Sermons

Single? Now What!

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Sermon on APRIL 30 by Pastor Roland Eskinazi

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:25-35

‘If we be doomed to marry, we marry. If we be doomed to remain single, we do.’
(‘Under the Greenwood Tree’: Thomas Hardy)

Is singleness a shame, or a gain?

1. KEEP BALANCED – YOU HAVE FEET IN BOTH WORLDS! (v25-31)
Paul’s counsel: whether you have much or little, whether you are married or single, do not make too much of it.
If you are single, someone marrying you will not make you more valuable (see Psalm 139)

2. BREATHE EASY – IT’S FINE TO BE SINGLE! (v27)
The gospel calls us out of two idolatries: marriage is all about ‘me’ and being fulfilled (Western culture), or marriage and family is everything (Eastern and traditional cultures)

‘One clear distinction between Christianity and Judaism (and all other religions) is the former’s entertainment of the idea that singleness is a paradigm way of life for its followers’
(‘Community of Character’: Stanley Hauerwas)

If you are a single believer, you are already in family and community! If you are married, your job is not to get singles married.

3. BE PRODUCTIVE – USE THE GIFT! (v7:7, 32-34)
Somehow it’s a lot harder to turn a friend into an idol than a spouse …
If single, you can have many friends to serve that married people cannot. Do you realize that singleness is one of the best ways to get out of yourself and experience love as it is supposed to happen (John 15:13)?
Yes, singleness will be a struggle (as marriage can be) until the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. But you can keep going because it is possible to be godly and single (2 Peter 1:3)

4. TRUST GOD – DON’T DESPISE SINGLENESS! (v35)

  • It is not better to marry an unbeliever than stay single for life
  • If you are single and want to marry, are you more picky than God?
  • Get community input – rather be single and content than married and lonely

Remember! Jesus was the embodiment of humanity. He knew the struggles of singleness and was not hindered by it. How will you use your singleness for the glory of God?

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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

  1. Think about the culture you are from. How is being a single person normally viewed? Can this kind of thinking creep into the church?
  2. What is the Bible’s perspective on singleness? Positive or negative? How does Paul see singleness in 1 Cor 7?
  3. If you are single what are some of the lies that Satan wants you to believe? In what ways you can help yourself not to be preoccupied with it? If you are married how can you be more sensitive to singles?
  4. How will today’s teaching shape your prayer life and actions in this week?

 

 

Photo credit FreeImages.com/Kelley Shepherd