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Single-Minded Service: Rediscovering the Essential Role of Singles in Kingdom Leadership
Empowering Singles for Ministry Impact
Marriage is a good gift from God and should be esteemed, but is it the best indicator of a man or woman’s fitness for kingdom service? Despite their dedication and immense potential, single Christians often find themselves overlooked and underutilized in ministry leadership roles.
In Single-Minded Service, Lewie Clark draws on biblical insights and historical examples, revealing the essential roles that singles have played—and can still play—in advancing the kingdom of God. He argues that in certain situations, singleness can enhance ministry effectiveness. Clark doesn’t just critique the current state; he offers a clear, actionable vision for how the church can empower singles to take their rightful place in leadership, following in the footsteps of single leaders like Paul and Barnabas. Whether you are single or married, discover how embracing the gifts and callings of singles can lead to a more effective ministry.
Marriage is a good gift from God and should be esteemed, but is it the best indicator of a man or woman’s fitness for kingdom service? Despite their dedication and immense potential, single Christians often find themselves overlooked and underutilized in ministry leadership roles.
In Single-Minded Service, Lewie Clark draws on biblical insights and historical examples, revealing the essential roles that singles have played—and can still play—in advancing the kingdom of God. He argues that in certain situations, singleness can enhance ministry effectiveness. Clark doesn’t just critique the current state; he offers a clear, actionable vision for how the church can empower singles to take their rightful place in leadership, following in the footsteps of single leaders like Paul and Barnabas. Whether you are single or married, discover how embracing the gifts and callings of singles can lead to a more effective ministry.
- GenresNonfiction
64 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2024
4 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 24, 2025
Main takeaways / quotes for me:
“Let's look at this from a Christian parent's perspective, because I understand that the thought of the gift of singleness can bring personal challenges. While a parent might agree that singleness is God's way for some, that same parent may struggle with disappointment if God chooses singleness for their child. Let me appeal to you to maintain a kingdom-focused approach to your childrearing, including the marital status of your children.
I have heard parents tell their children that they have been praying for their spouse even before the child was born. This is a good thing, in my opinion, if the parent also prays for the child with the understanding that God may have a life of singleness in mind for them, or an extended season of singleness. Are these same parents willing to consider whether marriage is a part of God's plan for their child? While praying for that future spouse, why not also offer prayers of blessing and surrender on the childs behalf, asking God to give them the joy of knowing him and loving him regardless of whether they are married?”
AND
“I was alarmed at how marriage was depicted as a goal to be reached quickly, with little emphasis on how God used the deferred hope of marriage, in some cases such as mine, as a vital means of sanctifying his people. The disappointment and doubts that Christians experience while seeking a spouse can be used to wean our affections off placing our hope in things God may not desire for us and to deepen our relationship with him.
Because there was so much emphasis on the sanctifying effect of marriage and hardly any emphasis on singleness as a means of sanctification, there seemed to be only one path for Christians to grow into maturity: marriage. The result of this, I believe, is that single people will feel they can only achieve a subpar level of sanctification. In fact, that was precisely what a friend of mine was told by a fellow seminary student who was married. He said that he believed no single person would ever be able to achieve the same level of sanctification and maturity that a married person would!”
“Let's look at this from a Christian parent's perspective, because I understand that the thought of the gift of singleness can bring personal challenges. While a parent might agree that singleness is God's way for some, that same parent may struggle with disappointment if God chooses singleness for their child. Let me appeal to you to maintain a kingdom-focused approach to your childrearing, including the marital status of your children.
I have heard parents tell their children that they have been praying for their spouse even before the child was born. This is a good thing, in my opinion, if the parent also prays for the child with the understanding that God may have a life of singleness in mind for them, or an extended season of singleness. Are these same parents willing to consider whether marriage is a part of God's plan for their child? While praying for that future spouse, why not also offer prayers of blessing and surrender on the childs behalf, asking God to give them the joy of knowing him and loving him regardless of whether they are married?”
AND
“I was alarmed at how marriage was depicted as a goal to be reached quickly, with little emphasis on how God used the deferred hope of marriage, in some cases such as mine, as a vital means of sanctifying his people. The disappointment and doubts that Christians experience while seeking a spouse can be used to wean our affections off placing our hope in things God may not desire for us and to deepen our relationship with him.
Because there was so much emphasis on the sanctifying effect of marriage and hardly any emphasis on singleness as a means of sanctification, there seemed to be only one path for Christians to grow into maturity: marriage. The result of this, I believe, is that single people will feel they can only achieve a subpar level of sanctification. In fact, that was precisely what a friend of mine was told by a fellow seminary student who was married. He said that he believed no single person would ever be able to achieve the same level of sanctification and maturity that a married person would!”
October 5, 2025
This is a really good short book on the topic, and has encouragement and exhortations for both single and married people in the church. However, at only 60 pages, it doesn’t have the space to go into a lot of depth. It’s still worth using to spur discussions on some really important points, but I do wish that it had included a bit more robust theology (more of the sort in Barry Danylak’s books, which does get quoted here once). Danylak’s books are a bit dense for the casual reader, so I kinda wish this one had a tad more detail for those who might not read Danylak but who really need to understand why physical offspring are no longer the primary means of God’s blessing in the new covenant. Definitely appreciate and will recommend this one though. Nice brief overview and beautiful encouragement towards fuller inclusion of singles.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews