Biblical Singleness · (1 Corinthians 7:36-37) Activation Question #2 - I’m devoted to the single life because... I want to make more disciples spiritually I want to minister to

Biblical SinglenessActivating the Gift of the Single Life

What is an Activation?When you come into a training

Not knowing how to do something

Not knowing why to do something

And leave choosing to put a specific practice into action.

3 Sections

Current State of this Practice

Midrash Passages

How to Get Started

The Current State of Singleness in the West

43% of all Americans over the age of 18 are single, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The most common U.S. household type in 2000 was the 27 million Americans who live alone, compared to the 25 million households composed of a husband, wife, and child.

Barna's surveys were generally similar in values and lifestyles to [singles] who were not born again. For instance, both groups were equally likely to be "stressed out," searching for meaning and purpose in life, struggling with financial pressures, and struggling with personal relationships.

Biblical Singleness MidrashThen the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” -Genesis 2:18

“Sing, O childless woman...For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the Lord. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. For your Creator will be your husband;” -Isaiah 54:1, 2, 4

And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful...“Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” -Matthew 19:9, 11

Biblical Singleness MidrashYes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations. But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband...I say this as a concession, not as a command. But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another. So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.

Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But...because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are. If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married. But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems. But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.

Biblical Singleness MidrashI want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities...I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge...So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes.

Some General Conclusions

Singleness is a gift

In the Church, as persecution goes up, singleness goes up, as sexual immorality goes up, singleness goes down

Singles should generally know why they are single in order to give their time focus

Singles should be in an intense ministry with a team or have a packed spiritual rhythm

Since resistance to sexual immorality is the key question what does this say about the typical age of marriage?

ActivationYou must start by correctly categorizing your singleness

Question #1 - Why am I Single?

Because I’m looking for “the one”

Because I want to live a life free of distractions, wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord.

What should be your focus if you’re single but would prefer to get married?

What are some ways you can prepare yourself?

What are some ways you can find a mateif a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin. But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. (1 Corinthians 7:36-37)

ActivationQuestion #2 - I’m devoted to the single life because...

I want to make more disciples spiritually

I want to minister to the Lord full time

I have an Ephesians 4 equipping gift and want to maximize it through an itinerate lifestyle

The Luke 10 lifestyle

The Anna lifestyle

The Equippers lifestyle

The Luke 10 LifestyleThe Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.

5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’

The Anna Lifestyle

36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. -Luke 2

The Equipper’s Lifestyle5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. -3 John

22 One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon. -Philemon

Singleness DiscussionHow should a person, dedicated to the single life, design his or her lifestyle? What elements are important?

What is the difference between someone who has singleness as a gift and someone who happens to be single?

What are ways families can best support singles in your community?

What are ways singles in your community can help one another?

How should someone live who is single without the gift of singleness?

Application and Prayer

Go around and share:

Describe one thing that stood out to you tonight that you feel called to apply.

How could you apply this?

Pray for each other