Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 29, 2023
Let Him Come to Me and Drink
John 7:25-39
1. Background
• after the bread of life discourse (6:22-59)
• at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem
2. Jesus Indicts His Audience 25-31
• a brief crowd analysis
• the issue of identity
• you do not know God
• divided opinions and intensified opposition
3. Jesus Asserts His Authority 32-36
• officers sent to arrest Jesus
• futility of the foes of Jesus
• a clueless response
4. Jesus Extends an Invitation 37-39
• an inclusive and free offer (Ex. 17:1-7, Isa. 55:1-2; 58:11)
• qualification: thirst
• consequence: lasting, overflowing satisfaction
5. So What?
• Because Jesus is who and what you need more than anything, satisfy yourself in Him.
• Rejecting Jesus is rejection of God.
• Is your satisfaction flowing out to others?
• “To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus, all the glory evermore to Him, when the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat, yet not I, but through Christ in me.” (Farren/Thompson/Robinson)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 22, 2023
I Am the Bread of Life
John 6:25-40
1. Background
• following feeding of 5000 and Jesus walking on water (1-21)
• part of John’s fourth discourse (22-66)
• the crowd gathers-again! (22-24)
2. Perceptive Diagnosis 25-27
• a question left unanswered
• a piercing analysis
• emphasis on enduring food
• the divine seal of approval
3. Persistent Dullness 28-34
• a question answered
• the work of God
• demand for a sign
• corrective response of Jesus
• continued dullness
4. Powerful Declaration 35-40
• I am the bread of life…
• the language of satisfaction
• repetition of “believe”
• emphasis on the will of the Father
5. So What?
• Because Jesus alone saves and satisfies, come to Him and remain in Him.
• “The plain truth is that it is want of heart, not want of evidence, that keeps people back from Christ.” (Ryle)
• “Jesus did not come to be useful but to be precious.” (Piper)
• “He Is So Precious to Me” (Gabriel) and “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” (Williams)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 15, 2023
Hope at the House of Mercy
John 5:1-18
1. A Miracle by the Pool 1-9a
• third recorded miracle
• Jesus in Jerusalem at feast time
• gathered multitude and its perception
• encounter with a sick man: question and command
2. The Opposition of Religious Leaders 9b-13
• charge of Sabbath violation
• response of a healed man
• withdrawal of Jesus
3. The Pastoral Care of Jesus 14-18
• found him in the temple
• connection between sin and affliction
• caution about future consequences
• identification of Jesus as Healer
• response to persecutors and rationale for their pursuit
4. So What?
• Because Jesus is the Master of Mercy, worship Him as your only hope and ultimate healer.
• Rest in the comprehension, compassion and capability of Jesus.
• Remember that the Lord never takes a day off.
• “O Merciful Redeemer Whom yet unseen we love, O Name of might and favor, all other names above! O bringer of salvation who wondrously hath wrought Thyself the revelation of love beyond all thought! We worship Thee and bless Thee! To Thee alone we sing! We praise Thee and confess Thee, our gracious Lord and King!” (“O Merciful Redeemer” Havergal)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 21, 2021
A Case of Divine Delay and Desperate Faith
Luke 8:40-56
1. Context
• Luke continues his focus on the power of Jesus over all that is broken
• preceded by the healing of the Gerasene demoniac (8:26-39)
• Jesus returns to Galilee and a thronging crowd (8:40)
2. Jesus is summoned to the home of Jairus (41-42)
• synagogue ruler who falls at the feet of Jesus
• began begging with regard to dying daughter who is about 12 years old
• Jesus proceeds and the people press
3. Jesus is touched by an unnamed woman (43-48)
• account implies a “delay” for Jairus
• unclean woman for 12 years: impoverished materially and isolated socially
• touched…garment…discharge…ceased
• the purposeful question and sovereign perception of Jesus
• the unnamed woman testifies
• a repeated formula (7:50)
4. Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus (49-56)
• report of death
• response of Jesus
• accompanied by disciples
• from mourning to scornful laughter
• restoration, nourishment and amazement
5. So what?
• Because Jesus, the compassionate and great Physician, has authority over all that is broken, trust His sovereign strength and schedule.
• “Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost.” (Keller)
• “If the cause of delay is divine, the effect of the delay will be blessing.” (Deffinbaugh)
• “He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free…” (Wesley)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 1, 2020
The Gospel of God and His Son
Romans 1:16-17
I. Organization
• theological treatise
• credentials and focus (1-7)
• prayer and obligation (8-15)
• desperation and deliverance (1:18-3:31)
II. Declaration 16a
• unashamed of the gospel
• understanding of the gospel
III. Explanation 16b-17
• power of God for salvation
• for all believing
• Jew and non-Jew
• because it reveals God’s righteousness
♦ from faith to faith
♦ Hab. 2:4
• in view of the revelation of wrath (1:18)
• saved from what?
IV. So what?
• Because the gospel alone has the power to save, keep on believing and sharing it.
• God supplies the righteousness He demands in Christ alone.
• “The wisdom of God ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the wrath of God without compromising the justice of God.” (Piper)
• “I love to tell the story…” (K. Hankey)
• Count on the gospel to get you safely home.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 23, 2020
Their Rock and Our Rock
Deuteronomy 31:30-32:47
In our text this morning, Moses is about to leave the people he has led for so long. Some of his parting words are expressed through speaking the words of a song. The song conveys the stark contrast between the security of dependence on God and the futility of devotion to any other focus of worship. It also communicates a timeless and solemn summons: Rely on the only Rock!
