Undivided Devotion Series

Undivided Devotion

1 Corinthians Series

CCCAG 9-14-2025

Scripture: 1 Corinthians chapter 7

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Introduction

At a previous church, we had a sudden influx of younger people who had no church background and had tons of questions. So, we did a series on Wednesday nights called “Stump the Pastor”. People in the church would write an anonymous question on a piece of paper and turn it in with the offering. Whoever was speaking next week would take a few of those questions and do bible lessons around the subjects.

I bring this up because this is exactly what Paul is doing here in 1st Corinthians 7- he’s playing “stump the pastor” in the 1st century.

Chapter 7 reads like a pastor sitting in his office answering the stack of questions sent to him by the leadership in Corinth.

That’s why this chapter seems so disjointed and so unlike how Paul normally writes- usually he would give a principle and then defend it over several chapters like in Romans or Galatians.

And through it all, Paul has one goal in mind, which he states clearly in verse 35:

“I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper, and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.”

This is the anchor of the whole chapter.

That is the message of 1 Cor 7- not just details about Christian marriage, but in devotion to the LORD Jesus Christ no matter where you are in life.

We are going to dive into this, but first let’s ask God to bless our time together.

Prayer

Because of the way this chapter is laid out in the bible, we are going to jump around a little within it and not follow the order as written. Let’s start in verse 17-

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1. Living Your Calling (vv. 17–24)

Let’s start in verses 17–24:

“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… Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God’s commands is what matters. … Let each of you remain with God in the situation in which you were called.”

Here is the principle-

You don’t need a change in circumstances to be faithful to God.

Like many today, The Corinthians were drawn to a performance based religion because that is what they were used to.

Performance based religious says if I do A, then B will happen. If I do this, then I’ll be blessed.

In other words to the Corinthian, there was always one more step to make before something favorable would happen.

“If I just get married, then I’ll be satisfied.”

“If I just get out of this marriage, then I’ll be free.”

“If I could be released from my employment or slavery, then I can finally serve God.”

Paul says, No. Serve Christ now, right where you are.

He even brings in examples - Circumcision or uncircumcision- basically in their context that means Jew or Gentile?

Doesn’t matter which one you are.

Slave or free? Doesn’t matter. Married or unmarried, same thing.

What matters is following the call of God and obeying HIM right where He’s planted you.

This idea tripped up people of all ages and circumstances in the church at Corinth.

Remember the culture-

Woman in polygamous marriages- some who became Christians said that “I have freedom in Christ, therefore I should just leave my husband.”

You had slaves who said, “Jesus set me free, therefore I should run away and be free of being a slave”

You had people not married but living together.

All kinds of drama and situations were in that church, just like most church’s today.

Here is the main point to what Paul is saying here-

It’s not like Jesus Christ saved you, called you, and equipped you for whatever ministry He has for you, only to suddenly realize-

“Wait, who forgot to do the background check on this person?

They are a mess! Why didn’t someone tell me they were in that kind of lifestyle or sin?”

No my friends- you didn’t’ catch Jesus by surprise.

The bible actually says this-

1 Cor 1:27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.

What this scripture tells us-