Singleness of Heart
Love and Marriage • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 94 viewsAccording to the Census of 2017 there are 82 million single person households in the U.S. alone. Many times single people have feelings of loneliness or lack of fulfilment because they are not married. But what if you could change the understanding of your singleness and see it as a blessing and a calling from the Lord to focus your full attention on building the kingdom of God. This is the message that Paul delivers about himself in 1 Corinthians 7.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
As we talk about Love and Marriage. I think it’s important that we include people that are single in this conversation. And not just in the way of future expectation.
The Apostle Paul, as he writes this passage about marriage, is single and is content in his singleness.
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
1 Cor 7:6-7
According to the Census of 2017 there are 82 million single person households in the U.S. alone.
I polled some single inside and outside our church with two questions. What do you like most about being single and what do you hate about being single.
What I like most about being single?
I like that I don’t have to worry about someone feeling second best. I am able to give my full attention to what’s in front of me, wether that is school , work, family time, spending it with friends or just being alone to recoup.
I don’t have to worry about balancing someone’s feelings with mine on a deep intimate level. I’m able to focus on what I need emotionally, mentally, physically or spiritually in the time I have right now.
I can give the proper time to healing, growing, working on the relationship I have with God, bettering my family and close friendships. I get the time to figure out what standards I’m going to hold myself to in a relationship/marriage and what I expect back on the same level.
Learning what my best is on both my good and bad days, being kind to myself first and compassionate to others, learning what courage in vulnerability means for me, working on my trust issues and doubts.
What I hate about being single ?
What I hate most about being single is feeling like I’ll never have that true partnership.
The impulsive feelings of loneliness when I don’t feel good enough. Worrying that whoever I end up will leave.
Doubting if I’ll ever be fully known outside of Jesus in an intimate relationship.
I hate the feeling of not having a true companion outside of my family and close friends.
That whoever I end up with won’t love Jesus or will suffer a crisis of belief and walk away from our faith.
I hate not having someone to invest in on an intimate level.
I worry no one will love me like I love them.
Pros of being Single
A counsel of one (You are the sole decision maker for your house.)
Responsible for yourself alone (less anxiety of providing and caring for a family).
Quick life transition (You can make moves quicker with less baggage).
Full attention and focus in the direction of your choice. (carrier, school, ministry)
Social freedoms (hanging with friends without obligation).
Independence of Time
Undivided time
Freedom to minister to and serve others.
Cons of being Single
Pressure of the dating scene in this social media age (Uncovering the real person and not their social presence).
Times of loneliness (both emotionally and physically).
Lack of intimacy with
Fighting the feeling of embarrassment after a while. (Just because I don’t have someone doesn’t mean I can’t get someone).
The lie of loneliness (Finding contentment in your relationship with God when the Devil is telling you’re not wanted or loved).
Independence of Time (the desire to share your life with someone else).
No sharing of responsibilities.
Having
So, Because of the pros and cons, there are singles that want to find a relationship and some that are content with being single and both are right and good.
The Apostle Paul, as he writes this passage about marriage, is single and is content in his singleness.
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
If you are single this morning I want you to start thinking differently about your singleness.
Many times single people have feelings of loneliness or lack of fulfilment because they are not married. But what if you could change the understanding of your singleness and see it as a blessing and a calling from the Lord to focus your full attention on building the kingdom of God. This is the message that Paul delivers about himself in .
If you are married or in a relationship this morning don’t check out because Paul has a direct message for you as well.
Rethinking Single
Rethinking Single
Being single allows me to focus on the ministry God has for me without any of the distractions that comes with marriage.
Being single allows me to focus on the ministry God has for me without any of the distractions that comes with marriage.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.
Jesus, being single, illustrates this point with his life.
Jesus considered it a gift from God to be single as did Paul.
12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”
Celibate from birth.
Castrated for service to men (house servants)
Celibate fo the sake of the kingdom.
Singleness is not for everyone.
9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Jesus taught a simple truth about marriage
Self-control is the key for kingdom minded singles.
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit
If you burn with passion you don’t have the gift of celibacy and therefore should marry.
Remove the Anxieties
Remove the Anxieties
I will trust the Lord to provide all my needs spiritually, emotionally, and physically while giving Him my undivided devotion.
I will trust the Lord to provide all my needs spiritually, emotionally, and physically while giving Him my undivided devotion.
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
1 Cor 7:
34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
1 Cor 7:
Don’t fall into the trap of expectation.
Don’t fall into the trap of expectation.
The Trap: Being consumed by the idea of marriage or relationship causing you to miss the opportunity of your singleness and devotion to the Lord.
You have the opportunity to fully devoting yourself to expanding the kingdom of God. Be a Kingdom builder.
In March of 2020 we are going to Armenia to share our faith. It is so much easier for you as a single person to go on a trip like this. Take the opportunity. Do it now.
Refocus on the Kingdom
Refocus on the Kingdom
The greatest achievement in life is not to be married but to focus on the Kingdom at hand in the time we have left.
The greatest achievement in life is not to be married but to focus on the Kingdom at hand in the time we have left.
12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”
29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
1 Cor 7:29
Marriage doesn’t last forever.
Marriage doesn’t last forever.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
Matt 22:
When we pass from this life or the Lord raptures us home, we will be brothers and sisters not husbands and wives.
Marriage is a temporary tool God has given us to fulfil the mission of building his kingdom.
We have a limited time to do the work of God.
We have a limited time to do the work of God.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
2 Peter 3:11
The focus of your marriage should be building the kingdom of God together.
Every person should be fully devoted to Christ as we anticipate his coming.
The focus of singleness should be to build the kingdom of God.
God calls us into both singleness and marriage for the purpose of building His kingdom.
God calls us into both singleness and marriage for the purpose of building His kingdom.
Next Steps:
Next Steps:
Review
Review
Focus your undivided devotion toward God and the mission of building His kingdom.
Focus your undivided devotion toward God and the mission of building His kingdom.
Build your singleness of heart and devotion to God through prayer, study of God’s word and meditation with Him.
Behold the wonder and majesty of God in the quietness of your soul.
Trust that God knows what you need when you need it and avoid the trap of expectation.
Trust that God knows what you need when you need it and avoid the trap of expectation.
Matt 19:12-
Celibate from birth
Castrated for service to men (House servants)
Celibate for the sake of the kingdom.
This was the case for both Jesus and Paul.
Most people find their mate when they decide to focus on something else.
God has not forgotten you. You are in the state you’re in on purpose.
Don’t miss what God has for you now hoping for what God has for you in the future.
Get busy expanding the kingdom while we still can.
Get busy expanding the kingdom while we still can.
“Get busy living or get busy dying.”
We have a short window of opportunity to use our influence to build the kingdom of God.