Background/Context
-reading of the law prescribed
-Joshua commissioned
Survey of Deuteronomy 31
-ascription and explanation (3-4)
-contrast between unfaithful people and the faithful God (5-18)
-The LORD’S corrective discipline (19-30)
-contrast between the Rock and the rockless (31-38)
-a sovereign declaration (39-43)
-a specific directive (44-47)
Observations about the Rock
-repetition: 8 times in Deut. 32
-firm foundation
-safe refuge
-inexhaustible refreshment
-untroubled rest
-connection to Christ: Matt. 7:24-27 and 1 Cor. 10:1-6
So what?
-Because the LORD alone is a rock, rely on Him exclusively.
-“If God is not our best good, we have no solid good.” (Maclaren)
-“Rock of Ages, cleft for me…” (Toplady)
-“On Christ the solid rock I stand…” (Mote)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 12, 2020
A Blow-Up on the Brink of Blessing
Numbers 32:1-42
Context/Background
-Numbers 29: public worship
-Numbers 30: vows/principles
-Numbers 31: judgment on Midian
1. A Selfish Request (1-5)
• a potential disaster
• Reuben, Gad and Manasseh
• land east of the Jordan
• sin of omission
2. A Furious Rebuke (6-15)
• But Moses…
• disregard of consequences
• disregard of history
• disregard of the LORD
3. A Repentant Response (16-42)
• they “got it”
• change of course: repentance
• proposal and agreement
• and do what you have promised
4. So What?
• Because the LORD is holy, avoid potential disaster by dealing ruthlessly with the sin of selfishness in your earthly pilgrimage.
• Beware of the subtle sin of omission.
• Recognize that the sin of doing nothing will catch up with you.
• Arm yourself with the LORD’S warnings and promises.
• Connection to Christ (Phil. 2:5-11)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 29, 2019
Year-End Lessons from a Talking Donkey
Numbers 22:22-35
1. Balak Summons Balaam (1-21)
• his dread of Israel
• his desire to curse
• God’s double-prohibition
• Balaam’s response
• a second summons
2. An Armed Angel and a Talking Donkey (22-41)
• God’s kindled anger
• the donkey’s perception
• dialogue with a donkey
• God’s opposition and Balaam’s response
• Balaam and Balak meet
3. Blessings from the Mouth of Balaam
• 23:1-12 and 23:13-30
• 24:1-14 and 24:15-25
4. Idolatry and Immorality in Israel
• 25:1-3
• Balaam’s death 31:8
• Balaam’s deception 31:16
5. Letting Scripture Interpret Scripture
• Deut. 23:4-5 and Josh. 24:9-10
• Jude 11, 1 Peter 2:15-16 and Rev. 2:14
6. So What?
• Knowing that your heart is diseased with self-deception, resolve to live in the protective realm of God’s revelation.
• Magnify the mercy of God 23:21
• “Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world, They resound with God’s own heart, O let the ancient words impart…” (DeShazo)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 22, 2019
Christmas Series
The Ultimate Rescue Mission
Matthew 1:18-25
-The Genius of the Genealogy (1:1-17)
1. Mary’s Condition (18)
• found to be with child from the Holy Spirit
• when she had been betrothed to Joseph
• before they came together
2. Joseph’s Resolution (19)
• resolved to divorce her quietly
• being a just man
• and unwilling to put her to shame
3. The Angel’s Revelation (20-21)
• as he considered these things
• behold
• saying…
♦ son of David
♦ do not fear…
♦ she will bear a son
♦ call Him Jesus
♦ He will save…
4. Prophetic Confirmation (22-23)
• Isaiah 7:14: virgin birth
• Immanuel: God with us
5. Joseph’s Submission (24-25)
• took his wife
• knew her not…
• called His name Jesus
6. So What?
• Because Scripture verifies the birth of Jesus Christ as a rescue mission, feast on the truth of Immanuel.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 15, 2019
Christmas Series
From Gloom to Glory
Isaiah 9:1-7
Connection of This Text to Christmas
-Advent, leading up to Christmas, the birth of Christ
-For unto us a child is born… (Isa. 9:6, Luke 2:10-11)
-700 years before events fulfilled
1. Consideration of the Original Context (1-2)
• 8:22 and 9:1: hope after judgment
• former time: gloom (2 Kings 15:29)
• latter time: glory (Matt. 2:22-23)
• darkness/light contrast
• fulfillment in Christ (Matt. 4:12-17)
2. Consideration of the Overwhelming Conquest (3-5)
• multiplied the nation (Gen. 17:5, John 10:16)
• increased its joy: plenty and victory
• grounds for joy: liberation and appropriation (Judges 7:12, 20-23 and Rom. 8:35-37)
3. Consideration of Christ’s Everlasting Agency (6-7)
• child born and son given
• administrative authority
• incomparable description
• supported by sovereign zeal (Isa. 40:5)
4. So What?
• Because of God’s gift of His Son, celebrate the removal of anguishing gloom and the arrival of inextinguishable light this Christmas.
• Ponder Isaiah’s astonishing insight. (Isa. 53)
• securing peace through the blood of the cross (Col. 1:20)
• “No Christmas story will ever surpass the original.” (Bob Kauflin)
• “Tears are falling, hearts are breaking, How we need to hear from God, You’ve been promised, We’ve been waiting, Welcome Holy Child. Bring your peace into our violence, Bid our hungry souls be filled, Word now breaking heaven’s silence, Welcome to our world.” (Chris Rice)
