Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 27, 2015
“Noah and ‘The No-Spin Zone’” Genesis 6:9-22; Heb. 11:7 Bible Study 09/27/15
Genesis 6 records the story of Noah in the days preceding the Great Flood. This timeless story is frequently twisted and misapplied. This morning our objective is to let God’s word tell the facts about Noah’s experience. The Lord saved, preserved and used him to make a lasting impact on his generation and the generations that followed.
I. No Spin: Glean the key insights (9-13)
-Noah found grace. He did not earn it.
-How the Lord sees all people: righteous or unrighteous.
-Our inconsistency doesn’t invite interest.
-The Lord is neither apathetic nor surprised.
II. No Spin: Observe the instructions to Noah (14-21)
-Build the ark for survival and not navigation
-The size of the ark: sufficient
-The typology of the ark: keeping out and letting in…
III. No Spin: Examine the obedience of Noah (22 and Heb. 11:7)
-Commitment
-Courage
-Conviction
IV. So what?
-When you take the Lord’s word seriously, you can have a lasting impact for His glory.
-Biblical faith includes both a backward and forward look.
-Holiness: the habit of agreeing with God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His word. (J. C. Ryle)
-“He who does not believe God will punish sin will not believe that He will pardon it through His atoning blood.” (Spurgeon)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 20, 2015
Guest speaker: David Norman
“Man’s Fall and God’s Grace in the Garden” Genesis 3:1-7, 15 Bible Study
We are tempted when we ____________________
God’s Word
the __________________ of God’s Word (v.1)
the __________________ of God’s Word (v. 4)
the __________________ of God’s Word (v. 5)
We sin when we ____________________________
God’s Word (v.6)
We find hope when we ____________________________
God’s Grace
the grace of ___________________ (v. 7)
the grace of ___________________ (v. 7)
the grace of ___________________ (v. 15)
Even in the depths of sin, God’s grace is made available to you in the person of Jesus Christ.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 13, 2015
“Image is Everything” Genesis 1:26-31 Bible Study 09/13/15
To say that we live in an “image-conscious” culture these days would quickly earn us the title of “Captain Obvious.” Sadly, much of the current emphasis on “image” is externally focused and biblically substandard. This morning we will consider the “real” image as we look at the biblical affirmation of humans being created in the image of God. When you grasp the truth that humans are made in the image of God, you gain a biblical understanding of human nature.
I. Reflect the Person of God
-image/likeness emphasis
-“let us make…”
-the issue of image
-personality, morality, spirituality
II. Connect with your assignment
-fill
-receive
-rule
III. Reject sub-biblical standards
-devaluation of image
-deification of image
-disregard of image
IV. Three timeless applications
-the value of human life: image of God
-the meaning of human life: enjoyment of God
-the destiny of human life: presence of God
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 6, 2015
“Let’s Start At the Very Beginning” Gen. 1:1; Rom. 1:20 Bible Study 09/06/15
Genesis 1-11 has rightly been called the “seedbed” of Scripture. In these chapters the reader finds the foundation for every doctrine essential to the Christian faith. As we begin our study of Genesis this morning, we will be reminded that one’s view of creation and, specifically, the Genesis account is the starting point of his or her entire worldview. Belief in a supernatural and personal God who made all things is the sole basis for believing you have any purpose or destiny.
I. Discover the first universal fact: God
-the Bible and the existence of God
-distinct and prior
-incommunicable attributes
-fact then act
II. Discover the first universal act: creation
-contrasting naturalism and the Bible
-functional summary: five elements
-“bara” and “ex nihilo” creation
-theater of God’s glory
III. Discover the first foundational issue: God’s glory
-radical God-centeredness
-glory: surpassing worth/value
-God’s pleasure in His creation
-Adore the Self-Exalting Architect!
-Recognize the creation/redemption connection
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 30, 2015
“All Things New” Revelation 21:1-8 Bible Study 08/30/15
In understanding the flow of the book of Revelation, one can view chapters 4-5 (the Person) and chapters 21-22 (the Place) as bookends of end-times events. This morning, as we focus on Revelation 21, we see the progression from judgment to joy and from terror to triumph. The final destination of the believer is a new creation that springs into being at the command of God. He promises to make all things new. His promise to make all things new eternally should make a powerful impact on your life presently.
I. Consider the content of God’s promise
-a new creation: freed from imperfection (1-2)
-a new confirmation: faith becomes sight (3)
-a new condition: former things pass away (4-5)
II. Consider the proper present response
-patiently endure
-urgently evangelize
-personally examine (6-8)
-fervently exalt
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 23, 2015
Guest speaker: Adam Mallette
“Satan is Cast out of Heaven” Revelation 12:1-17 Adam Mallette Bible Study 08/23/15
Main Idea: Satan is overcome by a blood-bought and obedient testimony.
I. A Preemptive Strike: The Woman, The Dragon and The Baby (1-6)
II. The Heavenly Battle (7-12)
III. The Earthly Battle (13-17)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 16, 2015
“Redeeming Judgment” Revelation 9:1-12 Bible Study 08/16/15
This morning we will examine the content of the fifth trumpet judgment recorded in our text. Prominent in this judgment is the presence of locust swarms. Locust references may be found elsewhere in Scripture (Exodus, Joel) and are frequently associated with the wrath of God. Our text serves as a significant corrective to a number of sub-biblical concepts regarding God’s character and activity. It affirms that He is always in control, that he will have the “final” word, that His judgment is sure and that His mercy is great. Because of the testimony of Scripture, know that God’s judgment of sin and rescue of His people are certain.
