7.12.26 Huddle
Opening Discussion
What helpful dating and/or marriage advice have you received?
Read and Discuss
1 Corinthians 7:25-28
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is faithful. 26 Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
What is Paul saying about singleness and marriage in this passage?
Why does Paul write that he doesn’t have a command from the Lord about virgins?
What are some troubles that may be caused by getting married?
Why does Paul tell single people to remain single?
How is singleness viewed in our culture?
How was it viewed during Paul’s time period?
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
32 I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But the married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.
What might be controversial about this passage?
In what ways are single men and women concerned with the things of the Lord?
What are ways single people may get distracted by the things of the world?
Paul says he wants people to be without concerns. How does marriage add concerns to a person and divide their interests?
What advice would you give to a single person who wants to get married?
If you are married, what are things you do to keep the Lord first so you aren’t distracted by the concerns of the world?
Discipleship Questions
What can you do each day to focus on the Lord and not the things of this world?
No matter what is happening, how can you learn to be content with where the Lord has you in this season of your life?
What is something that distracts you from following the Lord more closely?
How can you get rid of, or diminish, that distraction this week?
Memorize it!
1 Corinthians 7:32
I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.
Prayer TACOS
Thanksgiving: The Lord has created you in His image and He doesn’t make mistakes. Thank the Lord for how He has made you.
Amazement: The Lord created you to be in relationship with Him, the Creator of all things. Spend some time worshipping the Lord for how awesome He is.
Confession: How have you been distracted by the things of the world this week? What has kept you from fully worshipping the Lord? Confess those things to Him and ask Jesus to make the things of the Lord more desirable than the things of the world.
Others: Who is someone that may be struggling with being single? Pray for them and ask the Lord to remind them that He is with them in all seasons of life. Look for opportunities to encourage them this week.
Self: What are some concerns that may worry you or distract you? Talk to Jesus about those things.