Sermon January 18
“This week our Sermon was from 1 Corinthians 7:10
To marry or not to marry, that is the question… What is God’s view of singleness and divorce and does yours match? THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH WAS CAUGHT IN A MESS. ON THE ONE SIDE THEY HAD SEXUAL CHAOS AND IMMORALITY. ON THE OTHER SIDE THEY HAD SPIRTUALIZED CELIBACY. Both of these extremes were unhealthy. Paul declares that HOLINESS IS NOT FOUND IN AVOIDING MARRIAGE OR CHASING IT – BUT IN FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST IN WHATEVER STATE YOU ARE IN. Marriage is God’s gift to men and women. Husbands and wives are the only right provision for sex. God created this and God celebrates this. But Paul warns married couples that sex should not be weaponized. Husbands and wives should not deprive each other unless by mutual agreement and only for a short time designed to glorify God in prayer. “It’s a hungry dog that eats the trash” People often are driven to do things they would not normally do when they are desperate or in need. Singleness is also God’s gift to His People. Paul uses his own example as a single man to advocate for the supremacy of this calling. But in the end, it is a calling to be married and a calling to be single. Each person should be satisfied in the calling they have been given. BE WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE. BE OBEDIENT. BE FAITHFUL. If you do marry it is for life. GOD HATES DIVORCE. BUT PASTOR, YOU SAY… there are some very unhealthy marriages! What about marriages where there is spiritual, emotional or even physical abuse? WE LIVE IN A BROKEN WORLD. THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO LIVE HERE. There is SEPERATION. There is COUNSELING. There is AS UNTO THE LORD. There is DIVORCE AND SINGLENESS. DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE IS NOT THE ONLY OPTION. IS THE DIVORCE BECAUSE YOUR HAPPINESS IS GREATER THAN GOD’S HOLINESS? This is not to CONDEMN anyone, but rather to ENCOURAGE. IF YOU HOLD THE BIBLE IN HIGH REGARD, THERE IS CLARITY AS TO GOD’S WILL.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever met anyone who was called to be single? How has the Church made space to celebrate single people? How could the Church do better?
2. What are the biblical grounds for divorce? For remarriage? What should a Christian person do if they are stuck in an unhappy marriage?
