Sermon Tone Analysis

SERVICE OF MARRIAGE

Prior to Service:

Enter Notes Below:

(congregation seated)

Words of Welcome:

To congregation:

On behalf of Matthew and Genesis, I want to extend to you a very warm welcome.

We have gathered together in the presence of God to join Matthew Conway and Genesis Angulo in sacred marriage, an institution ordained by God, and to be honored by all people.

It is the means through which God seeks to establish welfare and joy among the family.

Through the witness of Scripture, we have learned that God has instructed all of those who enter into this relationship to cherish one another with a mutual love; to share in the infirmities and weaknesses of one another; to comfort one another in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; to provide for one another; and, to partner with one another and the Holy Spirit to bless the world.

It is for this purpose today, Matthew and Genesis, that you are standing here today before God, one another, and these witnesses… to become united in sacred marriage and to celebrate the formation of a new family for the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

To the Bride and Groom:

To you, Matthew and Genesis, may I express on behalf of your family and friends gathered here that we feel such a deep sense of joy to celebrate this sacred union with you.

As we witness both of you make this covenant to one another before God, know that we have have been praying for you and will continue to do so as you begin your new life together.

You are not alone.

We stand with you.

Let us stand now and pray together, and as we do, let us remember Genesis’ father who cannot be with us today due to illness.

Prayer:

Would you pray with me:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the real life and love that only you gave to us through the sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ.

We praise you, and we give you our gratitude, Lord, as we align our hearts and wills to you.

Lord, we are praying for Genesis’ father.

May you continue to heal him from his illness and provide wisdom for his caretakers.

Lord, please give him comfort and peace.

Thank you for Matthew and Genesis.

Thank you for their friendship together.

Lord, thank you for the company of these friends and family members gathered here today.

Remain with us now and always.

In you name we make this prayer, Amen.

Word of Explanation:

Today, in the company of those whom they love, Matthew and Genesis will declare their intent to marry, exchange vows, and give rings, all done in the full knowledge of what this sacred union means.

This kind of union - truly, this kind of love - which initially drew them together years ago, now demands from them the highest form of human co-operation and sharing.

The covenant of marriage is binding until the day that death shall separate them.

Declaration of Intent:

Matthew and Genesis, before God and this gathering of family and friends, I am going to ask you to declare your intent to enter into this marriage covenant:

Matthew, will you have Genesis to be your wife, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage; will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful to her for so long as you both shall live?

If so, then answer, “I do.”

Genesis, will you have Matthew to be your husband, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage; will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful to him for so long as you both shall live?

If so, then answer, “I do.”

Now, to your witnesses gathered with you today, do each one of you promise to stand with Matthew and Genesis in their marriage together, supporting them, honoring them, and praying for them?

If so, then answer, “We do.”

Scripture Reading:

I would like to read a collection of short passages from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus chapters 4 and 5 that emphasize well the essential values of marriage.

He wrote:

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one Body.

In your anger do not offend.

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful in building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as in Christ, God forgave you.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.

He who loves his wife loves himself.

Wedding Homily:

Matthew and Genesis, I want to offer the two of you and your witnesses gathered here today a simple, yet profound charge: Serve one another.

In the passages that I just read, carefully hear these words: ‘be humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.’

This type of instruction demands the highest form of sacrifice from both of you equally on behalf of yourself for the other… rooted in faith… and draped in humility.

The true essence of humility means more than just merely thinking about yourself less, it actually means not thinking about yourself… at all.

True humility means completely taking yourself out of the equation… for the sake of the other.

Marriage is a selfless relationship.

Bearing one another in love means setting aside your wants and needs in order to shoulder the burdens - the cares - the joys - the successes - the losses - the “everything” of the other.

Humility is the solid bedrock on which to build a life long sustaining marriage.

Even Jesus, the very Son of God, who alone deserves all of our praise and glory, did not hold onto his rights and privileges as the Son of God, but instead, he made himself… a servant.

Jesus gave up his ‘everything’ - his prestige, his wants, and his desires - for the sake the world whom he loved… for the sake of his bride, the church, and for the sake of each one of you… Matthew, Genesis, and your witnesses gathered here today… and he calls all of those who enter into this sacred marriage covenant to do the same.

Matthew and Genesis, you are to love one another with that same kind of humility and sacrifice, which, ultimately, calls both of you to set aside your rights as individuals for the benefit and blessing of the other.

In fact, if you want to know the secret sauce to every successful marriage… it’s not money… or time… or even good communication… it’s humble servanthood.

That’s it.

Good old fashioned humble servanthood.

Everything good in marriage flows from serving the other.

If you consistently set aside yourself and make your mission in marriage to serve the other, then ironically - and truly, this is the great secret of marriage - your needs will always be met.

And you will discover a rare kind of joy in marriage that only a few ever find.

Therefore, I implore both of you to make your “marriage mission” about serving the another.

Matthew, your marriage mission is to serve Genesis.

Genesis, your marriage mission is to serve Matthew.

In doing so, nearly every other aspect of your marriage will work itself out - conflict, mis-communication, different ideas about raising children, who does what household chore - if you consistently and faithfully seek to serve and want the best for the other, then these other issues become less of a life tidal wave and more of a light ripple.

Only the two of you know what serving the other really means.

We go back a few years.

In fact, both of you were among the first young adults that I met at our church.

From the first time we met, one thing clearly struck me about both of you: your friendship together.

Both of you really like each other.

You like being together.

You enjoy sharing life together, and both of you really know one another well.

Your interests and strengths compliment each other.

I am continually impressed by how well both of you love one another!

Your history and shared affections toward one another have built a lasting bond between the two of you that today becomes solidified in the Spirit.

I have learned that Matthew adores Genesis above all others.

And likewise, Genesis, your love and respect for Matthew shines through every time you mention his name.

Genesis, you are a special young lady with a generous heart.

Matthew, you have a strong spirit.

Both of you have learned how to serve one another well for the adventure ahead of you, together.

Keep after it, and let these experiences continue to shape your life together in Christ.

Always choose your spouse - always choose your spouse - ahead of yourself, no matter what person or thing, attempts to drive a wedge between the unity of your marriage.