WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.879 Well, we've come to our third session of our Sunday School class on gender and sexuality. 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:14.839 We began this class by considering how our human bodies, gender and sexuality, are both 00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:16.679 beautiful and broken. 00:00:17.740 --> 00:00:21.859 Our bodies are good gifts from our Creator God to be received with wonder and praise, 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:26.740 but like every other part of human nature and experience, they're also damaged and distorted 00:00:26.740 --> 00:00:28.679 by sin and its effects. 00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:32.939 And we then considered the importance of our bodies in Christ's redemptive mission. 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:39.240 Because Christ accomplished our salvation in his body, our salvation involves the redemption 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:40.100 of our bodies. 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:45.600 Now, what does that redemption look like, particularly as it's applied to our gender and sexuality? 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:49.079 Well, last week we considered God's affirmation of marriage. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:56.740 Marriage not only as a gift of God to the entire human race, but also a covenant sign. 00:00:56.740 --> 00:01:06.680 A sacred picture of God's faithful and fruitful, exclusive and enduring, and filled with love 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:11.420 and wonder, the union that God has established between him and us, his people. 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:16.760 Marriage is intended to point us to the kind of relationship that God is drawing us into 00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:18.079 for all eternity. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:24.179 However, the shape of redemption in the earthly life of a Christian does not always look like 00:01:24.179 --> 00:01:24.500 marriage. 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:29.480 And so this week we're going to consider a second redemptive path that is also repeatedly 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:35.000 affirmed in the New Testament, namely, singleness for the sake of God's kingdom. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:43.099 The primary book that I have found helpful in preparing this lesson is called Redeeming 00:01:43.099 --> 00:01:48.180 Singleness by Barry Danilak, D-A-N-Y-L-A-K. 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:56.579 It gets into a lot of detail, but it looks at this theme throughout the Bible, in the Old 00:01:56.579 --> 00:01:58.180 Testament and the New Testament. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:02:05.540 And so that's where many of the points in this lesson will come from. 00:02:05.660 --> 00:02:09.040 But I want to have sort of three topics. 00:02:09.219 --> 00:02:10.800 First, biblical teaching about singleness. 00:02:11.040 --> 00:02:13.400 Second, practical implications for us as a church. 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:16.580 And then third, I want to open it up for questions and discussion. 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:23.560 So first, what does the Bible say about singleness? 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:29.699 And one of the things that we will notice is that while the teaching on marriage is fairly 00:02:29.699 --> 00:02:37.020 consistent through the Old and New Testaments, the teaching on singleness changes quite a bit. 00:02:37.699 --> 00:02:43.159 So in the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant, singleness and childlessness was a sign of God's 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:44.659 displeasure and curse. 00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:47.780 Why? 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:52.800 Because God had established his covenant with Abraham and his offspring. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:58.160 He promised that his plan of salvation would go forth through Abraham and his children, 00:02:59.380 --> 00:03:06.320 that they would become a great nation, that they would be protected from their enemies, 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:10.540 that they would be a blessing to all the families of the earth. 00:03:10.660 --> 00:03:11.580 And how would that happen? 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:16.040 By having, by having, through Abraham having many children, right? 00:03:16.040 --> 00:03:21.260 All of God's promises to Abraham depended on the promise of a child. 00:03:21.259 --> 00:03:29.840 But, and particularly, God promised his descendants would become as numerous as the stars in the sky. 00:03:29.979 --> 00:03:34.219 So for a descendant of Abraham to be married and have children, especially many children, 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:35.859 was a sign of God's blessing. 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:39.579 And to be unmarried or unable to bear children was a sign of God's curse. 00:03:39.580 --> 00:03:45.860 You know, also in the ancient world, your children were your legacy. 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:49.760 They were how your family name would be carried on. 00:03:50.939 --> 00:03:55.620 And without any descendants, you would be forgotten. 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:58.020 Your legacy would disappear. 00:03:58.020 --> 00:04:02.300 Your land would be taken over by others. 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:07.740 And the family name would be, would be gone. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:08.180 Gone. 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:22.319 In the book of Ruth, the character of Naomi represents sort of this, at the beginning of Ruth, 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:30.400 Naomi has lost her husband and her daughters have, sorry, her sons have married and then 00:04:30.400 --> 00:04:31.439 her sons have both died. 00:04:31.660 --> 00:04:33.480 And she says, I am empty. 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:35.620 I have no legacy. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:37.660 My name will be cut off. 00:04:38.200 --> 00:04:40.700 My husband's name will not be carried on. 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:47.500 And sort of, she's a picture of, of that, of that state. 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:54.220 So throughout the Old Testament, we have no known examples of people within Israel who voluntarily 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:56.140 chose to remain single. 00:04:56.139 --> 00:04:59.019 It just was not an option. 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:07.860 It was something to be mourned if one could, would, could not find a husband or wife. 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:14.019 The only exception is the prophet Jeremiah, who God told not to marry or have children as 00:05:14.019 --> 00:05:18.399 a living picture of the fact that Israel would be cut off as God's judgment for her sin. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:24.959 And so, again, the exception proves the rule. 00:05:27.359 --> 00:05:32.079 You know, under the Old Covenant, singleness and childlessness was a sign of God's displeasure 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:33.039 and curse. 00:05:36.039 --> 00:05:42.639 Eunuchs, also castrated men who were unable to marry and procreate, were categorically excluded 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:43.979 from the assembly of Israel. 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:50.819 However, there's a change when you look at the prophet Isaiah. 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:57.720 And the prophet Isaiah has some surprising statements in Isaiah 54 and 56. 