1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Introduction: Super-spiritual teachers, Anxious, oppressed believers, A Present distress

I: CULTIVATE DISCERNING CONTENTMENT (26-28, 36-40)
• Contentment (vv. 26-27): “I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.”

• Discerning Contentment (vv. 28, 36-40): “But if you do marry, you have not sinned … if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned …”

II: CULTIVATE AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE (29-31)

• The perspective: The time has grown very short

 o Marriage (v. 29)
 o Mourning (v. 30)
 o Good things (v. 30)

• “Deal with the world as not engrossed in it.”

III: SERVE THE LORD AS A LOVED SERVANT (32-35)

• Are single people more devoted to Christ? (vv. 32-34)

“The unmarried man is anxious … the married man is anxious … the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious … the married woman is anxious.” … “ I want you to be free from anxieties.”

“Do not be anxious about anything.” (Phil 4:6) … “Do not be anxious about your life.” (Matt. 6:25)

“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares (anxieties) of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Matt. 13:22)

• Warns us of the _________________ of ___________________

• Points us to our ______________ ___________