Sermon Tone Analysis

Procession

Words of Welcome

Sermonet

5 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.

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Today you are here celebrating a day that happened a year ago but now stand before friends, family and God to show the love and commitment you have towards one another.

1 Cor 13:1-8

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.

8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless.

But love will last forever!

Paul is telling his people that love is patient, love is kind, it’s not jealous or proud, it doesn’t demand its own way.

It keeps no record of being wronged.

It rejoices in truth and never gives up, it is never failing and endures any hardship or trial.

But how can Paul say this, how does he know?

What was it that drove Paul to say these things, what was it that caused him to realize the power of God’s love?

Was it marriage?

No, he wasn’t married at the time.

Was he just overcome with love for a moment, taken by his love for the people he was writing to.

No because he has been chewing them out for the majority of the letter.

WHAT WAS THE SOURCE OF HIS LOVE?

It was Christ.

Paul could say that love is patient, because Jesus Christ went to a cross and died the death of a criminal.

He took on the punishment that Paul knew he deserved.

He knew love was kind, because Paul had mercilessly persecuted the Christ’s followers, yet Christ still showed him mercy.

He knew love was not arrogant because Christ came as a homeless carpenter, loving in humility.

He knew love wasn’t self-seeking because Christ only did the will of the Father.

He knew love didn’t demand its own way, because Jesus gave up his life even unto death.

He knew love kept no record of wrong because Christ didn’t count all his sins against him.

He knew love rejoiced not over injustice but truth because Christ silently took upon himself the lies and slander of the religious leaders that eventually led to his death.

Paul knew love would never give up, it would never lose faith, would always be hopeful and endure through every circumstance; why?...because love to Paul wasn’t an emotion it was a person.

He knew the story of how Christ was tortured and beaten for our sake and for our sin.

He knew the story of how Jesus put that cross upon his shoulder and made the climb to the dreaded rock.

He knew of those heavy arms that stretched wide on a cross held up by nails.

He knew the agony and the pain Jesus went through in order to purchase his salvation.

He knew that day love incarnate had died.

Love is a sacrifice, Love is a burden, but love is liberating.

Christ revealed to Paul the true nature of love.

Love drives you to sacrifice for the one you love.

Marc and Kim, Christ loves you guys and proved it on the cross.

Christ is here in this marriage and as long as you keep him the center, you too will be able to say with Paul.

Love is patient, kind, not jealous, boastful or rude.

It doesn’t demand its own way or keep records of wrongs.

It will rejoice in the truth.

And it will never give up.

It will always be hopeful, and it will endure to the end.

But Marc and Kim as we dwell on the beauty of the cross and Christ’s resurrection let’s take a moment and recite your vows to one another.

These vows are between two people joining in marriage but also stepping into a deeper relationship with Christ.

These vows are an expression of the Gift of Marriage God is giving you today.

Vows

Officiant: (Groom) will you take (Bride) to be your lawful wife, will you love her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others keep only unto her so long as you both shall live.

Groom: I will.

I (Groom) take you, (Bride) to be my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health while we both shall live.

Officiant:(Bride) will you take (Groom) to be your lawful husband, will you love him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others keep only unto him so long as you both shall live.

Bride: I will.

I (Bride) take you, (Groom) to be my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health while we both shall live.

Rings

Kim repeat after me, “With this ring.......I pledge you my love”

Kim places ring upon Marcs finger

Marc please repeat after me “With this ring....I pledge you my love”

Marc places his ring upon Kims finger.

Mixing of the Sand

9 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.

9 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.

God has brought you together but you are not alone.

God has brought you together but you are not alone.

IN CHRIST YOU ARE ONE.

IN CHRIST YOU ARE ONE.

Scripture Reading

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 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.

14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.

And be thankful.

16 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. 17 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.

Prayer

The Pronouncement

By the authority given me by God I pronounce you man and wife.

Marc you may kiss your bride!

(Allow for cheering)

The Recessional

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Mr. and Mrs. Marc Runnells!

The couple exits first, then the pastor follows after, everyone else exits thereafter.