Christian Home and singles
Christian Home Essentials • Sermon • Submitted
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· 24 viewsIt is OK to be single and a Christian
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Christian home and family
Christian home and family
All Christian homes are not the same. Christian homes have the same cornerstone, but the physical make-up of the home, may vary. Tonight we are looking at the single person.
We have looked at previously
Christian marriages
Defined, described, displayed and duties demonstrated in husband and wife.
Christian parents
Roles, duties of Fathers and Mothers as described in scripture
Children
Spoke directly to the children from the scripture
Tonight we are looking at a group of people oftentimes not discussed, but the bible does discuss, singles. There could be various reasons someone is single, be it choice and never married, divorced, widowed.
Single: To the unmarried
Single: To the unmarried
Just because someone is single does not mean that they do not have duties, responsibilities, for they do, so may we look at a few little scriptural things to the unmarried.
Reasons for being unmarried (1Cor7:25-28; Mt19:11-12; 1Cor7:7-8)
Some it can be because of circumstances such as not being asked to be married, or not having one accept hand in marriage
It can be due to personal choice, let me show you
25 Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
Note: I think it is important before finishing the passage to point out that the words spoken in (v.25) are Paul’s opinions who is considered trustworthy by the Lord.
Question: what is Paul’s opinion (v.26)?
It is good to remain as he is.
(Transition) so having Paul’s opinion in (v.26) we can see why he has the opinion.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
Question: summarize in your words why Paul gives the opinion he does in (v.26) here in (vv.27-28)?
Paul is saying stay in whatever state you are in, save yourself some trouble in this life.
Some stay single in service to God (Mt19:11-12; 1Cor7:7-8)
11 But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”
Question: Look at (v.12) Why were men making themselves eunuchs?
For the sake of the kingdom of heaven.
Duties of the unmarried (1Cor7:1-2, 7-9; 1Cor6:13, 18, 9-11, 18-20; 1Cor7:32-35)
Hey, don’t burn in lust, be tempted in fornication for we know they will not enter the kingdom of God (see 1Cor6:9-10, 18) now that is not the passage I want us to look at now, but you can look up the other on your own.
1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.
Note: I think this is worth mentioning, Paul is responding back to the church in Corinth regarding a letter he received from them. Also remember This is not God’s command, this is Paul’s opinion being given here.
Marriage is an honorable thing,created and instituted by God, and a way to avoid fornication.
7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.
Quick question, whose wish are we talking about here in (v.7)?
We are talking about Paul’s wish
Each person has their own gifts from God. Some it is the gift of chastity to others it is not and that is OK too.
9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Do not let passion burn and allow it to become sin, fornication, adultery that will keep you out of the kingdom of God.
Question: What does Paul say to do so not to burn with passion (v.9)?
Let them marry vs. burn with passion.
Any sexual intimacy outside of marriage is fornication and the body is not to be used for sexual immorality
13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.
and then a few verses later
18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
You can read more on that in 1Cor6:18-20 to see in context or look at the outline, listen to the bible class we had this morning from 1Cor6. (again this is God’s timing of messages not mine)
Use your singleness (being unmarried) for the Lord (1Cor7:32-35)
32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,
Question: What does Paul want people to be free from (v.32)? And to free to be concerned about?
Free from concern
Free to be concerned about things of the Lord.
34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.
(Transition) To the married he is divided between wife and the Lord, and the wife for her husband and pleasing him. Then notice he again lets you know this is his belief, his opinion, so be devoted. To the Lord, to your wife, to your husband and the Lord. But, tonight we are focused on the single, the unmarried , so now we consider another group.
Single: to the divorced
Single: to the divorced
So, we have looked at the single by choice, single by circumstance, now may we look at the single other reason, divorce.
Reasons for the divorced (Mt19:9; Mk6:18; Ezr10:1-4)
Some are for scriptural reasons
9 “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Others are for realization reasons
Unlawful marriage
18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Or even improper reasons as seen in Ezr10:1-4
1 Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept bitterly.
2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.
3 “So now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
4 “Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.”
STOP: DISCUSS, think about the ramifications behind this!
(Transition: Remember God’s plan was for a man to leave his mother and father and be joined to his wife and be one flesh, not to be separated by anyone or anything. So people who go through a divorce have an added burden, and even added responsibilities. Hence why God “hates divorce” and why Paul says “stay as you are.” Now, having said that to the divorced there are some duties you find in the scripture too.
Duties of the divorced- return to spouse (1Cor7:10-11)
Now again, when we look at this next passage look and pay attention to who is making the command. I want to give in a couple of versions, then we will glean from it.
10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
Now in the NLT version.
10 But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. 11 But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.
Question: Who gives the command in (v.10)?
It is the command of the Lord.
Before we have the command of Paul, his opinion (see v.6, 8) now we have the command of the Lord. Backing up that divorce is not God’s plan.
So a duty here is to try to reconcile or restore the marriage. (expand on this)
Duty: Avoid adulterous marriage (Mt5:31-32; Rom7:2-3)
31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Question: what is the reason Jesus gives for divorce (v.32)?
Because of sexual immorality.
It is possible for a marriage to result in adultery unless the divorce was caused by fornication (sexual immorality). Any remarriage needs to be on scriptural grounds
9 “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Only authorized by scripture if immorality was cause of the divorce.
(Transition): Thus far we have covered the single by choice and single by circumstance, we have address the divorced too now there is one more group we still need to cover tonight.
Single by being widowed
Single by being widowed
Being widowed is not by choice, it is by circumstance and there are some passages that deal with with the widowed.
Instructions to the young widow (1Tim5:14, 13)
Marry again
14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;
Question: What is the reason given to “get married” here in (v.14)?
Not give the enemy occasion for reproach.
(Transition) That is if she wants to marry again, and one wants her to marry her, or you can insert a him there couldn’t you? Remember we do not want anyone to burn with lust and sin against God.
Instructions to the aged widow (1Tim5:5; Lk2:36-38)
Trust God and serve Him in prayer
5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.
and you can read a great example
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Question: How was the widow Anna serving the Lord (v.37)?
Night and day with fasting and prayers.
(Transition) - so there you go, you can be single in your Christian home, single for several reasons ad with several duties as we have discussed.
Christian home singles
Advantage - freedom to serve God unhindered (1Cor7:26-28)
Advantage - freedom to serve in a manner a marriage person cannot (1Cor7:32-35)
Disadvantage - danger of temptation
Disadvantage - potential for loneliness
May we remember regardless of our place, in marriage, or in singleness, what Jesus says (Mk10:29-30):
29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
(God’s family picture inserted here)
You are a part of God’s family married or single, brother or sister, father, other, children.
Be a part of God’s family, or as family grow to your part as a husband to be, a wife to be, a parent to be one day!
(Invitation song) (Prayer)