1 Corinthians 7. Day 158 - The New Testament in a Year

Marriage and Singleness. Living as You Are Called. Devotion to the Lord. 

"Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him.  1 Corinthians 7:17

Hosted by Sean Bailey

Opening Statement:

Welcome to "The New Testament in a Year." I'm your host, Sean Bailey. Today, we're continuing our journey through the Bible, focusing on 1 Corinthians Chapter 7. Reading and understanding scripture is crucial for every believer because it helps us grow in our faith, strengthens our relationship with God, and provides guidance for living a Christ-centered life.

Review of the Previous Chapter:

In the previous chapter, 1 Corinthians 6, Paul addressed issues related to lawsuits among believers and sexual immorality. He emphasized the importance of maintaining purity and honoring God with our bodies, reminding us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

Context for 1 Corinthians Chapter 7:

In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul responds to questions from the Corinthian church regarding marriage, singleness, and sexual relations. This chapter offers practical advice on various aspects of relationships, highlighting the importance of contentment and devotion to the Lord in whatever state we find ourselves—married or single.

Look-Fors:

Marriage and Singleness:

• 1 Corinthians 7:1-2: "Now in response to the matters you wrote about: 'It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.' But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband."

• Paul acknowledges the value of singleness but advises marriage as a safeguard against immorality.

Living as You Are Called:

• 1 Corinthians 7:17: "Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches."

• Paul encourages believers to remain in the life situation they were in when they were called to faith.

Devotion to the Lord:

• 1 Corinthians 7:32-34: "I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But the married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife—and his interests are divided."

• Paul discusses the benefits of singleness for undivided devotion to God.

Character Traits Revealed About God:

• Wise: God's wisdom is evident in Paul's practical advice on relationships, showing that God understands human nature and provides guidance to help us live rightly.

Reading of 1 Corinthians Chapter 7 (CSB):

[Read the full text of 1 Corinthians 7]

Devotion Takeaways:

Embrace Your Current Situation:

• Paul teaches us to be content and serve God in our current circumstances.

Pursue Purity in Relationships:

• Paul emphasizes the importance of purity within marriage and singleness.

Prioritize Devotion to God:

• Paul highlights the benefits of undivided devotion to God.

Preview of the Next Chapter:

Next time, we'll explore 1 Corinthians Chapter 8, where Paul discusses the issue of food sacrificed to idols and how our actions can impact others. Stay tuned for insights on living a life of love and consideration for fellow believers.

In this episode of "The New Testament in a Year," we explore 1 Corinthians Chapter 7, where Paul addresses questions about marriage, singleness, and sexual relations. We'll provide detailed context to help understand the significance of Paul's advice and how it applies to our lives today.

We'll focus on three key "look-fors" to guide our reading: the roles within marriage and singleness, the importance of living as you are called, and the benefits of undivided devotion to the Lord. Following the reading, we'll discuss three devotion takeaways that offer practical applications for improving our walk with Christ, such as embracing our current situation, pursuing purity, and prioritizing our devotion to God. Join us as we gain deeper insights into how to live faithfully in our relationships and everyday lives.