Wedding - Sam Norris and Isabel Gravez

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!

***Audience stands as bride enters WELCOME - DO NOT SEAT AUDIENCE

We are here this evening to witness the union of Sam Norris and Isabel Gravez 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.

For those in the room who call Jesus their Lord, I 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 clearly display the gospel of Jesus to a watching world.

GIVING THE BRIDE

**Who gives this woman?  **Do you give your blessing upon their Union as husband and wife? **Do you now release Isabel from the watch care of your family to establish her own home with Sam as her husband?  **Do you commit to pray for them as their marriage grows? ** Sam, please receive your bride.

PRAYER

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

Seat the congregation

Introduction

It is an honor to get to stand up here today, officiating this wedding

I have known Sam for several years - and served as his pastor while he was at Restoration Church in Bryan.

While he was a member of our church, I got to know this guy pretty well - and we met every other week for quite some time.

I have gotten to see his growth in Christ and watched as he fought for a deeper faith that transformed every area of his life.

In the Fall, I got a chance to meet Isabel when they came to BCS for an Aggie football game and stayed with us.

What I noticed immediately is that the Lord had brought Sam an incredible woman who had her eyes on Jesus and was doing her best to reflect His love to those around her.

It has been a joy to get to know her a bit, and see the genuineness of her faith and her desire to know what the Lord has said and how she can live that out.

I realize that for many of you, you know Sam or Isabel - but not the other.

So, here are some quick facts about Sam and Isabel - courtesy of Sam and Isabel!

Here is what Sam had to say about Isabel:

Isabel is beautiful, devoted, hard working, caring, and passionate. Her intimate relationship with God inspires all that she does.

She is committed to seeing and loving every individual the Lord puts in her path.

She balances a studious and sharp mind with an adventurous spirit, living life freely and fully as her rest is found in the knowledge of God’s sovereign plan for her life and eternity.

Here is what Isabel had to say about Sam:

Sam cares so deeply about others and doesn’t seek his own glory in any way. He truly is one of the most selfless people I know.

Hr is a deep thinker who listens intently - making you feel heard. When he speaks, he speaks purposefully.

He has a heart for discipleship and community. He loves getting to meet with younger guys and to pour into them to help them look more like Jesus.

I want to thank you both for trusting Cammy to speak into your lives and for allowing me to officiate your wedding!

I am deeply honored by this and, I want you to know that Cammy and I are always available for you as your marriage grows.

MESSAGE

Today is the most important day of your marriage.

You are surrounded by your family and friends, in this beautiful place.

You have hired people to capture all of the little moments, so that you can look back and celebrate what happened today.

You are dressed up in the finest clothes you have ever worn

You have planned for an incredible meal and prepared a party for your guests

There is no doubt about it - today is the most important day of your marriage.

But I want to let you in on a little secret.

At Midnight tonight, it will no longer be the most important day of your marriage.

This is because THAT will then be the most important day of your marriage.

Each new day the Lord gifts you together becomes the most important day of your marriage.

Do not allow today, April 13th of 2025 to be the pinnacle of your marriage - a day you look back at as the most important day.

It is the start - but you cannot, and should not, stay here.

If you do, you will miss the joy that is to be found in your marriage, and more importantly, you will miss the entire point of marriage - which is to exalt Jesus.

Marriage is meant to point you to Jesus

Marriage was created by God, FOR God.

In Genesis 1:28, we we are told that the Man and Woman were placed there, united in marriage, to multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it - or care for it.

Sam and Isabel, as you come together in marriage today, understand that this is not solely for your own satisfaction or fulfillment, but rather for God’s good pleasure and glory.

Your satisfaction takes a backseat to God’s Glory.

Your marriage is not about you - it’s about Him.

But, amazingly personal joy is part of His plan when He created marriage.

We see this displayed in Genesis 2:23, as the man breaks into song when he meets the woman

He is overflowing with joy because he finally has a companion suitable for him.

