Sermon Tone Analysis

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…