Singleness and the Church


Book Description

Singleness is a much overlooked treasure in Christian tradition. In these pages, Christians (single and married alike) can rediscover the richness of singleness in its great variety. This book offers thought-provoking cultural and theological analysis, along with voices of single Christian people down through the centuries.




The Significance of Singleness


Book Description

The church needs to do a better job of speaking theologically to single Christians. Challenging prevailing evangelical assumptions about "the problem" of singleness, this book explains why the church needs single people and offers a contemporary theology of singleness relevant to all members of the church. Drawing on the examples of three important figures from the history of Christianity, the book helps today's church form a vision of life in the kingdom of God that is as theologically significant for single people as it is for those who are married.




One by One


Book Description

There are now more single adults than married adults in the United States, yet the evangelical church continues to focus primarily on serving couples and families with ministries geared toward their particular needs. This can lead, however unintentionally, to the marginalization of adults who are single by choice, divorce, or death, or who are simply not yet married. Families are a good thing, but so are all of God's people, and singles long to be lovingly integrated into the Body of Christ. In One by One, Gina Dalfonzo explores common misconceptions and stereotypes about singles, including the idea that they must be single because something is wrong with them, and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways they are devalued, like when sermons focus overmuch on navigating marital relationships or raising children. She shows how the church of Paul, who commended those who remained single, became the church where singles are too often treated like second class Christians. Then she explores what the church is doing right, what unique services singles can offer the church, and, most importantly, what the church can do to love and support the singles in their midst.




Singled Out


Book Description

Authors Christine Colón and Bonnie Field thought that by a certain age they would each be married. But they watched that age come and go--and still no walks down the aisle. In Singled Out, they reflect on their experience--and that of an increasing number of Christians. Rejecting overly simplistic messages from the church about "waiting for marriage," they explore a deeper understanding of celibacy that affirms singles' decision to be sexually pure, acknowledges their struggles, and recognizes their importance in the church community. Thoughtful and accessible, Singled Out is an invaluable voice of realistic encouragement for any single as well as an important tool for church leaders and others concerned with mission and ministry for singles.




Singleness, Marriage, and the Will of God


Book Description

Not everyone will marry or should, but virtually all single adults think about marriage. And all make decisions that either maintain their singleness or attempt to change it. This book, by the authors of the groundbreaking Decision Making and the Will of God, offers an in-depth tutorial to help singles apply biblical principles to the critical choices they confront: Do I want to get married? Are there good reasons to remain single? What sort of person should I consider as a potential spouse? How do I look for a mate? What should I do if no spouse shows up? What is God's role in the decision-making process? This comprehensive volume will equip readers to make wise choices about marriage according to the will of God. It's also an invaluable resource for parents, counselors, and pastors.




Notes on Love


Book Description

In this delightfully witty and uplifting book, thirty-something Lauren Windle shines a light on the trials and tribulations - and sometimes also the triumphs - of the world of Christian dating. This is not a how-to guide. Like having a coffee with your mates while you pore over your profile matches, heartbreaks and hilarious mishaps, Notes on Love draws on Lauren's own experiences of being single and dating in the Church to offer a funny, insightful and open-hearted collection of musings on the absurdity, messiness, pain and joy of it all. With notes on 'How to first date' and 'A million ways to meet people' to 'Disappointment' and 'Schrodinger's boyfriend', as well as looking at how you can find true love with yourself, your friends and family and above all in Christ, Notes on Love is a thought-provoking exploration of Christian relationships in the Church today. This is a book for anyone who has struggled with dating in Church, or who has asked themselves how to be single as a Christian only to discover there's no right answer. Warm, generous and honest, Notes on Love is an invitation to laugh, cry and know that whether you are male or female, single, coupled up or somewhere in between, you are not alone.




Theology as Retrieval


Book Description

Buschart and Eilers identify six critical areas—Scripture, theology, worship, spirituality, mission and culture—where contemporary Christians are retrieving aspects of our Christian past for life and thought today. The result is a fascinating tour and wise reflection on how Christians might receive, employ and transmit the treasures of their past.




Single for a Greater Purpose


Book Description

In these fascinating pages, author Luanne Zurlo shows that, contrary to popular opinion, single life is often a holy, joyful vocation lived out, sometimes in a hidden way, by souls who have had an authentic encounter with Christ. Here she sheds light on this little-understood vocation discerned and embraced by a growing number of single persons who neither marry nor enter religious life. These souls are joyfully single for a greater purpose, nourishing both the world and the Church with the unique spiritual strengths and graces that God gives to souls who deliberately remain single for Him — in the world but not of it. Read these pages to learn: Why dedicated single life is uniquely suited to our times How it builds on our baptismal vocations The special role that dedicated singles have in the Church How the dedicated-single vocation complements marriage and religious life How celibacy for the sake of the Ki




7 Myths about Singleness


Book Description

If marriage shows us the shape of the gospel, singleness shows us its sufficiency. Much of what we commonly assume about singleness—that it is primarily about the absence of good things like intimacy, family, or meaningful ministry—is either flat-out untrue or, at the very least, shouldn’t be true. To be single, we often think, is to be alone and spiritually hindered. But the Bible paints a very different picture of singleness: it is a positive gift and blessing from God. This book seeks to help Christians—married and unmarried alike—value singleness as a gift from God so that we can all encourage singles to take hold of the unique opportunities their singleness affords and see their role in the flourishing of the church as a whole.




The Meaning of Singleness


Book Description

Drawing upon ancient and contemporary theologians, Dani Treweek offers biblical, historical, cultural, and theological reflections to retrieve a theology of singleness for the church today. Far from being a burden, she shows that singleness presents the church with a foretaste of the eschatological reality that awaits all of God's people.