A LESSON FOR SINGLES If you are have the solo in life— SING OUT!!

Kingsport Church (Compiled by Tom Byler) Never married (18 yrs and up..) Never married (18 yrs and up..) Widowed or Divorced – 10 Widowed or Divorced – 10 Under 18 – baptized – 11 Under 18 – baptized – 11 Teens not baptized – 4 Teens not baptized – 4 Total: 30 This is about 30 % of the church!! Total: 30 This is about 30 % of the church!!

A LESSON FOR SINGLES.. THREE KEY PREMISES FOUR KEY PRINCIPLES FROM I CORINTHIANS 7:1; 25-35, 9:3-5

PREMISE #1: WE NEED TO LEARN TO BE CONTENT IN WHATEVER STATE WE FIND OURSELVES. Phil 4: 11-12

PREMISE #2 THE BASIS OF DISCONTENTMENT THAT CHARACTERIZES SO MANY SINGLES IS THE LACK OF ACCEPTANCE THEY FEEL FROM SOCIETY AND THE CHURCH (Rm 15:7).

PREMISE #3 THE PURPOSE OF MAN AND WOMAN IS TO GLORIFY GOD – NOT GET MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN (Isaiah 43:7, Ecc 12:13).

Why were you created? Isa 43:7 “Those people whom I created for my glory.” Ecc 12:13 ‘Revere God and keep His commandments for this is the whole of man.”

PRINCIPLE #1 IT IS NOT GOD’S PLAN THAT EVERYONE MARRY OR 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, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as brethren of the Lord, Cephas?  vs 12 We had the right. Nevertheless we did not use this right but endure all things that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel.

Paul viewed celibacy as a gift I Cor 7:7 – “I would that all men were even as myself (single) howbeit each man hath his gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.” I Cor 7:7 – “I would that all men were even as myself (single) howbeit each man hath his gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.” Vs 8: “But I say to the unmarried and the widows. It is good for them to abide even as I.” (Single) Vs 8: “But I say to the unmarried and the widows. It is good for them to abide even as I.” (Single) Vs 9: “If they do not have self-control let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn.” Vs 9: “If they do not have self-control let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn.”

PRINCIPLE #2 PERSONAL CONTENTMENT IS OF GREATER VALUE THAN MARITAL COMPANIONSHIP (I Cor 7:25-27) PERSONAL CONTENTMENT IS OF GREATER VALUE THAN MARITAL COMPANIONSHIP (I Cor 7:25-27) Vs 27 Art thou loosed from Vs 27 Art thou loosed from a wife—seek not a wife.

PRINCIPLE #3 MARRIAGE WHILE NOT SINFUL IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN (I Cor 7:28-32). MARRIAGE WHILE NOT SINFUL IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN (I Cor 7:28-32).

Principle #3 (continued) I Cor 7:28 : “But shouldn’t thou marry— thou hast not sinned, and if a virgin marry she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have trouble in this life and I would spare you.” I Cor 7:28 : “But shouldn’t thou marry— thou hast not sinned, and if a virgin marry she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have trouble in this life and I would spare you.” I Cor 7:32 “But I would have you be free from cares or concern.” I Cor 7:32 “But I would have you be free from cares or concern.”  Lit. Gk. “Anxiety, being divided, pulled in two directions.”

Principle #4 BEING SINGLE WHILE NOT IDEAL CAN BE SPIRITUALLY PROFITABLE I Cor 7: 32-34

Being Single can be Spiritually Profitable I Cor 7:32ff Vs 32 “I would have you without carefulness (not have interests divided) He that is unmarried careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. Vs 32 “I would have you without carefulness (not have interests divided) He that is unmarried careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. Vs 33 “But he that is married careth for things that are of the world, how he might please his wife.” Vs 33 “But he that is married careth for things that are of the world, how he might please his wife.”

Being Single can be Spiritually Profitable I Cor 7:34-35 Vs 34 “There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. Vs 34 “There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. Vs 35 “I speak this for your own profit..that you may secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.” Vs 35 “I speak this for your own profit..that you may secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.”

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

A LESSON FOR SINGLES If you are have the solo in life— SING OUT!!