Wedding - Ryan Brown and Ava Harrell

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SERVICE:

We are going to begin shortly, but I am going to ask each of you to silence or turn off your cell phones

I am also going to ask that you refrain from taking pictures during the ceremony - lets leave it to the professionals! Thank you!

GIVING THE BRIDE - ***Audience stands as bride enters

we are gathered…

**Who gives this woman to be married?  Ryan, please receive your bride.

WELCOME - DO NOT SEAT AUDIENCE

We are here this evening to witness the union of Ryan Brown and Ava Harrell in marriage.

What we are about to witness is one of the most sacred moments on earth - where two of God’s children are united together as one cohesive unit.

On behalf of the couple, I would like to thank you for joining them for this special day.

I would also ask that you commit to praying for them and their marriage:

1. that they would be rooted firmly in Christ

2. that their marriage would display Christ to a watching world.

PRAYER

Asking the Lord to bless this time and be the central figure.

Sermon

If you are here today, you likely already know this, but the couple standing in front of you is quite remarkable.

I have had the pleasure of knowing them both for quite some time, and they are both in my small group for church, so I knew this, but I was reminded of this anew last night at their rehearsal dinner.

I was captivated listened to many of their friends speak blessings over them at their rehearsal dinner.

They talked about both Ryan and Ava’s character and how they embodied Christ in how they love and serve others.

I have personally been a benefactor of this - as they have both gone out of their way to serve our family.

Over the past few months, Cammy and I have had the pleasure of walking through premarital counseling, helping them to process thru what marriage is supposed to be all about.

First, I want to thank you for trusting Cammy and me with speaking into your lives.

Second, thank you for inviting me to play this role in your big day.

I am deeply honored by this.

I am committed to praying with you and for you as your relationship grows

And, I want you to know that Cammy and I are always available for you as you navigate this thing called marriage.

MESSAGE

Today is a deeply important day, but maybe not for the reason that many might be thinking.

Many would say today is important because

Dreams fulfilled: Ryan and Ava’s hopes and dreams are being fulfilled as they are united together as husband and wife.

Hard Work Paid off: They have spent countless hours planning every detail and putting all the pieces into place and now we are here.

Sure these things are true, but they are not the most important things.

Today is deeply important, because we celebrate the maker of marriage- The Lord

I liken it to an amazing steak.

When you enjoy a perfectly prepared steak, you do not praise the steak… you praise the chef.

Ryan, Ava, we enjoy you both today, but we praise the Lord - because He made you, and He is uniting you together today as ONE.

The importance of the day is found in the Lord joining these two together for His Glory and holding them together by His strength.

It will not be by their human effort that their marriage will succeed, but rather by the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.

And HE holds it all together as a display of the relationship that Jesus has with His bride, the Church.

But this does not mean that you have no role or responsibility in this marriage, Ryan and Ava...

So, what is your role in this marriage?

The Apostle Paul has deep wisdom for us about this that we can find in the book of Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:12–17 (ESV)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

While this passage doesn’t speak directly or exclusively about marriage, there are some deep and abiding truths that we can find which will help us to live out marriage in a way that brings honor to the Lord - AND help us to experience deeper connection with one another.

I want to draw out a three key points:

First, Forgiveness

The first two verses drive hard towards this idea of forgiveness - telling us to compassionate hearts, kindness, humility and patience.

Paul uses words like “bearing with one another” and “forgive one another.”

What does this tell us about relationship?

It isn’t easy…

So many people have a fairy tale narrative playing in their minds about what marriage is all about.

But the beauty of marriage isn’t displayed by a “happily ever after” fairy tale story.

The beauty of marriage is displayed when sin and brokenness are met with grace and forgiveness, rather than wrath and retribution.

The beauty of marriage is displayed through compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

I am going to let you in on a little secret…

In order to be given the opportunity to live this forgiveness out, conflict has to be introduced into the picture.

Those moments of conflict provide the opportunity for your forgiveness to shine.

And what is this forgiveness supposed to look like?

Paul clarifies at the end of v. 13 - as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Let’s dig into this a bit, because it is the key to making all of this work.

