Today the numbers of adults is on the rise in the UK—and it looks like the number shows no sign of shrinking. What can pastors and church members do to honour and care for singles in their midst? The following articles will get us thinking about this important discussion.
How to Honor and encourage singles in the church.
On the Gospel Coalition website they have a new roundtable video with Jennifer Marshall, Carolyn McCulley and Betsy Childs. Each of these women have written books and articles about their experiences and what the bible has to say. Jennifer Marshall has written Now and Not Yet: Making Sense of Single Life in the Twenty-First Century and Carolyn McCulley, wrote Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?: Trusting God with a Hope Deferred. Watch the video to hear these three women discuss the idolisation of marriage, what McCulley loves about Psalm 25, advice for the discouraged, and more.
No Sex in the City
In an honest article on Premier Christianity, author and blogger, Carrie Lloyd, talks about her struggles with saving sex for marriage. She challenges the church to talk openly about sex and the importance of communicating the great value of purity.
Sex and the single woman
In this article, again on the Gospel Coalition, Fabienne Harford, director of women’s training at The Austin Stone Community Church, shares her struggles with singleness. She says, "...it turns out believing that sexual fulfillment is designed for marriage doesn’t make you any less of a sexual being. Understanding and even loving God’s view of sex doesn’t make you want it less. Singleness presents a series of hardships, but for me learning to live without physical intimacy has provided the biggest challenge and deepest suffering of this season."
In this article, again on the Gospel Coalition, Fabienne Harford, director of women’s training at The Austin Stone Community Church, shares her struggles with singleness. She says, "...it turns out believing that sexual fulfillment is designed for marriage doesn’t make you any less of a sexual being. Understanding and even loving God’s view of sex doesn’t make you want it less. Singleness presents a series of hardships, but for me learning to live without physical intimacy has provided the biggest challenge and deepest suffering of this season."
If you have any suggestions of good blogs/articles, please do get in touch at womenatcharlotte@gmail.com
