Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 24, 2018

“A King, A Fling and the Last Thing”   2 Samuel 11:1-27   Bible Study   06/24/18

This morning we return to our study of 2 Samuel and the sordid account of David’s adulterous activity with Bathsheba and his subsequent cover-up. The complete narrative of the David/Bathsheba event covers two entire chapters in 2 Samuel (11-12). In chapter 11, we will observe that the inspired narrator appears to do all he can to keep the spotlight and responsibility on David.

I. Setting (1)

• part of a larger narrative
• shift from course of war to course of human character
• war with Ammon and a king who stayed home
• contrast of 1:1-5 with 9:1-3 and 10:1-2: absence of “hesed”

II. David and Bathsheba (2-5)

• fallen servant (1 Sam. 13:14; 16:1-13)
• the view from the verbs: a royal deed of self-indulgence
• Bathsheba’s two words: the secret hits a snag

III. David and Uriah (6-13)

• Uriah the Hittite: a trusted servant (23:39)
• David’s intent and Uriah’s integrity

IV. David and Joab (14-25)

• a message to Joab: the military commander
• an arranged liquidation
• a case of royal rationalization

V. David and Yahweh (26-27)

• the wife of Uriah
• “…it was evil to the LORD.”
• “silence”: not an indication of absence

VI. So What?

• Because you are not immune to moral failure, acknowledge your accountability and prize your proximity to the LORD.
• Understand that the Kingdom is not safe in any hands except those of Him who rules with perfect righteousness and justice-Jesus Christ.
• “Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be. Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above.” (R. Robinson)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 17, 2018

Father’s Day Message

“A Psalm for Father’s Day”   Psalm 1   Bible Study   06/17/18

On this Father’s Day, we will turn our attention to Psalm 1 and its description of the blessed or, godly, person. This psalm also includes a powerful contrast between the person who takes the Lord seriously and the one who neglects to do so.

I. Overview

• Psalmoi (LXX): poem to be sung to stringed instrument
• dating: latest 2500 years ago/ earliest 3500 years ago
• informing the intellect, arousing the emotions, directing the will, stimulating the imagination
• use of parallelism and repetition
• connection to Christ: Luke 24:44
• three assertions: reality, reign and response

II. Consider the direction of the righteous man (1-2)

• negative assessment and use of parallelism
• positive assessment-delight in “torah”
• loving what the Lord commands and not mere compliance
• rumination on the implications of instruction

III. Consider the description of the righteous man (3-4)

• planted tree
• fruit in season
• does not wither
• contrasted with the wicked: “Not so the wicked.”

IV. Consider the destiny of the righteous man (5-6)

• contrasted with the wicked
• “for the LORD knows…”
• contrast: “blessed” and “perish”

V. So What?

• Because your eternal destiny is at stake, nothing matters more than a right relationship with the Lord.
• See Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm.
• Aim for increasing conformity to Jesus.
• Celebrate fathers who delight in the word of the Father!

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 10, 2018

“At the King’s Table”   2 Samuel 9:1-13   Bible Study   06/10/18

-Truth is often stranger than fiction!

I. A King’s question about “kindness”

• a covenant remembered
• a royal interview with Ziba

II. A meeting with Mephibosheth

• protection
• provision
• position
• perspective

III. A recognition of repetition

• kindness
• table
• lame

IV. So what?

• The nature of God’s kindness makes your neediness the only qualification for receiving it
• Consider the source of David’s kindness
• Make the NT connection
• Receive it, relish it and relay it!
• “While all our hearts and all our songs join to admire the feast, each of us cries with thankful tongue, ‘Lord, why was I a guest?’” -Isaac Watts
• “Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace: Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die.” (Toplady)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 3, 2018

“A Different Kingdom”   2 Samuel 1:1-16   Bible Study   06/03/18

This morning we begin a new study in the book of 2 Samuel. The book begins with additional information surrounding the death of Saul and then proceeds to record the key events in the reign of David as king over Israel. We will want to note that a key element of the narrator’s intended purpose is to contrast the lives of Israel’s first two kings: Saul and David. In a real sense, while one goes down, the other rises up. In God’s OT economy, kings are not just any leaders. In spite of their failures and those of the people they lead, they are a part of God’s plan to reveal, install and exalt His ultimate King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. The report of Saul’s death (1:1-5)

• David at Ziklag
• an Amalekite messenger from Saul’s camp
• David’s questions

II. The hole in the story (1:6-10)

• compare with 1 Samuel 31
• somebody is lying
• ultimately exposure of falsehood

III. The magnification of grief (1:11-12)

• structural center of the story
• the Amalekite can wait
• meaningful mourning

IV. The protective value of fear (1:13-16)

• the Amalekite’s assumption
• David’s discernment
• David’s key question
• a fear grounded in love

V. So What?

• Because God’s kingdom reflects His character and culminates in Christ, conform to its principles.
• Treasure God’s truth.
• Relish God’s reputation.
• Submit to God’s authority
• “Omniscience governing omnipotence, infinite power ruled by infinite wisdom, is a basic biblical description of the divine character.” (Packer)
• “Ye saints who toil below, adore your heavenly King, and onward as ye go, some joyful anthem sing.” (Baxter)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 27, 2018

“Dealing with the Unplucked Thorn”   2 Corinthians 12:7-10
  Bible Study   05/27/18

This morning we turn our attention to perhaps the most well-known passage in 2 Corinthians. This passage recounts Paul’s thorn-in-the-flesh experience. Throughout 2 Corinthians, and specifically in its last four chapters, Paul defends his apostolic ministry against the charges of the so-called “super-apostles” (see 12:11). These false teachers question his credentials and motivations as an apostle. One subtle insinuation of his opponents is that, if he were really an apostle, then he would have been exempted from the afflictions and sufferings he experienced. However, rather than disassociating himself from his sufferings, Paul embraces them as a means of magnifying the grace and power of God. Because the Lord specializes in displaying His strength against the backdrop of your weakness, you can rejoice in the midst of your unplucked thorn.

I. Context

• Paul’s mindset (11:30)
• let down in a basket (11:33)
• visions/revelations (12:1-7)

II. Recognize the Lord’s Purpose (7)

• so that I would not exalt myself
• thorn in the flesh
• messenger of Satan
• torment/buffet

III. Receive the Lord’s Provision (8-9a)

• repeated request for permanent removal
• final answer: not thorn removal but grace sufficiency
• power “completed” in weakness

IV. Rejoice in the Lord’s Power (9b-10)

• glad boasting
• that power may “tent” in me
• strength in weakness

V. So What?

• Because the Lord specializes in displaying His strength against the backdrop of your weakness, you can rejoice in the midst of your unplucked thorn.
• “If dependence is the objective, then weakness is an advantage.” (A. Begg)
• “We can only know the power that He holds when we truly see how deep our weakness goes. His strength in us begins where ours comes to an end. He hears our humble cry and proves again…” (Salley/Chapman)
• There is no incompatibility between the thorn-room and the throne-room (13:4).

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 20, 2018

“Testifying to What You Love”   2 Corinthians 9:1-15   Bible Study   05/20/18

As we turn to our text this morning, we find Paul encouraging believers in Corinth to participate in a collection for needy saints in Jerusalem. He desires that they participate with glad hearts and generous gifts. A crucial concept to consider as we approach this text is that of stewardship. How we steward God’s resources testifies to what we truly love. Because of God’s inexpressible gift to you in Jesus, steward His resources for His glory.

I. Context

• persecution and famine in Jerusalem (Acts 2:44-45, 11:30)
• indebtedness of Gentiles (Gal. 2:10)
• example of the Macedonians (8:1-5)
• conflict in Corinth

II. Preparation for Giving (1-5)

• encouragement
• inspiration
• accountability
• expectation

III. Perspective on Giving (6-11)

• investment
• intention
• attitude
• ability (Psa. 112:9)

IV. Production of Giving (12-15)

• thanksgiving
• glorification
• supplication
• motivation: the inadequacy of words…

V. So What?

• Because of God’s inexpressible gift to you in Jesus, steward His resources for His glory.
• “Man’s sensitivity to small things, and his insensitivity to the most important things, are surely evidences of a strange disorder.” (Blaise Pascal)
• Remember that stewardship of resources exposes the status of your heart (Matt. 6:21).
• God gives you more than you need so that you can step up and not simply store up.
• Loving Jesus means loving the poor, loving the lost and loving His church.
• “Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love He sought me, And on His shoulders gently laid, And home, rejoicing brought me. The King of love my Shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never, I nothing lack if I am His, And He is mine forever.” (Henry W. Baker)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 13, 2018

“Compelled by Love”   2 Corinthians 5:11-15   Bible Study 05/13/18

2 Corinthians is Paul’s most personal letter. It includes his apostolic defense in response to so-called “super apostles” who questioned his authority and sought to discredit his motives. As we come to our text this morning, Paul discloses to the reader his heart and motivation. He is driven by an ongoing and future hope that is rooted in the love of Jesus. After a discourse that includes the topics of the believer’s heavenly dwelling and his anticipation of ultimate accountability (5:1-10), Paul lays out the facts concerning the essence and exercise of his apostolic ministry (5:11-6:10). In 5:11-15, we discover what “drives” Paul. The driving force of the believer’s life is the love of Jesus uniquely demonstrated in the cross.

