Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 25, 2024
Grace in a Tight Place
Psalms 4:1-8
Series: Psalms For Sonburst
1. Background
• evening psalm that focuses on peace in a distracting situation
• connection to Psalm 3 and use in public worship
2. Enriched Prayer 1
• steadying appeal to the LORD’S character in a time of distress
• urgent confidence and relief through making space
3. Focused Application 2-6
• for the slanderer (2-3)
• for the impulsive (4-5)
• for the despairing (6)
4. Fruitful Reality 7-8
• massive joy
• deep peace
5. So What?
• Because the LORD is the source of security and peace, cultivate a constant awareness of His personal and protective grace.
• “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Gal. 5:22)
• Yield to the text and remember how the LORD regards you. (Rom. 8:1, 31-38)
• “What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near…” (Hoffman)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 18, 2024
Crisis Management: A Biblical Response
Psalms 3:1-8
Series: Psalms For Sonburst
1. Confidence in the LORD’S Character when the Crisis Arises (1-3)
• circumstances: King David faces disloyalty and discouragement when Absalom rebels
• increasing opposition
• immediate cry
• insightful expressions: shield, glory, lifter of my head
2. Rehearsal of the LORD’S Care during the Crisis (4-6)
• perspective shift: from speaking directly to the LORD to speaking about the LORD
• protective care that sustains
• protective care that inspires
3. Appeal to the LORD as the Cause of Deliverance from the Crisis (7-8)
• requests: arise and deliver
• anticipation of complete deliverance
• recognition of the sole source of deliverance
4. So What?
• Because of the LORD’S character and care, determine to serve Him confidently when crisis comes.
• connection to Christ: Matt. 26:30; 2 Sam. 15:30, Rom. 8:31
• “Get theological.” (Begg)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 14, 2024
Drop-Dead Serious
Acts 4:32-5:1-11
1. Context 32-37
• thriving in the midst of external opposition
• essence of the church: harmony, boldness, favor and sacrificial generosity
• example of Barnabas
• shift from external to internal opposition
2. Crisis Inside the Church (1-11)
• contrast indicated between Barnabas (son of encouragement) and Ananias/Sapphira
• complete hypocrisy: sold property…kept back…
• confronted by Peter: …lie…contrived…lied
• consequences repeated: sudden death and great fear
3. So What?
• Because Scripture records God’s holy fervor for the holiness of His people, serve Him with reverential fear.
• There is too little “trembling” today. (Phil. 2:12). Contempt for the severity of judgment often reveals a sub-biblical view of sin.
• “Every sin strikes at the honor of God, the being of God, the glory of God, the heart of Christ, the joy of the Spirit and the peace of a man’s conscience.” (Thomas Boston)
• “The fundamental problem in the evangelical world today is that God rests too inconsequentially upon the Church. His truth is too distant, His grace is too ordinary, His judgment is too benign, His gospel is too easy and His Christ is too common.” (David Wells)
• “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear…” (John Newton)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 7, 2024
No Other Name
Acts 4:1-31
1. Previously
• miraculous healing (3:1-10) and call for repentance (3:11-26)
2. Annoying Proclamation 4:1-12
• content of message leading to arrest
• expansion followed by interrogation
• explanation: derivation and description (Psa. 118:22)
• declaration of exclusivity
3. Astonishing Boldness 4:13-22
• perception of religious leaders and their confounded conference
• stern warning and a bold response
• reluctant release
4. Anointed Prayer Meeting 4:23-31
• acknowledgement of sovereignty and analysis from Scripture (Psa. 2:1-2)
• awareness of meticulous providence
• appeal for enablement
• answer to prayers: shaken, filled, boldness
5. So What?
• Because Jesus alone saves, serve Him with a holy boldness.
• Keys to boldness: delight in God’s sovereignty and dependence on His Spirit.
• “God loves His truth. And He means to use it to humble people, exalt His Son, and turn wimps into bold, humble, broken-hearted people.” (Piper)
• “In Christ Alone” (Townend/Getty)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 30, 2024
Guest Speaker: Sherry Forester
Hope in Trouble
Exodus 17:1-7
Background
I. Scene 1 Complication despite obedience (17:1)
• Israelites obediently followed God’s commands.
• Rephidim means place of rest.
• God led His people to a campsite where there was no water to drink.
II. Scene 2 Complaint about God’s ways (17:2-3)
• People quarreled with Moses.
∗ took issue with Moses and his leadership
• Israelites put the Lord to the test.
∗ did not trust His ways were good
III. Scene 3 Confirmation of God’s goodness (17:4-7)
• Moses was uncertain and afraid.
• God answered Moses.
∗ my actions will be public and can be documented
∗ my actions will prove my presence
∗ my actions will prove my power
• Moses’ actions previewed a divine drama.
• Moses memorialized Israel’s failure to trust God.
IV. So what?
• Because God is our good sovereign, we can trust Him in every situation.