00:05:57.960 --> 00:06:00.000 So turn to those chapters if you can. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:02.700 Isaiah 54, verse 1. 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:05.080 Sing, O barren one who did not bear. 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:08.580 Break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor. 00:06:09.080 --> 00:06:12.860 For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married, 00:06:12.960 --> 00:06:13.580 says the Lord. 00:06:14.460 --> 00:06:15.740 What does that mean? 00:06:16.640 --> 00:06:18.240 And then, two chapters later, 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:22.480 let not the eunuchs say, behold, I am a dry tree. 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:26.420 For thus says the Lord, to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:32.100 please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:35.300 and a name better than sons and daughters. 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:39.020 I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:47.859 And so in this culture where blessing was pictured, blessing and fruitfulness and hope were pictured 00:06:47.859 --> 00:06:56.740 in marriage and children, Isaiah says that barren women and childless eunuchs will somehow 00:06:56.740 --> 00:07:02.339 find a place of extraordinary joy and honor among the people of God instead of being a sign 00:07:02.339 --> 00:07:04.199 of God's displeasure and curse. 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:09.920 Of course, the question is, how in the world would this happen? 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:17.920 Well, the answer is found in Isaiah 53, right before, the chapter right before these statements, 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:20.520 which speaks of the suffering servant of the Lord. 00:07:20.520 --> 00:07:29.800 Isaiah 53 is really the hinge chapter on which the whole book turns, but it's a picture of 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:37.660 the suffering servant who is described in the beginning as beginning his life like a young 00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:43.720 plant, like a root out of dry ground, full of vitality and promise of growing into a strong 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:44.720 fruit bearing tree. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:51.460 But then he's despised and rejected, crushed and pierced and cut off out of the land of the 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:51.720 living. 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:57.960 His life ends in shame and humiliation and he bears the signs of God's curse. 00:07:58.740 --> 00:08:01.160 But then the chapter takes an unexpected turn. 00:08:01.440 --> 00:08:08.260 Chapter 53, verse 10, when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring. 00:08:08.900 --> 00:08:13.420 He shall prolong his days and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:18.060 And then three verses later comes that, sing, O barren woman. 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:23.880 Now, in Isaiah's time, the meaning of his prophecy was not yet clear. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:31.300 Still, the unique accomplishment of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 is clearly the basis for 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:37.500 the outpouring of honor and joy in Isaiah 54 and 56 upon those who were previously excluded 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:38.580 and disgraced. 00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:41.080 So what does this all mean? 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:48.639 Well, today we can see how the words of Isaiah 53 were fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus. 00:08:49.300 --> 00:08:55.860 Jesus was that suffering servant who embodied the nation of Israel, who was the seed of Abraham. 00:08:57.240 --> 00:09:00.920 He began his life full of promise, but he was despised and rejected. 00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:07.759 His life ended in shame and humiliation, hanging on a tree, bearing the sign of God's curse. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:12.500 Jesus never married, nor did he have biological children. 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:16.299 Again, unusual in his day. 00:09:17.319 --> 00:09:22.340 However, through Jesus' death and through his resurrection, Jesus brought new life to multitudes 00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:25.340 who were previously dead, who had no hope and no future. 00:09:25.659 --> 00:09:30.580 And so the offspring of Christ includes men and women from all nations who have been born again, 00:09:30.939 --> 00:09:32.919 given eternal life through the Spirit of God. 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:35.740 The apostle Paul celebrates this in Galatians. 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:41.059 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:47.240 So that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:53.360 He says, if you belong to Christ, then you're Abraham's offspring heirs according to the promise. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:59.440 In other words, we experience, we become part of God's family in the New Testament, 00:09:59.580 --> 00:10:02.740 not through physical birth, but through spiritual rebirth. 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:10.360 And we see one person who received that honor and joy of being included in God's family through faith in Christ 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:14.159 in Acts chapter 8, the Ethiopian eunuch. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:21.300 The Ethiopian eunuch sort of embodied everything that was excluded in the Old Testament. 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:24.699 He was a foreigner. He was a eunuch. He had been castrated. 00:10:24.839 --> 00:10:27.059 He was unable to marry or bear children. 00:10:27.479 --> 00:10:29.179 His body had been defaced. 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:40.219 He had a high status in working for a ruler, but he could never fully be included among the people of God. 00:10:41.299 --> 00:10:43.179 And yet, he's reading the prophet Isaiah. 00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:46.799 And guess what chapter he's reading? He's reading chapter 53. 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:48.459 And guess what verse he's reading? 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:54.759 He's reading the verses about the suffering servant who was humiliated and cut off and had no descendants. 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:59.440 And Philip starts running alongside the chariot. 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:02.240 And he says, hey, you understand what you're reading? 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:03.960 And the eunuch says, nope, I don't. 00:11:04.540 --> 00:11:10.200 And Philip starts right there and tells him the good news about Jesus. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:26.120 And says, Jesus was despised and rejected and cut off and excluded and humiliated so that you and everyone who believes in him could be included in the new covenant of grace. 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:32.279 And so he finally says to Philip, he says, look, here's some water. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:34.600 What prevents me from being baptized? 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:37.340 Right? He couldn't have been circumcised. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:39.919 He couldn't have been included in the old covenant that way. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:42.220 But he could be baptized. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:45.340 He could become a full member of the new covenant. 