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Southview Baptist Church
Letters to the Church | The Gospel — God’s Call to Turn from Hard Callousness to Submissive Awe
This week, Pastor Nathan Wakefield continues our Letters to the Church series. In Romans 11:25-36, we learn that we need to ask God to expose areas of hardness in our hearts, reshape how we see others through the lens of mercy, and lead us into a life marked by humility and worship rather than control and resistance. Video of the worship service is available beginning Sunday at 9:30 AM at https://southviewbaptist.org/live.
Locations & Times
Southview Baptist Church
3434 S 13th St, Lincoln, NE 68502, USA
Sunday 9:30 AM
1. Hard — Israel should be a warning to us: guard your heart against becoming hard toward God (11:25‑27).
• It is possible to be exposed to God’s truth and still become hardened against Him (v. 25a).
• Even human hardness cannot thwart God’s purposes — His plan moves forward with certainty (vv. 25b).
• God’s ultimate goal is forgiveness of sins and the redemption of His people and His creation (v. 26‑27).
Action: Ask God to search your heart. Where have you become resistant, self‑protective, or slow to obey? Invite Him to tear down any strongholds of hardness.
• It is possible to be exposed to God’s truth and still become hardened against Him (v. 25a).
• Even human hardness cannot thwart God’s purposes — His plan moves forward with certainty (vv. 25b).
• God’s ultimate goal is forgiveness of sins and the redemption of His people and His creation (v. 26‑27).
Action: Ask God to search your heart. Where have you become resistant, self‑protective, or slow to obey? Invite Him to tear down any strongholds of hardness.
2. Perspective — A gospel‑shaped perspective changes how we see those we once considered enemies (11:28‑32).
• God is always at work, even through apparent opposition — His promises and calling are irrevocable (vv. 28‑29).
• The common ground of humanity is mercy: all have disobeyed, and all depend entirely on God’s grace (vv. 30‑31).
• God’s plan is not fueled by favoritism, but by mercy — lavish, undeserved, and purposeful (v. 32).
Action: Evaluate your vision. Do you see people primarily as threats, obstacles, or enemies — or as recipients of God’s mercy, just like you?
• God is always at work, even through apparent opposition — His promises and calling are irrevocable (vv. 28‑29).
• The common ground of humanity is mercy: all have disobeyed, and all depend entirely on God’s grace (vv. 30‑31).
• God’s plan is not fueled by favoritism, but by mercy — lavish, undeserved, and purposeful (v. 32).
Action: Evaluate your vision. Do you see people primarily as threats, obstacles, or enemies — or as recipients of God’s mercy, just like you?
3. Wonder — When we truly reflect on God’s work, worship becomes the only fitting response (11:33‑36).
• God’s mercy is beyond human calculation or comprehension (v. 33).
• God’s wisdom surpasses all human insight and counsel (v. 34).
• God owes nothing and needs nothing — He is utterly self‑sufficient (v. 35).
• God is the source, sustainer, and goal of all things — and He alone deserves glory (v. 36).
Action: Slow down and reflect on your salvation. Allow awe to replace control, and let gratitude overflow into spontaneous worship.
• God’s mercy is beyond human calculation or comprehension (v. 33).
• God’s wisdom surpasses all human insight and counsel (v. 34).
• God owes nothing and needs nothing — He is utterly self‑sufficient (v. 35).
• God is the source, sustainer, and goal of all things — and He alone deserves glory (v. 36).
Action: Slow down and reflect on your salvation. Allow awe to replace control, and let gratitude overflow into spontaneous worship.
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Listen to the sermon and find out more about Southview by visiting our website. Sermons are normally posted on the following Monday and are available via the website or whichever app you enjoy listening to podcasts on, such as: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, and many more.
https://southviewbaptist.org/podcastWatch the Worship Service
In addition to the audio for this sermon, we livestream our service beginning at 9:30 AM on Sundays, and it is available for replay anytime at the conclusion of the service.
https://southviewbaptist.org/live