Wedding Sermon Chad Lisko and Jodi Christian

Wedding Chad Lisko and Jodi Christian

Matt.19:4-6, Eph.5:21-33, Ps.  127:1

October 18, 2003                               

“God’s House”

The Psalmist wrote, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builder’s labor in vain.   Jesus said, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the creator made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’, So they are no longer two but one.   Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”  This is the house that the Lord has built.  This house is called marriage, which is holy in the site of God because he has instituted it for our blessing.   Jodi, Chad, by joining you together in this place, God is building a new house through which He intends to bless you both.

            As every house is constructed with different materials so is the house of your marriage.   First God has given you the best example of how marriage is supposed to be.   For you Chad, God has called you to love Jodi like Jesus Christ loved His Church.   His love was so deep that He gave His life in self sacrifice and finally in death on the cross so that His Church, His bride, could have forgiveness and life.   Jodi, God has called you to be like the bride of Christ, His holy Church, faithful and loving, respecting, honoring and obeying Him so that you both enjoy each others God given blessings.   As God has given you the example of marriage that you are to follow he has also used the people in your lives to build your marriage up into the house that it will become.   This is the Lord’s gift to you.        

            One of the big parts of weddings is all the gifts that family and friends bring in an expression of joy of the new couples marriage.   Gift are also given to help the couple set up their new home so that they have a good start.   Big and small each gift carries a message of love and hope for the new couple.  There is a story about one Grandmothers gift to her granddaughter and her new husband.   The honeymoon was over.  The groom had left for work when there was a knock at the door.  The young bride opened the door to discover Grandma's aged but friendly face.  With a smile she announced, "I am bringing you a wedding present."

            But instead of offering the young woman a package, the Grandmother stepped into the house and said: “Come on.  I want to show you how to make an apple pie.” Now you need to understand that Grandma's apple pie was heavenly.  She had a way to make a pie crust that was so light and flaky it practically floated, and she added some secret ingredient to the filling (that she would never reveal) that made her apple pies melt in your mouth.  The young bride could barely believe that Grandma was showing her how to make her extra-special apple pie.  It took some time to get the job done but finally she learned all of Grandma's secrets. 

            “Now,” said the older woman, "I want you to iron one of your husband's shirts." The poor bride had to iron the same shirt six times before Grandmother was satisfied.  But finally she got it.  Grandma prepared to leave.  The bride, not understanding, said, “But where is my present, Grandma?” Grandmother laughed and said, Honey, I have been giving it to you all morning.”

            Jodi and Chad you will receive many gifts today, but the most important gifts you will receive will not come in wrapping paper.  The things that God will build your house with have already been given to you.  You have the examples of love and marriage that have been set before you by your parents and your grandparent.  Jodi, it wasn’t but a few short weeks ago when we celebrated your grandparent 60th wedding anniversary.  And it is no wonder then that you chose the same wedding verse that they did, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builder’s labor in vain.”  In your parents and grandparents you have been given the day-to-day gifts and building blocks of marriage.  You have been given the gift of seeing how to share a long life together, through better and through worse, sustained by God’s love for you and your love for each other. 

            As you remember that the Lord is the builder of your marriage, you know that your labor shall not be in vain.  What the Lord builds is always good.  Though marriage can be one of the greatest labors; it also holds the greatest blessings.  This is what God intends for you.  In the name of Jesus Amen.