The video, "16. Marriage & Divorce Part #2," is a sermon fromPastor Steve Yater, focusing on 1 Corinthians Chapter 7. The pastor, delves into Paul's answers to the Corinthian church's questions about marriage, singleness, and living as a believer in the world.

Key takeaways from the sermon include:

  • Recap of Previous Teachings (0:50-2:56): The sermon begins by revisiting the context of 1 Corinthians, where Paul addresses questions from a diverse church (Gentile and Jew) seeking to understand how to best serve God.
  • Sexual Purity within Marriage (3:09-4:23): Paul emphasizes the importance of sexual purity, clarifying that while abstaining from sexual relations outside marriage is good, abstaining within marriage can lead to temptation and sin. He advises married couples not to "deprive one another" to avoid temptation.
  • Advice for Single Individuals (4:26-6:54): Paul states that singleness can be a gift that allows individuals to minister to the Lord without distraction, but if one cannot exercise self-control and would be led to sin, it is better to marry. He defines "unmarried" as those who have been divorced or are single and not virgins, and "widow" as someone whose spouse has died.
  • Marriage to Unbelievers (6:56-8:11): For believers married to unbelievers, Paul advises remaining married if the unbelieving spouse is willing to stay, as the believer might be a witness to bring them to Christ.
  • Biblical Reasons for Divorce (9:15-11:07): The speaker outlines three scriptural reasons for the division of a married couple:
    1. Death of a Spouse (9:58-10:05): The surviving spouse is free to remarry.
    2. Adultery (10:24-10:48): If one party commits adultery and is unwilling to repent, divorce is allowed, though reconciliation should always be sought first.
    3. Abandonment by an Unbelieving Spouse (10:48-11:07): If an unbelieving spouse departs, the believing spouse is no longer bound and may remarry another believer.
  • Serving God in Your Current State (11:14-15:00): Paul instructs new believers to continue serving God in their current life circumstances (married, single, divorced, slave, free, Jew, Gentile), emphasizing that one's status or background doesn't hinder their ability to serve the Lord. He cautions against delaying service to God until future life stages.
  • Slavery and Freedom (15:03-21:10): The sermon touches on Paul's advice to slaves, encouraging them not to be overly concerned with their status but to use any opportunity to gain freedom. The speaker modernizes this by equating living in debt to being a "slave to someone," highlighting the importance of financial freedom for ministry.
  • Bought at a Price (21:55-22:43): Believers are reminded that they were "bought at a price" (Jesus' sacrifice) and should not become slaves of men, emphasizing their freedom in Christ.
  • Concerning Virgins and Marriage Decisions (23:12-28:25): Paul addresses the question of whether a father should allow his virgin daughter to marry. He suggests that due to "present distress" (possibly persecution), it might be easier to remain single, but marrying is not a sin.
  • Trouble in the Flesh (28:55-30:30): Paul warns that those who marry, especially during difficult times, "will have trouble in the flesh," acknowledging that life and marriage can be challenging due to inherent selfishness.
  • Temporal Nature of the World (32:31-36:18): Paul emphasizes that everything in this world is temporal, and only what is done for God's kingdom will last. He encourages believers not to set their roots too deeply in worldly things, as they are passing away.
  • Advantages of Singleness and Marriage for Ministry(36:46-40:20): Paul explains that unmarried individuals can focus more on pleasing the Lord without the concerns of a family, while married individuals have responsibilities to their spouses and families. Each state has its own unique way to serve God.
  • Serving the Lord Without Distraction (40:25-42:54): Paul clarifies that his advice is for the profit of the believers, to help them serve the Lord without distraction, not to impose a rule on them. The overarching message is to consider how one can best serve the Lord in their specific calling.
  • Parental Guidance on Marriage (43:04-45:00): A father thinking of holding back his daughter from marriage if she is of marrying age and desires to marry should allow it, as it is not a sin. Conversely, if a father believes it would be detrimental for his daughter to marry, preventing it is also the right thing to do. There is freedom in either decision.
  • Marriage as a Lifetime Commitment (45:42-48:50): Paul reiterates that marriage is a lifelong commitment until death. He stresses that Christians should only marry other believers ("only in the Lord") and that divorce should not be considered an "escape hatch" for believers.
  • Happier in Singleness for Widows (48:51-50:29): While a widow is free to remarry a believer, Paul suggests they might be "happier" if they remain single, aligning with his own experience and judgment, which he believes is also from the Spirit of God.

The sermon concludes with a look ahead to the next session, which will focus on living a life of self-denial and being sensitive to how one's actions affect others' walk with Christ (50:49-51:20).