More than 15 years ago, I ran a survey of Christian college students to ask about their understanding regarding singleness. Among the stunning findings was the fact that more than 70% of the students who had (mostly) grown up in the church and who attended chapel three times a week at my institution had never heard a sermon about singleness. I repeated the study a couple of years ago, and the numbers hadn’t changed much. Neither the church or, consequently, the Christian Academy has dealt well with the state of singleness. Why, People? Why? Everyone starts their life out single. More than 50% of the women in most churches are single, and most people will be single again at some point in their lives because of abandonment, divorce, or death.

I find myself saying this often these days: How the evangelical church recognizes, cares for, and equips its singles will be its loudest testimony to a watching world in the next decade. I have written about this before, and probably will again.

But in the meantime, Sam Allberry, a pastor from England, preached two messages at Cedarville University’s chapel service this week. Sam has written a number of books which you can explore on Amazon. Previously, I had read Why bother with the Church? and found it to be extraordinarily helpful. I had just started 7 Myths about Singleness when my friend Erin informed me that he was speaking at Cedarville. I do love the technological advances that let me listen to Ohio from my desk in California.

So, here are his two messages: Part 1. and Part 2. Each is about a half hour long and worth your time–whether you are married or single!

Sam summarized the first session by stating: “If marriage shows the shape of the Gospel, singleness shows us its sufficiency. Jesus is enough.” This is the proclamation: Salvation, sanctification, and satisfaction are not dependent on marital status. WE NEED TO BE SAYING THIS. Jesus is enough, and He gives grace for the rest.