I. The Lord unleashes judgment (1-3)
-context: 7 seals/ 7 trumpets
-interpretive perspectives
-trumpets 1-4/ 8:6-13
-star fallen…given the key…bottomless pit
-locusts given power like scorpions
II. The Lord preserves His people (4-6)
-restrictions
-target: people without the “seal”
-identity of the sealed
-intense torment with limitations
III. The Lord includes a terrifying description (7-12)
-the locusts are like…
-power to hurt
-Abaddon/Apollyon: “Destruction and Destroyer”
-no relief in sight
IV. For Further Reflection
-God’s wrath: His settled hostility toward sin, His refusal to compromise with it and His resolve to condemn it. –J. Piper
-Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee… -A. Toplady
-God will not suffer Himself to be scorned indefinitely.
-There are at least 600 warnings about hell in Scripture… L. R. Scarborough
-It is not this world we need to know better. It is the other world. P. Ainsworth
-…Redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die. W. Cowper
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 9, 2015
“The Worthy Lamb” Revelation 5:1-14 Bible Study 08/09/15
From Revelation 4 to Revelation 5, readers may observe a shift in focus from creation to redemption. The God of creation is also the God of redemption and He fulfills His purposes through the person and work of Jesus Christ- the Lamb of God. From this morning’s text we learn that being heavenly-minded, in the best sense, means viewing all of life through the lens of the lordship of Jesus Christ. We also learn that true worship reflects on the cross with wonder and rejoices in the Savior’s worth.
I. Behold the uniquely qualified Lamb (1-5)
-scroll
-spokesman
-search
-sorrow
-solution
II. Behold the unquestionably identified Lamb (6)
-slain
-standing
-sovereign
-searching
III. Behold the divinely authorized Lamb (7)
-appropriation
-authorization
IV. Worship with a profound sense of submission (8)
-participants
-posture
-praise
-prayer
-perspective
V. Worship with a particular attention to the cross (9-10)
-song
-subject
-sensitivity
VI. Worship with a passionate recitation of character (11-12)
-enlargement
-expression
VII. Worship with a universal level of participation (13-14)
-exponential
-affirmation
-evidence
-approval
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 2, 2015
“A Glimpse of the Throne” Revelation 4:1-11 Bible Study 08/02/15
This morning we turn our attention to one of the most powerful and comforting passages in Scripture. Writing to Christians in crisis for whom persecution and suffering for their faith were realities, John provides a desperately needed perspective. He conveys a vivid portrait of the living God on His throne and in absolute control. In our text, a door is opened for John to get a glimpse of the very throneroom of God. Heaven is real! God is in control and will prevail. Because the Lord is on His throne, experience comfort and express worship.
I. Think about the throne 1-8a
-on the throne
* occupied
* appearance
-around the throne
*rainbow
* 24 thrones
* 4 living creatures
-from the throne
* lightning, sounds, thunder
-before the throne
* 7 torches
* sea of glass
II. Observe the worship before the throne 8b-11
-the object of worship
* holy
* sovereign
* omnipotent
* timeless
-the expression of worship
* prostration
* presentation
* praise
III. For further reflection
-“If you have been resigning yourself to the thought God has left you high and dry, seek grace to be ashamed of yourself…Such unbelieving pessimism deeply dishonors God…The Shepherd does not lose His sheep.” -J. I. Packer
-“To regain her lost power, the church must see Heaven opened and have a transforming vision of God…Not the utilitarian God who is having a run of popularity today, whose chief claim to men’s attention is His ability to bring them success in their various undertakings…The God we must learn to know is the Majesty in the heavens…He it is that sitteth upon the circle of the earth who stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain…who bringeth out His starry host by number and calleth them all by names through the greatness of His power, who seeth the works of man as vanity, who putteth no confidence in princes and asks no counsel of kings.” A. W. Tozer
-“Failure to worship consigns us to a life of spasms and jerks, at the mercy of every advertisement, every seduction, every siren. Without worship we live manipulated and manipulating lives. We move in either frightened panic or deluded lethargy as we are, in turn, alarmed by spectres and soothed by placebos. If there is no center, there is no circumference. People who do not worship are swept into a vast restlessness, epidemic in the world, with no steady direction and no sustaining purpose.” Eugene Peterson
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 26, 2015
“Faith under Fire” Revelation 2:8-15 Bible Study 07/26/15
The call to suffer for Christ is a neglected topic. However, it remains timeless in application. In the New Testament, suffering is an indispensable mark of every true believer and church and the certainty of the world’s persecution is stressed repeatedly. Like the church at Smyrna, the Lord calls us to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. When you rely on the Lord’s provision, you can live with fearless faithfulness when your faith comes under fire.
I. The Lord’s presence encourages us
-form of the letter
-background on Smyrna
-Lord over extremes and everything in between
-suffering church: uncompromising church
II. The Lord’s perspective enlightens us
-pressure of persecution
-poverty of possessions
-poison of slander
-prospect of prison/death
-stripping away the superficial
-enlarging our capacity for enjoyment
III. The Lord’s promises assure us
-don’t fear…do be faithful
-a crown to receive
-a condemnation to escape
IV. The Lord’s pronouncement orders us
-listen up!
-order your life in light of the message
V. So what?
-“Over twenty centuries of Christian faith, some 70 million Christians were murdered for that faith and are thus called ‘martyrs.’” – David Barrett/Todd Johnson
-“Fourscore and six years I have been serving Him, and He hath done me no wrong; How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” -Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna
-“Thy saints in all this glorious war Shall conquer though they die; They see the triumph from afar, By faith’s discerning eye.” -Isaac Watts, 1721
-Acknowledge the inevitability of suffering.
-Prize the Lord’s presence and promises.
-Assess your measure of wealth.
-Cultivate an eternal perspective
-Pray for the persecuted church.
