Communion and Vow Renewal
Notes
Transcript
Announcements
Bags of Blessing Next Week
Hymn - There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood
Opening Prayer
Hymn - Tell Me the Story of Jesus
Hymn - Lamb of Glory
Prayer for Paul for the loss of his son, Richard.
Communion
Communion
John the Baptist was the first in the New Testament to apply the metaphor of the Messiah as the bridegroom.
29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
Jesus affirmed this about Himself many times.
19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.
20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
Jesus also used the imagery of waiting for the bridegroom's return to emphasize the importance of being ready for Him.
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
And once the church began at Pentecost, Paul affirmed that the church was indeed the bride.
2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Betrothal Period and Wedding Feast
First-century Jewish marriages began with a betrothal period that normally lasted about a year. During this time, the couple was considered married and referred to as husband and wife even though they did not yet live together or consummate the marriage. These betrothals were legally binding, such that if someone died during this phase of the marriage, the surviving spouse was considered a widow or widower.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Betrothal Period and Wedding Feast
The Church is presently betrothed to the Lamb while awaiting the marriage and wedding feast upon Christ’s return (Rev 19:7–9). At that time, Jesus will present His pure, faithful bride to Himself (Eph 5:27).
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Given all of this imagery, it should be of no surprise that waiting for and anticipating Jesus’ return is an important part of our spiritual journey.
I once had a couple ask me to officiate for them as they wanted to renew their wedding vows after 25 years. I asked them why they wanted to do that, and they had the best answer I ever heard. They said, “When we were first married, we weren’t Christians. We didn’t know what it meant. The ceremony was meaningless to us. So now, we want to commit to each other in Christ.” That’s beautiful.
Paul reminded us to share in the Lord’s Supper with this attitude.
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
He is coming again. And when He does, may He find us, His bride, faithful and true.
Pass Elements
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Hymn - Who Is He in Yonder Stall
Now it just so happens that the couple who wanted to renew their vows is here tonight. And we, as the Body and Bride of Christ, are going to witness and celebrate this together.
Mario and Leslie will you come up?
Mario and Leslie
Mario and Leslie
Now it just so happens that the couple who wanted to renew their vows is here tonight. And we, as the Body and Bride of Christ, are going to witness and celebrate this together.
Mario and Leslie will you come up?
Mario and Leslie, marriage is an honorable estate whose bond and covenant was instituted by God. Our Lord Jesus Christ adorned and beautified this holy estate by His presence at a wedding in Cana of Galilee and also honored it by performing His first miracle there. And the Holy Scriptures commend it to be honored among all people.
Christian marriage is not living merely for each other; it is two uniting and joining hands to serve God. Seek His kingdom first, and His righteousness, and He will add all other things to you. Do not expect perfection from each other, perfection belongs solely to God. You need not minimize each other’s weaknesses, but always be swift to praise and magnify each other’s points of beauty and strength and see each other through kind and patient eyes.
Your love for each other should be like that described in 1 Corinthians 13, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
And by your own testimony, this love is only possible because we have been made new in Christ, as described in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
God will continue to lead you into such situations as will bless you and develop your character as you walk together. He will give you enough tears to keep you tender, enough hurts to keep you compassionate, enough of failure to keep your hands clenched tightly in His, and enough success to make you sure you walk with Him. May you never take each other’s love for granted, but always experience that wonder that exclaims “Out of all this world you have chosen me.” When life is done, may you be found then as now, hand in hand, still thanking God for each other. May you ever serve Him happily, faithfully, together until you return to glory or until at last one shall lay the other into His arms. And all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Mario, will you share your vow with Leslie?
Leslie, 25 years ago, I took you as my wife—knowing in my heart that you would be my faithful companion, my lifelong partner, and my one true love. Today, I pledge to stay by your side as your husband, in sickness, in health, in joy and sorrow, through the good times and the bad. I vow, once more, to love you without reservation, to honor and respect you. I will continue to support you, protect you from harm, and to comfort you in times of distress.
I thank God for everything we have gone through. We know that Jesus is our hope and anchor who will keep us in the midst of storms. He is the one who is able to keep us steadfast and unmovable in spite of the tides of life. Hebrews 6:19 declares: “Hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…”
God please anchor our hearts and our affections in you. May we grow deep roots in You as Your deep roots sustain us through droughts, steady us through trials, and nourish us to thrive as you have intended for your perfect plan. We lift up this day and milestone to you, In Jesus mighty name AMEN.
Leslie, will you share your vow with Mario?
Mario, 25 years ago we pledged to love one another in sickness and in health in the good times and the bad. Today, in front of our loved ones online and with our brothers and sisters here and Pastor Steve and in the presence of our beloved Abba Father who abides in us, we renew those vows but with the knowledge of who God is and that He is ever present - faithfully guiding and providing according to His will. Today, I vow to pray daily for God’s wisdom and strength because only He can help us grow in mind and spirit. I pray for patience, kindness, and understanding in all circumstances so that we live out His perfect plan and that all we do, say, and think glorify Him.
As an anchor that provides a firm foundation and security on the sea, I give you this anchor as a reminder of the steadfast hope we have in Christ. May we always anchor ourselves to His word that is alive and active. As Hebrews 2:1 says “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Finally, let’s remain firmly planted as it says in Colossians 2:6-7: “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”
So we humbly come to Him in repentance and thankfulness to Him for all He has done and all that He will do. May it all magnify our Father. In Jesus name I pray.
Prayer of Dedication
As witnesses to your love, let us all join together in prayer for Mario and Leslie.
Kiss - Mario, you may once again, kiss your bride!
Hymn - Before the Throne of God I Stand
Prayer for Meyen Family