Uncomplicating Singleness
Sermon Series: “Keep It Simple - It Doesn’t Have to Be So Complicated”
Feb. 21, 2021
Pastor Phil Chorlian
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen. —Romans 1:21-25
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. —Psalm 40:2
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. —I Corinthians 7:7
I want you to live as free of complications as possible. When you’re unmarried, you’re free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master. Marriage involves you in all the nuts and bolts of domestic life and in wanting to please your spouse, leading to so many more demands on your attention. The time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God. I’m trying to be helpful and make it as easy as possible for you, not make things harder. —I Corinthians 7:32-34 (MSG)
Four phrases that can help us
differently about being single:
I. Free of
Single and
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… —Ecclesiastes 3:1
II. Pleasing the Master
Single and
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. —Matthew 6:33
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. —Psalm 23:1
III. Time and
Single and
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” —Psalm 92:12-15
IV. Whole and
Single and
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. —Matthew 7:24-25
“If you try to build intimacy with another person before you have gotten whole on your own, all your relationships become an attempt to complete yourself.” – Dr. Les Parrott