I. Biblical Masculinity and Femininity in the Context of Singleness.
A. The Bible Celebrates Singleness for Men and Women.
B. The Single Christian Expresses Manhood or Womanhood in the Family of God.
For [single] men:
- First, you can provide for other men spiritually, and you can also provide for the ministry financially
- Second, you can take responsibility as a member to help protect the church in its doctrine. Study the Word for your own soul first, and then do it so that you might be equipped to teach it to others faithfully.
- Third, you should strive either to be an elder some day or at least to walk in the integrity that characterizes elders according to the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
- And lastly, seek to protect the ladies in the church in appropriate ways,
For [single] women:
- First, we saw in Gen 2:18 that Eve was created as Adam’s “suitable helper.” This means that you can express your femininity through a helpful, encouraging, eager-to-serve disposition. So take that posture and apply it to your service to the church as a single woman.
- Secondly, it’s also feminine to nurture the spiritual health of other women.
- cultivate spiritual beauty as you relate to your brothers in Christ, married and unmarried.
II. Biblical Masculinity and Femininity in the Context of Marriage
Men and women are created equal, but with distinct, God-given roles within the family: the husband lovingly leads as provider and protector, and the wife respectfully submits to her husband as helper.
Ephesians 5
Here are 4 observations we can make from this passage:
1. Paul calls wives to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord.
2. The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church.
3. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church.
4. Marriage speaks to the world about Christ’s relationship with his church.
