Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 14, 2015
“Meet Your Advocate” 1 John 2:1-2 Bible Study 06/14/15
This morning we will focus on two remarkably rich verses in 1 John. They are closely connected to and flow out of John’s emphases in 1 John 1:5-10. We are to have a biblical view of sin as well as a clear understanding of the appropriate biblical response to sin when it occurs in our lives. These two verses offer great comfort and assurance to the believer and invite him/her to prize the promise of the absolutely unique advocacy of Jesus Christ.
Introduction
-Sin is always bad news.
-Three responses: denial, dismissal and despair
-Biblical balance: warning and consolation
-When sin threatens to paralyze you, remember the provision of an Advocate for you.
I. Consider your Advocate’s unceasing action
-“…we have…”
-Advocate: counsel for the defense, to speak up/lift up the voice in behalf of…
II. Consider your Advocate’s premium location
-“…with the Father…”
-face-to-face
III. Consider your Advocate’s matchless qualification
-Jesus, Christ, righteous
-Every believer has an Advocate at all times in the best place who offers real help.
-the justification/sanctification connection
IV. Consider your Advocate’s prior substitution
-present advocacy based on prior activity
-propitiation: atoning sacrifice
V. So what?
-“The wisdom of God ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the wrath of God without compromising the justice of God.” (J. Piper)
-When you take the cross seriously, you take sin seriously.
-“Savior, teach me day by day, Love’s sweet lesson to obey, Sweeter lesson cannot be, Loving Him who first loved me.” (J. Leeson)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 7, 2015
Guest speaker: Adam Mallette
M.Div. student at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary
WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF THE WORD
1 JOHN 1:1-10 (FOCAL TEXT: Verses 5-10)
TEXT: CONTEXT & STRUCTURE
JOHN’S WRITINGS
GNOSTICISM
VERSES 1-4: THE WORD OF LIFE
VV.3-4 = PURPOSE STATEMENT FOR 1 JOHN
VERSES 5-10: POSITIVE & NEGATIVE STRUCTURAL FLOW
MAIN IDEA: A CLEANSING CONFESSION & TRUTHFUL WALK ALLOW FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE GOD OF
LIGHT
I. WHO IS GOD? – Verse 5
II. OUR SIN & PRE-REQUISITES TO FELLOWSHIP – Verses 6-10
CONCLUSION
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 31, 2015
“Mercy and the Messenger of the Covenant” Malachi 2:17-3:6, 4:1-2 05/31/15
I. Introduction
-between the issues of marital and material unfaithfulness
-three identities in this text: Lord of Hosts, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ
II. Recognize the rationale for a refiner’s fire
-we need to be refined
-there are no alloys in heaven
-our God is a covenant-keeper
-delay does not mean denial
III. Acknowledge the refining and consuming qualities of His fire
-some will be consumed
-trust the purifying mercy of God
-fear to dishonor Him with unbelief
IV. Cling to the promise fulfilled in Jesus
-righteousness
-light for a dark world
-health for a diseased world
V. So what?
-Because the Lord does not change, anchor your hope in the refining fire of His mercy
-Avoid the sinful tendency to put God “in the dock”
-The only route of righteousness is the road that leads to the cross
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 24, 2015
“Malpractice or Magnification?” Malachi 2:10-16 Bible Study 05/24/15
I. Introduction
-context: priestly failure of 2:1-9
-connection: defective worship and decline in morality
II. Discern the dishonor of “mixed” marriage (2:10-12)
-the prohibition
-violation of an intimate bond/covenant
-“Father…created…”
-profaning/polluting
-faithless
-abomination
-weighty sentence
III. Discern the dishonor of divorce (2:13-16)
-loss of “favor”
-reason: faithlessness
-the marriage “mystery”
-goal of godly offspring
-take care!!!
-why God “hates” divorce
IV. So what?
-Because God designs marriage to be a reflection of His covenant faithfulness, magnify His character in your marriage.
-Relish God’s reputation.
-View marriage as a “window…” (Eph. 5:22-33)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 17, 2015
“When Leftovers Will Not Do” Malachi 1:1-14 Bible Study 05/17/15
Malachi’s prophecy is dated sometime between B. C. 475-450. It apparently occurs before Nehemiah’s second return to Jerusalem in which he led in the completion of the wall around the city. Clearly, at the time of writing, the Temple has been rebuilt and regular Temple practices have been reestablished. A key focus in the prophecy of Malachi, whose name means “My Messenger” or “My Servant,” is the substandard or defective worship in Jerusalem and the defective leadership of priests and religious leaders of the day. Structurally, the prophecy contains six “oracle” disputations between the Lord and the priests/people of Israel. In each of these oracles, one finds a similar pattern: The Lord makes a charge, the people question the charge and then the Lord defends His charge. Our text this morning includes an opening affirmation of the covenant faithfulness of the Lord which is followed by the first of six oracles.
I. Affirm the Lord’s covenant love (1:1-5)
-He rescues the unworthy
-He conquers sinful strongholds
-He declares His greatness to the world
-In light of God’s unchanging love, fix your attention on His greatness and focus your affection on His glory
II. Purify your worship (1:6-14)
-the charge of worthless worship
-the cause of worthless worship
-the cure for worthless worship
-Because the covenant-keeping God deserves honor, purge your life of worthless worship and proclaim His greatness with your lips and your life.
