1Corinthians: Guidelines to Avoid Church Chaos
“Happy Ever After”
(1 Corinthians 7:1-40)
I. The C
A. In the C
1. Is it More S
2. Is it More S
over God’s Special Gifts (vv. 1, 7)
Church
to be Married or Not Married? (vv. 1, 8, 28, 36)
to be Married or Not Married?
(Matt 19:12; Mark 10:6-9; Heb 13:4)
B. In the C
1. S
Church
Gifts are given to us to Help O_________
(1Cor 12; 1Pet 4:10)
2. S
Gifts are given to us to Help U
(v. 7, Rom 6:23)
II. The C
of God’s Special Gifts
A. For the S
Person
1. C
(vv. 1-2, Eph 5:3; 1Thess 4:3)
2. C
(vv. 7-9; 1Tim 6:6)
3. C
(vv. 36-38)
4. C
(vv. 39-40; 2Cor 6:14)
B. For the M
Person
1. M
(v. 2; Mark 10:6-9)
2. A
(vv. 3-5)
3. P
(v. 5a; Ex 20:14)
4. H______________
a. Between them and their S
(vv. 10-11)
b. Between them and their S
(vv. 32-35)
III. The C
concerning God’s Special Gifts
A. To the S
(v. 25)
B. To the M___________
1. Do not D
(vv. 3-5)
2. Do not D
(vv. 10-11; Mal 2:16a)
C. To the D___________
1. If Separated from Believer, D
not Remarry (v. 11)
2. If Separated from Non-Believer, S
not Remarry (vv. 12-16, v. 27)
D. To the W
(vv. 39-40)
IV. The C
A. Use the P
of God’s Special Gifts
of Grace to be S
by the Lord (Eph 2:8-
9)
B. Use the A
C. Use the I
32)
of Singleness to S
of Marriage to S
the Lord (vv. 32-35)
the Lord (Eph 5:22-
1Corinthians: Guidelines to Avoid Church Chaos
“Happy Ever After”
(1 Corinthians 7:1-40)
I. The Confusion over God’s Special Gifts (vv. 1, 7)
A. In the Corinthian Church
1. Is it More Sinful to be Married or Not Married? (vv. 1, 8, 28, 36)
2. Is it More Spiritual to be Married or Not Married?
(Matt 19:12; Mark 10:6-9; Heb 13:4)
Mark 10:6-9 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’. For
THIS REASON a man will leave his father and mother and be UNITED to his
WIFE…Therefore, what GOD HAS JOINED together, let no man separate.”
Hebrews 13:4 “MARRIAGE should be HONORED by ALL, and the marriage BED
kept pure…”
B. In the Current Church
1. Spiritual Gifts are given to us to Help Others (1Cor 12; 1Pet 4:10)
1Peter 4:10 “Each one should use whatever GIFT he has received to SERVE
OTHERS…”
2. Special Gifts are given to us to Help Us (v. 7, Rom 6:23)
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
II. The Challenge of God’s Special Gifts
A. For the Single Person
1. Celibacy (vv. 1-2, Eph 5:3; 1Thess 4:3)
Ephesians 5:3a “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality
(i.e. fornification)…”
1Thessalonians 4:3 “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should
avoid sexual immorality (i.e. fornification)…”
2. Contentment (vv. 7-9; 1Tim 6:6)
1Timothy 6:6 “Godliness with CONTENMENT is great gain…”
3. Compulsion (vv. 36-38)
4. Criteria (vv. 39-40; 2Cor 6:14)
2Corinthians 6:14a “Do not be YOKED TOGETHER with UNBELIEVERS…”
B. For the Married Person
1. Monogamy (v. 2; Mark 10:6-9)
Mark 10:6-9 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’. For
THIS REASON a man will leave his father and mother and be UNITED to his
WIFE…Therefore, what GOD HAS JOINED together, let no man separate.”
2. Authority (vv. 3-5)
3. Purity (v. 5a; Ex 20:14)
Exodus 20:14 “Thou shalt NOT commit ADULTERY.”
4. Harmony
a. Between them and their Spouse (vv. 10-11)
b. Between them and their Savior (vv. 32-35)
III. The Commands concerning God’s Special Gifts
A. To the Single (v. 25)
B. To the Married
1. Do not Deprive (vv. 3-5)
2. Do not Divorce (vv. 10-11; Mal 2:16a)
Malachi 2:16a “‘I HATE DIVORCE’, says the Lord God…”
C. To the Divorced
1. If Separated from Believer, Do not Remarry (v. 11)
2. If Separated from Non-Believer, Should not Remarry
(vv. 12-16, v. 27)
D. To the Widowed (vv. 39-40)
IV. The Calling of God’s Special Gifts
A. Use the Privileges of Grace to be Saved by the Lord (Eph 2:8-9)
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by GRACE that you have been SAVED, through faith—and
this not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God…”
B. Use the Advantages of Singleness to Serve the Lord (vv. 32-35)
C. Use the Images of Marriage to Symbolize the Lord (Eph 5:22-32)