Kyle Kauffman

One of the most painful realities in our world is that of broken marriages. Sin runs so deep that it effects every single relationship we have. And because marriage is often the closest human relationship we have, the pain and hurt that sin can cause in marriage can be worse than anywhere else. We know from scripture that God intends and desires for marriage to be a lifelong covenant. This should correct any thinking or impulse in us that may see divorce as a light or small thing and encourage us to love our spouses even during the most difficult seasons of marriage. Yet we also must recognize that divorce is a painfully personal reality for some in the church. And the area of divorce and remarriage is not something all Christians will agree on. This should lead us to approach talking about divorce with grace, humility, and compassion as we explore when and where God may allow for divorce. Above all we need to remember that it is God’s grace alone that sustains any of us in marriage. And God, by his grace, can heal and repair the greatest wounds that may come from marriage or divorce.

1 Corinthians 7:10-16, 39-40

Kyle Kauffman

We live in a world that can simultaneously make too much or too little of marriage. On the one hand we can see marriage as the supreme goal in life. We can think everyone should aspire to be married and that there is nothing greater than marriage. We either intentionally or unintentionally make marriage the most important thing in this life and by doing so leave those who are unmarried feeling insignificant or like second-class citizens. On the other hand, we can see marriage as unimportant or as a threat to our freedom and joy in this life. Our culture can so easily view marriage as “just a piece of paper.” Paul does neither of these things. He sees both marriage and singleness as being good gifts by God. He sees both being intentionally given by God according to God’s calling in our life. And he sees both providing opportunities to reflect and enjoy God in unique ways. In the end Paul shows us that marriage, and singleness, and every other calling in this life are ultimately means to carry out the supreme goal in this life: living to enjoy and glorify God above all else.

1 Corinthians 7:1-9, 17-38

Kyle Kauffman

The people living in Corinth tended to have simultaneously too high a view of sex and too low a view of sex. They were prone to see sex as everything (worshiping the act of sex) and as nothing (treating sex like it really doesn’t matter). This is one of the places where Corinth looks very similar to our modern culture. We are simultaneously a hyper-sexualized culture and yet also a culture that tends to say, “What’s the big deal with sex?” As a result, those who hold to a biblical view of sex can simultaneously be seen as prudes and as people who are making a big deal about nothing. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Paul addresses why sex is such a big deal by pointing us to the fact that what we do with our bodies matters to God. This passage gives us theological grounding that enables us to think and live wisely in relation to sex. It ultimately shows us that God cares about sex because God cares about us.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20