This is my prayer for you two…

that your hearts would sing over one another for the rest of your lives.

I pray that you enjoy your marriage, but do not misplace your praise.

It isn’t your marriage or one another that deserves the praise - it’s the Lord!

Think about it like an amazing steak (grass-fed, of course).

When you savor and enjoy a perfectly prepared steak, you do not praise the steak… that would be silly.

You praise the chef.

You praise the maker.

Sam, Isabel, your marriage is meant to be savored and enjoyed, but not praised or worshipped - that is for the Lord!

So - today let’s start this whole thing off right, celebrating and praising the Maker of this marriage

You should praise Him, because it is His Glory and Strength that will hold you two together.

But this does not release you from responsibility…

So, what is your role in this marriage?

Submit yourself fully to the Word of God…

Model your marriage on the example that Christ has set for us with the church.

But, for a moment, let’s get specific…

What might this look like for you two?

In Ephesians 5:1-2 Paul Writes these words:

Ephesians 5:1–2 (ESV)

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

in just two short verses, Paul provides some deep spiritual wisdom that can give us incredible keys to marital success and satisfaction.

1. Imitate the Lord! (v. 1)

To imitate someone, is to copy their words or behaviors.

Paul's command here tells us to do what the Lord does.

But he qualifies it: as beloved children!

One day, Lord-willing, you will have children, and what you are going to notice is that they are little copies of you

They will tend to think the way you think

They will want to do what you do.

They will say the things you say - which can get you into trouble…

I have a certain third-born that has picked up a few choice phrases from me, unfortunately.

They will imitate you - because that’s what children do.

To imitate someone, you first have to know them…

You have to be around them

You have to spend time with them.

You will begin to imitate the Lord as you spend time with Him.

Through daily time in His Word

Through prayer

Through worship

Through community with His people

Over time, your heart will begin to more fully reflect His nature and character to those around you.

Which is supremely good for your marriage.

You will no longer look like the rest of the world!

Sure, there will be struggles - and you will mess it up.

But you will get better at saying yes to God and no to sin.

You will look more like Jesus - “who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but that he emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant.” - Philippians 2:6-7

You will develop a servant’s heart - which is essential to a solid marriage.

Paul continues…

Ephesians 5:1–2 (ESV)

…be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us

2. Walk in Love

The apostle tells us that we are to walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.

It’s interesting - in the Greek - the root word used here for “walk” can also be translated as “trample”

To trample is to tread heavily.

When I think about this idea of trampling, the picture I get is of my children trampling through puddles on our property.

When they trample through a mud puddle, they dwell there for a while.

They do it up right.

When they’re done, they are usually covered from head to toe in Texas mud wearing a Texas sized smile.

Translate this to marriage!

Paul is telling us to tread heavily in love.

When you think about loving one another, I want you to have a picture of a little kid stomping through mud puddles filled with joy and delight.

Do it bigger with each step you take - and cover yourselves in love!

But not the love that this world promotes… That is a self-centered cheap imitation of love that only seeks to fulfill your own desires…

You are called to love like Jesus loves.

We are told to walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us!

So, HOW did Jesus love us and give Himself up for us?

1. He saw our brokenness

2. He STILL pursued us

3. And while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8)

4. He gave us His righteousness and took away our brokenness

5. He welcomed us into His family, as children of God - knowing that we are going to blow it again.

THIS is what it looks like to give yourself up for someone.

In your marriage, you both should be ready and willing to lay down your life for the other.

That sounds really good - and perhaps even easy to do on a day like today…

I mean, goodness… Yall look awesome!

Isabel, you’re radiant and adorned in beauty

Sam, you are clothed with strength and honor

It’s easy to say that you would lay down your life for this version of one another.

But, Jesus didn’t die for the best versions of us…

He died for the worst version of us.

You cannot “trample” in love, just for the best versions of one another… You must do it for the worst.

This is what makes Christian marriage indescribably beautiful!

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.

THIS is the heart of Christ in us.

