sunday sermon

So i skipped church today to find a piper sermon online...the theme for todays message, I don't know maybe it's a sign. It was definately a reality check. Kinda like this is your life and there is blessing in this life...if nothing happens and no changes ever take place from now until you die...there is still blessing in this. So i take this as a sign-I know your all laughing but seriously-what are the chances when i skip church and finally check piper's website for the first time out here that I will get the sermon on singleness...and even mums was writing this morning, that heaven help me if i ever get married...well i think it's a sign. Pretty sure God is saying that I'm single. the title is 'Better than sons and daughters'...and these are not my words I give full credit to (married) John Piper.

I will start and end with my main point and, in the middle, cover a wide terrain of Scripture to support it. My main point is that God promises those of you who remain single in Christ blessings that are better than the blessings of marriage and children, and he calls you to display, by the Christ-exalting devotion of your singleness, the truths about Christ and his kingdom that shine more clearly through singleness than through marriage and childrearing. The truths, namely,

1. That the family of God grows not by propagation through sexual intercourse, but by regeneration through faith in Christ;¹
2. That relationships in Christ are more permanent, and more precious, than relationships in families (and, of course, it is wonderful when relationships in families are also relationships in Christ; but we know that is often not the case);
3. That marriage is temporary, and finally gives way to the relationship to which it was pointing all along: Christ and the church—the way a picture is no longer needed when you see face to face;
4. That faithfulness to Christ defines the value of life; all other relationships get their final significance from this. No family relationship is ultimate; relationship to Christ is.

To say the main point more briefly: God promises spectacular blessings to those of you who remain single in Christ, and he gives you an extraordinary calling for your life. To be single in Christ is, therefore, not a falling short of God’s best, but a path of Christ-exalting, covenant-keeping obedience that many are called to walk.