:12-19)
• continuance of subjection concept (5:1-5a)
• Secure under God’s mighty hand, cultivate humility and transfer anxieties.
2. Action Plan
• Humble Yourself (5b-7) (Prov.3:34, Psa. 55:22)
• Stay Alert (8)
• Resist Satan (9)
3. Assuring Perspective
• sustaining grace (10)
• sovereign superintendence (11)
4. So What?
• Don’t miss the contrast: set face and lavished grace.
• See the connection between clothing and casting.
• “If dependence is the objective, weakness is an advantage.” (Begg)
• “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.” (Keen, “How Firm a Foundation”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 20, 2025
Easter Message
Not in Vain
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
1. Introduction
• addressing doubters, deniers and disputers
• specific connection to 20-25 and 42-49
• Assured of future transformation, focus on present continuation.
2. Look! 50-57
• fundamental inability (50)
• the mystery (51)
• moment, twinkling and trumpet (52)
• absolute necessity (53)
• the engulfer engulfed (54-56) (Isa. 25:8, Hos. 13:14)
• victory through Christ (57) (Gen. 3:19)
3. Live! 58
• greatly loved
• steadfast/immovable
• abounding and knowing
4. So What?
• Look and live! (Num. 21:4-9, John 3:14)
• “Soar we now where Christ has led, alleluia! Following our exalted Head, alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, alleluia!” (C. Wesley, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”)
• Keep on!
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 13, 2025
Declaration of Intent
1 Peter 4:1-6
1. Introduction
• expansion of 3:18-22
• Because of Christ’s suffering, arm yourself with an intent to suffer.
2. Arm Yourself 1
• military orientation
• connection between suffering and cessation
• the purpose, process and perspective
3. Pursuing God’s Will 2
• fulfilling God’s will rather than man’s lust
4. Stewarding God’s Time 3-4
• list of vices
• response of unbelievers
5. Anticipating God’s Triumph 5-6
• accountability for unbelievers
• destiny of believers
6. So What?
• “Let us stand fast for what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us neither be dogs that do not bark or silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead, where the battle rages, let us find ourselves. Run towards the roar of the battle! That is where Christ’s most glorious victories shall be won.” (Boniface)
• “He reigns! Ye saints, exalt your strains; your God is King, your Father reigns; and He is at the Father’s side, the Man of Love, the Crucified.” (J. Conder, “The Lord is King”)
• You don’t need the last word. God has it.
• being mindful of ultimate accountability
• “Jesus is all the world to me and true to Him I’ll be. O how could I this Friend deny when He’s so true to me?” (W. Thompson, “Jesus Is All the World to Me”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 6, 2025
The Straight Stuff about Suffering
1 Peter 3:13-22
1. Setting 13-17
• between two “calls” to suffer
• Considering Christ’s substitutionary death and triumphant resurrection, magnify His worth when you suffer.
• two key commands: Don’t Fear and Do Honor
2. Suffering of Christ 18
• once for sins, for the unrighteous, to bring us to God
3. Spirit and Spirits 19-20
• proclamation to spirits
• days of Noah
4. Symbolism 21
• correspondence to baptism
5. Subjection 22
• current location
• comprehensive submission
6. So What?
• “No wound? No scar? Yet as the Master shall the servant be, and pierced are the feet that follow Me. But thine are whole. Can he have followed far who hast no wound or scar?” (A. Carmichael, “Hast Thou No Scar?”)
• Expect and embrace suffering.
• “Worthy of Worship” (T. York)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 30, 2025
Exiles in Action
1 Peter 3:1-12
1. Introduction
• submission and substitution (2:13-25)
• this morning: specific applications and summary regarding submission
• Considering your identity and destiny, honor the Lord presently.
2. Wives: Adorn the Eternal 1-6
• being subject: the humble recognition of the divine ordering of society
• prioritizing inward character over outward cosmetics
• confident expectation enables courageous compliance
3. Husbands: Conform to God’s Standard 7
• active sensitivity
• assigning specific honor
• acknowledging spiritual consequences
4. All Believers: Commit to Mindful Modeling 8-12
• displaying the character of Jesus
• being mindful of ultimate accountability
• “Jesus is all the world to me and true to Him I’ll be. O how could I this Friend deny when He’s so true to me?” (W. Thompson, “Jesus Is All the World to Me”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 23, 2025
The Submission and Substitution Connection
1 Peter 2:13-25
1. Introduction
• the matter of identity (2:1-12)
• this morning: submission in a secular culture and its scriptural support
2. Command: Submit to Civil Government 13-17
• the meaning and the reason (13)
• the scope (14)
• the divine strategy: doing good, using freedom, showing respect (15-17)
3. Command: Submit in the Context of Personal Employment 18-20
• counter-cultural inclusion (18)
• gracious enduring (19-20)
4. Connection: See How Substitution Relates to Submission 21-25
• example to trace: refusal and reliance (21-23)
• ultimate and unique submission through substitution (24) (Lev. 16)
• sustaining Shepherd (25) (Isa. 53:6)
5. So What?
• Because Jesus is your ultimate standard and only substitute, live in glad submission to Him.