In your marriage, Imitate the Lord and trample in love for one another.

3. Don’t forget…It’s all about HIM (v. 2c)

Ephesians 5:2 (ESV)

2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

as a sacrifice to God…

When we imitate the Lord and love one another, this is a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God!

Remember, marriage was created BY God, FOR God.

Marriage has a much bigger purpose than just fulfilling something in each of your hearts.

it 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 points to a bigger and more sure grace, found only in the forgiveness of God through Jesus.

Do not ruin your marriage by making one another the point of it all…

This distorts God’s desires for you and your marriage and is called idolatry.

It is not pleasing to God and it is unfair to your spouse - they aren’t created to bear the weight of praise that is only fit for the Lord.

Love the LORD first, one another second.

When you do this two things will happen:

You will be better reflect God to a watching world

You will love one other more and get more satisfaction than you possibly could otherwise.

The Gospel

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

The only way that Sam and Isabel can do any of this is because of the gift of salvation Christ has given them.

And they want everyone here to understand what He has done in their lives and that the same gift of salvation is available to you.

There are some of you here today who do not know God.

Jesus is not your Lord and you haven’t given your life to Him.

Because of this, you are stuck in your brokenness, scratching your way through life, looking for meaning and purpose.

But it will be impossible for you to find, because it’s only found in Him.

Here is what you need to know.

YOU HAVE SINNED

Romans 3:23 says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

You have sinned - and failed to meet God’s righteous standard

And because of that, you have earned a wage……

YOUR WAGE IS DEATH

Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death”

This is not just physical death - we will all endure that, Christian or not.

This is an eternal death, separated from the Lord because of your sin.

This is supremely bad news if it stops here, but the verse continues:

YOUR FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE

But Romans 6:23 also tells us that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 - “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

He is the solution to the problem of death.

In Christ, we can have eternal life - and though we will die physically one day, we will live forever with Him.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 tells us “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”

Romans 10:9 says that “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.”

There is no 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.

And you can do that right now…

Simply pray to the Lord, confess your sin, confess that Jesus is Lord (believing in your heart that he rose from the dead), and ask Him to save you.

if that’s you, and you came to know Jesus today, or because of the influence that Sam and Isabel 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.

Lastly, I would encourage you to get in Christian community - join a Jesus loving, Gospel-driven, mission focused church.

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

VOWS - Sam First, Isabel Second

At this time, Sam and Isabel 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.

Sam, we will start with you.

I, Sam/Isabel, --  take you, Isabel/Sam, -- 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

Sam and Isabel 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

Sam, place Isabel’s ring onto her ring finger of her left hand

Isabel, place Sam’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 — and the vows we have spoken — before the Lord -- and our family and friends.

Prayer

Pray for the Lord to infuse Sam and Isabel’s marriage with love, humility, compassion, and grace.

I pray now, that as we heard your scriptures read, and we sing songs to you, that we would be in awe of the surpassing goodness of God

Thank you for giving us good gifts like marriage

But even more, we thank you for the best gift - Christ in our place.

Scripture and Worship

1 John 4:7-12

Philippians 2:5-11

How Great Thou Art

We give you all the Glory

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:

Imitate the Lord

Walk in Love

And It’s All About Him!

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

Discover how to be a servant leader to Isabel, 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 Isabel 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 Isabel.

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.

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

You are becoming Sam’s biblical helper as described Genesis 2

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

Sam’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 Sam to get answers about the Spiritual condition of your family, He holds you accountable for being the best helper you can be.

Guard Sam’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…

Standing on the authority of God’s Word and in response to the vows that you have shared, it is now, my pleasure

By the power entrusted to me by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to pronounce you, husband and wife, Sam 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. Sam Norris

INVITATION TO RECEPTION

On behalf of Sam and Isabel, I want to invite everyone to some refreshments on the porch, with a reception to follow.

INSTRUCTIONS - if you are family, please remain here in the chapel for photographs

Everyone else, you are dismissed.

Grab flower petals