Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 23, 2025
Audio will be posted on February 23.
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”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 16, 2025
Series on God Sustains His People
A Full Atonement Forecast
Leviticus 16:1-34
1. God’s Sobering Presence (1-5)
• experience of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10)
• place of God’s presence
• preparation for entering God’s presence
2. Access into God’s Presence (6-28)
• blood atonement and ritual removal (scapegoat) (6-10)
• purification by blood (11-19)
• purification by removal (20-28)
3. Preparation of God’s People (29-34)
• contrition
• cessation
• cleansing
4. So What?
• Note the NT connections to Christ: Rom. 3:25, Heb. 13:12, 9:12-14; 26-28, 2 Cor. 5:21
• Because Jesus fulfills every detail forecasted, relish His finished work through reflection and repentance.
• “Guilty, vile, and helpless we; Spotless Lamb of God was He; ‘Full atonement!’ can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior!” (P. Bliss)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 9, 2025
Series on God Sustains His People
Accepted by God
Leviticus 1:1-17
1. Review/Context
• golden calf (Ex. 32) and the necessity of reconciliation
• tabernacle: the word revealed and worship through sacrifice
• the LORD called…saying
• Lev. 1: focus on burnt offerings
2. Entrance Allowed
• basis of acceptance of the worshiper
• no one prohibited from approaching
• requirement for sacrificial victim: blameless/without defect
3. Procedure Specified
• blood and body of a substitute
• identification of worshiper with the sacrificial victim
• sacrifice “surrendered” and wrath of God satisfied
• atoning sacrifice
4. Acceptance Indicated
• sacrifice consumed by fire on altar
• smell/aroma of sacrifice: pleasing to the LORD
5. So What?
• Those who approach God based on atoning sacrifice may experience acceptance with Him forever.
• Note the NT connections: Mt. 20:28; Rom. 3:25; Eph. 5:27: 1Pet. 1:19, 2:22
• “Sacrifice is at the heart of all true worship.” (Ross)
• “What language shall I borrow…?” (Bernard of Clairvaux, “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 2, 2025
Series on God Sustains His People
A Case of Post-Calf Grace
Exodus 35:30-36:7
1. Assessing the Building
• a dwelling designed by the LORD
• constructed to communicate
• attention to the LORD’S instruction
• “It is possible to believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God—yet neglect it and effectually repudiate it just because we think that it is not great enough for today’s tasks.” (Boice)
2. Embracing the Beauty
• Why not just throw a few boards together?
• empowered artistry: Bezalel and Oholiab
• objective standard of excellence
3. Experiencing the Blessing
• voluntary offering: an “art” form in itself
• Before you render, you receive. (35:1-3)
• time, talent and treasure (35:4-29)
• The people were restrained!
4. So What?
• When you are instructed by God’s principles and inspired by His presence, you pursue lavish participation in His work.
• from the portable to the permanent (1 Pet. 2:5; Eph. 2:21; 1 Cor. 6:19)
• Breathtaking “Beauty” has visited us. (John 1:14)
• Your use of His resources should reflect the depth of His rescue. (Kirk, “Our Best”)
• divine artistry to the glory of God!
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 26, 2025
Series on God Sustains His People
Meanwhile, Back at the Camp
Exodus 32
1. Disobedience to the LORD’S Revealed Will
• violation of at least three commandments
• the major issue in Exodus: worship (24:3, 7)
• “God created man in His image and ever since, man has been trying to return the favor.” (Chesterton)
2. Doubting the LORD’S Sufficiency
• impatience with the LORD’S timing
• disrespect for the LORD’S representative (Acts 7:39-40)
• a hostile “takeover” attempt
3. Distortion of the LORD’S Purpose
• the LORD’S reputation (9:16)
• a self-serving mentality and a demonstration of depravity
• idolatry leading to immorality
• “What we revere, we resemble, either for our ruin or our restoration.” (Beale)
4. Discounting the LORD’S Activity
• the misuse of the LORD’S gifts
• a case of spiritual amnesia (Psa. 106:19-22)
5. So What?
• Knowing that God abhors idolatry, repudiate it and replace it with holy intoxication.
