| LEADER'S GUIDE |
| 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Questions about Marriage |
1. Why might some of the Corinthians thank it was best not to get married? (Vs 1) A: There is no definitive answer here. Perhaps with so much promiscuity some of them thought it would be better not to have to commit to just one person. Perhaps there is another reason. We just don’t know. 2. In Verse 2, Paul says that being married should keep you from doing something immoral. What would that immoral thing be? (See vs 6:9, 15-16) A: Most likely Paul was talking about prostitution, although in vs. 6:9 and Romans 1:26 he identified four types of sexual immorality: 1) Adultery. 2) Male prostitute. 3) Male homosexual. 4) Female homosexual. 3. In a recent episode of Wife Swap, a strong Christian couple strongly believed that in all things in the household, the man rules. What do you think Paul would say about that in light of verses 4 and 5? A: Paul says in no uncertain terms that sex is a two-way street. Verse 4-5: A wife belongs to her husband instead of to herself, and a husband belongs to his wife instead of to himself. So don’t refuse sex to each other, unless you agree not to have sex for a little while, in order to spend time in prayer. 4. What would Paul (or you) say to a strongly Christian woman who says that sex is permissible only in a dark room under the covers in the missionary position and only when everything is totally okay between she and her husband (which only happens about once every six months)? 5. In Verses 10-11, Paul reaffirms the principle that divorce is wrong among Christians. (Matthew 5:32, 19:3-9) How do you feel about that? How about divorce among non-Christians or mixed couples? (Verse 15) A: Matthew 5:32 - But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. Matthew 19:3-9 - Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful. However, in verse 15, Paul says if you are married to a non-Christian and he or she wants a divorce, then you should agree to it. 6. Many Christians strongly believe they should only marry another Christian. What would Paul say about that? How do you personally feel about it? A: Paul advises a Christian married to a non-believer to stay with the person and try to win him or her over by one’s actions. Whether he would suggest a Christian marry a non-believer in the first place is not mentioned, but he clearly sees that it has happened and will happen again. Falling in love with someone may or may not have anything to do with their faith. And what about two non-Christians who get married and then one becomes a Christian? 7. In the paragraph on obeying the Lord (Verses 17 to 24) Paul repeats his basic premise three times (vs 17, 20, 24). In your own words, what is it? A: Remain in the situation where you were when God called you. I have a saying that I’ve tried to live by: “when good fortune comes and you earn more, continue to live as you did before.” Well, here the Paul is saying something similar: you heard the word of God and you put your faith in the Lord. That doesn’t mean that you should drop everything and go to seminary and become a pastor or missionary. Maybe you will eventually, but Paul says you should stay what you were. 8. What are some reasons you should stay what you were when God chose you? A: Your personal testimony to those who know you will be very powerful. You can probably have far more impact among people who know you than among strangers or foreigners. He is specifically saying to the Gentiles that there is no reason to get circumcised like the Jews, that outward signs don’t matter; it’s what’s in you that matters. To slaves, he says there is nothing wrong with trying to improve your condition, but to be content at every stage. 9. So Paul says that Christians should be content, stay the way they were when God chose them, and what else? (Verses 19, 22) A: Verse 19 - The important thing is to obey God’s commands. Verse 22 - you become a slave of Christ, i.e., your ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not to man or to someone else. 10. On a contentment scale of 1 to 10 (1 = “I hate getting up each day” and 10 = “life couldn’t be better”) where do you fall? Why? |
Bible study courtesy of www.SwapMeetDave.com |
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