Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 5, 2022

A Hearing Heart

1 Kings 3:1-28

1. Introduction

• 1-2 Kings: selective history covering 400 years with 50,000 words
• succession (1), security (2) and sufficiency (3)

2. Supplication for Wisdom 4-15

• preliminary connections (verses 1-3): marriage, sacrifice, house, love
• Yahweh’s appearance to Solomon in a dream
• Yahweh’s invitation to Solomon: “Ask…”
• Solomon’s request
• incentive of generosity
• foundation of faithfulness
• priority on the people of God
• principle of the Lord’s pleasure

3. Verification of Wisdom 16-28

• proof from a court case
• two prostitutes and two babies
• Solomon calls for a sword!
• identification of the real mother
• confirming testimony in Israel

4. Personification of Wisdom

• vocabulary of 1 Kings 3 and Isaiah 11:1-4
• how Solomon’s wisdom points beyond itself (1 Cor. 1:30, Col. 2:3)

5. So What?

• Because God is the source and standard of wisdom, ask for a hearing heart that enables growing conformity to Christ.
• Analyze your “asking.” What do you want most?
• Take James 1:5 seriously!
• “Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise; Thou mine inheritance now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, high King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.” (“Be Thou My Vision,” M. Byrne)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 29, 2022

Get Back to Work!

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

1. Introduction

• progression of the letter: comfort (1), composure (2) and correction (3)
• addressing the idol of idleness
• For the glory of Christ and the testimony of His church, await His return through a lifestyle of active engagement.

2. Address the Problem 6-9

• authoritative command and significance of appeal to Christ
• withdrawal from the idle
• contradiction of truth received
• from instruction to example

3. Prescribe the Solution 10-12

• key principle: not willing to work…not eat
• report of some not busy…but being busybodies
• another appeal to Christ
• solution: work quietly and eat your own bread

4. Encourage Community Stewardship 13-18

• avoiding discouragement
• refusal to condone or enable
• aiming for restoration
• peace from the Lord of peace

5. So What?

• Determine to prioritize obedience to God’s word.
• “But Christ’s love and His apostles twelve he taught, and first he followed it himself.” (the country parson in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales)
• Recognize that the real problem is not one of specific timing but of sinful tendency.
• “We’ll Work till Jesus Comes” (E. Mills)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 22, 2022

Gospel-Driven Prayer

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

1. Introduction

• previously: comfort in suffering (1) and composure with reference to Christ’s return (2)
• chapter 3: focus on prayer before addressing an idle minority
• Because God is faithful to transform lives through His gospel, prioritize its advancement in your prayers.

2. Pray Gospel-Driven Prayers 1-2

• that the gospel would run and be honored (Psa. 147:15)
• that deliverance would be provided from those who oppose the gospel (Acts 18:5-17)
• noteworthy absence and noteworthy emphasis

3. Observe the Perspective That Shapes Gospel-Driven Prayers 3-4

• confidence in the character of God: faithful…establish…guard (Psa. 9:10)
• confidence in the capacity of God to conform believers to Christ’s likeness

4. Consider a Specific Gospel-Driven Prayer Wish 5

• directed hearts
• love of God
• steadfastness of Christ

5. So What?

• Remember that “prayer is the power that wields the weapon of the word.” (Piper on Eph. 6:17-18)
• “Intercession is the hardest work in the world-the giving of one’s self, time, strength, energy, and attention to the needs of others in a way that no one but God sees, no one but God will do anything about, and no one but God will ever reward your for.” (E. Elliot in On Asking God Why, p. 130)
• Lord, cause your word to run and be glorified in the Sonburst Class and in all the ministries of FBC Dallas.
• “Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.” (“Brethren, We Have Met to Worship,” G. Askins)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 15, 2022

Loving the Truth

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

1. Introduction

• previously: ammunition for endurance in 1:1-12
• worthy theology and worshipful doxology
• In a climate of error and instability, believers maintain composure through accurate grasp of truth and profound delight in it.

2. Observe the Objective 1-2a

• to solve a practical, emotional problem
• not shaken or disturbed (Mark 13:7)
• calm and clear

3. Consider the Methodology 2b-3

• truth tailored to the danger of deceit
• tending the garden of your emotions with the tools of biblical truth
• identification of error and decisive warning
• two arguments: apostasy and appearing

4. Process the Information 4-8

• rebellious person whose destiny is destruction
• the enemy of God presently restrained
• destroyed with one “puff”

5. Make the Application 9-12

• Avoid apostasy. (Matt. 24:10-14)
• Love the truth.
• Rest in God’s faithfulness.
• “Though troubles assail, and dangers affright, Though friends should all fail, and foes all unite; Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, The Scripture assures us, The Lord will provide.” (“The Lord Will Provide,” Newton)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 8, 2022

Ammunition for Endurance

2 Thessalonians 1:5-12

1. Introduction

• a second letter and three key issues
• issue of ongoing/intensified persecution and the struggle with suffering
• Because God’s promises are true and His judgments are right, persevere in all circumstances until His Son returns.

2. Consider Adversity through the Lens of God’s Sovereignty 5-10

• addressing “this” in verse 5
• suffering in the context of God’s dominion (5b)
• repayment for oppressors and relief for the oppressed (6-7a) (Isa. 66:5-6)
• connection to Christ’s return (7b-8a)
• judgment on those who do not know God and do not obey… (8b-9) (Isa. 66: 15-16)
• contrast: Christ glorified in and marveled at by His saints (10)
• dramatic reversal

3. Cooperate with God’s Qualifying and Completing Sustenance 11-12

• intercessory prayer (11a)
• considered worthy: perseverance and purity (11b)
• completed in every resolve (11c)
• goal: reciprocal glorification rooted in grace (12)
• summary of contrast

4. So What?

• Actively acknowledge God’s activity.
• “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.” (Spurgeon)
• Anticipate the great “reversal.”
• “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face…” (W. Cowper)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 1, 2022

Not Left to Ourselves

1 Thessalonians 5:23-28

1. Introduction

• 1 Thessalonians: powerful truths to digest
• 5:23-28: purposeful farewell to dissect
• Because the God of peace secures both your present progress and future preservation, fight the fight of faith with confidence.

2. Emphasize the Source 23a

• now Himself…
• the God of peace

3. Understand the Substance 23b

• present progress in holiness: sanctify entirely
• future preservation in holiness: complete…blameless…at His coming

4. Exult in the Security 24

• He doesn’t withdraw the call!
• He will do it!

5. Four Parting Points 25-28

• reciprocity in prayer
• intimacy of fellowship
• intensity toward the word
• exclusivity of grace

6. So What?

• Cultivate the “habit” of holiness.
• “If this be the provision of the way, what is that of the country?” (J. Janeway)
• “All the Way My Savior Leads Me” (F. Crosby)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 24, 2022

Stay Ready!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1. Introduction

• comparison/contrast of 4:13-18 (coming of the Lord/day of the Lord)
• a common conclusion to note
• Because Scripture certifies the certain return of Christ, stay ready in light of the destruction and deliverance it will bring.

2. Revisiting the Manner of Christ’s Return 1-3

• full awareness of readers and the implication of imminence
• like a thief in the night (Matt. 24:43, Luke 12:39)
• what people might say (Jer. 6:14)
• metaphor of suddenness

3. Reminding Readers of Their Identity 4-5

• children of light/day
• contrast between light/darkness and day/night

4. Reinforcing the Need for Readiness 6-8

• commands: let us not sleep, let us keep awake, let us be sober
• observation of human behavior
• since we belong to the day… (Isa. 59:17)

5. Recognizing the Presence of Motivation 9-10

• diametrically opposed destinies of two groups
• hope of deliverance rooted in Christ’s death

6. Receiving Two Concluding Commands 11

• encourage and edify

7. So What?

• Reflect regularly on the imminence of Christ’s return
• Resolve to be found faithful-and ready!
• “One Day” (J. Wilbur Chapman)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 17, 2022

Easter Message

Now What?

1 Peter 1:13-21

1. Introduction

• born again to a living hope… 1:3-9
• salvation, prophets and angels 1:10-12
• connection with “Therefore” 1:13
• Because Christ is the ransoming and resurrected Lord, hope continually in His future grace and conform increasingly to His faithful character.

2. Hope Completely 13-14

• hope fully in future grace…
• preparing your minds for action
• being sober-minded
• not being conformed

3. Conform Comprehensively 15-16

• be holy…
• as He who called you is holy
• since it is written (Lev. 11:44)

4. Reverence Continually 17-21

• conduct yourselves with fear…
• if you call on Him as Father
• knowing that you were ransomed
• foreknown, revealed and raised

5. So What?

• Does the anchor of your hope dangle out of heaven?
• For what or for whom are you set apart?
• “…All to Him I owe…”
• “Awake, sad heart, whom sorrow ever drowns; Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth; Unfold thy forehead, gathered into frowns; Thy Saviour comes, and with Him mirth…” (Herbert)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 10, 2022

Easter Message

The Kind of King He Is

Matthew 21:1-11

1. Introduction

• beginning of Passover week
• Matthew’s theme: Kingship of Jesus
• focus: who Jesus is and what He came to do

2. Purposeful Arrangements of Jesus 1-7

• near Jerusalem: Bethphage and Mount of Olives
• disciples dispatched for donkey requisition
• declaration of kingship: riding on a donkey
• scriptural fulfillment of Zech. 9:9: riding on a cloaked colt

3. Positive Response of the Crowd 8-9

• spreading garments and waving branches
• shouting of Scripture: fulfillment of Psa. 118:25-26
• crowd composition and expectations

4. Agitated Response in the City 10-11

• Who is this?
• superficiality, ignorance, opposition, submission

5. So What?

• Because Jesus is who Scripture says He is, worship Him now as Savior, Treasure and King.
• Submit to the kind of King Jesus declares Himself to be.
• Grasp the contrast between His first coming and second coming (Matt. 21 and Rev. 19)
• “Rejoice, the Lord is King” (C. Wesley)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 3, 2022

Partners in Progress

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

1. Introduction

• from the negative to the positive
• no place for coasting/complacency
• Because the goal is to glorify God, progress in your love for insiders and outsiders.

2. Inside the Church: View Sanctification as a Community Project 9-10

• commendation: family language
• continuation: taught by God (Isa. 54:13)
• cooperation: among yourselves and across the region
• culmination: mutual support network

3. Outside the Church: Aim to Attract the Attention of the Unsaved 11-12

• living quietly: our ambition
• minding our business: not meddlesome
• working with our hands: not parasites
• the long nose and lazy hands connection
• incentive not excuse

4. So What?

• Treasure the “team” concept.
• Stop expecting non-Christians to act like Christians.
• Stop excusing the sub-biblical behavior of Christians.
• Aim for a “winsome” witness.
• “Teach me, my God and King, in all things Thee to see, and what I do in anything, to do it as for Thee. To scorn the senses’ sway, while still to Thee I tend; in all I do be Thou the Way, in all be Thou the End.” (G. Herbert)