III. So what?
-Recognize the danger of “open hearts, open minds, open rebellion”
-Reject spiritual mediocrity
-Join God’s global “choir”
-Magnify the matter of ultimate fulfillment in Christ
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 10, 2015
Guest speaker: Dr. Jim Sibley
“How to live in a World of Spiritually Blind” – Isaiah 8
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 3, 2015
“No Matter What: Habakkuk’s Prayer and Perspective” Hab. 3:1-19 Bible Study 05/3/15
This morning we continue our study of Habakkuk’s prophecy. Habakkuk’s prayer is a model for God-centered prayer. Such a prayer involves remembering who we are, remembering who God is and remembering what really matters. We will also address Habakkuk’s perspective. His prophecy reaches a joyful conclusion as he worships in faith and banks all his hope on the Lord.
I. A God-Centered Prayer (1-2)
Introduction
-Shigionoth: to “reel”
-understand this prayer in the context of the total prophecy
-the “hush” of 2:20
-a composed approach to God
A. Approach with humility
-from complaint to consideration
– a sense of awe
-from the horizontal to the vertical
-the absence of comparison
B. Approach with adoration
-acknowledging worth
-rehearsal of attributes
C. Approach with coordination
-in accord with God’s desires
-not my work but God’s work
-renew and remember
-plead for that which is central to His character
II. A God-Centered Perspective (3-19)
A. Reflect on the Lord’s faithful works (3-15)
-delivering His people
-displaying His splendor
-demonstrating His sovereignty
B. Confess your personal weakness (16)
-bone-shattering fear
-not resignation, detachment or pride
C. Rejoice in the Lord for His own sake (17-19)
-when “worse” becomes a reality
-pictured agriculturally
-citadel and stabilizer
-invitation to worship
III. Addressing the “so what” question
-“We should never forget that in any case theology is for doxology: the truest expression of trust in a great God will always be worship, and it will always be proper worship to praise God for being far greater than we can know.” (J.I. Packer)
-“Though vine nor fig tree neither
Their wonted fruits should bear,
Though all the fields should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there;
Yet, God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.” (William Cowper)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 26, 2015
Guest speaker: Daniel Dickard
PhD student, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Vantage point: suffering from God’s perspective – Habakkuk 1:1-17
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 19, 2015
“There Shall Be a Fountain Opened” Zechariah 13:1-9 Bible Study 04/19/15
The prophecy of Zechariah is set in the late fifth century B. C. and follows the return of Jewish exiles from captivity in Babylon. The Lord graciously made it possible for His rebellious people to return to their homeland and to begin the task of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple. While a grasp of this background information is important, one must also observe that Zechariah 13 describes events that would transpire long after the era of Zechariah’s prophetic activity. Another significant issue is the close connection between Zechariah 12 and Zechariah 13. These two chapters are linked closely both chronologically and theologically. For example, the cleansing depicted in chapter 13 follows the repentance of the people in chapter 12. One should also note the use of “on that day” in 12:11 and 13:1. This phrase appears nine times in the two chapters. The phrase itself refers to a time of final repentance at the end of the world history in which all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26). The prophecy related to “on that day” has major implications for all people of every generation, location and derivation. It foreshadows and points to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
I. Consider the future fountain (1)
-connection to the dramatic prophecy in 12:10-14…John 19:37
-OT “fountain” references: Psa. 36:4, Jer. 2:13, Jer. 17:13, Ezek. 36:25-26
-the nature of this fountain… Heb. 9:22
-the extension of benefits
-cleanse from sin and uncleanness…John 19:34
II. Ponder the purification process (2-6)
-idols removed
-false prophets not tolerated…Deut. 13:6-10, 18:20
-false prophets ashamed…1Kings 18:28
III. Affirm the identity of the “Stricken Shepherd” (7-9)
-My shepherd…the man who stands next to me…Isa. 53: 4-10
-the Stricken Shepherd…Matt. 26:31, Mark 14:27, John 10:11
-smiting and scattering
-the refining process
IV. So what?
-Because Jesus alone fulfills the prophecy of the Stricken Shepherd, flee to Him for refuge and cleansing.
-Take the doctrine of sanctification seriously.
-“With great forgiveness comes great responsibility.” (R. Stokes)
-“…Foul, I to the fountain fly, wash me Savior or I die…” (A. Toplady)
-“E’er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die.” (W. Cowper)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 12, 2015
“A Fresh Start for a Slow Heart” Luke 24:25-27 Bible Study 04/12/15
The closing verses of Luke 23 describe the burial of the body of Jesus in a tomb. However, with the little adversative, “but”, Luke 24 commences with the unfolding drama of the empty tomb and the resurrection of our Lord. In Luke 24:13-35 readers are presented with the riveting narrative of two travelers on the road to Emmaus who have a life-changing, hope-infusing encounter with the risen Lord. On the first Easter we find Jesus transforming human hearts by infusing them with living hope. He continues to do so today. Let the compelling testimony of Jesus concerning Himself be the catalyst for your own focused hope and flaming zeal.
I. Jesus makes an accurate assessment
-foolish: not wicked but weak
-sluggish: slow of heart to believe
-careless: emphasis on “all”
II. Jesus offers a corrective assertion
-moral necessity
-connect the occupied cross and the empty tomb
-how Jesus is deprived of honor
-“We are the disciples of Him who died for His enemies.” -C. Bridges
III. Jesus delivers an incomparable exposition
-what Jesus did not say
-a sermon about Himself
-Scriptures: objective and God-centered
IV. Jesus provides an energizing assurance
-when slow hearts burn
-His glory…resurrection…our hope
-not what makes you feel good but what makes you live and die well
Let the compelling testimony of Jesus concerning Himself be the catalyst for your own focused hope and flaming zeal.
1. Meditate on the objective foundation of the Scriptures-all of them!
2. Fuel the fire of zeal with fellowship with Jesus in His Word.
3. Set your hope on Him who cannot fail to keep His promises.
