Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 14, 2022
Synchronized Providence
2 Kings 8:1-6
1. Introduction
• connection to 4:8-37: a prophet’s chamber, a promised son and a restoration of life
• the concept of providence
2. The Impermanence of Circumstances 1-2
• from national to personal
• Elisha’s famine-warning system
• a remembered kindness: house remodel for a holy man (Matt. 10:40-42)
3. The Capacity to Restore 3-5
• a crying out to the king: house and field
• an ear-full from Gehazi
• repetition of “restore”
• the LORD’S gracious timing
4. The Truths of Grace and Governance 6
• a massive testimony
• illustration of Proverbs 21:1 and Matthew 6:28-34
• the word heeded: nothing lost and everything gained
• connection to Christ: a greater restoration
5. So What?
• In light of the LORD’S sustaining and restorative providence, take His word seriously and trust Him entirely.
• Determine to move from fascination to faithfulness.
• Remember the two “poles” of the LORD’S providence.
• “This is my anthem; this is my song, the theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long. God has been faithful; He will be again. His loving compassion; it knows no end. All I have need of, His hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me.” (S. Groves)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 7, 2022
Guest Speaker: Jeff Chapman
Jeff Chapman and his wife, Angela, grew up in Arizona. Jeff served in the United States Air Force before spending 25 years in the corporate world. Since 2015, he has earned a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a PhD in preaching under Dr. McKellar’s supervision.
A Treasure of Immeasurable Worth
2 Timothy 1:8-18
Context:
– Paul’s final letter from prison to his disciple Timothy
o Deeply emotional
o Final opportunity to communicate what is most important
– Verses 1-7
o Paul loving and encouraging Timothy reminding him who he was and how he became who he was by the mercy and grace of God
o Further encouraging Timothy by praying for him constantly
o Reminding Timothy of the faith that dwelt in him
o Challenging Timothy to fan into flame this gift of faith and the Holy Spirit
o Reminding Timothy that despite the daunting task, the Holy Spirit that was in them is one of power, love, and self-control
– “therefore” …
– Because the gospel is so precious, passionately protect and proudly promote it
I. Suffer Boldly and Without Shame
a. For the gospel
b. By the power of God
c. With our brothers and sisters in Christ
d. Because God and Christ are worth it
Question: When faced with suffering, how would you respond?
II. Follow Faithfully
a. Cling to the truth in faith and love
b. Communicate the truth in faith and love
Question: What are you clinging to?
III. Protect Militantly
a. Safeguard the gospel from evil
b. Safeguard the gospel by the power of the Spirit
Question: Who are you discipling?
IV. Evaluate and Shape your legacy mindfully
a. Stand with the One
b. Fall with the Two
Question: Where will your legacy land?
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 31, 2022
Unclean and Unnamed
2 Kings 7:3-20
1. Introduction/Background 6:24-7:2
• Syrian siege of Samaria
• scarcity of food
2. Intention of This Text
• the Bible: not written to magnify men
• primary emphasis: “For the Lord Himself…” (6-7)
• “…made the army…hear the sound…”
• crafted to call attention to the Lord’s wisdom and power
• twilight coordination (5, 7)
3. Instruments in This Text
• 4 lepers: outcasts who assess, act and announce (3-5, 8-10)
• 1 servant: open to the connection between promise and proclamation (11-15)
• 1 opposing army: potential destroyers become the means of powerful deliverance (16-20)
• according to the word of the LORD
4. So What?
• Knowing that the Lord’s capacity to accomplish His purposes is unlimited, live with unlimited dependence on Him.
• “Maximize the message; minimize the messenger.” (Al Fasol)
• Celebrate the unceasing praise of unlikely people. (1. Cor. 1:27-31)
• Consider a greater deliverance. (Col. 1:13-14)
• “O that with yonder sacred throng we at His feet may fall. We’ll join the everlasting song and crown Him Lord of all…” (E. Perronet)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 24, 2022
The Last Word
2 Kings 1:1-18
1. Note the Contrasting Departures
• Ahaziah and Elijah
• down and up (1:2. 2:11)
2. Consider the Issue of Crisis Consultation 1-2
• In times of stress, one’s true spiritual temperature registers.
