Singleness | Food for Thought

Suggested Passages

• Matthew 22:23-33

• 1 Corinthians 7:6-8; 25-35

• Mark 10:24b-31

Questions

• What do you think about the fact that - in the New Creation - no one will be married or get married?

  • Does this seem like good news? …bad news? …weird news?

  • How do your thoughts, feelings, reactions, etc. to this eternal reality reflect the way you view singleness here and now?

  • While this isn’t the “Marriage” week in our series, what does this say about the significance of significant others?

  • What does this New Creation reality say about what really mediates love, togetherness, intimacy, fulfillment, satisfaction, etc.?

• What unique pressures, temptations, difficulties, etc. come with singleness?

  • Are there any similarities, differences, overlap, etc. between those and the things that Paul identifies in 1 Corinthians 7?

  • What are often our concerns about singles, singleness, etc., and what seems to be Paul’s biggest concern(s)?

  • When you compare the way the world views singleness verses the church, what stands out (for better or worse)?

  • How does Paul define being free from worries / anxieties, pursuing what’s good, a “proper order” of life, etc. in a way that might be different from the church and/or the world?

  • What can the WHOLE church learn from what Paul tells single folks?

• In Mark 10:24b-31, how are the promise of homes, families, legacy, etc. “in this time” fulfilled in and through the church?

  • What does this require of folks who aren’t single and/or who have houses, families, etc.?

  • What does this require of those who are single and/or who don’t have those things?

  • While there are certainly some things outside of our control when it comes to our relationships, in what way can single Christians still choose to use singleness for the sake of the gospel?

  • How can we treat - not just singles - but everyone in the church not just as “special guests” in our lives, but as genuine family?