2. Living single in a married world
SINGLED OUT, In the Lord
Living single in a married world

3. Life is in a holding pattern
Missing out on God’s plan
Feeling 2nd class
Like something is wrong with me
The Scriptures present a different view

4. Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control (1 Cor. 7:1-5 ESV)

5. I wish that all were as I myself am
I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am (1 Cor. 7:7-8 ESV)

6. Why is it a gift to be single?
Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife (1 Corinthians 7:25-27 ESV)
Better in view of the present distress

7. But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people (2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV)

8. Why is it a gift to be single?
But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that (1 Corinthians 7:28 ESV)
Better in view of the present distress
Because you’re going to have trouble married

9. Why is it a gift to be single?
I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband (1 Corinthians 7:32-34 ESV)

10. Why is it a gift to be single?
Better in view of the present distress
Because you’re going to have trouble married
Because you’re free from worldly concerns
V. 33, But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided
V. 34, But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.

11. Why is it a gift to be single?
I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:35 ESV)
Better in view of the present distress
Because you’re going to have trouble married
Because you’re free from worldly concerns
Because service to the Lord is undivided

12. Being Single is NOT Abnormal
Must fit the American dream?
Interrogated about grandkids?
Asked if you’re gay?
Feel like you’re living in Noah’s day?
What about Jesus, John, or Paul?

13. Being Single is NOT Abnormal
CAN change self to please our significant other and lose our own identity
CAN forget that God is our PROVIDER
Our identity is found in Christ
No material thing/person can be our source of happiness

14. Being Single is NOT Abnormal
WHO ARE YOU IN CHRIST?
Being Single is NOT Abnormal
Acts 5:32, Spirit filled
Eph. 2:10, God’s workmanship
Rom. 8:32, a conqueror
Eph. 1:4, chosen one
Eph. 1:5, God’s adopted child
Eph. 1:9, fulfillment of God’s purpose
Heb. 13:5, never forsaken or alone

15. Being Single is NOT Abnormal
WHO ARE YOU IN CHRIST?
Being Single is NOT Abnormal
Until you can define yourself, in Christ, nothing worldly will make you happy
When you CAN define yourself in Christ you won’t need anything worldly to make you happy
If you are miserable with yourself then marriage is NOT the answer. You’ll just make two people miserable.

16. Being Single is NOT Abnormal
WHO ARE YOU IN CHRIST?
Being Single is NOT Abnormal
Jesus wasn’t single because…
God didn’t love Him
Or didn’t want Him to be happy
But because marriage wasn’t God’s purpose for Him

17. Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. (Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 ESV)

18. Ecclesiastes 11:6-10 Advice on Living Life Large
Rejoice in your years
Walk in the ways of your heart
And in the sight of your eyes
Remove vexation from your heart