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:47.360 And that brought him great joy. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:54.000 And so, because of Christ, under the new covenant, singleness is now a gift from God. 00:11:54.800 --> 00:11:59.620 Singleness can be an honored calling to service in God's kingdom. 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.759 Something that it was not beforehand. 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:09.899 So we see Jesus and Paul both affirm singleness as an honorable calling. 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:21.980 Again, Jesus and Paul both affirm marriage and singleness as potential ways of glorifying God in our body. 00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:25.679 Jesus' words are in Matthew 19. 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.139 You turn there. 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:32.279 Jesus first begins by talking about God's design for marriage, male and female, from the beginning. 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:36.600 And warning against, quick and easy, divorce and remarriage. 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:41.539 And Jesus' disciples reacted to his strong words about divorce. 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:45.779 Because many people had very permissive views about divorce in those days. 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:59.000 In fact, one rabbi said that it was permissible for a man to divorce his wife if she burned his dinner. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:05.080 And Jesus certainly was not on board with that. 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:14.679 But they say, goodness, if such is the case of a man with his wife, it's better not to marry. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:23.700 Now, the disciples were not seriously thinking that it was better not to marry. 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:28.300 They were sort of challenging, asking Jesus, wait a minute. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.060 Do you really mean this? 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.700 You know, you have to... 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:38.840 You're saying that it's necessary to persevere even in a hard marriage. 00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:41.120 And there's not an easy way out. 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:46.860 And marriage isn't always going to be fulfilling. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.860 Maybe... 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.860 Maybe... 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:49.240 Maybe... 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:51.800 Are you saying it could be even better not to marry? 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:59.139 Now, Jesus responds to them in chapter 19, verses 10 to 12. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.240 And he doesn't say... 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:02.980 He doesn't argue for marriage or singleness. 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.200 He's saying one is superior to the other. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:05.860 But he says... 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:06.860 But he says... 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:10.460 Three things. 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:40.440 So he says... 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:44.200 That they would have fewer personal family loyalties. 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:47.600 They couldn't try to establish a dynasty. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.900 And so eunuchs were useful for just one thing. 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:52.920 That is serving in the court of a king. 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:59.259 It's possible that an Old Testament example of such a eunuch was Daniel. 00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:04.759 The book of Daniel does not explicitly say that Daniel was made a eunuch. 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:08.240 But he was under the authority of one of the eunuchs of the palace. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:19.100 And some Jewish rabbis have thought of Daniel as an example of that eunuch that Isaiah talked about in Isaiah 56. 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:21.159 A sort of righteous eunuch. 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:24.899 But both of those statements... 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:27.339 Some eunuchs have been so from birth. 00:15:27.459 --> 00:15:28.879 Some have been made eunuchs by men. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.379 Those would have been uncontroversial. 00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:38.879 Jesus and his disciples were both well familiar with those situations. 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:44.519 But the climax of Jesus' statement and the part that would have been particularly surprising is in the words that follow. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:45.379 Jesus says... 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:50.080 There are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:56.799 Not just people who are involuntarily unable to marry or bear biological children. 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:04.980 And who sort of have to accept those limitations out of necessity. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:14.379 But people who voluntarily embrace a life without marriage, without sex, and without biological children for the sake of devoted service in the kingdom of God. 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:20.159 Now, that vision was unprecedented in Judaism. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:22.899 And it's a distinctively Christian vision. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:30.600 So, modern Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, all view celibate singleness in a negative light. 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:36.639 So, this teaching is only found in the New Testament. 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:45.360 That there is a positive vision of a life that forgoes intentionally, willingly, 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:53.139 voluntarily forgoes marriage, sex, and biological children for the sake of devoted service to God and his kingdom. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:59.179 Now, Jesus recognizes not all of his disciples will embrace this single life. 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:05.460 Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:08.380 Let the one who is able to receive this, receive it. 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:11.240 So, Jesus emphasizes this is not for everybody. 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:17.840 This is not even for most of Jesus' disciples, necessarily. 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:27.040 But there are some who God will give this ability to receive it. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:39.399 Now, one person we see in the New Testament who did embrace and live out this vision of consecrated Christian singleness was the Apostle Paul. 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:46.139 Now, some people have speculated that Paul may have been previously married and then widowed before he became an Apostle. 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:49.759 But this is only speculation which nobody can prove or disprove. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:57.859 What is clear is that during his time as an Apostle, Paul was unmarried and he energetically commended this way of serving Christ. 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:01.539 I wish that all were single as I myself am. 