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Matthew 19:10-15 ESV

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.” Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

I. ALL THE SINGLE PEOPLE
A. Singleness is a sacred calling (10-11)
B. Single by birth, divorce, & choice to live that way to honor Jesus (12)
C. Singleness has its advantages in the kingdom.

1 Corinthians 7:6-9 — 6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

II. THE VALUE OF ALL LIFE STAGES TO JESUS (13-15)
A. Jesus values kids as well as adults.

III. FOR MARRIED PEOPLE ONLY
A. The church belongs to married couples and is not for singles.
B. Instead of investing in singles we try to fix them up.
C. Instead of admiring their devotion we pity their lack of sexual activity.

IV. VALUING SINGLES
A. We do not value singles by isolating them in their own ministry.
B. We value singles by treating them as equals.

V. FOR ADULTS ONLY
A. Isolated from adults kid’s programs tells kids church is not for them.
B. We value kids by keeping the gospel simple.
C. We value our kids by valuing Jesus as our greatest treasure.
D. We value our kids by monitoring every source of their learning.

Proverbs 22:6 — Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it….

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 — 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

CLOSING THOUGHT: The value we place on human life as a church will be expressed in our involvement in mission of Jesus to take Gospel to all people, in all places.