• After his fall, Ahaziah inquires…
• messengers sent to Ekron
• Beelzebub (Matt. 12:22-24)
3. Observe the LORD’S Intercepting Intervention 3-8
• angelic messenger and Elijah
• repeated question: “Is it because…?”
• the hardened heart of Ahaziah
4. The LORD Answers with Fire 9-18
• ancient swat team
• consuming fire
• from prideful requirement to humble request
• the “last” word
5. So What?
• Because the sure word of the Lord covers and consumes, take it seriously and worship Him only.
• Joyfully embrace the jealousy of God and banish your baals.
• Hebrews 12:28-29: Rest in the covering provision and protection of Jesus!
• “Your word will be the last word. Your promises will stand forevermore. Man’s thoughts and all his plans will come to an end. But Your word will be the last word.” (T. Walker)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 17, 2022
What Are You Doing Here?
1 Kings 19:9-18
1. Introduction
• troubled by Jezebel
• touched by an angel
• repeated question
2. Stunned by Revelation 9-13a
• the spectacular: wind, quake, fire
• the vehicle of revelation
• a word is sufficient
• breathless wonder
3. Shaped by Sufficiency 13b-14
• repeated answer
• emphasis on instrumentality
• the LORD: always working
• interrogation that invites evaluation
4. Sustained by Presence 15-18
• three-fold task: international, national, personal
• still work to do
• assurance: not alone
• sustained and smitten
• connection to Christ
5. So What?
• Because the LORD knows where you are and where you need to be, humbly submit to His providential care and patient correction.
• Three applications: reject…resist…embrace…
• “He who is near to his Captain is sure to be a target for the archers.” (Carmichael)
• “He that appoints the voyage will victual the ship accordingly.” (Henry)
• “So…Humble yourself before your Lord and King. Give Him your heart, offer your everything. There’s no limit on the love He has for you. So humble yourself and see what God will do.” (Willard)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 10, 2022
Contest at Mt. Carmel
1 Kings 18:17-40
1. Introduction (1-16)
• meet Ahab, the wicked king
• meet Elijah, the prophet of God
• meet Baal, the Canaanite god of fertility
2. The LORD Empowers His Servant-Supernaturally 17-21
• series of orders
• audience: false prophets and all of Israel
• environment: hostile territory
• appeal: Get off the fence!!!
3. The LORD Exposes Idolatrous Futility-Obviously 22-29
• proposition: competing sacrifices and calls
• pathetic display and profound silence
• prophetic derision
• smokeless altar
4. The LORD Answers with Fire-Decisively 30-40
• Don’t miss this!
• a repaired and soggy altar
• that this people may know…
• recaptured devotion
• removal of malignancy
5. So What?
• When you acknowledge the real God, you can know real relief and rest.
• connection to Christ (1 Cor. 15:24-27, Heb. 10:19-25)
• “Give Us Clean Hands” (C. Hall) (Psa. 24:3-6)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 3, 2022
Asa and the Fine Art of Finishing Well
1 Kings 15:9-24
1. Introduction
• shift in focus from Northern to Southern Kingdom
• coverage of three kings (14:21-15:24)
2. Asa’s Righteous Religious Reforms 9-15
• distinctive righteousness
• destructive righteousness: no pampered exemptions
3. Asa’s Problematic Political Practices 16-24
• Baasha’s economic blockade
• Asa’s arrangement with Ben-hadad
• textbook diplomacy and total success
• commentary from 2 Chron. 16:1-12
• making the connection to Christ
4. So What?
• In light of the LORD’S unchanging faithfulness and unceasing support, finish well by relying wholly on Him.
• Recognize the peril of pragmatism.
• Remember Rom. 15:4 and let Scripture interpret Scripture.
• “Ah! If our likeness to God does not show itself in trifles, what is there left for it to show itself in? For our lives are all made up of trifles. The great things come three or four of them in the seventy years; the little ones every time the clock ticks.” (Maclaren)
• In order to finish well, run well now!