• “In every circumstance and situation where faith is tested, the Lord Himself has taken us there.” (A. W. Pink)
• O safe to the Rock that is higher than I, my soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly. So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be. Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee. Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee, Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee. (William O. Cushing)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 23, 2024
A Prophet like Moses
Acts 3:11-26
1. Previously
• outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost and first recorded miracle in Acts
2. An Explanation of a Cripple’s Healing 11-16
• not human power or piety
• God’s glorification of Jesus
• their delivering over and denial of Jesus
• by faith in His name (Isa. 35:6)
3. An Appeal for Jews to Believe 17-20
• attribution of ignorance and proclamation of divine generosity
• prophecy of suffering fulfilled (Isa. 52:13-53:12)
• repentance and its results: removal, refreshment and restoration
4. An Emphasis on the Fulfillment of Promises 21-26
• ascended until restoration
• a prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15-19)
• testimony of Samuel and the prophets
• to the Jew first (Rom. 1:16)
5. So What?
• Because God knows what He is doing when you don’t know what you are doing, treasure and trust Jesus.
• applications connected to the prophetic ministry of Jesus: our ignorance, edification and evangelism
• “While His death my sin displays in all its blackest hue, such is the mystery of His grace; it seals my pardon too.” (Newton, “In Evil Long I Took Delight”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 16, 2024
Confirmation and Community
Acts 2:16-47
1. Previously
• pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and correction of mockers
2. Biblical Confirmation (2:16-41)
• confirmation of God’s faithfulness through the prophet Joel (16-21 and Joel 2:28-32)
• the “paradox” of God’s plan (22-24)
• confirmation of God’s faithfulness through the prophet David (25-35 and Psa. 16:8-11; 110:1)
• conclusion: Lord and Christ! (36)
• conviction and response: 3000 souls! (37-41)
• clarification regarding “Repent and be baptized…”
3. Biblical Community (2:42-47)
• concentrated devotion: to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers (42)
• God-centered disposition of awe and supernatural activity (43)
• generous distribution (44-45)
• gracious development (46-47)
4. So What?
• Because the magnification of the gospel produces a profound unity, prize its power.
• Understand that Christian unity has a unique source, view, affection and aim.
• “Unless I can leave off loving Jesus Christ, I cannot cease loving those who love Him.” (Spurgeon)
• “Blest be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds, is like to that above. Before our Father’s throne, we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. We share each other’s woes, our mutual burdens bear; and often for each other flows, the sympathizing tear.” (John Fawcett)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 9, 2024
Pentecostal Fire
Acts 2:1-15
1. Survey the Situation (1)
• context: promise/ascension/selection of Matthias
• Jerusalem: according to the promise
• day of Pentecost arrived
• in one place: about 120 (Acts 1:15)
2. Observe the Unrepeatable Inauguration (2-3)
• sound…wind…filled (hearing)
• sight…tongues of fire…distributed (seeing)
3. Recognize the Verification (4-12)
• filled with the Holy Spirit
• tongues-“glossa”-languages in this context
• empowered by the Holy Spirit-supernatural enablement
• response of bewilderment and amazement
• roll-call with an “all the known world” emphasis
• Language/Babel connection and significance (Genesis 11)
4. Consider the Explanation (13-15)
• accusation of drunkenness and Peter’s 9:00 a.m. response
• Joel 2:28-32 fulfillment (Acts 2: 16-21)
5. So What?
• Because of the fulfilled promise of the Holy Spirit, the church is equipped supernaturally for the tasks of evangelism and edification.
• “You might as well try to see without eyes, hear without ears, or breathe without lungs, as to try to live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit.” (Moody)
• “…Take Thou my heart, cleanse every part. Holy Spirit, breathe on me…” (McKinney)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 26, 2024
But God Meant It for Good
Genesis 50:15-26
“The hand of providence has been chopped off altogether and with the amputation we are left to grope alone in a hostile, or even worse, indifferent universe.” (R. C. Sproul)
1. Background
• The Family Gathered to Egypt (47)
• Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons (48)
• Jacob Blesses His Sons (49)
• Joseph and His Brothers Bury Jacob in Canaan (50:1-14)
2. Joseph’s Brothers Fear Retaliation (50:15)
• fears/anxieties resurface
• Jacob had lived for 17 years in Egypt (see 47:28)
3. Joseph’s Brothers Relay a Message Attributed to Jacob (50:16-17)
4. Joseph’s Gracious and Assuring Response (50:18-26)
• sold, slandered and snubbed
• deepened and not deadened by life’s extremities
• clarity about his “place” and God’s “place”
• compassion without minimizing sin: “…evil against me…”
• compassion grounded in grace: “…but God meant it for good…”
• expressing confidence in future “visitation” (connection to Christ)
5. So What?
• Embracing the principle of God’s providence enables you to extend His grace to others.
• “As long as the cross stands in history, no one who knows its meaning will be able to pronounce a limitation on God’s providence.” (Boice)
• If you believe God is in control…
• “Every joy or trial falleth from above, traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love; We may trust Him fully, all for us to do; They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.” (Havergal)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 19, 2024
Guest Speaker: Dan Darling
Director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at SWBTS and Assistant Professor of Faith and Culture at Texas Baptist College, Ft. Worth, Texas
The Transfiguration
Mark 9:2-13
1. A Divine Jesus
2. A Dangerous Jesus
3. A Delivering Jesus
