A LESSON FOR SINGLES

If you are have the solo in life—If you are have the solo in life—

SING OUT!!SING OUT!!

Kingsport Church(Compiled by Tom Byler)

Never married - 5 - (18 yrs and up..)Never married - 5 - (18 yrs and up..) Widowed or Divorced – 10Widowed or Divorced – 10 Under 18 – baptized – 11Under 18 – baptized – 11 Teens not baptized – 4Teens not baptized – 4 Total: 30 This is about 30 % of the Total: 30 This is about 30 % of the

church!! church!!

A LESSON FOR SINGLES..

THREE THREE KEY KEY PREMISESPREMISES

FOUR FOUR KEY KEY PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES FROM I FROM I CORINTHIANS CORINTHIANS

7:1; 25-35, 9:3-57:1; 25-35, 9:3-5

PREMISE #1:

WE NEED TO WE NEED TO LEARNLEARN TO BE TO BE CONTENT IN CONTENT IN WHATEVER WHATEVER STATE WE STATE WE FIND FIND OURSELVES.OURSELVES.

Phil 4: 11-12Phil 4: 11-12

PREMISE #2

THE BASIS OF THE BASIS OF DISCONTENTMENT DISCONTENTMENT THAT CHARACTERIZES SO THAT CHARACTERIZES SO MANY SINGLES IS THE MANY SINGLES IS THE LACK OF LACK OF ACCEPTANCE ACCEPTANCE THEY FEEL FROM THEY FEEL FROM SOCIETY AND THE SOCIETY AND THE CHURCHCHURCH (Rm 15:7). (Rm 15:7).

PREMISE #3

THE PURPOSE OF THE PURPOSE OF MAN AND MAN AND WOMAN IS TO WOMAN IS TO GLORIFY GODGLORIFY GOD – – NOT GET NOT GET MARRIED AND MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN HAVE CHILDREN (Isaiah 43:7, Ecc (Isaiah 43:7, Ecc 12:13). 12:13).

Why were you created?

Isa 43:7 “Those Isa 43:7 “Those people whom I people whom I created created for my glory.”for my glory.”

Ecc 12:13 ‘Revere Ecc 12:13 ‘Revere God and keep His God and keep His commandments for commandments for this is the whole of this is the whole of man.”man.”

PRINCIPLE #1

IT IS NOT GOD’S PLAN THAT IT IS NOT GOD’S PLAN THAT EVERYONE MARRY OR EVERYONE MARRY OR

NECESSARILY MARRY AGAIN. NECESSARILY MARRY AGAIN. Consider: I Cor. 9:3-5, 12 Consider: I Cor. 9:3-5, 12

vs. 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, vs. 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as brethren a wife, as well as other apostles, and as brethren of the Lord, Cephas?of the Lord, Cephas?

vs 12 We had the right. Nevertheless we did vs 12 We had the right. Nevertheless we did not use this right but endure all things that we not use this right but endure all things that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel. may cause no hindrance to the gospel.

Paul viewed celibacy as a gift

I Cor 7:7 – “I would that all men were even I Cor 7:7 – “I would that all men were even as myself (single) howbeit each man hath as myself (single) howbeit each man hath his his gift gift from God, one after this manner, and from God, one after this manner, and another after that.”another after that.”

Vs 8: “But I say to the unmarried and the Vs 8: “But I say to the unmarried and the widows. widows. It is good for them to abide even as It is good for them to abide even as II.” (Single).” (Single)

Vs 9: “If they do not have self-control let Vs 9: “If they do not have self-control let them marry for it is them marry for it is better to marry than to better to marry than to burnburn.” .”

PRINCIPLE #2

PERSONAL PERSONAL CONTENTMENTCONTENTMENT IS IS OF GREATER VALUE THAN OF GREATER VALUE THAN

MARITAL COMPANIONSHIPMARITAL COMPANIONSHIP (I Cor 7:25-27)(I Cor 7:25-27)

Vs 27 Art thou loosed from Vs 27 Art thou loosed from

a wife—a wife—seek not a wife.seek not a wife.

PRINCIPLE #3

MARRIAGE WHILE MARRIAGE WHILE NOT SINFUL IS NOT SINFUL IS EXTREMELY EXTREMELY

DIFFICULT TO DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN (I Cor MAINTAIN (I Cor

7:28-32).7:28-32).

Principle #3 (continued)

I Cor 7:28 : “But shouldn’t thou marry—I Cor 7:28 : “But shouldn’t thou marry—thou hast not sinned, and if a virgin marry thou hast not sinned, and if a virgin marry she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have trouble in this lifetrouble in this life and I would spare you.” and I would spare you.”

I Cor 7:32 “But I would have you be free I Cor 7:32 “But I would have you be free from from cares or concerncares or concern.”.” Lit. Gk. “Anxiety, being divided, pulled Lit. Gk. “Anxiety, being divided, pulled

in two directions.”in two directions.”

Principle #4

BEING SINGLE BEING SINGLE WHILE NOT IDEAL WHILE NOT IDEAL

CAN BE CAN BE SPIRITUALLY SPIRITUALLY PROFITABLEPROFITABLE

I Cor 7: 32-34I Cor 7: 32-34

Being Single can be Spiritually Profitable

I Cor 7:32ff

Vs 32 “I would have you without Vs 32 “I would have you without carefulness carefulness (not have interests divided) (not have interests divided) He that is unmarried careth for the He that is unmarried careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.the Lord.

Vs 33 “But he that is married careth Vs 33 “But he that is married careth for things that are of the world, how he for things that are of the world, how he might please his wife.”might please his wife.”

Being Single can be Spiritually Profitable

I Cor 7:34-35 Vs 34 “There is a difference also between a Vs 34 “There is a difference also between a

wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, but may be holy both in body and in spirit, but she that is married careth for the things of she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. the world, how she may please her husband.

Vs 35 “I speak this for your own Vs 35 “I speak this for your own profit..that you may secure profit..that you may secure undistracted undistracted devotion to the Lorddevotion to the Lord.”.”

Conclusion:

““This day will never come again. And This day will never come again. And anyone who fails to eat, drink, and anyone who fails to eat, drink, and taste and smell it will never have it taste and smell it will never have it offered to him again in all eternity. The offered to him again in all eternity. The sun will never shine as it does today. sun will never shine as it does today. You must You must play your part and sing a play your part and sing a songsong—make it one of the best.”—make it one of the best.”

A LESSON FOR SINGLES

If you are have the solo in lifeIf you are have the solo in life——

SING OUT!!SING OUT!!