Riley and Maggie Wedding

Welcome

Good afternoon, we are gathered in the presence of God to unite Riley and Maggie in marriage.

The Bible teaches that marriage is to be a permanent relationship between one man and one woman freely and totally committed to each other and companions for life. Our Lord declared that a man shall leave his father and mother and unite with his wife in the building of a home, and the two shall become one flesh.

Who gives the bride to be married?

Message

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I had the privilege of doing some premarital counseling with these two.

we talked about just about everything you can imagine…

part of the counseling was a list of things that they would do… tasks or chores if your will

they actually agreed on most everything… about 25 things on the list and only six did they disagree…

it was kind of funny going through that list…

They both agreed that Riley was to take care of the auto maintenance… and that Maggie should be the one taking care of the bills.

They did disagree some, Riley says they can both cook… Maggie says no that will just be me. Riley says they will both do yard work, Maggie says that will just be you.

I thought of this passage again because of the report from our time of premarital counseling

Do you remember the words you used to define love?

trust, commitment, friendship, honesty, supportiveness, respect,

The Bible defines it like this...

bears all things, actual wording means to contain all things…

it means that good things and bad you are in this together, nothing leaks out you are holding on for life.

things happen… life in this world is not perfect, because of sin in our world, bad days will come

but love bears all things, not just in the good times, but the bad times

believes all things…

we talked about trust, and how you have a relationship that you just know the other is telling the truth

the actual meaning is easily persuaded…

it does not mean that you are gullible…

that you believe each other so much that you would be easy to fool if they lied to you

that you will not think twice in what the other is telling you

hopes all things

that you continue to hold on to hope, even when everyone else has let go

that you always, regardless of what the odds are, or what it looks like, you always hope for the best in each other and your life together

endures all things

it means no matter what life brings, you are committed to each other.

That was one of the first things we talked about in our time together…

both of you viewed marriage as a life long commitment

that is what you are doing today, committing to each other for life with the help of God

The reason we are able to do this, love like this, is because this is how Jesus loves us.

Jesus loves you, both together and individually…

he does not discount his love based on your sins, but bears all of our sins

Jesus knows every aspect of your life, you can attempt to lie to him, but he knows all

Jesus also hopes all would come to him. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that the Lord does not want any to perish but that all would come to repentance

and Jesus endured… for you and for everyone who would believe in him.

he lived a perfect life and died a sinners death to pay for your sins and for anyone who would believe.

In closing, I charge you both to do this…

Love God.

We have talked about the marriage triangle, and the the closer each of you get to God the closer you will get to each other.

That you should pray for each other to grow closer to God, knowing that means they will grow closer to you as well.

Love each other

Love each other as Jesus loved the church and gave himself up for her

I do not mean just that you would die if called upon, but that you would deny yourselves in service to the other.

PRAY!

SONG by DJ

Vows

Riley - Do you take Maggie to be your wedded wife? No matter the trials that you might face in your life together, will you choose only her? Will you work and do your best to provide the life that the two of you have dreamed of? Will you commit yourself to her happiness and self-fulfillment as a person and usefulness in God’s Kingdom? Will you promise to love, encourage, trust and respect her in all of your adventures yet to come?

Maggie - Do you take Riley to be your wedded husband? No matter the trials that you might face in your life together, will you choose only him? Will you work and do your best to provide the life that the two of you have dreamed of? Will you commit yourself to his happiness and self-fulfillment as a person and usefulness in God’s Kingdom? Will you promise to love, encourage, trust and respect him in all of your adventures yet to come?

Rings

Get the rings from Trevor…

The wedding ring is a symbol of marriage in at least two ways. First, the purity of gold symbolizes the purity of your love for each other. Second the unending circle symbolizes the unending vows which you are taking which may be broken honorable in the sight of God only by death. As a token of your vows, you will give and receive the rings.

Riley will you take this ring, place it on Maggie’s hand and repeat after me…

Maggie, with this ring - I pledge my life and love to you - in the name of the father - and of the son - and of the holy spirit.

Maggie will you take this ring, place it on Riley’s finger and repeat after me…

Riley, with this ring - I pledge my life and love to you - in the name of the father - and of the son - and of the holy spirit.

Now will you both repeat after me Ruth 1:16

Don’t plead with me to abandon you - or to return and not follow you. - For wherever you go, I will go, - and wherever you live, I will live; - your people will be my people, - and your God will be my God.

Closing

Numbers 6:24-26 May the Lord bless you and protect you; 25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” 

Since these two have made these commitments before God and all of these witnesses, by the authority of God and by the laws of this state, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to introduce to you Riley and Maggie Burkhart