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)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 18, 2019
“Amazing Grace” Titus 2:11-14 Bible Study 08/18/19
Introduction
-understanding the idea of grace: extension of favor undeserved and unearned
-understanding the objective of grace: the concept of adornment (2:10)
-Because God personifies grace in Jesus, live a life that magnifies His saving power.
1. Grace invades dramatically (11)
• reference to incarnation
• not just a divine attribute but a divine person
• an “admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies”
• not just a past event but a continuing experience
• bringing salvation
2. Grace instructs presently (12)
• training…
• negatively: renunciation of ungodliness and worldly passions
• positively: inward, outward and upward
3. Grace incites expectancy (13-14)
• waiting
• blessed hope
• affirmation of the deity of Jesus
• grace then glory
• principle of substitution
• purchased, purified, possessed
• resulting passion
4. So What?
• Let yourself be awed continually by the wonder and worth of Jesus.
• Let the reality of grace fuel your passion to please God.
• Let the “anchor of your hope dangle out of heaven.”
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 11, 2019
“Spiritual Hygiene” Titus 1:1-9 Bible Study 08/11/19
When you adhere to God’s truth, you put in place the foundation for conformity to Christ and the conduct of good works.
Background Information
-written from Nicopolis (66-67) after first missionary journey
-Crete: Mediterranean Sea southeast of Greece
-key issues addressed:
-stress on sound doctrine
-Paul: a mastered minister
-Titus: a child with a charge
1. Adhere to the truth (1-4)
• significant salutation
• embrace the mission
♦ evangelism of the “elect”
♦ edification through truth leading to godliness
♦ encouragement in hope
• maximize the message
♦ the never-lying God
♦ promised before time
♦ manifested in the word
• employ the methodology
♦ public proclamation
♦ sacred trust
♦ grace and peace
2. Appoint qualified leadership (5-9)
• assess the assignment
♦ set in order
♦ appoint elders
♦ interchangeable terms: elder, overseer, pastor
• identify the qualifications
♦ reputation
♦ purity
♦ family
♦ character
♦ teaching
3. So What? 4 Observations
• structure of governance
• significance of doctrine
• satisfaction of leaders
• centrality of God
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 4, 2019
“Direct Orders for Difficult Days” 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Bible Study 08/04/19
Respond to the reality of difficult days with a firm commitment to the truth as revealed in Holy Scripture.
I. Understand the reality of difficult times in the last days (3:1-5a)
• an ongoing responsibility
• “seasons of violence”
• identification of “last days”
• people/men: within the church
• a nineteen-point description!
II. Avoid those whose conduct contradicts the truth (3:5b-13)
• the context for “avoid”
• “keep on making yourself turn away”
• “creepers” who target women
• Jannes and Jambres: seduction and rebellion
• folly exposed
• contrast: “you, however…”
• followed: accompany, conform by conviction
• ministerial duties, personal virtues and experiences of suffering
III. Continue on the track of truth (3:14-17)
• “remain” with what you have “learned”
• knowing the “whom” and “how”
• the inspiration of Scripture: God-breathed
• the OT-77% of the Bible and NT (Gal. 1)
• the implementation of Scripture: profitable/sufficient
• teaching, reproof, correction, training…
• the impact of Scripture
• purpose: adequate and enabled
IV. So What?
• Recognize the fact of spiritual warfare
• Aim to develop a discernment based on the objective truth of Scripture
• Commit yourself to continuance and saturate yourself in Scripture
• Affirm the inerrancy, sufficiency and practicality of Scripture.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 28, 2019
“Stick with the Stuff!” 2 Timothy 2:14-26 Bible Study 07/28/19
Because the Lord’s truth matters, cling to it actively and communicate it accurately.
I. Assess your stewardship of the truth (2:14-19)
• Remind…charging…
• catastrophic impact of false teaching
• the exercise of diligence
• presentation for inspection and approval
• “cutting straight” the Word…
• avoidance of “empty chatter”
• our firm foundation
II. Consider the illustration of vessels (2:20-21)
• objective of usefulness
• vessels of honor and dishonor
• sanctified…useful…ready…
III. Make the timeless application (2:22-26)
• flee and pursue
• avoidance of foolish controversies
• correction with a view to repentance
• more than facts…
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 21, 2019
Guest Speaker: Dr. David Allen
Dean of the School of Preaching at SWBTS
The Call of Young Samuel: Lessons for Today
1 Samuel 3:1-4:1
I. Samuel – The Backstory (3:1)
In answer to the barren Hannah’s prayer, God gives her a son, Samuel. Hannah promised the Lord to give the child back to the Lord “to appear in the Lord’s presence, and to stay there permanently.” When Samuel was about three years old, Hannah presented him to Eli at the Tabernacle in Shiloh where Samuel began his service to the Lord.
II. God’s Call of Young Samuel to the Prophetic Ministry (3:2-14)
God’s unique call to Samuel came deep in the night while he was asleep in the Tabernacle. At first, Samuel did not understand it was God calling him. He mistook the voice of God for the voice of Eli. When Eli instructed Samuel in how to reply to the Lord, Samuel responded to the Lord’s call with the words: “Speak, your servant is listening.”
III. Samuel Deliver’s God’s Word of Judgment to Eli (3:15-18)
Through Samuel, God confirmed his prior prophecy to judge the wicked sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas.
IV. Samuel Becomes a “Confirmed Prophet” to All Israel (3:19-4:1)
Summary statement of Samuel’s growth to maturity, his prophetic standing before all Israel, and the Lord’s regular revelations of his word to Samuel to be delivered to the people.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 14, 2019
“Marching Orders” 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Bible Study 07/14/19
Because of the matchless worth of the Gospel, stand firm in it and steward it faithfully.
I. Introduction
• date/place: 66-67 from Rome
• author: Paul in his second imprisonment and near the end of his life
• recipient: Timothy the young pastor in Ephesus
• overview: hold on to it (1), teach it (2), abide in it (3) and preach it (4)
II. Paul’s opening remarks 1:1-5
• identification
• greeting
• affection
• affirmation
III. Fan the flame 1:6
• gift of God
• laying on of hands
IV. Remember your resource 1:7
• given by God
• not fear
• power, love and self-control
V. Embrace suffering for the sake of the Gospel 1:8-12a
• therefore…
• don’t be ashamed
• saved and called…
• death abolished and life brought…
VI. Rely on God’s faithfulness 1:12b
• Paul’s settled conviction
• supernatural security
VII. Guard the deposit 1:13-14
• follow “healthy” words
• Spirit-driven stewardship
VIII. So What?
• Assess your source of security
• Evaluate the stewardship of your gift
• Adjust your perspective on suffering
• Treasure the truth
