1 Corinthians 2: 25 - 40
Three Reasons to Talk About Singleness in a Series on Marriage
- You may be single
- Put marriage in its proper context
- To bridge the single/married divide
Context
• “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote…”
• Outline of Chapter 7
- “To the unmarried and the widows" (vv. 8-9)
- “To the married” (vv. 10-11)
- “To the rest” (vv. 12-16)
- General Principles (vv. 17-23)
- “The betrothed” (vv. 25-38)
- Widows (vv. 39-40)
7 Principles for Singleness
- Both singleness and marriage are good gifts from God
- Those who really want to get married, should try
- See your current station in life as a Calling from God
- It’s ok to change your status
- Marriage is hard
- Marriage is momentary
- Prioritize your relationship with the Lord
Reproof
• Seeing singleness (or marriage) as a curse
• Married people looking down and judging those who are single
• To use singleness as an excuse for sexual immorality
• To be discontent with where God has placed you and to question his sovereign goodness
• Stubbornly resisting marriage as an infringement on your freedom or having standards that are unreasonable.
• Thinking marriage is easy
• Investing too much hope in marriage
• Prioritizing your marriage over Christ instead of putting Christ at the center
Reflection Questions
- Before today’s session, what were your thoughts on singleness?
- What are the greatest challenges of being single? What are the greatest blessings?
- Is there a married/single divide in our church? In what ways can that be bridged?
- How does this session provide perspective on marriage?
- How can a marrieds and singles person be divided in their interests? How can they give undivided devotion to the Lord?
- As a result of 1 Cor 7, what can you resolve to change in you life?
Apr. 11, 2020