Theme: Content in Christ
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 7:1–40
Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)
Know: God desires us to find contentment in Him no matter our circumstances.
Think: View my circumstances as opportunities to serve and worship God.
Do: Cultivate a spirit of contentment in all circumstances.
Notes and questions:
B1 1 Corinthians 7 deals mainly with marriage topics.
B2 Marriage views regarding sacraments (brief Christian)
C1 Roman Catholic view
D1 “To understand the Sacraments, it may help to start at the beginning. What are the Seven Sacraments? They are:
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The Church further groups them in this way:
D2 An outward sign of inward grace, a sacred and mysterious sign or ceremony, ordained by Christ, by which grace is conveyed to our souls...
In every sacrament three things are necessary: the outward sign; the inward grace; Divine institution.
The purpose of the sacraments is to make people holy, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God; but being signs, they also have a teaching function. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and object, they also nourish, strengthen, and express it; that is why they are called "sacraments of faith." The sacraments impart grace, but, in addition, the very act of celebrating them disposes the faithful most effectively to receive this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God rightly, and to practice charity. Link
C2 Lutheran view: That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ’s sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. Source: Triglota Book of Concord English Article V: Of the Ministry page 25. And same source Article XIII: Of the Use of the Sacraments they teach that the Sacraments were ordained, not only to be marks of profession among men, but rather to be signs and testimonies of the will of God 2] toward us, instituted to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them. Wherefore we must so use the Sacraments that faith be added to believe the promises which are offered and set forth through the Sacraments.
C3 Calvinists (those using the Westminster Confession (WCF)): Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ, and his benefits; and to confirm our interest in him: as also, to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the church, and the rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word. See Chapter 27 of WCF.
C4 Free Will Baptists: The word, sacrament, does not exist in the Free Will Baptist Treatise.
C5 The point of this is if you are single for whatever reason, you have as much of God’s love and God’s grace as someone who is married. A person is not more holy being single or being married.
B3 Contentment
C1 Which one illustrates contentment the best?
B4 1 Corinthians 7:1–16,
C1 The Corinthians had many questions about marriage. They wanted to know what Jesus instructed and commanded. Paul works to teach them.
C2 Marriage is not more holy than singleness.
C3 Singleness in not more holy than marriage.
C4 Marriage is blessed by God.
C5 Sex is egalitarian. The wife can say, “No,” so can the husband. It is to be mutual. The passage is referring to some married couples where one believed in celibacy. The Apostle states this is wrong.
C6 Marriage is NOT a master–slave relationship.
C7 Marriage, especially Christian marriage, is a team, oneness, going through life together in love facing joys and difficulties together, serving the Lord Jesus, and finally resting together in heaven waiting for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. People are not married in heaven. The Church of Jesus Christ is the bride and the Lord Jesus is the bridegroom.
D1 2 Corinthians 11:2 NKJV For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
D2 Revelation 19:7-9 NKJV Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."
C8 Marriage is not about me; it is about us.
C9 Marriage is a ministry to each other and others.
C10 Marriage is about giving to each other, not selfish actions.
C11 Marriage is about contentment—together.
C12 Marriage is a oneness in body, soul, and spirit.
C13 Jesus is Lord of the family, not the husband, not the wife.
C14 God’s rules about marriage and in marriage are the best and only way to live.
C15 If one is a Christian and the other is not, then
D1 If they want to stay married, OK. It is a ministry to the unsaved spouse.
D2 If the unsaved wants to leave, let them leave, and you’re free to marry again.
B5 1 Corinthians 7:17–24,
C1 Contentment whether Jewish or Gentile background (1 Corinthians 7:17–19).
D1 If a Jew and circumcised, do not change.
D2 If a Gentile and uncircumcised, do not change.
D3 How do we apply this today?
E1 What if a person was saved while a Pentecostal or Church of Christ?
E2 What if a person was baptized as a Methodist or an Amish/Mennonite?
D4 In 1 Corinthians 7:19, Paul states that what is important is to keep the commandments of God. Does this refer to the 10 Commandments, the ~613 Old Testament commandments, or the commandments given by Jesus and His Apostles? It must be noted that keeping God’s commandments is not just outward keeping but also inward keeping. Consider:
E1 1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV So Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
E2 Luke 6:46 NRSV "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you?
E3 John 14:15 NKJV If you love Me, keep My commandments.
C2 1 Corinthians 7:20–24,
D1 Does God approve of slavery?
D2 What socio-economic status, job, position, etc. can we stay in and which must we leave? Can we continue to own a saloon?
B6 1 Corinthians 7:25–40,
C1 1 Corinthians 7:25–28,
D1 Does this mean that young women are forbidden to marry?
D2 What key phrase is in 1 Corinthians 7:26 that helps us to interpret this passage correctly?
D3 Is getting married a sin? Is not getting married a sin? These were serious questions from the Corinthian Christians because of the level of persecution.
C2 1 Corinthians 7:29–31,
D1 Are we to give away all our possessions?
D2 What does it mean?
D3 What is a better investment—business, stocks, bonds, etc. or spiritual investments? How do we invest in spiritual things?
C3 1 Corinthians 7:32–35,
D1 What remark teaches us something about how we are to treat our wives? Does that mean we are to be doting men?
D2 Can one who is married still serve the Lord?
C4 1 Corinthians 7:36–38: Does this passage teach it is better, more godly, to be single than married?
C5 1 Corinthians 7:39–40,
D1 Does this mean that there are no causes for divorce?
D2 Why should Christians only marry Christians?
B7 Questions
C1 What is the difference between contentment and lackadaisical?
C2 What is more important—serving the church or taking care of our family?
C3 Finding contentment
D1 Having the foundation of salvation and living a Christian life.
D2 Having spiritual, Biblical, principles to live by.
D3 Having an attitude that others may be more important than my wants.
D4 Knowing that money will not buy contentment or happiness.
D5 1 Timothy 6:11-12 NRSV But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
D6 What else can you add to this list?
B8 Next week:
C1 Free to Love
C2 Theme: Freedom in Christ
C3 Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 8:1–9:23
