Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 2, 2020

The ‘Splendid’ Crown of Old Age

Proverbs 16:31-17:6

In light of God’s purpose for your advancing years, pursue conformity to His character

1. Ponder the biblical perspective 31/6

• ascription
• escalation

2. Learn the legacy of the long fuse 32-33

• internal control
• sovereign contingency

3. Practice a preference for peace and quiet 1

• paired with verse 32
• concord over consumption

4. Value character more than circumstances 2-3

• wise slave and shameful son
• possession over position
• omnicompetence of the ultimate Tester

5. Apply the lessons of listening 4-5

• the case of the captured ear
• the liar and the mocker and their destiny
• clinging to truth and compassion

6. So what?

• Take your cues about aging from Scripture.
• Focus on finishing well to the glory of God.
• NT connection: 2 Tim. 4: 6-8 and Heb. 12:1-3

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 26, 2020

Necessary Fear

Proverbs 15:33-16:6

Because every step of meaningful progress hinges on the fear of the LORD, adopt a posture of humility and aim to please Him.

1. Recognize the unifying principle 33

• fear of the LORD
• instruction in wisdom
• coupled with humility

2. Prioritize the LORD’S evaluation 1-3

• man proposes and God disposes
• the balanced scales of sovereignty
• the practice of self-suspicion
• embracing a precious promise

3. Acknowledge the accountability factor 4-6

• comprehensive sovereignty
• arrogance that abominates
• fear and function

4. So what?

• Remember: what matters is what God thinks…
• The right kind of fear will keep you from the wrong kind of function.
• The first destination on the path of pleasing God is dependence.
• Connection to Christ: manifestation of atoning mercy and faithfulness
• “Worthy of reverence, worthy of fear, worthy of love and devotion; Worthy of bowing and bending of knees, worthy of all this and added to these…” (York)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 19, 2020

Course Navigation

Proverbs 14:8-15

1. Overview

• connection to 14:1-7 and the “how to” response to walking in wisdom
• distinct literary/poetic device: chiasmus (each of 8 verses paired with another)
• main idea: Because wisdom warns of the deceptive nature of appearances, navigate your course by faith and not by sight.

2. Prudence and Foolishness 8/15

• discernment of the wise
• deception of the foolish

3. Restitution and Reward 9/14

• the wise: making amends and receiving favor
• the foolish: rejecting restitution and receiving judgment

4. Heartache and Joy 10/13

• the private nature of emotional experience
• the reality of mingled grief and joy

5. Life and Death 11/12

• the flourishing upright and the exterminated wicked
• the disaster of the seemingly right way

6. So What?

• Prize the preciousness of absolute truth.
• Cultivate the discipline of discernment.
• Connection to NT and Christ: 2 Cor. 4:1, 13-18
• “…And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight…” (Spafford)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 12, 2020

Wisdom Personified

Proverbs 8:6-21

1. Context

• call of wisdom 1-5
• consideration of wisdom’s existence 22-31
• contrast through personification
• God’s wisdom: perfectly factual knowledge + immediate and perfect situational insight + omnipotent resolve in all its forms
• main idea: Knowing that God’s wisdom brings lasting benefits, value it with increasing intensity.

2. Hear Wisdom’s Appeal (6-11)

• unmatched virtue
• incomparable value

3. Consider Wisdom’s Activity (12-16)

• hatred of evil
• giving what She possesses

4. Ponder Wisdom’s Reward (17-21)

• benefits for those who love Her
• better than gold which stands the fire-test
• edifying and eternal wealth

5. So What?

• Treasure the revelation of God’s wisdom. Psa. 19:10-11
• Avoid obsession with the vanity and vexation of existence without wisdom. 1 Cor. 3:18-22
• Treasure the incarnation of God’s wisdom. 1 Cor. 1:20-25
• “Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds. Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us. Truths unchanged from the dawn of time that will echo down through eternity…” (Getty)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 5, 2020

Are You Still Listening?

Proverbs 5:1-23

In light of the devastating consequences of sexual sin, apply God’s wisdom and enjoy fulfillment in marriage.

1. Acknowledge the dominant principle (1-2)

• pay attention
• the internalization of wisdom

2. Discern the deceptive promise (3-6)

• from lip to lip
• from smooth to bitter
• trajectory of death

3. Consider the devastating price (7-14)

• avoid association
• impact: economic, social, physical, spiritual

4. Apply the designed prevention (15-20)

• exclusive fidelity
• exquisite delight

5. Cultivate a disciplined perspective (21-23)

• the LORD’S awareness
• the fatal consequence

6. So what?

• Make sure you get your wisdom from on high rather than from online.
• Connection to Christ: Eph. 5:22-33

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 28, 2020

Stay in Your Lane

Proverbs 4:20-27

Main Idea: In light of wisdom’s strategic significance, apply it intentionally and specifically.

