Romans 11:1-10

Learning the Way - Romans 11:1-10

One of the consistent themes of the past few chapters is that you can be surrounded by godly teaching and community and still not know God. Are there times when you are a part of our gospel community, but only want to focus on the community and not the gospel?

Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” -Romans 11: 2-4

In this example, Elijah has just had an amazing experience with God and literally called down fire from the skies. Despite this, he is sullen, fearful, and depressed! This highlights the danger of us being so narrowly focused on the circumstances of our life that we don’t see God’s bigger picture. In what areas of your life have you blinded yourself to the work that God is doing because you’re too focused on the narrow details of your life?

The message made it clear that we are very capable of hardening our own hearts. It is our natural state without God’s intervention. Are there relationships where you are enabling other people to harden their hearts because you haven’t been clearly presenting the gospel as the motivation behind everything you do?