• “To this I hold, my only hope is 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!” (Robinson/Thompson/Farren)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 26, 2022
That He Might Fulfill His Word
1 Kings 12:1-24
1. An Appeal to the New King 1-5
• coronation at Shechem
• return of Jeroboam
• request and response
2. The King Consults with Advisors 6-11
• old men: conciliation
• narrator’s advance notification
• young men: intimidation
• perspective from a pronoun
3. The King’s Declaration and a Theological Explanation 12-15
• according to the counsel of the young men
• avoiding the tendency to moralize
• a “circumstance coming from Yahweh”
4. The Reality of a Tragic Tearing 16-20
• Rehoboam’s wrong steps
• repetition of the Davidic covenant concept (2 Sam. 7:12-16)
• rebels: rhetorical question and defiant advice
5. A Case of Remarkable Restraint 21-24
• Rehoboam readies for war
• halted by the word of God
• connection to Christ
6. So What?
• Knowing that the LORD is sovereign over every circumstance, count on Him to keep His promises.
• Reflect on the lengths to which the LORD will go to keep a promise.
• “Remember that the LORD is never a victim of circumstances.” (N. Parrish)
• “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.” (R. Carter)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 19, 2022
A King with a Heart Problem
1 Kings 11:1-43
1. Introduction
• high hopes of 1 Kings 1-10: wisdom, buildings, gold
• dull thud after glowing report
2. The Sin Solomon Commits 1-8
• nature of offense: intermarriage with pagans (Deut. 7:1-4, Ex. 34:11-16)
• subtlety: internal and gradual
• example, experience and educational fallacies
3. The Anger Yahweh Expresses 9-13
• flowing out of godly jealousy (Deut. 6:14-15)
• non-conformity to cultural expectations
4. The History Yahweh Controls 14-39
• raising up adversaries (14, 23, 26)
• distinct policy with consistent application
• a prophetic encounter: sudden, enacted and interpreted
5. The Hope Yahweh Sustains 11-13, 31-39
• promise not negated (2 Sam. 7:12-16)
• restrictions: not now and not all
6. So What?
• Because of the subtlety of sinful compromise and its consequences, cling to the LORD with all your heart.
• Beware of the “creeping pace of accumulated compromises.” (Davis)
• Focus on finishing well to the glory of God!
• “Speak to my heart, oh, speak to my heart, Speak to my heart, I pray; Yielded and still, seeking Thy will, oh, speak to my heart today,” (McKinney “Speak to My Heart”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 12, 2022
Not One Word!
1 Kings 8:54-66
1. Introduction
• placement of the ark: clarity and mystery (1-13)
• prayer of dedication: “center” of the sandwich and praying out of the Pentateuch (22-53)
• transition from kneeling to standing
2. Recognition of God’s Unfailing Word 56
• rest according to His promises
• not one word!
• previously spoken by Moses
3. Request for God’s Inclining Presence 57-58
• “…God be with us…”
• as with our fathers
• for the purpose of “bending” (Psa. 119:36-37)
4. Reliance on God’s Maintaining Providence 59-60
• a prayer “for the record”
• “do the judgment” of Solomon and Israel (Ex. 16:4)
• purpose: “…that all may know…”
5. Response of Complete and Hopeful Devotion 61-66
• complete conformity: “…walking…keeping…” (Heb. 4:11-13)
• sacrifice and feast
• “…glad of heart for all the goodness…”
6. So What?
• Because the LORD remains your true Deliverer, rely on and rejoice in the rest He extends through Christ.
• “We read the past most truly when we see in all its vicissitudes God’s unchanging faithfulness, and recognize that the foes and sorrows which often pressed sore upon us were no breach of His faithful promises, but either His loving chastisement for our faithlessness, or His loving discipline meant to perfect our characters.” (A. Maclaren)
• “His word shall not fail you He promised, believe Him and all will be well. Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell.” (H. Lemmel, “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus”)
