Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-35, specifically focusing on vv. 25-35. Who has Paul addressed in the sections leading up to this? Who does Paul now address in this section? Who are the betrothed? How does the previous section help us understand what Paul is saying here?
• What is Paul’s judgment to the betrothed in vv. 26-27? In light of what does he make this judgment? Does the “present distress” apply to us?
• What does Paul suggest comes with marriage in v. 28? How does he explain himself in the following verses? How could you summarize vv. 29-31, and how does that help you understand the passage?
• What are the anxieties of the married and the unmarried according to Paul in vv. 32-35? Is this always the case? How do the previous verses alter your understanding? What are the benefits of singleness according to this passage?
• The Sermon Study equipping class notes are available online for anyone wanting to dig deeper.  Please review this week's notes to help study this passage.  Click here for the notes. 

Prayerfully Meditate

• What are the implications of this passage to your life? If you are single, how should you respond? Is it sinful to get married? (See v. 28) Should every single person stay single as a response to this passage? What are some sinful reasons to remain single? According to this passage, what are biblical reasons to remain single? How are you using your singleness to serve the Lord? Are you single because of commitment/immaturity/sin issues?
• How should those who are married respond? Would a right response be to leave your spouse so that “you can better serve the Lord”? See v. 28 for why this isn’t the case. Should you still be concerned about your wife? Should that be something that occupies your attention? In what ways do the gospel, the context of this passage, and the rest of Scripture help you understand the role of marriage in pursuing the Lord?