Kaitlyn's Wedding Ceremony

Order of Service

Prelude

Wedding Party

Processional of the Bride

Charge to the Congregation

Declaration of Intention

Word of Prayer by Seth King

Giving of the Bride

Charge to the Couple

Wedding Vows

Exchanging of Rings

Time of Prayer/Worship

Declaration of Marriage

Presentation of the Couple

Recessional

Pastoral Greeting

What an amazing opportunity to be gathered together for such a time as this.

I want to be the first to thank you all, those who are family and friends of Kaitlyn and Matt, for joining in on a day that will be a major milestone in the life they will soon declare to live together.

Kaitlyn, you look beautiful. Matt, you did alright!

Before we do anything else, I feel as it is not only my role as pastor, my love as a brother, but my responsibility as a follow of Jesus to go before God the Father in prayer- asking that He might bless this time, hear our prayers, and ready our hearts for what we are about to witness together...

Would you bow your heads as I ask the Father to bless this time together...

Father, in this moment we ask that your Spirit would fill this room. We thank you for the provision you have given both Kaitlyn and Matt leading up to this very second. We take seriously the moment in which we stand. Your hand of grace and mercy extends beyond our comprehension. We can do nothing apart from you, Father. You have given us a purpose and identity that far exceeds anything this world can offer. I thank you, Lord, for saving Kaitlyn. I thank you for saving Matt. We come before you right now to seek your blessing over this time together, that it may glorify and lift high the mighty name of Jesus! It is in His name that I pray..

And all of God’s people said… AMEN.

Giving of the Bride

At this point, I would like to ask, “Who gives their blessing for this woman to be married to this man?”

Her mother and I.

Charge to the Couple

As I was praying about what I could offer to you both concerning the blessing of marriage, I couldn’t help myself but to quickly retreat to the fact that… I have only been in this club myself for not even three years yet!

When it comes to advice and practical principles, I am not the one to talk too. I myself am in a season of maturing and growth.

Kaitlyn, Matt… I think we have fallen captive to a lie if we ever believe we are no longer experiencing the season of growth and maturing.

There is one advantage to being in this season, especially standing before you today on this special day...

I will be walking and learning beside you as you two begin this journey together… I promise to you three things… My prayers, my presence, and and the persistence of those to promises. I love you both.

Instead of sharing “wisdom from experience” or cliche love quotes, I figured the best use of my time with you this evening is to point you to three things that are absolute, those things that have been written and commanded by God.

They are basic. Remember, you can’t score to win without blocking and tackling.

Before I do, let me remind you two of this fact.

God is perfect. If God is perfect, God cannot sin. If God cannot sin, then God cannot sin against you. If God cannot sin against you, then God only wants what is best for you.

I have three challenges for you.

Commit to His word.

My prayer for you concerning this challenge is the prayer Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus.

Ephesians 3:14–21 (ESV)

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Why does Paul pray for the people’s strength?

Because they need it.

You both know that trials are unavoidable in this life. There will come a day when you will enter into even more seasons of painful trials. At some points, it may even feel unbearable.

Paul prays for the people to find strength because of what lies ahead when following Christ and knowing God as your perfectly, heavenly Father and Lord.

Where is strength found?

From the Lord, Himself. Go to His word.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

10 fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This strength is given to “the inner man.”

This isn’t physical. If anyone in here how’s you well, you both have that part down!

This is strength in the soul, the kind of strength that brings about spiritual endurance.

Notice where about this strength comes through!

The Spirit of God inside of you. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals truth to you!

He will guide you, convict you, prompt you, and comfort you. Be sensitive to the Spirit… He is your friend. He is God.

I love why Paul prays for the strength of Jesus’ followers…

He says so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

You both have professed Christ as Lord in your life.

Hear my heart and remember this statement.

Christ is either Lord of all, or not Lord at all.

It is Christ, the solid rock you stand on. All other ground is sinking sand.

And what is the measure by Which Christ dwells?

Faith. What Christ has called both of you into, it requires and will always require a response.

That response is to have faith.

Faith in what you might ask?

Faith that what He says is true for you.

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)

Every word of God proves true;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

All of this is understandable when you accept the truth of who God is to His children…

For God so LOVED the world…

This is what Paul was talking about!

that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

God loves you!

This isn’t any kind of love, this is the greatest kind of love! This love is what brings stability into brokenness.

Our sin separated us from God! There was nothing we could do to save ourselves.

BUT GOD.

He gave His only son, to take the punishment of the sin we deserved, and died in our place, but the story didn’t end there… that isn’t the fulfillment of the greatest love… It was portrayed the day He rose from the dead, giving us a way to experience eternal life!

And how are we able to be redeemed?! By FAITH! How is this all possible? Because of HIS LOVE!

