Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 18, 2019
“Amazing Grace” Titus 2:11-14 Bible Study 08/18/19
Introduction
-understanding the idea of grace: extension of favor undeserved and unearned
-understanding the objective of grace: the concept of adornment (2:10)
-Because God personifies grace in Jesus, live a life that magnifies His saving power.
1. Grace invades dramatically (11)
• reference to incarnation
• not just a divine attribute but a divine person
• an “admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies”
• not just a past event but a continuing experience
• bringing salvation
2. Grace instructs presently (12)
• training…
• negatively: renunciation of ungodliness and worldly passions
• positively: inward, outward and upward
3. Grace incites expectancy (13-14)
• waiting
• blessed hope
• affirmation of the deity of Jesus
• grace then glory
• principle of substitution
• purchased, purified, possessed
• resulting passion
4. So What?
• Let yourself be awed continually by the wonder and worth of Jesus.
• Let the reality of grace fuel your passion to please God.
• Let the “anchor of your hope dangle out of heaven.”
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 11, 2019
“Spiritual Hygiene” Titus 1:1-9 Bible Study 08/11/19
When you adhere to God’s truth, you put in place the foundation for conformity to Christ and the conduct of good works.
Background Information
-written from Nicopolis (66-67) after first missionary journey
-Crete: Mediterranean Sea southeast of Greece
-key issues addressed:
-stress on sound doctrine
-Paul: a mastered minister
-Titus: a child with a charge
1. Adhere to the truth (1-4)
• significant salutation
• embrace the mission
♦ evangelism of the “elect”
♦ edification through truth leading to godliness
♦ encouragement in hope
• maximize the message
♦ the never-lying God
♦ promised before time
♦ manifested in the word
• employ the methodology
♦ public proclamation
♦ sacred trust
♦ grace and peace
2. Appoint qualified leadership (5-9)
• assess the assignment
♦ set in order
♦ appoint elders
♦ interchangeable terms: elder, overseer, pastor
• identify the qualifications
♦ reputation
♦ purity
♦ family
♦ character
♦ teaching
3. So What? 4 Observations
• structure of governance
• significance of doctrine
• satisfaction of leaders
• centrality of God
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 4, 2019
“Direct Orders for Difficult Days” 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Bible Study 08/04/19
Respond to the reality of difficult days with a firm commitment to the truth as revealed in Holy Scripture.
I. Understand the reality of difficult times in the last days (3:1-5a)
• an ongoing responsibility
• “seasons of violence”
• identification of “last days”
• people/men: within the church
• a nineteen-point description!
II. Avoid those whose conduct contradicts the truth (3:5b-13)
• the context for “avoid”
• “keep on making yourself turn away”
• “creepers” who target women
• Jannes and Jambres: seduction and rebellion
• folly exposed
• contrast: “you, however…”
• followed: accompany, conform by conviction
• ministerial duties, personal virtues and experiences of suffering
III. Continue on the track of truth (3:14-17)
• “remain” with what you have “learned”
• knowing the “whom” and “how”
• the inspiration of Scripture: God-breathed
• the OT-77% of the Bible and NT (Gal. 1)
• the implementation of Scripture: profitable/sufficient
• teaching, reproof, correction, training…
• the impact of Scripture
• purpose: adequate and enabled
IV. So What?
• Recognize the fact of spiritual warfare
• Aim to develop a discernment based on the objective truth of Scripture
• Commit yourself to continuance and saturate yourself in Scripture
• Affirm the inerrancy, sufficiency and practicality of Scripture.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 28, 2019
“Stick with the Stuff!” 2 Timothy 2:14-26 Bible Study 07/28/19
Because the Lord’s truth matters, cling to it actively and communicate it accurately.
I. Assess your stewardship of the truth (2:14-19)
• Remind…charging…
• catastrophic impact of false teaching
• the exercise of diligence
• presentation for inspection and approval
• “cutting straight” the Word…
• avoidance of “empty chatter”
• our firm foundation
II. Consider the illustration of vessels (2:20-21)
• objective of usefulness
• vessels of honor and dishonor
• sanctified…useful…ready…
III. Make the timeless application (2:22-26)
• flee and pursue
• avoidance of foolish controversies
• correction with a view to repentance
• more than facts…
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 21, 2019
Guest Speaker: Dr. David Allen
Dean of the School of Preaching at SWBTS
The Call of Young Samuel: Lessons for Today
1 Samuel 3:1-4:1
I. Samuel – The Backstory (3:1)
In answer to the barren Hannah’s prayer, God gives her a son, Samuel. Hannah promised the Lord to give the child back to the Lord “to appear in the Lord’s presence, and to stay there permanently.” When Samuel was about three years old, Hannah presented him to Eli at the Tabernacle in Shiloh where Samuel began his service to the Lord.