• It takes a divine methodology to achieve a divine agenda.
• “Why did they nail Him to Calvary’s tree? Why, tell me, why was He there? Jesus the helper, the healer, the friend, why, tell me, why was He there? All my iniquities on Him were laid; He nailed them all to the tree. Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid; He paid the ransom for me.” (J. Moore, “Why?”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 16, 2025
The Matter of Your Identity
1 Peter 2:1-12
1. Review/Context
• a living hope and a guaranteed inheritance (1:3-9)
• the message of salvation (1:10-12)
• checklist for exiles (1:13-25)
• Because Jesus is the foundation and focus of your identity, live a life marked by His power and praise.
2. Crave True Nourishment 1-10
• prerequisite (1)
• passion (2a)
• purpose (2b)
• progression (3-5) (Psa. 34:8)
• permanence (6-8) (Isa. 28:16, Psa. 118:22)
• perspective (9-10)
3. Keep Away from Sin 11-12
• sinful desires that strategize against the soul (11)
• keeping conduct honorable so that God is honored (12)
4. So What?
• Remember that what God says about you is truer than what anyone else, including yourself, says.
• Grasp the options: enjoy deliverance or experience downfall.
• Plan to proclaim His excellencies this week!
• “A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there; Though exiled from home, yet still I may sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.” (H. Buell, “A Child of the King”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 9, 2025
A Checklist for Exiles
1 Peter 1:13-25
1. Review/Context
• a living hope and a guaranteed inheritance (1:3-9)
• the message of salvation (1:10-12)
• Considering God’s saving work through Jesus, pursue His agenda for your life.
2. Set Your Hope on Future Grace 13-14
• preparing your minds
• being sober-minded
• not being conformed
3. Be Holy as God is Holy 15-16
• since it is written (Lev. 19:2)
4. Conduct Yourselves with Fear 17-21
• if you call on Him as Father
• throughout the time of your exile
• knowing that you were ransomed
• a responsibility to relish (Luke 12:4-7, Isa. 66:2, Prov. 9:10)
5. Love One Another Fervently 22-25
• having purified your souls
• since you have been born again
• through the living and abiding word of God (Isa. 40:6-8)
6. So What?
• not retreating or assimilating, but blessing
• “Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life; offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life; Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever…” (Bliss, “Wonderful Words of Life”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 2, 2025
The Matter of Your Inheritance
1 Peter 1:3-9
Not Home Yet: Insights for Aliens from 1 Peter
1. Introduction
• background/context for 1 Peter:
• distinction between temporary station and eternal destination
• hope: stabilization without stagnation
• analysis of the greeting (1:1-2)
• Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, you have a guaranteed inheritance.
2. Supernaturally Empowered (3)
• “The resurrection is God’s ‘amen’ to Christ’s statement, ‘It is finished!’” (Johnson)
3. Securely Possessed (4)
• four observations about the believer’s inheritance
4. Superbly Protected (5)
• the constant surveillance of omnipotence
5. Sensitized Perspective (6-7)
• three observations about the believer’s trials
6. Sustained by an Unseen and Incomparable Person (8-9)
• “Let us never live another day as if He were dead.” (Marshall)
• “…He then is all my hope and stay…” (Mote)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 23, 2025
Series on God Sustains His People
…From Whom All Blessings Flow…
Leviticus 26:1-13
1. Review/Context
• stress on holiness that concludes with the blessings/curses of Lev. 26
• “He is fully able to muster all of nature and all nations to enact His blessings or curses.” (Ross)
• the concept of “blessing”:
2. Reminder 1-2
• avoiding idolatry
• engaging sanctification
3. Promise of Provision 3-10
• precipitation
• peace
• plenty
4. Promise of Presence 11-13
• dwell and walk with
• basis of blessing
5. So What?
• connection to Christ: Matt. 11:28-30, Rom. 8:32
• Because the LORD demands and honors absolute allegiance, obey His instructions and expect His blessings.
• Cultivate a biblical perspective of the LORD’S blessings.
• “ But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay; for the favor He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for them who will trust and obey.” (Sammis, “Trust and Obey”)