-Why live the Christian life?
-What key principles indicate that the love of Jesus “drives” us?

I. Dread displeasing Jesus (11)

• awareness of accountability
• attempting to persuade
• object of approval

II. Disown pleasing self (12-13)

• external credentials or internal condition?
• what it’s not about:
• from disowning practice to dominating principle

III. Discern the compelling love of Jesus (14-15)

• controlled by Christ’s love for us
• grounded in a doctrinal conviction about His cross (death, burial and resurrection)
• living for Jesus: the only thing to “die for”

IV. So What?

• The driving force of the believer’s life is the love of Jesus uniquely demonstrated in the cross.
• Ponder the “bomb” and the “balm.”
• Eagerly embrace the concept of the “fear” of the Lord.
• “Wonderful it is that Jesus cares for me, Coming from His home on high, Into pain and sorrow, poverty and woe, On Calv’ry’s cruel cross for me to die. Oh, what love, that He should die for me! Saving grace thus to supply for me; Oh, what love! Oh, what love! Evermore I’ll sing it-Oh, what love! (W. Runyan, 1943).

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 6, 2018

“How to Keep Your Heart”   2 Corinthians 4:1-18   Bible Study   05/06/18

As we turn our attention to 2 Corinthians 4 this morning, we find Paul dealing with two interconnected issues which shape his Holy Spirit-inspired writing. Those issues are his intense suffering and his attacked apostleship. Rather than throw himself an ancient pity-party, Paul delights himself in the gospel. In the process, he challenges his readers of every age to join him in magnifying the gospel to the glory of God.

I. Acknowledge the illumination of Jesus (1-6)

• Therefore: pointing back to 2 Cor. 3
• declaration (1)
• renunciation (2-4)
• proclamation (5)
• illumination (6)

II. Affirm the manifestation of Jesus (7-15)

• contrast: treasure and clay pots (7)
• four cases of coping (8-9)
• Paul’s Jesus-focused perspective (10-12)
• encouragement from Psa. 116:10 (13-14)
• grace, thanksgiving and glory (15)

III. Anticipate the glorification of Jesus (16-18)

• Paul repeating himself
• external/internal contrast (16)
• temporary/permanent contrast (17)
• seen/unseen contrast (18)

IV. So What?

• Because of the power and permanence of the gospel, you can “keep your heart” in every circumstance.

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 29, 2018

Guest Speaker: David Norman

“The God of All Comfort”
2 Corinthians 1:3–11

I. Rejoice in suffering, for God is your comfort. (v. 3)

II. Comfort those who suffer, as God has comforted. (v. 4–7)

III. Rejoice in suffering, for God is your comfort. (v. 8–11)

How does this change the way I see difficulties in my life?
How does this change the way I view difficulties in the lives of others?
How does this change the way I sing?

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 22, 2018

“A More Excellent Way”   1 Corinthians 13:1-13   Bible Study   04/22/18

This morning we will turn our attention to one of the most popular and well-known texts in Scripture, the “love” chapter. While the concept of love is foundational for theology, identity and experience, we must not divorce this great chapter from its contextual setting. It is “sandwiched” between two chapters (1 Cor. 12 and 1 Cor. 14) which address spiritual gifts and their employment. Seeking to curb the Corinthian tendencies toward self-centeredness and divisiveness, Paul digresses from his discussion of spiritual gifts in order to show his readers, then and now, a more excellent way.

I. Gain a perspective on the futility of loveless activity (1-3)

• structure: if…but have not…
• supernatural speech, prophetic insight, mountain-moving faith, radical generosity, bodily sacrifice
• evaluation: noise and nothingness

II. Get the picture of love in action (4-7)

• motive and action/noun and verb
• structure: 2 affirmations, 8 negations, 4 affirmations

III. Grasp the permanence of love (8-13)

• connect verse 8 with verse 13
• assertion: Love never fails.
• the transient: prophecies, tongues, knowledge
• the perfect and the partial
• two illustrations: child/adult, mirror/face-to-face
• the permanent: faith, hope, love
• the foundational fact of love

IV. So What?

• As a beneficiary of biblical love, you should prize, promote and practice it.
• “Love is the overflow of joy in God that gladly meets the needs of others.” (Piper)
• The gifts result in edification and glorification only when they flow from love’s motivation.
• A love not shaped by the contours of the cross is a cruel concept.
• “Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we find our place, till we cast our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, love and praise.” (C. Wesley)
• “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” (Watts)