Why is this relevant for the day you two are professing your love and commitment to each other?

Because the gospel, the good news I just shared, is the story of love that offers grace, mercy, forgiveness, and identity.

This is God’s design for marriage, to model this story for all to see, to love one another with the love that God loves you with.

God’s word is essential for you as individuals and for your marriage and family. Trust it. Memorize it. Live it.

The second challenge is this…

Commit to time in Prayer.

Prayer has been the catalyst for great movements of God as well as the means by which relationships are healed, hardships are endured with comfort, and lives are changed.

Prayer is not just a way we talk to God, it is also a way we play a part in His divine plan.

Mark 11:24 (ESV)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

You both are walking in the midst of a battle. The enemy is scheming day and night. Especially now that you are seeking to glorify God in and through your relationship. He knows God’s word, he sees your faith and devotion to the hope found in Jesus.

Prayer is your war strategy, His truth is your sword.

Matthew 26:41 (ESV)

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The hardest thing about prayer is that we talk to a loving God who is patient… And we aren’t.

Trust God’s timing. I can testify to the times Caroline and I have had a concern or something heavy on our hearts. After devoting to praying daily, the Lord has always answered my prayers.

And it usually is in a very unexpected way, a much better than I had in mind.

So, when you wake up, when you lie down, when you drive in your car, in the highs, and in the lows, devote yourself to prayer…

Pray for your own walk, your marriage, each other, your children, you church family, and your sensativity to the Spirit.

Pray together.

And lastly,

Commit to His church.

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV)

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Your local church is your family.

Sure, it isn’t perfect. It consist of broken people just like you and me.

Remembering that God’s way is the best way, this is God’s method for living out His intended purpose for your life.

Trust God’s plan.

Serve others and they serve you.

Pray for others as they prayer for you.

Lock shields with the faithful. Commit to the commission. Be a disciple, and go make disciples.

Share the love that God has shown you.

Love God and love people.

this is for your health, your support, and to be edified among God’s children.

You both are imperfect people. You have made mistakes. We all have. Every single one of us. But God is in the business of redemption. You both have been and are being redeemed. Cling to the Father. Experience His grace. Trust His word. Devote yourself to prayer. Commit to His church.

Wee serve a Heavenly Father whom we can trust…

Why?

Because God is perfect. God cannot sin. God will not sin against you. God desires what is best for you.

Trust this.

Let Christ be the rock on which you stand. All other ground is sinking sand..

This is my charge to you. As pastor, as brother, and as a fellow follower of Christ. I love you both.

All in agreement….

Amen?

Wedding Vows

Now, we approach this sacred time of making your wedding vows. In the vows, you commit to each other a life that seeks to serve and glorify the Lord together.

Matt, I will start with you...

I, Matt

take you, Kaitlyn,

to be my wedded wife,

to have and to hold,

from this day forward,

for better or for worse,

for richer or poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and cherish you,

as long as we both shall live.

Kaitlyn, if you would repeat after me:

I, Kaitlyn

take you, Matt,

to be my wedded husband,

to have and to hold,

from this day forward,

for better or for worse,

for richer or poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and cherish you,

as long as we both shall live.

Exchanging of Wedding Rings

The wedding ring is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual commitment, signifying to the world the union of you both, through the Church of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Matt, place the ring on Kaitlyn’s finger and repeat these vows...

With this ring,

I thee wed,

As a token of my love for you,

In the name of the Father,

And of the Son,

And of the Holy Spirit.

Kaitlyn, place the ring on Matt’s finger and repeat after me:

With this ring,

I thee wed,

As a token of my love for you,

In the name of the Father,

And of the Son,

And of the Holy Spirit.

Time of Prayer

At this time, we are going to take a few moments to pray for Kaitlyn and Matt. While I pray over them, will you take the next few moments during the duration of this song to lift up Kaitlyn and Matt. Pray for guidance, protection, that they would have a posture of dependency upon the Lord. That they would parent and disciple their children well, and that they would glorify the Lord in everything they do.

*The Blessing begins.

*Kaitlyn, Matt, and I spend a few moments in prayer.

Declaration of Marriage

Matt and Kaitlyn, it is my prayer that:

The Lord will bless you and keep you, that the Lord will make His face to shine on both of you

and be gracious to you;

I pray that the Lord turns His face toward you

and may He always give you peace.

Together, as family and friends, we have witnessed the pledging of your love and commitment to each other. We have seen the sealing of your solemn vows of marriage by the giving of rings.

It is, therefore, my joy and privilege to declare you husband and wife.

Matt, you may kiss, my sister, your bride.

Presentation of the Couple

Friends and family of the bride and groom, it is my privilege to present to you

for the very first time

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Norman!

Recessional

Closing Remarks