-hearing ears (20-22)
-guarded heart (23)
-accurate mouth (24)
-focused eyes (25)
-directed feet (26-27)

So What?

-insight from Psalm 119
-“O be careful…”
-connection to Christ in John 17

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 21, 2020

Wearing Wisdom Well

Proverbs 3:21-35

1. Setting

• blessing of wisdom (13-18)
• reminder of the source of wisdom (19-20)
• main idea: Because God’s wisdom is the sole source of security, cling to it with humility.

2. Prioritize wisdom and the security it provides 21-26

• first of 7 “Do not” statements: Don’t lose sight…
• command: keep/guard wisdom
• consequence: security in all situations
• the security of sleep (Psa. 121:4)
• principle: those who keep are kept

3. Relate to others on the basis of wisdom’s security 27-35

• like a good neighbor…reliable kindness
• 5 more “Do not” statements
• consequence: blessing or cursing
• cultivation: the promise of grace for the humble (1 Pet. 5:5-11)

4. So what?

• “Sleep is a daily reminder from God that we are not God.” (Piper)
• “The habitual eyeing of the world keeps the feet on a slippery path.” (Lawson)
• connection to Christ: clothing ourselves with the humility of ultimate Wisdom (Phil. 2:5-11)
• “If you but trust in God to guide you and place your confidence in Him, you’ll find Him always there beside you to give you hope and strength within; for those who trust God’s changeless love build on the rock that will not move.” (Neumark)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 14, 2020

Joyful Sanity for Chaotic Days

Proverbs 3:5-6

1. Setting

• remembering and keeping the word of the LORD (1-4)
• humility and reverence before the LORD (7-8)
• main idea: Because your security depends on the LORD, depend on Him comprehensively.

2. Rely on the LORD 5a

• object: the LORD
• expression: trust
• extent: all your heart

3. Renounce reliance on your own understanding 5b

• object: own understanding (Jer. 17:9)
• expression: do not lean
• exposure: insanity

4. Resolve to treasure the LORD’S presence 6

• object: the LORD
• expression: acknowledge Him
• extent: all your ways
• assurance: paths made straight

5. So What?

• “One is foolish to rely on his own thimble of knowledge before its vast ocean or on his own understanding.” (Waltke)
• commentary from Jer. 9:23
• connection to Christ: 2 Cor. 1:20

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 7, 2020

Fear or Foolishness

Proverbs 1:1-19

1. General Overview 1-3

• authorship
• purpose: instruction and application

2. Stated Objective 4-6

• prudence, discretion and guidance

3. Primary Emphasis 7

• fear of the LORD
• reverence/awe/obedience

4. Specific Application 8-19

• attention to instruction (8-9)
• acknowledgement of wrong influences (10-17)
• avoidance of self-ambush (18-19)
• despising or delighting?

5. So What?

• Because true knowledge and wisdom flow from the fear of the LORD, make sure it’s the lens through which you view life.
• “Does it exalt the Savior? Does it humble the sinner? Does it promote holiness?” (Simeon)
• connection to Christ: 1 Cor. 1:18-25
• comfort and challenge from Psa. 130:3-4

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 31, 2020

Sustained Obedience

Romans 16:17-20

1. Contextual Overview

• Christ the hope of Jew and Gentile (15:8-21) and Paul’s plan to visit Rome (15:22-33)
• Personal Greetings (16:1-16) and Doxology (16:25-27)
• Main Idea: Avoiding Satan’s deception and anticipating his doom, persevere obediently for God’s glory.

2. Reject False Teachers 17-18

• exhortation: watch out!
• methodology and motivation of false teachers
• command: keep turning away

3. Continue in Obedience 19

• a title and a testimony
• cause for rejoicing
• Paul’s desire: wise in the good and innocent of evil

4. Anticipate Satan’s Doom 20

• the God of peace
• Satan: crushed “in a short time” (Gen. 3:150
• first mention of Satan in Romans

5. So What?

• “Fidelity to God before fraternity with men.” (Spurgeon)
• “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.” (Spurgeon)
• Treasure the “true truth” of Scripture. (Schaeffer)
• Remember to adjust your clock to God’s clock and rejoice in God’s conquest through Christ.
• “And though this world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo! His doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.” (Luther)