So, how did Jesus forgive us?

He forgave us at great cost to Himself.

He saw our brokenness - and still came to live with us!

He gave himself up, by dying a sinners death on a cross as punishment for our brokenness

He rose from the dead on the third day.

He gave us his own righteousness in exchange for our brokenness

Now, instead of seeing any of our sin and shame, the Lord sees us as completely innocent and cleansed from our sin - clothed in the righteousness of Jesus!

We are welcomed into His family, without strings attached.

And He knows that we are going to blow it again, and again…

This is the gospel - the good news about Jesus.

Ryan, Ava, your job in this marriage is to die to yourself for the benefit of the other.

Let forgiveness be a defining feature of your marriage - holding NOTHING against one another!

Others should be able to look at your relationship and see the gospel played out in this manner.

Second, Thankfulness

vv. 15-17 mention being thankful in our hearts for others.

Interestingly enough, Paul tells us to be thankful for one another right on the heels of the forgiveness piece - which at first glance seems odd.

In essence, it sounds like he is saying - see this person who just made you mad?

Forgive them.

AND… Be thankful for them.

But this isn’t odd at all.

It’s easy to be thankful for someone when things are great in relationship.

It’s not so easy when one or both have sinned against one another - but this is when gratitude is most needed.

This is when we most need to be reminded to be thankful for our spouse.

In the moments where there has been a fracture in our marriage, gratitude will be fuel that drives forgiveness and unity.

When we allow bitterness and ungratefulness to overrun the thankfulness, forgiveness begins to wane and the drift will begin.

You should overflow with thankfulness for one another so that it might fuel forgiveness

v. 16 describes the thankfulness that we should have for one another as driving us to sing songs to God about them.

Ryan, there should be a song of praise ringing through your heart and soul for Ava.

She is about to become the bride of your youth, your beloved, your helper, your lover.

Ava will be your closest confidant and will be the safest person on the planet to be with.

Ava, there should be songs of praise ringing through your heart and soul for Ryan.

He is about to become your husband - the one who the Lord has tasked with loving your soul and the one who will spend the rest of his life discovering how beautifully the Lord has wired you.

Ryan is the one who God is entrusting to lead your family through the minefields of this world.

Y’all, don’t stop singing to God about one another -

Be grateful for this amazing person that the Lord is blessing you with.

Third, - It’s all about HIM.

v. 17 says - whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We’ve said it already, but your marriage is not all about you…

The ultimate purpose of your marriage is to magnify the name of the Lord.

You have an opportunity to share the gospel with everyone around you through your marriage.

You will be able to display how two broken sinners are able to love one another with an other-worldly love that doesn’t quit.

You will be a living grace story

That grace is meant to point to a bigger and more sure grace, found only in the forgiveness of God through Jesus.

Whatever you do - whether in word or deed, do it in the name of Jesus

Whatever you do in your marriage - do it in the name of Jesus.

It’s all about HIM.

When you make your marriage all about Jesus, then you will experience more joy and self-fulfillment than you would ever hope to experience otherwise.

How is this possible?

Because the Lord is a good, good Father who wants us to experience the joys and satisfaction of relationship.

The joy we experience in relationship in marriage is meant to point us to an even better joy, found in the Lord.

As we transition, I want to make this point for your guests…

As we have been talking about the gospel, the love of God, and all of the parallels between earthly marriage and relationship with God, there may be some of you who have never experienced this type of love - and maybe you would like to know God in this way.

I will tell you this:

First, the Lord is not interested in how religious you are - He is interested in relationship - a relationship that transforms every aspect of who you are.

Don’t try to live a certain way so that He will love you.

Live that way because He already does.

Second, the path to knowing God is found in Christ alone.

There is no other way to get to heaven, except through a bloody cross where a sinless savior gave up His life and stood in our place.

But you must repent and believe.

Romans 10:9 (ESV) if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

If we ask Him to save us, He takes our brokenness and gives us His righteousness.

No more stains, no more sins, no more condemnation - no matter what you’ve done - He’s powerful enough to take it all.

Third, It takes a village to raise a spiritual child.

Get in Christian community.