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:06.539 To the unmarried and the widows, I say it is good for them to remain single as I am. 00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:08.619 1 Corinthians 7, 7, and 8. 00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:14.039 But again, Paul was not disparaging Christian marriage. 00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:15.459 He said it is a gift from God. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:24.139 He took pains to point out that if a single person, a Christian, chooses to marry, it is definitely not a sin to pursue marriage. 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:26.459 And in many cases, it is prudent and wise. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:29.259 In Ephesians, he has a very high view of marriage. 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:35.439 We looked at some of that a little bit last week as reflecting the union of Christ in the church. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:40.860 So, Paul is not promoting singleness at the expense of marriage, nor does he promote marriage at the expense of singleness. 00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:50.200 But in 1 Corinthians 7, Paul highlights a few ways that consecrated Christian singleness can distinctively bear witness to the gospel. 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:53.539 So, let me highlight four ways that it can. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:19:01.440 First, singleness can be a way of traveling light in the present world in order to focus on eternal realities. 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:03.320 It is a kind of fasting. 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:16.919 Christians are all called to fast in one way or another, at one time or another, whether it's from food or other things, other things of this world that are good and given to us by God. 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:28.039 And yet, for a time, we choose to forego them in order to train our desires and focus our desires on God himself and on eternity, on eternal things. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:38.879 And so, in choosing a life of singleness, it is a, for the sake of kingdom service, one can demonstrate the sufficiency of Christ. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:54.200 Just as many Christians throughout history have embraced a life of simplicity and have intentionally given away large amounts of money, even fortunes. 00:19:54.200 --> 00:20:08.680 Some have chosen to live in poverty among the poor in order to love people and communicate the gospel to them without the distractions of wealth and materialism. 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:22.120 Again, not every Christian is called to that life, but many Christians have embraced that for the sake of God's kingdom and have had a very fruitful life as a result. 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:29.439 And have been, and have done that in order to focus their affections and their love on Christ. 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:32.519 So that leads us to the second thing. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:35.399 It's an opportunity for traveling light in this world. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:38.359 It's an opportunity for undivided devotion to the Lord. 00:20:39.159 --> 00:20:39.519 Right? 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:48.119 The picture of a eunuch in the ancient world was someone whose loyalties were undivided. 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:56.899 They were a loyal servant of the king, free from other distractions and loyalties and anxieties. 00:20:57.319 --> 00:21:03.500 And Paul says, consecrated Christian singleness is an opportunity for undivided devotion to the Lord. 00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:12.239 Sometimes singleness has been referred to as vacancy for God. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:24.759 I think it was Thomas Aquinas who first used that term sort of cultivating, recognizing that our innermost desire for intimacy and connection can only be filled by God. 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:31.240 And sort of intentionally not seeking to fill ourselves with other things. 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:37.799 Seeking to leave room for God to fill us in that deepest place. 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:51.019 And of course, at one level, that's something that all Christians are called to do, whether married or single, is cultivate that inner space for God alone and recognize that only he can meet the deepest longings of our heart. 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:58.099 Not a spouse, not a child, not a career or anything else can do that. 00:21:58.099 --> 00:22:11.459 But, choosing to live without marriage and sex and biological children is an opportunity to cultivate that desire for God alone. 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:21.719 Third, Christian singleness provides a unique opportunity for fellowship in the body of Christ and for spiritual parenthood and fruitful service. 00:22:22.919 --> 00:22:25.779 Jesus and Paul did not live an isolated existence. 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:31.579 You think of all the people that Jesus interacts with, the homes that he stays in, in the Gospels. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:37.559 You think of Paul's extensive network of friends and co-workers and traveling companions, all the people that he mentions. 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:42.339 If you go to the last chapter of any of Paul's letters, he always mentions several people by name. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.759 He did not live an isolated life. 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:55.259 He did not live, but his life was rich with relationships in the body of Christ. 00:22:55.259 --> 00:23:06.980 And he had the freedom and the opportunity to engage in those and to travel far and wide for the sake of the Gospel, in part because of his singleness. 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:13.819 Paul also, in many places, uses the language of spiritual children, spiritual fatherhood and motherhood. 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:21.419 He speaks of Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 00:23:23.419 --> 00:23:34.460 First Thessalonians, he says, we were gentle like a nursing mother, taking care of her own children, like a father, exhorting and encouraging you and charging you to walk in a manner worthy of God. 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:46.279 So Paul speaks of his relationship with individuals and with churches as a spiritual parent, sort of spiritual parenthood. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:56.259 And again, whether we're single or married, we are called to be spiritual parents, seeing people come to Christ through the power of the Gospel, 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:01.960 but also raising them, discipling new believers, leading them until they're mature Christians. 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:15.920 And so sometimes there are some opportunities for discipleship and for seeing the power of the Gospel at work in others' lives, 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:26.460 that Christians who are single have the opportunity to particularly invest in and become spiritual fathers or mothers in this way. 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:31.740 Of course, married Christians can do this as well. 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:39.920 I might also add a fourth thing, which Paul doesn't explicitly mention in 1 Corinthians 7, but which I think is important. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:49.100 I think particularly today, consecrated Christian singleness visibly portrays the cost of discipleship and the worthiness of Jesus. 