Tellex Wedding

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Welcome and Pastoral Prayer

Giving of the Bride

Scripture Reading –

Pastor’s Charge

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

On the surface those words might just seem like a good sentiment – but in their context, they are truly profound.

This book of wisdom from Israel’s 3rd King – Solomon, is all about finding the meaning of life.

The truth is, we can’t possibly know why God would give us marriage immediately after our creation, unless we understand why we were created in the first place.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

In short, God created humankind to be His image bearers.

To make Him known – to reveal Him to the rest of creation in the way we ruled the earth as His vice-regents.

Marriage then is given to us so that we can assist each other in carrying out God’s purpose for us in being living, flesh and blood representatives of who and what He is.

MINISTRY!

That’s why: Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

But along came sin – our rebellion against God – wanting to have ultimate authority over our own lives instead of living for God’s intended purposes.

And every drop of human suffering since came as a result of that fall.

Humankind had lost its purpose.

This is what Solomon notes in the opening of his book.

He said he began to search for meaning and he looked in the same 4 places all of us look.

1. Pleasure - selfish enjoyment – but pleasure is fleeting

2. Productivity - satisfaction in work, but it has no eternal aspect to it

3. Possessions - all of which will one day perish

4. Power - Which is an illusion. For in the end we have very little true power over anything.

At the end of the book he says he DID find what he was looking for: The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

It is in coming back to a right relationship with the God who made us for His own purposes.

So if our purpose is to bear God’s image, how do we get back to that?

The Gospel. God sent His Son, to die in our place, that the sin of our rebellion against Him and our desire to be our own ultimate authority could be forgiven, and we could be re-united to Him in love and grace.

And being restored as individuals to God’s original plan and purpose, we can then see the role of marriage in carrying that out.

So in the portion we read – Solomon notes that in lives given over to God’s plan and purpose to be His image bearers…

1. 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

They can assist each other in this cosmic call and wonder to take on the image of Christ so defaced in the Fall - rather than going it alone. Greg – it is actually Lori’s job to help you become more like Christ – and yours to help her likewise. To make this spiritual reality the center of your marriage. To live in God’s plan and purpose for life – in marriage.

2. 4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

When you fail in following Christ, and sin – and you WILL sin, against each other and in general – you can look to each other to get lifted back up and get back on track. We do not abandon each other when we fail – we lock arms and pray for each other and encourage each other and help each other brush off the dirt and dust and get back to the race.

3. 4:11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?

To comfort one another.

Sin has left us a wrecked world.

When Christ returns that will all be done away with – but until then, there is a ton of pain, sorrow, grief, and trial to overcome.

And what an incredible, unspeakable blessing we can be to one another, ministering to each other when such times come – comforting one another in the unbreakable embrace of marriage.

4. 4:12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

The Bible tells us that Christians have 3 enemies – This fallen World system that attacks us by convincing us to chase pleasure, productivity, possessions and power as ultimate goals.

A literal Devil who strives to lie to us about God, His love and goodness and grace. That we don’t need redemption in Jesus.

Our own fallen nature that seeks self above the love of Christ and others.

So we need protection from those attacks – and marriage provides us with one another to “keep each other’s back” – and point us back to God’s plan and purpose.

But note that last phrase especially – a 3-fold cord is not easily broken. Where’d the 3 come from?

When 2 are united in seeking God’s plan and purpose for their lives, they can be assured of Christ’s own presence with them every step of the way.

This is the marriage I am praying for you both, and hope to consummate here today.

Greg & Lori – Seeing that the two of you have decided to enter into marriage, by this public declaration before God and man - I will ask you now to take your vows together.

Vows

Will you face each other, join your hands, and make your vows to the Lord and to one another?

GREG: Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife; to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself wholly unto her, so long as you both shall live?

“I DO.” LORI: Will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself wholly unto to him, so long as you both shall live?

“I DO” GREG - Repeat after me: In the name of God,

I, GREG take you LORI

to be my wedded wife

to have and to hold,

from this day forward,

for better, for worse,

for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,

until death do us part.

LORI - Repeat after me:

In the name of God,

I, LORI take you GREG

to be my wedded husband

to have and to hold,

from this day forward,

for better, for worse,

for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,

until death do us part.

EXCHANGE OF RINGS:

GREG, Because you desire to symbolize your sacred vows, I ask you to repeat after me and to LORI your ring vow as you hold this ring on her finger.

Repeat after me:

I give you this ring

as a symbol of my love;

and with all that I am and all that I have,

I honor you

LORI, Because you desire to symbolize your sacred vows, I ask you to repeat after me and to GREG your ring vow as you hold this ring on his finger.

Please repeat after me: I give you this ring

as a symbol of my love;

and with all that I am and all that I have,

I honor you

Declaration of Marriage: I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Pastoral Prayer and Blessing

Presentation of Bride & Groom – Mr. & Mrs. Greg Tellex

Recessional