If you do not know where to go, then talk to people and find a Jesus loving, gospel-centered, mission focused church.

Ryan and Ava may be a great resource for you on this - as they can help point you to a great church.

Fourth and finally, if you came to know Jesus today, or because of the influence that Ryan and Ava have had on you, please tell them that!

I can guarantee that it will be one of the big highlights of the day for them.

VOWS - Ryan First, Ava Second

At this time, Ryan and Ava are going to exchange their vows.

Vows are the promises that they are making to one another

They will ultimately rely on the power of the Holy Spirit living in them to empower them to not say these words as a promise to one another, but to embody them.

With the Lord’s strength, they will live faithfully with one another and thereby bring glory to the Father.

Ben, we will start with you.

I, Ryan/Ava, --  take you, Ava/Ryan, -- to be my lawfully wedded (husband/wife), -- my constant friend, -- my faithful partner -- and my love -- from this day forward. -- In the presence of God, -- our family and friends, -- I offer you -- my solemn vow -- to be your faithful partner -- in sickness and in health, -- in good times and in bad, --  in joy and in sorrow. -- I promise -- to love you unconditionally, -- to support you in your goals, -- to honor and respect you, -- to laugh with you -- and cry with you, -- and to cherish you -- for as long as we both shall live.

BLESSING OF THE RINGS

Ryan and Ava are exchanging rings as a symbol of the covenant that they have made.

Although small, these rings are made of precious metals and are in a perfect circle to signify the preciousness and ongoing nature of your covenant.

The rings do not make you any more or less married, they are simply a reminder to you of the covenant promise that you have made to God and each other.

EXCHANGE RINGS

Ryan, place Ava’s ring onto her ring finger of her left hand

Ava place Ryan’s ring onto his ring finger of his left hand.

“I offer you this ring -- as a symbol of my vow -- and my promise -- to love you unconditionally -- for the rest of our lives. -- Let it remind you -- of the covenant we’ve made today -- before the Lord -- and our family and friends.

Marital Charge

Before we close, I want to give you a marital charge or exhortation

Together, Keep Christ at the very core of who you are as a married couple.

If you do this, you will find fulfillment and happiness.

But not as this world brings fulfillment and happiness.

it will be a fulfillment and happiness that will be based on HIM that doesn’t fade.

Do not forget:

Forgiveness

Thankfulness

And It’s All About Him!

Ryan, my charge to you, as the husband, and the Biblical head of your household is this:

Discover how to be a servant leader to Ava, and one day to your children.

Fight to become the Christ-centered shepherd/pastor of the little flock that the Lord entrusts you with.

Be the one who is most concerned with providing your family with fertile soil in which to grow in the Lord - making biblical community, worship, and service a priority and not an afterthought.

Spend the rest of your life trying to find out how you can better love your bride and elevate her.

At the end of the day, the buck stops with you.

When the Lord wants answers about the spiritual condition of your family, He will come to you - not Ava.

You cannot do this on your own.

You will need to rely on the strength of the Lord, and the fellowship of Christian community which will empower you to glorify Him in this role.

Ava, my charge to you, as the wife is this:

You are becoming Ryan’s biblical helper as described in Ephesians 5.

You will be the most uniquely gifted person on the planet to help Ryan as he seeks to live out the will of the Lord.

Ryan’s leadership is designed to operate at its best when you are functioning as his biggest supporter, advisor, counselor, lover, and friend.

Resist the temptation to get out in front of his leadership but also fight the urge to stay quiet when you know you need to speak up - but do so with respect and love.

While the Lord comes to Ryan to get answers about the Spiritual condition of your family, He holds you accountable for being the best helper you can be.

Guard Ryan’s heart and lean on the Lord to give you the wisdom required to fulfill your calling as his bride.

CLOSING COMMENTS

Now we come to the fun part…

By the power entrusted to me by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I now pronounce you, husband and wife, Ryan you may kiss your bride.

PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM **Audience Stands**

Would you please stand - May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Brown.

INVITATION TO RECEPTION

On behalf of Ryan and Ava, I want to invite everyone to a reception to follow.

INSTRUCTIONS