Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening Remarks

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of this company, to unite Ray and Sandi in holy matrimony.

Marriage was ordained by God in Eden and confirmed in Cana of Galilee by the presence of the Lord Himself and is declared by the inspired Apostle Paul to be honorable among all men.

It is therefore, not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, soberly, and in the fear of God.

It is fitting, therefore, that we should on this occasion, begin by asking God's blessing on this marriage service.

Let us pray.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of this company, to unite Ray and Sandi in holy matrimony.

Marriage, being ordained by God in the Garden of Eden, is therefore not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, soberly, and in the fear of God.

It is fitting, therefore, that we should on this occasion, begin by asking God's blessing on this marriage service.

Let us pray.

Presentation of Bride

Presentation of Bride

Pastor -- Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Pastor -- Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

John Gundlach -- Her mother and I do.

John Gundlach -- Her mother and I do.

To the Congregation

To the Congregation

Marriage is a joyous occasion.

It is connected in our thoughts with the magic charm of home, and with all that is pleasant and attractive as being one of the most important events of our lives.

In its sacredness and unity it is like the mystical relation between Christ and His Church and is therefore the most significant and binding covenant known in human relations.

Marriage is a joyous occasion.

It is connected in our thoughts with the magic charm of home, and with all that is pleasant and attractive as being one of the most important events of our lives.

In its sacredness and unity, it is like the mystical relation between Christ and His Church and is therefore the most significant and binding covenant known in human relations.

From the Story of Creation in the book of For God created man in His own image… In the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him."

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs, and closed up its place with flesh.

And the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man He made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

As I met with Ray and Sandi for premarital counseling, I got to know them as a couple, and they shared their story with me.

They met on E-harmony and as they spent time together, they became good friends, great companions, discovered they have a lot of things in common, and over time, they fell in love with each other.

Ray proposed to Sandi on the beach in Jamaica and we are here today because she didn’t say no.

Before Ray proposed, they were looking at some jewelry on the Cruise ship they were on with family and Sandi was asked what she thought.

Her exact words were, “They look too much like engagement rings.”

Ray was unresolved in his quest to ask Sandi to be his bride and they are both grateful he was determined.

They shared dreams with me about land in east TX and building a home.

They also shared their salvation stories with me.

I truly enjoyed the time we were able to spend together and really enjoyed watching what Sandi made with Legos following Rays instruction.

They are here today not only for compatibility and friendship, but because they love each other.

Again, let us hear the Word of God from the New Testament, the writings of Paul in : “15 So be careful how you live.

Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.

Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

From the Story of Creation in the book of For God created man in His own image… In the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him."

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs, and closed up its place with flesh.

And the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man He made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

“21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church.

He is the Savior of his body, the church.

24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.

He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.”

To the Bride and Groom

In practice what I have said amounts to this: Let every one of you who is a husband, love his wife as he loves himself, and let the wife honor and love her husband."

It is your duty, Ray and Sandi, to be considerate, tender, faithful, and loving to each other: to support, guide and cherish, in prosperity and trouble; to thoughtfully and carefully enlarge the place you hold in each other’s life; to constantly show to each other the tokens of your affection, to shelter each other from danger, and to cherish for each other an unalterable affection, it being the command of God's Word, that wives submit to husbands and that husbands love their wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave His own life for her.

To the Bride and Groom

Love can be a fickle thing.

We equate our affection in words for each other with the same word for describing the taste of a Big Mac.

When it comes to love we must remember love is not always an emotion, but love is a choice.

There will be days you don’t feel love for each other.

In fact, you may feel quite the opposite, but every day you have to make a choice to love.

The Bible is clear on what love is and is not in regard to our affection for each other.

And this is my challenge to you, Ray and Sandi, to go back to Scripture when you use the word love for each other.

says “4 Love is patient and kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude.

It does not demand its own way.

It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

It is your duty, Ray and Sandi, to be considerate, tender, faithful, and loving to each other: to support, guide and cherish, in prosperity and trouble; to thoughtfully and carefully enlarge the place you hold in each other’s life; to constantly show to each other the tokens of your affection, to shelter each other from danger, and to cherish for each other an unalterable affection, it being the command of God's Word, that wives submit to husbands and that husbands love their wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave His own life for her.

Let me charge you both to remember, that your future happiness is to be found in mutual consideration, patience, kindness, confidence, and affection.

It is the duty of each to find the greatest joy in the company of the other; to remember that in interest as in affection you are to be henceforth one and undivided.

Let me charge you both to remember, that your future happiness is to be found in mutual consideration, patience, kindness, confidence, and affection.

It is the duty of each to find the greatest joy in the company of the other; to remember that in interest as in affection you are to be henceforth one and undivided.

Wedding Vows

Wedding Vows

If you are ready to assume the obligations and duties before God, as I have defined them, you will unite your hands and pledge your love and your lives to each other.

If you are ready to assume the obligations and duties before God, as I have defined them, you will unite your hands and pledge your love and your lives to each other.

Pastor -- Do you, Ray, standing in the presence of God and these witnesses, solemnly pledge your faith to Sandi?

Do you promise to live with her according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, and through God's grace to promise to be to her a faithful and devoted husband as long as you both shall live?

Pastor -- Do you, Ray, standing in the presence of God and these witnesses, solemnly pledge your faith to Sandi?

Do you promise to live with her according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, and through God's grace to promise to be to her a faithful and devoted husband as long as you both shall live?

Ray -- I do.

Ray -- I do.

Pastor -- Do you, Sandi, standing in the presence of God and these witnesses, solemnly pledge your faith to Ray? Do you promise to live with him according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, and through God's grace to promise to be to him a faithful and devoted wife as long as you both shall live?

Pastor -- Do you, Sandi, standing in the presence of God and these witnesses, solemnly pledge your faith to Ray? Do you promise to live with him according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, and through God's grace to promise to be to him a faithful and devoted wife as long as you both shall live?

Sandi -- I do.

Sandi -- I do.

Exchange of the Rings

Exchange of the Rings

Pastor to Couple -- Do you a token of your love for each other?

Pastor to Couple -- Have you a token of your love for each other?

Ray, will you take your token for Sandi, place on the ring finger on her left hand, and repeat after me?

I, Ray, take you Sandi, to be my wedded wife.

To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part.

And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.