For so many of us the assumed relational ideal is marriage and kids. But is that where Jesus is taking us?

Journaling Prompts

“In the resurrection, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage…” (Matt. 22:30)

How does Jesus’ statement challenge or comfort you? What does it reveal about your deep longing for love—and how Christ is making all things new?

What is it about your current relationship status (single, married, divorced, widowed, dating, celibate, etc.) that feels like an obstacle to being with God?

In what ways might this part of your life—the thing that feels like a barrier—actually be the place God is encountering you?

Practice

Pray across relational difference.

Think of someone in our community whose relationship status differs from yours. Take a few minutes to pray for them:

• for their flourishing.

• for their sense of belonging in our church.

• that God would meet them in their specific vocation and desires.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reshape your vision of the church—not as a collection of similar life stages or statuses, but as a communion of people held together in Christ.

Resources:

James V. Brownson. Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church’s Debate on Same-Sex Relationships. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2013.

Robert Song. Covenant and Calling: Towards a Theology of Same-Sex Relationships. London: SCM Press, 2014.

Jacob Breeze. “Why the Church Calendar? (Parts 1 & 2).” Hymnistry Podcast. Accessed June 23, 2025. https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wEpkY9J1ep30pdOiRr0Fd?si=PZGKF0QmQo2N1IA_ynjcRg.

Sam Wells. “Baptism–not marriage.” https://andygoodliff.typepad.com/files/a-sermon-by-sam-wells.pdf.