Devotion to God: Navigating Marriage and Singleness
Summary
In my sermon, I urged the congregation to focus on Jesus and the word of God, and to allow the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. I emphasized the importance of surrendering our marriages to God and prayed for healing and comfort for those affected by divorce. I also asked for wisdom for those considering remarriage. I encouraged generous giving to support the chaplaincy work of Methodist Welfare Services and invited online attendees to participate in communion. I ended with a call to give thanks to God.
I discussed the Apostle Paul's teachings on singleness and marriage in Corinthians chapter seven, where he emphasizes the importance of single-minded devotion to God, regardless of marital status. I advised against pursuing marriage solely out of lust and encouraged individuals to make the best use of their current situation to stay devoted to God. I also highlighted the urgency of Christ's return and the need for intentional discipleship. I acknowledged that marriage and singleness are real issues faced by the community, as well as divorce and remarriage, and urged individuals to approach these matters with seriousness and faithfulness.
I emphasized the importance of consistently growing one's marriage to withstand temptation and challenges. I introduced a marriage Charter, a document that outlines the principles of a biblical marriage and provides practical application. I also mentioned a marriage health check and various resources available through our church, such as marriage preparation tools and enrichment weekends. I encouraged couples to water their marriage by seeking the help of the Holy Spirit and journeying with each other in safe communities. I highlighted the importance of sharing burdens and encouraging one another in perseverance, rather than seeking perfection. I suggested seeking couple mentors for guidance and offered the opportunity for experienced couples to serve as mentors.
Key Takeaways:
- Paul's teachings in Corinthians chapter seven emphasize the importance of single-minded devotion to God, regardless of marital status. He advises against pursuing marriage solely out of lust and encourages individuals to make the best use of their current situation to stay devoted to God ([12:45]).
- Marriage and singleness are real issues faced by the community, as well as divorce and remarriage. These matters should be approached with seriousness and faithfulness ([18:30]).
- It's important to consistently grow one's marriage to withstand temptation and challenges. Couples should seek the help of the Holy Spirit and journey with each other in safe communities ([24:15]).
- Sharing burdens and encouraging one another in perseverance is more important than seeking perfection in marriage. Seeking couple mentors for guidance can be beneficial ([29:50]).
- Divorce should be taken seriously and should not be seen as an easy way out. Forgiveness, perseverance, and reconciliation in marriages are advocated ([35:20]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 #!!43:36!!#
2. 1 Corinthians 7:15 #!!44:17!!#
3. Matthew 19:9 #!!44:17!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What are the two exceptions to divorce mentioned in the passages?
2. How does Paul address the issue of singleness and marriage in 1 Corinthians 7?
3. What does Matthew 19:9 say about divorce and remarriage?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Bible define a biblical marriage?
2. What does it mean when Paul says "a wife must not separate from her husband" in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11?
3. How does the Bible view divorce and remarriage?
Application Questions:
1. How can you apply the principles of a Biblical marriage in your own marriage?
2. What steps can you take to grow your marriage in line with the biblical vision of marriage?
3. How can you create a safe community within your marriage where you can share burdens and encourage each other?
4. How can you deal with troubling issues in your marriage promptly and biblically?
5. How can you help other couples in their journey of marriage, especially those who are newer in their journey?
Devotional
Day 1: Single-Minded Devotion to God
Our priority, whether married or single, should be our single-minded devotion to God. We should not be distracted by pursuing a change in status. Being married or single does not add anything to our standing before God. We are called to be responsible to God because marriage or singleness does not complete us, only God can. Our single-minded devotion to God compels us to hold lightly to our relationships, possessions, pleasures, and bereavements ([01:01:45]).
1 Corinthians 7:32-34 - "I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a single-minded devotion to God in your current marital status?
Day 2: The Urgency of Christ's Return
Our single-minded devotion to God compels us to grasp the urgency of Christ's return. We are called to be the Maranatha people of God, expecting the full package of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should be utterly faithful to make disciples of all nations till He returns ([01:03:07]).
1 Corinthians 16:22 - "If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord!"
Reflection: How does the urgency of Christ's return impact your daily life and decisions?
Day 3: The Sanctity of Marriage
Marriage is a covenantal and mutual discipleship journey. We need to consistently grow our marriage so that in times of storms and challenges, it remains strong. We should have a vision of what a biblical marriage looks like and take the necessary steps to achieve it ([39:59]).
Ephesians 5:25 - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."
Reflection: What steps can you take to grow and strengthen your marriage in line with biblical principles?
Day 4: The Value of Safe Communities
We need to journey with each other in safe communities. We should have authentic spaces where we can share more deeply about the burdens and issues we face in our marriages and encourage each other with stories of victory and perseverance ([41:49]).
Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a safe and supportive community for married couples in your church?
Day 5: The Blessing of Singleness
Singleness is not a lesser state but a gift that can be used for God's glory. If you are single, make the best use of this gift to stay devoted to God. Singleness does not complete us, only God can ([01:01:45]).
1 Corinthians 7:7 - "I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that."
Reflection: If you are single, how can you use this season of your life for God's glory?
Quotes
1. "To grow your marriage, you need to have a vision of what the biblical marriage looks like and the next steps to take." [39:59]
2. "The priority today is not whether you are married or not, the priority is the single-minded devotion to God instead of being distracted by pursuing a change in status." #!!01:01:45!!#
3. "Take the next step, deal with the troubling issues forthwith. Don't wait till it's too late, don't wait till the issue is too deep-seated, don't wait till your marriage is too broken, your relationship's too bitter, too distant. Seek advice quickly, there's no shame in that, pursue marriage counseling early." #!!42:58!!#
4. "The decision to remarry is between you and God, however, it is to be made with all seriousness. Remarriage should only be considered after much prayer and Godly counsel, and only if you have healed from past hurts and learned lessons from your previous marriage." #!!53:54!!#
5. "As a church, we will always press for forgiveness, perseverance, and even reconciliation if possible. Divorce will never be the easy way out." #!!50:12!!#
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