Singles or Singles or doubles?doubles?Which matches Which matches

best?best?

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 7:1-407:1-40

Marriage and Marriage and singlenesssingleness

Exploring the New Exploring the New Testament Testament

perspectiveperspective

IntroductionIntroduction

Good news, bad newsGood news, bad news

That girl from Corinth!That girl from Corinth!

Is it better for a man not to touch a Is it better for a man not to touch a woman?woman?

Isn’t celibacy a holier state than marriage?Isn’t celibacy a holier state than marriage?

Is it possible to be a ‘real’ Christian – Is it possible to be a ‘real’ Christian – united to Christ – and also be married – united to Christ – and also be married – united to your husband/wife?united to your husband/wife?

MarriageMarriage

Marriage is goodMarriage is good

A defence against temptationA defence against temptation

Physical union reflects the mystery of Physical union reflects the mystery of spiritual unionspiritual union

Primary focus is to love and care for Primary focus is to love and care for the marriage partnerthe marriage partner

DivorceDivorce

Wrong for Christians except on the Wrong for Christians except on the grounds of adulterygrounds of adultery

Separation is possibleSeparation is possible

Mixed marriages need to be treated Mixed marriages need to be treated with understandingwith understanding

The so-called ‘Pauline privilege’The so-called ‘Pauline privilege’

SinglenessSingleness

Singleness is goodSingleness is good

A gifting from GodA gifting from God

Gives release to focus on the Lord’s Gives release to focus on the Lord’s workwork

Able to serve the Lord in both body Able to serve the Lord in both body and spirit.and spirit.

About unmarried About unmarried daughtersdaughters

It’s OK to find them a good husband!It’s OK to find them a good husband!

It’s OK to delay marriage for the sake It’s OK to delay marriage for the sake of the Kingdom.of the Kingdom.

It’s OK not to marry.It’s OK not to marry.

Widows and widowersWidows and widowers

Marriage does not continue after Marriage does not continue after death (Matthew 22:29-31 ‘In the death (Matthew 22:29-31 ‘In the resurrection there is neither marrying resurrection there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage’.)nor giving in marriage’.)

Therefore freedom to marry again so Therefore freedom to marry again so long as the marriage is to a believer.long as the marriage is to a believer.

BUT worth considering staying single BUT worth considering staying single for the Lord.for the Lord.

Big issuesBig issues

Time is shortTime is short

The present world is passing awayThe present world is passing away

There is so much Kingdom work that There is so much Kingdom work that needs to be doneneeds to be done

Know your prioritiesKnow your priorities

Neither marriage nor singleness is more or less holy than the other.

To marry is not a sign of weakness

To remain single is not a sign of super-spirituality.

Marriage and singleness are equally valid for a Christian.

BUT singleness leaves you less encumbered and therefore more free to serve the Lord.

The wonder of The wonder of marriagemarriage

Ephesians 5:22-33Ephesians 5:22-33

A prophetic witness to the love of Christ for A prophetic witness to the love of Christ for his Church every day of our liveshis Church every day of our lives

Faithfulness and self-giving love.Faithfulness and self-giving love.

The privilege of The privilege of singlenesssingleness

Able to be given more fully to the Able to be given more fully to the work of the Lord.work of the Lord.

A privilege to be called, gifted and set A privilege to be called, gifted and set apart for the purposes of God.apart for the purposes of God.

Making the right Making the right choicechoice

‘‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.’will be added to you.’

Learn the spiritual grace of Learn the spiritual grace of contentment with your present contentment with your present conditioncondition

Trust God to make the best provision Trust God to make the best provision for your future.for your future.

And finally …And finally …

What sort of witness?What sort of witness?