00:24:49.099 --> 00:25:00.219 You know, many, in the world that we live in today, you know, in the ancient world, the biggest question would have been, 00:25:00.959 --> 00:25:12.559 how are you willing to forego the possible, go without the possibility of having children who will carry on your family name and care for you in your old age and be your legacy? 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:19.980 I think in the modern world, the question people ask is, how in the world could you live your entire life without having sex? 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:32.000 Or without having the companionship, the emotional, personal companionship of a marriage partner who is side by side with you for your entire life long? 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:49.740 And again, whether in the ancient world, which emphasized children, or in the modern world, which emphasizes sexual intimacy and companionate friendship, 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:59.839 being willing to forego all of those things for the sake of Christ is a testimony to the worthiness of Christ. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:17.799 And for some, that is, and I do not want to trivialize this, that can be a very heavy cross to bear at times for some people. 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:32.579 And, but Jesus did promise that no sacrifice that we make for his sake will ever be unrepaid. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:41.579 Will ever not be, that every sacrifice we make for his sake will one day, somehow, in his mercy be repaid many times over. 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:47.299 There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, 00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:53.039 who will not receive many times more in this age and in the age to come eternal life. 00:26:55.559 --> 00:27:01.619 So today, consecrated Christian singleness can visibly portray the cost of discipleship and the worthiness of Jesus. 00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:08.619 Now, practically, some practical implications, then we'll open it up to questions. 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:14.459 What does it look like for us to honor consecrated Christian singleness in the church today, 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:18.899 as the New Testament does, I believe, as I have shown? 00:27:20.479 --> 00:27:21.519 Four things. 00:27:21.659 --> 00:27:27.399 First, we need to recognize the distinctive witness of consecrated Christian singleness to the gospel of Christ. 00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:31.799 Church needs the witness of godly Christian marriage. 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:36.419 It also needs the witness of godly Christian singleness. 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:42.019 And we should recognize the uniqueness of the Christian teaching in this regard, 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:44.279 and how it's rooted in the gospel. 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:49.460 And in the gospel, we find our identity, our companionship, our delight, and our legacy 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:53.720 even greater than marriage, sex, and children. 00:27:53.720 --> 00:28:05.039 So that's the first thing, to recognize the distinctive witness of singleness to the gospel of Christ. 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:09.980 Let me read a few words from a book by Henry Nouwen. 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:14.339 He writes, 00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:32.839 In a world so congested and so entangled in conflict and pain, 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:36.220 celibates by their dedication to God in a single lifestyle, 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.839 and married people by their dedication to God in a life together, 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:43.459 are signs of God's goodness and love in this world. 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:47.259 They both ask us, in different ways, 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:53.139 to turn to God as the fountain and source of all human relationships. 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:56.080 They both say, in different ways, 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:58.840 that without giving God the first place in our hearts, 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:02.540 we will ultimately fail in the hopeless attempt 00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:05.480 to fabricate peace and love by ourselves. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:09.960 The celibate speaks of the need to respect the inner sanctum, 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:11.820 our inner place for God, 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.180 at all cost. 00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:16.940 The married person speaks of the need to base his or her relationships 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:19.120 on intimacy first with God. 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:22.019 But both speak for the source of all love 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:24.299 and for God's presence in the world. 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:28.759 Together, they give form to the beauty of the Christian community, 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:32.500 and they stand out as signs of hope 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:35.719 in a world of alienation and loneliness. 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:42.699 So, recognizing the distinctive witness 00:29:42.699 --> 00:29:45.359 of consecrated Christian singleness and marriage. 00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:48.099 Second, encouraging consecrated Christian singleness 00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:49.859 within the church in its various forms. 00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:52.719 So, I think there's at least three broad categories 00:29:52.719 --> 00:29:54.539 that Christian single people can fall, 00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:58.519 can find themselves in. 00:30:00.179 --> 00:30:02.179 And they're rather different, 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.819 but they can all fall under this heading. 00:30:03.959 --> 00:30:06.500 First, some Christians will choose to renounce marriage, 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:08.980 will choose to renounce marriage indefinitely. 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.559 Like the Apostle Paul, 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:13.259 and like many missionaries throughout church history, 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.899 I think of St. Patrick, 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:16.240 who took the gospel to Ireland, 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.460 or Gladys Aylward, 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:20.000 a missionary in Asia, 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:21.099 or Amy Carmichael, 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:23.539 and many others, 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.859 many have chosen to renounce marriage, 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:29.579 sex, and biological children for a lifetime 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:31.579 for the sake of serving Christ 00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:33.000 in a way they could not 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.440 as a married person. 