Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 27, 2019

Holy Intoxication

Ephesians 5:18-21

-Because your fruitfulness hinges on submission to the Holy Spirit, obey the command to seek His filling continually.

1. Overview

• sealed (1:13), grieved (4:30) and filled
• a person and not an impersonal force
• incentives for right living

♦ judgment (5:5-7)
♦ light (5:8-14)
♦ wisdom (5:15-17)
♦ fullness (5:18-21)

• the issue here: sanctification-the process of conformity to Christ
• “But our duty and God’s grace are nowhere opposed in the matter of sanctification; for the one absolutely supposes the other. We cannot perform our duty without the grace of God; nor does God give His grace for any other purpose than that we may perform our duty.” (John Owen)

2. The Prohibition

• first imperative: don’t get drunk
• method and result

3. The Command

• second imperative: do be filled
• method and result
• the linguistic lesson: plerousthe

♦ imperative mood: authoritative command, obligation and not option
♦ plural number: for the whole Christian community, no secret technique or formula
♦ passive voice: acted on
♦ present tense: keep on…

• “When we speak of the baptism of the Spirit we are referring to a once-for-all gift; when we speak of the fullness of the Spirit we are acknowledging that this gift needs to be continuously and increasingly appropriated.” (John Stott)

4. The Impact

• musical joy
• comprehensive gratitude
• loving submission

5. So What?

• Drink deeply of the things of the Holy Spirit.
• For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 20, 2019

Dressing for Spiritual Success

Ephesians 4:17-5:4

I. Review

• 4:1-16: called to unity
• 4:17-5:4: called to purity
• Since God calls us to be a holy people, we must cultivate a lifestyle of purity.

II. Take off the Old Clothes (4:17-19)

• vain
• dark
• alienated
• insensitive
• unrestrained

III. Put on the New Clothes (4: 20-24)

• Christ: learned…heard…taught
• continual mind-renewal
• put off/put on

IV. Seven Concrete Examples (4:25-5:4)

• don’t lie…speak the truth
• don’t sin in your anger…avoid exploitation
• don’t steal…work and give
• don’t use your mouth for evil…use it for good
• don’t grieve the Holy Spirit…be sensitive to Him
• don’t be unkind and bitter…be kind and loving
• don’t joke about sex…give thanks for it

V. So What?

• objective: integration of Christian experience (what we are), Christian theology (what we believe) and Christian ethics (how we behave)
• “Holiness is not a condition into which we drift.” (Stott)
• passive spectator or active participant?

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 13, 2019

Guest Speaker: Dr. Barry McCarty

Professor at SWBTS

Praying with Power

Colossians 4:2-4

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 6, 2019

Body Language

Ephesians 4:1-16

When Christ’s body is nourished by and conforms to Him, it manifests a maturity which results in unity.

-note the transition from doctrine to duty

1. Unity depends on conformity (1-2)

• a worthy walk: one people, set apart
• five qualities: humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance and love

2. Unity flows out of the unity of God (3-6)

• spare no effort!
• repetition of “one”
• visible appearance and invisible reality

3. Unity receives enrichment through diversity of gifts (7-12)

• from all of us to each of us
• does not always mean uniformity
• saving grace and serving grace
• given by the ascended Christ (Psa. 68:18)
• five lists with at least 20 gifts in the NT
• five gifts here: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers
• immediate and ultimate purpose

4. Unity requires the maturity of believers (13-16)

• “…conformity to Christ in the context of relationship to the corporate body.” (Stott)
• three senses of unity
• doctrinal instability marks the immature
• the balance of truth and love
• the emphasis upon the Head

5. So What?

• Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?” And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song. (S. Stone)
• perspective on love: the overflow of joy in God that gladly meets the needs of others (Piper)
• Seeking the path of least resistance is what makes rivers crooked.
• “If I have more truth on my lips than grace in my heart, I damage the body.” (J. MacGorman)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 29, 2019

To Him Who Is Able

Ephesians 3:14-21

Our text this morning contains the second profound prayer of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. Because of God’s incomparable character and unlimited capacity, you can experience His enablement and empowerment.

1. Introduction (14-16a)

• For this reason… (v. 14, v. 1: parenthetical digression of 3:2-13)
• posture points to intensity
• from exposition to intercession
• concept of family which proceeds from God the Father
• according to His inexhaustible resources

2. The Prayer (16b-19)

• strength: strengthened with power through the Spirit in your inner man so that Christ may be at “home”
• love: rooted (horticultural) and grounded (architectural) in love (depth as opposed to the superficial)
• knowledge: grasp of the surpassing love of Christ (four dimensions) with all the saints
• fullness: filled with all the fullness of God (points to completion)

3. The Doxology (20-21)

• “The highest aspirations are not beyond God’s power to bestow.” (J. Stott)
• able to do, able to do what we ask, able to do what we ask or think, able to do all, more, much more, way much more (according to resurrection power)
• The Giver gets the glory in the church and in Christ in the realm of time and for eternity.
• Amen: so be it!

