Straight Talk about Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7
Series: Family Matters

Sermon Notes

1. Straight Talk about Marriage (vv. 1-9)
2. Straight Talk about Divorce (vv. 10-24)
3. Straight Talk about Being Single (vv. 25-40)

Discussion Questions

Download the discussion questions as a printable PDF file.

GETTING TO KNOW ME

• Did you listen to the sermon?
• What are you most looking forward to in your Community Group?

INTO THE BIBLE

1. Read Genesis 2:15-25. How is Eve a “suitable helper” for Adam? Were Adam and Eve literal people?
2. Read Malachi 2:10-16. Why does the Bible use such strong language about divorce? Discuss. Why does the Bible call marriage a “covenant”? What does this mean?
3. Read Matthew 19:1-11. Summarize and discuss what Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce here. When is divorce permitted? When is it not permitted? Why?
4. What role can “empty nesters” and older couples play in the lives of singles? Younger married couples?
5. Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. Why is any form of sexual activity, outside of marriage, sinful? Why is sexual activity outside of marriage so destructive to us personally?
6. Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-6. What are Paul’s instructions to husbands and wives about sexual relations?
7. Read 1 Corinthians 7:25-35. What are some benefits of staying single?
8. How is singleness viewed in the church today?
9. Look through 1 Corinthians 7 again. Under what circumstances, biblically, is someone free to remarry?
10. Read Ephesians 5:22-33. What are Paul’s instructions to husbands? To wives? What are the benefits?

APPLICATION

Spend time praying for singles and married couples in your group.

Parenting Pitfalls

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Genesis 12:10-20
Series: Family Matters

1. Abraham’s Lying
2. Isaac and Rebekah’s Favoritism
3. Rebekah’s Lying on Behalf of Her Son
4. Gideon’s Half-hearted Commitment to God
5. Eli’s Failure to Disciple and Discipline His Sons

Parenting 101

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Series: Family Matters

1. Remember That Your Marriage Is Priority #1
2. Remember the Ultimate Goal of Parenting
3. Remember Four Essentials to Parenting According to the Bible

Marriage 101

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33
Series: Family Matters

1. God's Will for Marriage (vv. 31-33)
2. God's Will for Wives (vv. 22-24)
3. God's Will for Husbands (vv. 25-30)

Walking with God in Dark Times

Speaker: Pastor Steve Yeschek
Scripture: Psalm 23
Series: —

Four encouraging truths about God as our Good Shepherd:

1. The Benefits of Being One of His Sheep
2. He Restores His Sheep
3. He Guides His Sheep
4. He Sees His Sheep through the Dark Times

What truths about the Good Shepherd do you need to focus on? In what dark times do you still need the application of prayer and scriptural truth?

In the dark times, ask yourself: am I praying? Am I thinking right? Am I being thankful? Am I abiding in the truth? Am I abiding in love? Is my hope in God alone?

More and More

Speaker: Pastor Ron Kirkeeng
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Series: —

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing."

1. Keep Growing More and More
2. Keep Loving More and More

• How am I going to live this out in my life and the life of our community at EFCCL?
• How can I love and share the gospel with the people of Crystal Lake?

The Call to Make Disciples

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20
Series: Growing Up in Christ

1. Going
2. Baptizing
3. Teaching

Why Be Baptized Under Water?

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Mark 1
Series: —

On Sunday, August 10, we celebrated with many in our church family who decided to step forward in obedience and be baptized. Their testimonies are included in this week's audio/video files, along with Pastor Jay's sermon.

Evangelism the Jesus Way

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: John 3-4
Series: Growing Up in Christ

1. Be Willing to Connect with All Kinds of People
2. Be Willing to Have a Conversation
3. Be Willing to Share the Gospel

Fearing and Obeying God

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Series: Growing Up in Christ

1. Quick Facts about Deuteronomy
2. The Importance of Fearing and Obeying God
3. The Power for Fearing and Obeying God