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:38.220 Now, historically, 00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.940 this has taken various forms, 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:44.220 including monasteries, 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:46.180 single sects, 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.539 usually Christian communities, 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:49.820 that have an ordered life of prayer, 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:53.960 and that have leadership, 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.220 recognized leadership, 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:59.360 and that commit to staying together in one place, 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:01.180 and often engaging in service together. 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:04.880 Now, monasteries sometimes have a bad name in Protestantism, 00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.080 but again, 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:09.840 there's some wisdom behind the idea 00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:13.680 of a community of single people 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:16.660 who are committed to living together 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:19.380 in the same place for a long time 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.900 as fellow Christians, 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:22.960 as brothers or sisters in Christ, 00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:24.620 and serving Christ together, 00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:26.500 and sharing a life of prayer together. 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:30.859 But it's not only monasteries that have done this. 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:32.160 There are many examples 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:33.980 of intentional Christian communities, 00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:36.539 sometimes including only single people, 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:38.779 sometimes also including married couples 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:40.319 or families who share meals, 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:40.940 and prayer, 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.460 and work, 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.359 and ministry together. 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:44.319 There are some examples of these 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:45.740 in inner cities, 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:48.740 people who commit to living together 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.779 and ministering together 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.960 in particular neighborhoods, 00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:53.500 or on a less formal basis. 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:56.880 What about families sharing holidays 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:58.099 with single people? 00:31:58.859 --> 00:32:00.839 Who are you going to celebrate Thanksgiving 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:02.140 or Christmas with? 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:07.500 Single people have been involved 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.440 in a variety of ministries, 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:12.799 whether it is adopting orphaned children, 00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:15.420 whether it's mercy ministry, 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.759 overseas missions. 00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:21.160 So, one writer says, 00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.180 at my former church, 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:23.100 there were single women 00:32:23.100 --> 00:32:25.799 who served as pastoral nurses. 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:27.400 They were free to attend, 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.740 at almost any moment, 00:32:28.860 --> 00:32:30.880 the mesh of spiritual and physical needs 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:32.140 of congregant shut-ins. 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:35.039 Another church had volunteer street pastors. 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:36.420 They walked the city streets 00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:37.680 late on weekend nights 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:40.140 to provide Christian support 00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:41.460 for the local police force 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.880 to be agents of peace 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:47.279 in a city. 00:32:48.820 --> 00:32:49.539 So, he says, 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.539 the eunuch for the kingdom 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.720 is the one who voluntarily 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:53.480 refrains from marriage and family 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:55.299 so as to guard his or her freedom 00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:56.839 for the sake of serving the Lord 00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:59.000 in whatever way he should call. 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:03.299 Now, I think for people 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:04.619 who have committed 00:33:04.619 --> 00:33:07.980 to be single indefinitely, 00:33:08.639 --> 00:33:10.480 I think the church also has a responsibility 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.920 to live out our calling 00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:14.099 to be the spiritual family 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.740 that Jesus promised his disciples 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.639 would find. 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:19.220 Being single should not mean 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.740 being isolated and ignored, 00:33:21.280 --> 00:33:21.780 but rather, 00:33:23.120 --> 00:33:24.259 it should be an opportunity 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.640 to experience 00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:26.560 the family of God 00:33:26.560 --> 00:33:27.320 in a deeper way. 00:33:29.540 --> 00:33:30.420 Second category, 00:33:30.580 --> 00:33:31.560 some Christians will be content 00:33:31.560 --> 00:33:33.000 to be single for the present time, 00:33:33.080 --> 00:33:34.220 not necessarily indefinitely, 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:37.340 but are okay with being single for now, 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:39.600 due in part to life circumstances 00:33:39.600 --> 00:33:40.660 that make it impossible 00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:41.820 or unwise for them 00:33:41.820 --> 00:33:42.580 to pursue marriage 00:33:42.580 --> 00:33:43.520 at the present time. 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:46.079 Paul may have this category in mind 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:48.099 in 1 Corinthians 7.26 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:49.180 where he refers to 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.099 the present distress, 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.259 which may have been 00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.279 a food shortage 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:55.259 or another temporary circumstance 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:56.359 that would have particularly 00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:57.940 fallen hard on 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:59.660 parents with children. 