• battling infidelity with intoxication (Eph. 5:18)
• “Man must have an object, and when he turns from the true God, he at once craves a false one.’ But this statement can also be reversed. The way to reduce our craving for false gods is for our minds and hearts to be intoxicated with the Spirit of the one true God.” (Pink)
• “The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, help me tear it from Thy throne, and worship only Thee.” (Cowper, “O, For a Closer Walk with God.”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 19, 2025
Series on God Sustains His People
The Lord’s Dress Code
Exodus 28:31-43
1. Discerning the Details of Priestly Dress
• the robe
• the headgear
• the underclothes
• magnificent clothing for magnificent ministry
2. Depending on the Designated High Priest
• savoring the sacred
• sobering yourself with stress on the suitable
• refusing to minimize sin
• Zechariah’s vision (3:1-5)
• relying on the accepted priest (Heb. 7:23-28, 12:14; John 19:23)
3. So What?
• Because the LORD is holy and you are not, claim the wardrobe of holiness that He alone provides.
• “Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; another’s life, another’s death, I stake my whole eternity.” (Bonar)
• “…dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne…” (Mote, “The Solid Rock”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 12, 2025
Series on God Sustains His People
Grace-Based Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17
1. Confirm the Context of Grace 1-2
• gracious address
• gracious activity
• torah: instruction
2. Consider the Foundational Command 3
• first commandment
• “before My face”
• creation and covenantal claims
• sets the stage for the vertical/horizontal
3. Make the Connection to Christ
• SOM (Matt. 5:17-20)
• RYR (Matt. 19:17)
4. So What?
• Because the LORD communicates His commands in a context of redeeming grace, obey them enthusiastically!
• Dismiss the notion that idolatry is only an ancient issue.
• Reflect on John 14:15 and 1 John 5:3.
• “Trust and Obey” (John Sammis)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 5, 2025
Series on God Sustains His People
Daily Bread from Heaven
Exodus 16:1-36
1. Background
• from miraculous deliverance (14:1-15:21) to sustenance in the wilderness (15:22-16:36)
2. The People Complain
• repeated refrain
• unrealistic perspective
• misplaced assault
3. The LORD Provides
• promise of satisfaction
• prescription of dependence
• proclamation of motivation
4. Culmination in Christ
• objectives of sustenance and sanctification (Dt. 8:3, Matt. 4:1-4, Jn. 6:28-51)
• from the Exodus to the Cross
5. So What?
• Knowing that His provision flows from His steadfast love, view trials as opportunities to grow in dependence on the LORD.
• “It takes a heavenly appetite to enjoy a heavenly diet.” (Swindoll)
• Determine to feast continually at the table of grace.
• “Come then, O holy Christ, feed us, we pray; touch with Your pierced hand each common day, making this earthly life full of Your grace, till, in the home of heaven, we find our place.” (Hoyt)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 29, 2024
Guest Speaker: Sherry Forester
God at Work
Acts 12:1-23
I. Persecution and Prison (Acts 12:1-4)
• Herod harasses the church.
• James, the brother of John, is executed.
• Peter is arrested and imprisoned under heavy guard.
• God orchestrates finite details to accomplish His purposes.
II. Prayer and Providence (Acts 12:5-17)
• Peter is sleeping and an angel rescues Peter from prison.
• Peter arrives at the house where the church is praying.
• Peter recounts his miraculous deliverance.
• God is worthy of our trust.
III. Pride and Punishment (Acts 12:18-23)
• The guards are executed for Peter’s escape.
• Herod revels in praise and dies.
• No matter the circumstances, God is always in control.
IV. So what?
Because God is our all-powerful and all-wise Sovereign, we can trust Him in every situation.
“Let’s keep our chins up and our knees down – we’re on the victory side!”
(Alan Redpath)
“Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you.
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you.
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.”
(Martin, “God Will Take Care of You”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for December 22, 2024
Christmas Series
Exceeds Expectations
Daniel 7:9-14; Revelation 5:9-14
1. Previously
• Abraham: descendants, Moses: redemption, David: kingdom
2. Daniel’s Vision (Dan. 7:9-14)
• the nature of apocalyptic literature
• the sovereign tranquility of the Ancient of Days
• the throne of God and one like a son of man
• coronation of the king (Psa. 2:6-7)
3. John’s Verification (Rev. 5:9-14)
• many ethnicities and one king
• praising God as priests
• unifying factor: supremacy of their one king
• slain…every creature…throne
• glorious, universal and everlasting
4. So What?
• Because Christmas reminds you that God is in charge, proceed accordingly.
• Count on the King to reign and commit yourself to rely on Him (Col. 3:1-4)
• “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun doth his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.” (Watts)
• “All is well. All is well. Lift up your voice and sing. Born is now Emmanuel. Born is now our Lord and Savior. Sing Alleluia. Sing Alleluia. All is well” (Smith)
