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Southview Baptist Church
The Arc of Scripture | Relationships — Hard-Wired Yet Damaged
This week, Pastor Nathan Wakefield continues our series on Biblical Theology — The Arc of Scripture. Throughout today’s passages, we learn that we were created for relationship, but ever since the Fall relationships have been difficult. 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. Created for Relationship — We were created with the need for relationships.
• Plurality in image bearing is itself suggestive of a deeper relational foundation (Genesis 1:26-31).
• Dependence at the beginning is suggestive of a deeper need (Genesis 2:18-22).
• Structure at the beginning is a reminder of God’s plan (Genesis 2:23-25; 1:28).
Action Step: Evaluate your relationships. Do they reflect God’s design? Are your relationships drawing you closer to God and others, or are they becoming something else entirely?
• Plurality in image bearing is itself suggestive of a deeper relational foundation (Genesis 1:26-31).
• Dependence at the beginning is suggestive of a deeper need (Genesis 2:18-22).
• Structure at the beginning is a reminder of God’s plan (Genesis 2:23-25; 1:28).
Action Step: Evaluate your relationships. Do they reflect God’s design? Are your relationships drawing you closer to God and others, or are they becoming something else entirely?
2. Sin Damages Relationships — In every dimension, relationships were affected by the Fall.
• The vertical dimension was broken by sin (Genesis 3:8-11).
• The horizontal dimension was broken by sin (Genesis 3:12, 16).
• The damage done was severe (Genesis 4:8).
Action Step: Recognize God’s design for relationships and honestly identify where sin has damaged your relationships. Confess, repent, and seek reconciliation where possible.
• The vertical dimension was broken by sin (Genesis 3:8-11).
• The horizontal dimension was broken by sin (Genesis 3:12, 16).
• The damage done was severe (Genesis 4:8).
Action Step: Recognize God’s design for relationships and honestly identify where sin has damaged your relationships. Confess, repent, and seek reconciliation where possible.
3. Salvation Brings Restoration — What sin destroys, Jesus restores.
• Our relationship with God the Father has been restored (Romans 8:15).
• Our relationship to one another has been healed (Ephesians 5:1-2, 21).
• Our relationships in the family have a model to follow (Ephesians 5:22-28).
Action Step: Make Christ your model in every relationship. Ask yourself this week, “What would it look like to love this person the way Christ has loved me?”
• Our relationship with God the Father has been restored (Romans 8:15).
• Our relationship to one another has been healed (Ephesians 5:1-2, 21).
• Our relationships in the family have a model to follow (Ephesians 5:22-28).
Action Step: Make Christ your model in every relationship. Ask yourself this week, “What would it look like to love this person the way Christ has loved me?”
4. Complete Restoration — A time is coming when relationships will be completely restored.
• God will dwell among us (Revelation 21:1-4).
• We will be able to dwell together (Revelation 21:9-14).
Action Step: Live in anticipation of restored relationships. Let the promise of eternity shape how you treat people today.
• God will dwell among us (Revelation 21:1-4).
• We will be able to dwell together (Revelation 21:9-14).
Action Step: Live in anticipation of restored relationships. Let the promise of eternity shape how you treat people today.
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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