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:02.540 So I think as a church, 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.100 practically, 00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.660 I think we ought to help each other, 00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:07.040 those who are in the process 00:34:07.040 --> 00:34:07.920 of discerning whether 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:09.119 and how to pursue marriage 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.019 and how to prioritize 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:11.380 major life decisions, 00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.500 whether it's going to grad school 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:16.019 or moving overseas 00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:19.059 or what other things it might be. 00:34:20.740 --> 00:34:21.180 But, 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:23.940 one, 00:34:24.220 --> 00:34:26.300 I think you can be content 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:27.639 to be single for the present time 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:29.379 and devote that to the Lord, 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:31.960 even if it doesn't become, 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:33.420 even if it is not a, 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.960 your state for, 00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:36.460 status for the rest of your life. 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:37.719 Third category, 00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.719 some Christians really want 00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:39.279 to get married 00:34:39.279 --> 00:34:41.460 but can't presently find 00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:42.299 a fellow believer 00:34:42.299 --> 00:34:43.339 of the opposite sex 00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:44.379 who is willing to marry them. 00:34:45.379 --> 00:34:46.219 And in this case, 00:34:46.319 --> 00:34:47.579 singleness can be 00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.400 an unwanted burden 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:49.779 and a heavy cross to bear, 00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:51.339 but it may still be consecrated 00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:52.400 to God for his glory. 00:34:54.839 --> 00:34:55.879 As one person wrote, 00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:56.859 the follower of Christ 00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:57.559 who lives a life 00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:59.220 of consecrated Christian singleness 00:34:59.220 --> 00:35:00.120 but who nevertheless 00:35:00.120 --> 00:35:01.400 yearns for a spouse 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:02.180 should recognize 00:35:02.180 --> 00:35:03.140 that even in that 00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:04.120 unfulfilled yearning, 00:35:04.700 --> 00:35:05.599 he or she walks 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.900 in the footsteps of Jesus, 00:35:07.700 --> 00:35:08.480 who even now 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.780 is not finally united 00:35:09.780 --> 00:35:10.620 with his own bride, 00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:11.180 the church, 00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:12.500 but instead waits 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.260 with passionate 00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:15.099 and patient longing 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:16.500 to be united with us. 00:35:17.220 --> 00:35:18.240 How do we walk 00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:19.500 beside each other 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.559 in the way of the cross 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.900 and bear each other's burdens 00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.760 for Christ's sake? 00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:26.620 So third, 00:35:27.020 --> 00:35:28.540 we've said practically 00:35:28.540 --> 00:35:29.780 we should recognize 00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:30.740 the distinctive witness 00:35:30.740 --> 00:35:32.280 of consecrated Christian singleness, 00:35:32.640 --> 00:35:33.760 encourage it 00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:35.260 within the church 00:35:35.260 --> 00:35:36.300 in its various forms. 00:35:36.680 --> 00:35:36.820 Third, 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:37.660 if you are single, 00:35:38.060 --> 00:35:39.220 consecrate your singleness 00:35:39.220 --> 00:35:39.780 to God. 00:35:40.520 --> 00:35:41.340 Now there are a lot 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:41.940 of reasons 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:43.480 motivating people 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.560 to be single today 00:35:44.560 --> 00:35:46.000 that are not godly 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:47.360 and that are not 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.800 helpful. 00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:50.660 And so, 00:35:51.080 --> 00:35:52.500 we want to help 00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:52.920 each other 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:54.420 resist selfish 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.120 motives 00:35:55.120 --> 00:35:56.260 and worldly pressures 00:35:56.260 --> 00:35:56.860 that promote 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:58.039 ungodly expressions 00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.780 of singleness. 00:35:59.720 --> 00:36:00.420 Whether it's 00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:02.000 just laziness 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:04.120 and not taking initiative 00:36:04.120 --> 00:36:06.900 and remaining immature 00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:08.180 or not wanting 00:36:08.180 --> 00:36:09.039 to be corrected 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:10.740 by someone else 00:36:10.740 --> 00:36:11.600 who's close to you, 00:36:11.680 --> 00:36:12.680 not wanting to experience 00:36:12.680 --> 00:36:14.220 that challenge 00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:15.900 that should come 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:16.560 through any intimate, 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:18.779 through any good friendship 00:36:18.779 --> 00:36:19.619 or certainly any 00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:21.139 marriage relationship, 00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:23.900 idolatry of career, 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:27.400 negative views 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:28.539 or ungodly fears 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.360 of marriage and children. 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:30.320 So we want to resist 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:31.099 all those things. 00:36:31.340 --> 00:36:32.759 None of those things 00:36:32.759 --> 00:36:34.199 are the motivations 00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:35.719 that God has, 00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:38.639 that ought to be driving us 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:39.259 towards singleness. 