II. God’s Call of Young Samuel to the Prophetic Ministry (3:2-14)
God’s unique call to Samuel came deep in the night while he was asleep in the Tabernacle. At first, Samuel did not understand it was God calling him. He mistook the voice of God for the voice of Eli. When Eli instructed Samuel in how to reply to the Lord, Samuel responded to the Lord’s call with the words: “Speak, your servant is listening.”
III. Samuel Deliver’s God’s Word of Judgment to Eli (3:15-18)
Through Samuel, God confirmed his prior prophecy to judge the wicked sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas.
IV. Samuel Becomes a “Confirmed Prophet” to All Israel (3:19-4:1)
Summary statement of Samuel’s growth to maturity, his prophetic standing before all Israel, and the Lord’s regular revelations of his word to Samuel to be delivered to the people.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 7, 2019
“Great Gain in Godliness” 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Bible Study 07/07/19
Context/Background
-instructions regarding widows, elders and slaves (5:1-6:2a)
-the stress on right belief and right behavior (6:2b-3)
-repetition of “craving” (6:4, 10)
-the danger of contentment-less godliness (6:5b)
-Properly-placed contentment positions you to enjoy the Lord’s satisfaction as His subject and invest in eternity as His steward.
1. Affirm the gain of godliness (6)
• godliness: reverence, opportunistic piety
• not what you think…
2. Avoid the danger of misplaced confidence (7)
• If I just had…
• the curse of covetousness
3. Acknowledge Jesus as your treasure (8)
• nourishment and covering
• the key to contentment
• no one and no thing…
So what?
-Assess the location of your contentment.
-Aim to live as a thankful steward.
-Repudiate the putrid perversion of the prosperity gospel.
-“All the way my Savior leads me; What Have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.” (Frances Crosby)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 9, 2019
“But I Received Mercy” 1 Timothy 1:12-20 Bible Study 06/09/19
1. Contextual Considerations
• previously: sound doctrine and surrendered life (1:1-11)
• personal reflection building off of 1:11
2. Main Idea: Recipients of the riches of God’s mercy explode in praise and invest in people.
3. Highlight the principle of mercy (12-15)
• the Lord’s enablement
• the Lord’s assessment
• the Lord’s appointment
• awareness of amazing grace
• affirmation of Christ’s objective
• a testimony that glories in Christ rather than glories in sin
4. Understand the purpose of mercy (16-17)
• display of long-suffering
• pattern of grace
• explosion of doxology
5. Engage in the mission of mercy (18-20)
• commissioning of Timothy
• a war to wage
• a warning to observe
• the soldier/sailor combination
6. So What?
• praise to offer: “Immortal invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.” (W. C. Smith)
• charge to keep: “A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify. A never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky.” (C. Wesley)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 2, 2019
“In Accordance with the Gospel” 1 Timothy 1:1-11 Bible Study 06/02/19
-Because the gospel is the good news of God’s surpassing worth, treasure and transmit it faithfully.
1. Prioritize the presence of God (1-2)
• ground of hope
• grace, mercy and peace
2. Promote stewardship rather than speculation (3-7)
• instruct “certain persons”
• don’t teach different doctrine
• don’t devote yourself to wrong thinking
• remember the goal
• the danger of spiritual arrogance
3. Process the law properly (8-11)
• using the law lawfully
• understand the identity of its target-audience
• 14 examples rooted in the 10 Commandments
• the standard of “hygienic” doctrine
• according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God
4. So What?
• “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your rest in His excellent word. What more can He say than to you He has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?” (R. Keene)
• “Jesus, priceless treasure, source of purest pleasure, truest friend to me…Thine I am, O spotless Lamb, I will suffer naught to hide Thee, ask for naught beside Thee.” (J. Franck)
• Avoid “Jiminy Cricket” theology.
• Get your spiritual meals from divine revelation rather than human speculation.
• Text-driven truth promotes spiritual health!
