Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Calling.
Mission.
Fellowship.
Every single believer shares these three experiences.
Everyone who has been saved by faith in Jesus Christ has a calling from God.
When we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ we have a mission.
As blood bought children of the Most High, we are able to fellowship with Him.
Today we have before us a topic about which most believers would have intellectual agreement.
What I mean is that most of us know what Scripture teaches on this topic.
However, this is also a topic where the practical application of what Scripture teaches is severely lacking in many churches.
Our topic today is that of singleness.
Before we go further, let’s pray.
While we were gone, Daryl Hanson spoke from 1 Corinthians 8.
That was where I had planned to be in our study of 1 Corinthians.
However, a few weeks prior to us leaving we had a section of Scripture that needed more time to develop.
So I had Daryl jump ahead to chapter 8 because it deal with a different topic.
Today we will finish chapter 7.
By way of reminder, starting in Ch. 7 there is a transition in the book.
Paul moves from the explanation of the doctrine and practice necessary for unity to confronting and correcting the disunity in the Corinthian church.
They had written to Paul and asked him a series of questions.
Beginning in Ch. 7, Paul answers those questions.
Each time Paul answers a question it is introduced by the words “now concerning.”
Ch. 7 deals with a proper understanding of marriage.
Paul has deal with marriage, divorce, and the death of a spouse.
He is now going to deal with those who are single, and those who are engaged.
As Paul deals with these topics he touches on calling, mission, and fellowship.
These three shared experiences are relevant for all of us today.
Every believer shares three responsibilities.
Only as we are faithful to fulfill our responsibility will we grow in our walk with Christ.
To live out our calling, fulfill our mission, and rest in fellowship with Christ, these are our responsibilities.
Responsibility #1…
1. Wait on the Lord vv.
25-28
Raise your hand if you really love waiting.
Anyone?
I hate it.
On our trip there were several times when we would have gone to a drive thru or restaurant, but the wait was too long.
We live in an instant society.
You walk the aisle of any grocery store and the word instant will jump out at you everywhere.
Instant oatmeal, instant coffee, instant mashed potatoes.
What you will never see anywhere is instant maturity or instant sanctification.
Those do not exist.
Maturity and sanctification take time.
When it comes to singleness and marriage, we must wait on the Lord.
We trust His calling.
We trust that all things happen according to His plan and purpose.
In the Christian life we practice what I call active waiting.
There are two actions we take as we wait on the Lord.
Action #1…
a. Be observant vv.
25-26
READ vv.
25-26
Now concerning = indicates Paul is responding to a specific question.
Virgins - those who have never engaged in sexual activity.
Paul is assuming that this means they are not married and never have been.
No commandment - there was no specific teaching of Jesus that Paul could point to.
Judgement - could also be translated opinion.
Paul is giving his opinion based on his trustworthiness as a faithful minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As one who accurately handles the Word of truth, he is able to give a Biblically informed opinion.
Paul’s wording here is interesting.
In His boundless love and mercy, God has made Him trustworthy.
Made is active.
The Lord, the merciful master, has made Paul a trustworthy minister of the gospel.
Paul is faithful.
Faithfulness is not a product of human will or determination.
God, in His matchless grace and boundless mercy, makes us faithful.
As a faithful minister, Paul gives his opinion.
What is this opinion?
In light of the present distress, it is better to stay single.
Paul starts verse 26 with “I suppose.”
Suppose – νομίζω (nomizō) think; consider; believe.
to suppose v. — to think or believe (something) without being fully settled in mind or opinion.
Finite verb, present, active, indicative, first person, singular.
Suppose – νομίζω (nomizō)
This is an important word because it lets us know that Paul is not issuing a binding command.
He himself is uncertain!
As he observes the times in which they live, and as he looks at Scripture, it is his opinion that believers will be better able to serve the Lord without the entanglements of marriage.
That is what Paul is saying here.
This is not a command.
It is not binding.
It is simply the opinion of Paul.
Paul observes things and makes his judgement.
His comments are based on the present distress.
Here’s the idea.
The church is going to suffer.
Paul new about suffering and persecution.
He knew that facing the kinds of things he had faced would be far more difficult with a wife by his side.
Therefore, his advice is to serve the Lord while single.
What do we take from this?
We need to be students of our times.
We need to know the times in which we live.
We need to observe and judge just as Paul did.
We need to have discernment.
Discernment comes from Scripture.
Read and study Scripture.
Learn about God through His Word.
Learn how we are to act in a culture that is moving away from Christ!
Effective service requires Biblical discernment and cultural observation.
We cannot engage a culture we do not understand.
Paul understood the times in which he lived!
He had Biblical discernment and that discernment informed his actions.
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