00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.940 And if those 00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:42.500 are part of our 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.360 motivations, 00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:44.159 if those 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:45.000 sort of are 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:45.920 characteristics 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.800 in our lives, 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.940 we want to 00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:48.940 fight against them 00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:51.199 and seek to be 00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:52.239 renewed in our minds. 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:54.780 But we don't 00:36:54.780 --> 00:36:56.380 only want to resist 00:36:56.380 --> 00:36:57.840 those things, 00:36:58.340 --> 00:37:00.079 we also want to 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:01.039 embrace God's 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.699 calling to 00:37:01.699 --> 00:37:02.519 kingdom service 00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:03.699 and joyful community. 00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:04.380 I think especially 00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:04.960 if you don't want 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:05.440 to be single, 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.320 it's easy to focus 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:06.920 on what God 00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.699 says no to. 00:37:08.340 --> 00:37:09.139 In particular, 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.099 God says no 00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:10.980 to sex outside 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:11.579 of marriage. 00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:13.920 But have you 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.759 considered all 00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:15.219 the things 00:37:15.219 --> 00:37:15.960 God has said 00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:16.559 yes to 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.400 and that he's 00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:17.819 calling you 00:37:17.819 --> 00:37:18.539 to embrace 00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:19.319 friendships, 00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:20.440 service opportunities, 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:21.019 traveling, 00:37:21.219 --> 00:37:22.019 extended times of 00:37:22.019 --> 00:37:22.199 prayer? 00:37:22.319 --> 00:37:22.480 You know, 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:23.019 as a married 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.500 person, 00:37:23.819 --> 00:37:24.599 especially as a 00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:24.940 parent, 00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:25.779 it's harder 00:37:25.779 --> 00:37:27.000 to find extended 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:27.960 times alone 00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:28.480 to pray. 00:37:29.299 --> 00:37:30.340 You can't easily 00:37:30.340 --> 00:37:31.259 just go away 00:37:31.259 --> 00:37:32.679 for a few days 00:37:32.679 --> 00:37:33.579 and pray 00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:34.340 and be with 00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:34.779 the Lord 00:37:34.779 --> 00:37:36.599 or leave 00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:37.519 for a few weeks 00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:38.360 on a missions trip 00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:39.000 if you have 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:39.500 young children 00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:40.019 at home. 00:37:42.219 --> 00:37:42.420 So, 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:45.019 there are many 00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:45.980 things that you 00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:47.000 as a single person 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:47.699 have the freedom 00:37:47.699 --> 00:37:49.099 to engage in 00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:49.880 and embrace 00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:51.940 and so do that. 00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:53.940 Finally, 00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:54.659 I would want to 00:37:54.659 --> 00:37:55.159 challenge us 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:55.980 to engage 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:56.780 the large number 00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:57.519 of single people 00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:58.300 who don't attend 00:37:58.300 --> 00:37:58.719 church. 00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:00.039 Now, 00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:00.820 for a whole variety 00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:01.440 of reasons, 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:02.739 married folks 00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:03.539 and parents 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.760 tend to attend, 00:38:05.179 --> 00:38:05.880 serve in, 00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:06.340 give, 00:38:06.340 --> 00:38:07.480 tithe to, 00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:08.480 and lead 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:09.800 in churches 00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.619 much more 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.460 than single people 00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:13.219 at this time 00:38:13.219 --> 00:38:14.199 in the United States. 00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:15.139 So, 00:38:15.240 --> 00:38:15.699 are we doing 00:38:15.699 --> 00:38:16.500 all that we can 00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:17.179 to engage 00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:17.780 single people 00:38:17.780 --> 00:38:18.340 with the gospel 00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:18.940 and to invite 00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:19.619 them to find 00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.440 their honored 00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:21.480 place and their 00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:21.960 purpose 00:38:21.960 --> 00:38:23.320 in Christ's 00:38:23.320 --> 00:38:23.639 church? 00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:29.159 Well, 00:38:29.199 --> 00:38:29.860 we'll move on 00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:31.800 to our questions 00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:32.599 for discussion 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:33.280 and reflection, 00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:34.639 which are the 00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:36.199 same questions 00:38:36.199 --> 00:38:36.939 I asked 00:38:36.939 --> 00:38:37.719 last week 00:38:37.719 --> 00:38:38.299 with regard 00:38:38.299 --> 00:38:38.899 to marriage, 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:40.179 but now 00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:41.059 with regard 00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:41.639 to singleness. 00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:43.900 peace Shoulders. 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:51.519 peace 00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:53.779 . 00:38:53.779 --> 00:38:59.539 Quite 00:38:59.539 --> 00:38:59.980 . 00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.239 . 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:04.279 . 00:39:04.279 --> 00:39:04.559 . 00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:05.219 . 00:39:05.219 --> 00:39:06.079 . 00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:07.359 . 00:39:07.359 --> 00:39:08.079 .