Some Apostolic Advice

(slide 1) 1 Corinthians

(slide 2) Series

(slide 3) Theme

(slide 4) Text ()

“ I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can’t manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.” (…burn with passion; be aflame with passion; burn with sexual desire;

I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can’t manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.

[Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. Print.]

(slide 5) Title (Some Apostolic Advice)

Introduction

"The truth is that the church is a hard place to be for singles. One single friend of mine told me that she’s constantly having to watch her attitude because even though she committed to the church as a concept, it’s one of the loneliest places. She’s not alone.”

“It’s an issue the church is going to need to really address if it truly wants to minister to everyone.”

The church has been guilty of alienating singles.

Now, think about the last time you saw a church offering classes for singles. I don’t mean some kind of Bible study that emphasizes singles meeting other singles; I’m talking about classes that encourage and celebrate single living. Most people will probably have a hard time remembering ever seeing such a thing.

The church views singleness as an anomaly to be fixed.

Two of 10 ways we alienate singles in our churches are: 1) We don’t allow singles to be role models, and 2) we assume singles are sad and unfulfilled. (Jayson D. Bradley)

The Church at Corinth had a misunderstanding of their Christian liberty as it related to sexual relations for singles and married couples. Just because they were “free in Christ” did not mean for them to live any way they pleased. He wanted them to understand that broken relationships were created due to this type of lifestyle. Paul wanted them to understand because of the resurrection we should have sexual integrity.

In this text Paul addresses the subject of marriage and sex. There is only one legitimate place for sex and that’s in the context of the marriage relationship. Keep in mind that many in Corinth, who had come to Christ, were having a difficult time overcoming their previous lifestyles (including sexual promiscuity). We all bring a great deal of “baggage” into the new life! Corinth was saturated with immorality which didn’t make it any easier for the new Christians. With all the temptations that came from “sex in the city”, Paul saw the need to give proper instructions with regards to the subject of sex.

The main objective of the sermon is for us to leave today celebrating our singles and singleness. Singles can be single and saved. Singles can live holy lives through the power of Jesus Christ. God has a purpose of those who are singles. Let’s see what Paul has to sat about singles and singleness.

I. (8) It’s Ok to Be Single

“ The word (unmarried) refers to someone who has no spouse, a state that may result from various circumstances: death of one’s spouse, desertion by a spouse (see v. 15), divorce, or remaining single.” [Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.]

The word refers to someone who has no spouse, a state that may result from various circumstances: death of one’s spouse, desertion by a spouse (see v. 15), divorce, or remaining single.

“ good for them Paul describes the advantages of remaining single in vv. 32–34, but he recognizes that not everyone has this “gift” (v. 7); some people should get married (v. 9; compare v. 39).” [Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.]

Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.

good for them Paul describes the advantages of remaining single in vv. 32–34, but he recognizes that not everyone has this “gift” (v. 7); some people should get married (v. 9; compare v. 39).

Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.

II. (9a) It’s Ok to Be Honest with Ourselves

“ to exercise self-control (manage their desires) v 9a. — to resolutely control one’s own desires (which would produce actions); especially sensual desires.”

abstinence is ok

to exercise self-control v. — to resolutely control one’s own desires (which would produce actions); especially sensual desires.

we have desires & emotions

III. (9b) It’s Better to Marry than to Burn

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 7

to burn with sexual desire Refers to intense sexual desire. Some believers could not refrain from illicitly satisfying their sexual desire. He advises such people to marry and enjoy sexual relations within an exclusive relationship.

“ to burn with sexual desire Refers to intense sexual desire.

to burn with sexual desire Refers to intense sexual desire. Some believers could not refrain from illicitly satisfying their sexual desire. He advises such people to marry and enjoy sexual relations within an exclusive relationship.

“ to be inflamed v. — to be or become aroused or excited in feeling; often highlighting one specific passion, like sexual lust or fervor.”

Some believers could not refrain from illicitly satisfying their sexual desire.

Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.

He advises such people to marry and enjoy sexual relations within an exclusive relationship.”

[Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.]

to be inflamed v. — to be or become aroused or excited in feeling; often highlighting one specific passion, like sexual lust or fervor.

Conclusion

to exercise self-control v. — to resolutely control one’s own desires (which would produce actions); especially sensual desires.”

Conclusion

“As a single person, right now you have the best potential to maximize your spiritual growth and use your freedom in Christ to become what you want to be, go where you want to go, focus in on what you want to focus and perfect your attitude in Jesus Christ.

Find out how much you can achieve in your singleness. Find out how victorious in Jesus Christ you can be. Resolve to stay single until God leads you in another direction. Your future and the future of the Kingdom of God is at stake.

When you see yourself and your position as God sees you, you’ll realize there are no finer tools in the body of Christ for God to use than you. Since you’ve been risen with Christ, strive to know all the Jesus has for you. God is able to provide for you what you need, when you need it. Remember, God is able to give you the desire of your heart.

The World needs you more than ever. There are more singles making up a larger proportion of our population. They are feeling isolated and alone and turning to all kinds of things. God wants you to take the message to them that God loves them and wants to get to know them. Let them know that although their sins have separated them from God, God loved them enough to send Jesus Christ into this world to save them from their sins.” (Rick Gillespie- Mobley)

Christ, who enjoyed a place of unparalleled honor in eternity.

Christ who knew the praise of angels gave it up.

Christ, who exchanged the adulation of heavenly creatures for the derision of the earth.

Christ, who traded the praises of angels for the curse of men.

Christ, who gave up his hometown in glory to become a stranger in the earth and could not equal the residences of foxes and birds; for the record records Jesus as saying, “foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Christ, in our interest, left a natural estate of preeminence and came here to this low land of sorrow to be mocked and ridiculed.

Christ who took on Himself the form of a servant.

Christ became time trapped, death eligible, & pain capable, just for me & you. (Dr. Garden C. Taylor)

Three days later God raised this same Jesus Christ from the dead with a power that can transform their lives. They can be in a living relationship with God who can offer more to their lives than anything this world has to offer them. All they have to do is to ask forgiveness of their sin and to believe on Jesus who has risen from the dead. Singles, let God release you to be a powerful force in this world.

• walked the earth as a man

• gave sight to the blind

• turned a picnic into a banquet with two fish and five loaves of bread

• put the funeral homes out of business

• handed out free health care

• lied on, cheated, talked about, and mistreated

• ridiculed, ostracized, criticized, betrayed, and denied

• sinister circumstantial evidence

• executed in public trial

• tried on trumped up charges

• sentenced to death,

• died on a rugged cross

• his body remained in a borrowed grave 3 days

• but He could not stay in the grave

• because the grave couldn’t hold him

• death couldn’t stop him

• the stone in front of the grave couldn’t block him

• shook off a dying shroud

• showed home training and folded up the grave clothes that he did not need

• stood on resurrection ground

• shouted all power is given unto me in heaven and earth

• seated at the right hand of God

Christ who knew the praise of angels gave it up.

Now, think about the last time you saw a church offering classes for singles. I don’t mean some kind of Bible study that emphasizes singles meeting other singles; I’m talking about classes that encourage and celebrate single living. Most people will probably have a hard time remembering ever seeing such a thing.

Christ, who exchanged the adulation of heavenly creatures for the derision of the earth.

The church views singleness as an anomaly to be fixed.

Christ, who traded the praises of angels for the curse of men.

Two of 10 ways we alienate singles in our churches are: 1) We don’t allow singles to be role models, and 2) we assume singles are sad and unfulfilled. (Jayson D. Bradley)

Christ, who gave up his hometown in glory to become a stranger in the earth and could not equal the residences of foxes and birds; for the record records Jesus as saying, “foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Christ, in our interest, left a natural estate of preeminence and came here to this low land of sorrow to be mocked and ridiculed.

Christ who took on Himself the form of a servant.

Christ became time trapped, death eligible, & pain capable, just for me & you. (Dr. Garden C. Taylor)