Sermon Tone Analysis

Facebook relationship status - “in a relationship,” “single,” “it’s complicated.”

Apparently, the Corinthians had written Paul to ask about what new life in Jesus looked like SEXUALLY - is sex “bad” now?

Is marriage not a good thing?

We HAVE TO REMEMBER - the context of Corinth.

Remember where they’re coming from!

This is a highly sexualized society!

This gospel stuff is RADICAL to them!

Paul’s teaching is RADICAL!

No matter what my relationship status is, it is a unique BLESSING and OPPORTUNITY from God.

MARRIAGE is a unique blessing and opportunity from God.

Our society isn’t much different at all from Corinth!

We live in a HIGHLY sexualized culture.

Sex sells…sex entertains…fulfill your pleasures, feed the desire and move on!

Listen carefully - sexual drive is part of our creation - God designed it.

God gave it to us, but Satan perverts it!

FIVE TIMES in this chapter, Paul addresses sexual temptation, sexual desire and how a person should marry if he is overcome by it so he may not sin.

OUR MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIPS SHOULD BE A WITNESS TO A WORLD THAT SEEKS TO GRATIFY SEXUAL DESIRE.

Is Paul saying that the only reason you should get married is for sex?

NO!!! What he’s saying is that God designed sex EXCLUSIVELY for the marriage relationship and ONLY in that context can it be enjoyed fully and we be satisfied the way God wired us to be!

Christian marriage should witness to the world that sex is a beautiful gift from God and can only be fully enjoyed in the marriage relationship between a man and a woman.

Christian marriage should also be a witness to EXCLUSIVE COMMITMENT & UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (AGAPE).

Christian marriage should also be a witness to SELFLESS SERVICE - husband and wife giving to each other…also serving each other through prayer & fasting.

Corinth - a patriarchal society of male dominance - needs and desires of women were rarely considered.

This is radically progressive teaching!

STEPHEN UM QUOTE

As Christian spouses you should be seeking the Lord in how you can serve Him and His Kingdom TOGETHER!

The world should see Jesus!

Marriage to an UNBELIEVER is a unique blessing and opportunity from God.

Again, these new Corinthian Christians are trying to figure out the Christ-following life.

Should we divorce our spouse who is still a pagan/unbeliever?

The Bible does make it clear - Jesus made it clear - that marrying an unbeliever is disobedience.

But, let’s be honest - we sin.

And, we also know that many people get saved AFTER marriage.

I know - not firsthand, but from experience — this is EXTREMELY hard and difficult to live through.

Maybe you face ridicule, maybe you face disinterest, etc. You’re definitely not on the “same page.”

GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE SINGLE GREATEST GOSPEL INFLUENCE IN YOUR UNBELIEVING SPOUSE’S LIFE.

Their salvation is the great “end” -

What if they leave?

Listen to me - fight for your marriage, seek unity, seek to be Christlike, but you can’t control the other person...

What is your unique calling/opportunity?

GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE SINGLE GREATEST GOSPEL INFLUENCE IN YOUR UNBELIEVING SPOUSE’S LIFE.

A Cape Town brain surgeon put it most movingly.

When asked what he found so difficult about his wife’s new-found faith in Christ, he stressed two things: first, she was no longer the person with whom he had originally fallen in love and whom he had decided to marry; secondly, there was another Man about the house, to whom she was all the time referring her every decision and whom she chose to consult for his advice and instructions.

He was no longer the boss in his own house: Jesus gave the orders and set the pace.

PRAY - DON’T PUSH // SERVE - DON’T NAG

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH YOUR CHURCH FAMILY!!!!

SINGLENESS is a unique blessing and opportunity from God.

Is Paul saying that if you’re single, you shouldn’t get married?

NO! God created and designed marriage.

It is a beautiful and gracious gift from Him to us.

What Paul is saying is, “Don’t be consumed with the idea and/or pursuit of marriage.”

I’ve met single people who are just obsessed with getting married…girls in seminary - MRS degree.

Listen, those of you today who may be single - unmarried, divorced, widowed…you have a unique blessing and opportunity from God!

God has got you, right now, in a season of life when you can be more focused on your relationship with Him and serving Him and His kingdom in ways that you might not be able to do when you’re married!

Vs. 32-35…MY PERSONAL REGRETS - not getting married but how I spent my time as a single person.

At 15, 16, 17, 18 - YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU’RE GOING TO MARRY!

Listen to me carefully - don’t rush to date.

Don’t rush to find a mate.

Don’t waste your present on someone who won’t be in your future.

Time isn’t your enemy!

If God’s desire and will for your life is for you to get married/remarried, HE will send that person into your life.

Don’t rush it and DEFINITELY don’t settle!

God’s #1 goal for your life is not for you to get married - it is to be obediently serving Him and growing in Christlikeness!

CLOSER