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 22, 2019

Being Built Together

Ephesians 2:11-22

-The most serious form of alienation is theological.
-Two focal groups: Gentiles and Jews
–When you remember that Christ brings near the far off, you can celebrate your status with the saints.

1. Remember your former status (11-12)

• separated, alienated and estranged
• without hope and without God

2. Reflect on what Christ has done (13-18)

• brought near
• became our peace
• broke down wall
• by abolishing, creating and reconciling
• preaching of peace and provision of access

3. Recognize your present status (19-22)

• God’s kingdom
• God’s family
• God’s temple (Isa. 28:16)

4. So What?

• Remember to remember!
• Refuse to build walls that have been torn down by Christ.
• Recognize that “the ground is level at the foot of the cross.”
• Remember to “pass the peace.”

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 15, 2019

Gripped by Grace

Ephesians 2:1-10

-The undeserved character of what God has done for you in Christ should compel you to be a living testimony of His grace.

1. Grasp the depiction of your condition without Christ (1-3)

• dead in trespasses and sins
• enslaved by the world, the devil and the flesh
• condemned as children of wrath

2. Grasp the design of God’s rescue through Christ (4-7)

• the mighty adversative
• the main verb (5)
• marked by mercy
• meant to demonstrate

3. Grasp the description of God’s creation in Christ (8-10)

• saved by grace through faith
• recipients of God’s gift
• workmanship created in Christ Jesus (identity)
• for good works (activity) (Eph. 4:1)

4. So What?

• “What do you and I boast about? What subject of conversation most arouses us and fills our hearts? Do we consider knowing God to be the greatest treasure in the world, and by far our greatest privilege? If not, we are but pygmies in the world of the Spirit…We have sold our Christian birthright for a mess of pottage and our true Christian experience will be superficial, inadequate and tragically out of focus.” (S. Ferguson)
• “Nothing sets a man so outside the devil’s reach as humility.” (J. Edwards)
• “We are saved by grace. We grow by grace. We get home by grace.” (J. MacGorman)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 8, 2019

Eyes Wide Open!

Ephesians 1:15-23

-The more you are able to see your privileges, the more you will be able to live in light of them.
-transition from benediction to intercession
-noting the connection between prayer and praise
-assessing your appetite

1. Overview of the prayer (15-18a)

• prompted by report of their faith in Christ and love toward saints
• focused on knowledge that flows from experience and understanding
• impossible apart from revelation and illumination
• “heart” references the entire inward self

2. Elements of the prayer (18b-23)

• the hope of God’s call
• the glory of God’s inheritance
• the greatness of God’s power
• amplification: exaltation and authorization of Christ (Psalm 110:1)

3. So What?

• Assess the matters of your mind’s attention and your heart’s affection.
• Consider the content of your prayers for others and for yourself.
• Determine to be a doctrinally-informed and doctrinally-enabled believer.
• sinking sand or solid rock?

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 1, 2019

To the Praise of His Glory

Ephesians 1:3-14

I. Introduction to Ephesians

• prison letter (Eph., Phil., Col., Phile.)
• theme: the church as the body and bride of Christ
• chapters 1-3: doctrine
• chapters 4-6: duty
• intercession, affirmation, evangelism
• theological treatise
• 1:1-2: apostle, saints, in Christ, grace/peace

II. Hymn of Praise 1:3-14

• Because God is the source of every blessing you enjoy, your life should be a living doxology!

A. Structure

1. doxology in one long Greek sentence
2. hymn with three verses and a repeated refrain
3. trinitarian: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

B. God the Father (3-6)

1. blessed- eulogeo
2. union with Christ
3. doctrine of election: chosen, predestined
4. concept of adoption

C. God the Son (7-12)

1. redemption
2. forgiveness of trespasses according to grace
3. mystery
4. fullness of time
5. inheritance

D. God the Holy Spirit (13-14)

1. sealed
2. pledge

III. So What?

• Resist the lure of the entitlement mentality.
• Remember that good theology always leads to doxology.
• Saturate yourself with the reality of the surpassing worth of God.

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 25, 2019

“Soul Surgery”   Titus 3:3-7   Bible Study   08/25/19

-With powerful theological precision, Paul communicates the doctrinal basis of good works by magnifying the transforming triumph of grace.
–The Lord’s methodology in saving you should be your motivational foundation for serving Him.

I. Reflect on the past with purpose

• don’t resent/do remember
• seven marks: foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved, malice, envy, hateful

II. Reflect on the present with gratitude

• but…
• seven marks in one sentence: kindness, love for man, save, regeneration, renewal, justified, heirs

III. So What?

• “The Bible’s message, however, is that the gospel is just as necessary for the Christian as for the unbeliever. We are to base the ‘duty’ of discipleship on the gospel, resulting in the practice of a Christ-based acceptance with God and a Spirit-energized approach to the pursuit of holiness. The so-called duty of discipleship then becomes a joy and a delight even though it requires vigorous effort. So learn to ‘preach the gospel to yourself’ every day, and in the joy and strength of knowing your sins are forgiven and sin’s dominion is broken, press on to become holy as He is holy.” (Jerry Bridges)