Our Resurrection Weekend services begin with our Good Friday Evening Gathering, March 29 at 7:00 pm, and conclude with our regular Sunday activities on Resurrection Sunday Morning, March 31!

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Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

  • Read 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 and focus on verses 36-40 for Sunday.
  • Who are the betrothed from verse 25? Are these references to the betrothed the same?
  • What does it mean "not behaving properly towards the betrothed"? Does the following "if" statement help clarify the behavior of strong passions and desires for marriage?
  • Why does Paul say to marry - it is no sin? What sin would it be to marry his betrothed? Why would it be better to refrain from marriage to the betrothed? Under what circumstances does Paul indicate that not marrying the betrothed will be even better?
  • Why would one keep the betrothed if he intends not to marry her?
  • In verse 39 Paul gives an allowance of death to be remarried, what is meant by, "only in the Lord?" Based on all of chapter 7, what would Paul judge that the wife is happier to remain as she is?
  • The final sentence seems to be disjointed from the preceding verses. How does it relate to Paul's instructions on marriage to say that he too has the Spirit of God?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • What are the implications of this passage to your life?
  • How should you view the necessity of marriage? Is it mandated for all? How would you know if you are to be single or married based on chapter 7?
  • How does this passage apply to each of the life situations addressed in chapter 7?
  • How would this passage of impacted the Corinthians in response to their original statement to Paul "it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman?"
  • How have you viewed singleness and marriage before studying this chapter? Is one less valued than the other based on what we have learned?
  • What will be your response to this text in light of the current situations you are in life whether married or single? How can you emphasize the gospel and magnify God in coming alongside others to build up relationships in our church?