Maintaining one’s commitment to God while executing our duties to a household can be a tough balancing act for a Christian. While all who believe in Jesus will have difficulties navigating this life (Jn 16:33), there is a distinction in the type of daily challenges and how they managed depending on your marital status.

Paul wraps up to his teachings on marriage to the Corinthian congregation. He offers more in-depth instructions how both married and unmarried can sustain their devotion to God, but at the same time, be on guard against divided affections based on our relation obligations to others.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-40

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Marriage can only be fruitful when it lived out the way God prescribes in his Scriptures. In the first two parts of this sermon series, Paul dedicated his teaching to the topics of marital conjugal rights, single people, divorced, and mixed marriage (i.e., a believer with an unbelieving spouse). He now continues his teaching on marriage by diving into the following areas:

· Engagement (betrothed) as relates to marriage and wedding vows.

· What are realistic expectations for a married couple in dealing with the troubles of this life in how it impacts marriage and service unto God.

Paul provides an eternal perspective on how to live for God regardless of one’s marital status.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:25-31

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All Christians are called out of the world from various places of life. As believers we are in the world, but not of the world. Because of Jesus, our citizenship is in heaven, not of the earth. Paul takes a brief pause in his teaching in Biblical principles of marriage to stress this truth: Whatever socio-geo-economic status that a Christian finds themselves, we are called to live honorably according to Christ character before God in that very place.

This insert within Paul’s discourse on marriage is not random nor out of place. It will begin to lay foundation for more in-depth instructions for single, widowed, and Christians married to unbelievers found in the final passages (v25-39) of this chapter.

Paul uses the illustrations of circumcision & uncircumcision; and slave & freedman to help us understand the importance of living a life for God where he assigned us to his Glory.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

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