Wedding: Mia & Caleb

Welcome

Caleb, Mia, friends, and family, we are gathered here today in the presence of God to give thanks for the gift of marriage and to specifically share in the joy of Caleb and Mia’s covenant ceremony.

Giving Away of the Bride

“Who is giving this woman to be married to this man?”

[Caleb will take Mia’s hand and join me on stage.]

[Once in Caleb and Mia are in place, continue...]

The Bible is God’s holy word and it reveals to us that Christian marriage is one man, one woman, in Christ, until death. It is a way of life given by God so that husband and wife may provide each other companionship, help, comfort, joy and love. Marriage is a promise of love that will endure all things.

There are a few words from God’s Word that I would like to share with you, Caleb and Mia, and with everyone else here today, but before I do let me pray for you.

Prayer

Father, in this moment I pray that your word would go forth and do only what it can do. That it would establish Caleb and Mia in their Christian marriage, strengthen those other Christian marriages represented here today, and call the lost to yourself through faith in your Son, Jesus. It’s in his name I pray, Amen.

Message to Bride and Groom

Ephesians 3:14-21 says…

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

[Context] These words were written by a follower of Jesus Christ named Paul, and he originally wrote them to encourage the church in the ancient city of Ephesus to continue in faithfulness to Jesus.

Paul bowed before the only sovereign God and prayed that the Christians in Ephesus would be strengthened in the Holy Spirit, that they would know Christ’s love, and give God all the glory.

[TS] Caleb and Mia, I want to apply this text to your marriage, so as you hear the word of God I want a few TRUTHS about marriage to be clear to you…

[TRUTH #1] First, God the Father is sovereign over your marriage (vv. 14-15).

Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:14-15, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named…”

Know from this day forward that God has brought you together and will never lead you apart.

[TRUTH #2] Second, God the Holy Spirit is the strength of your marriage (v. 16).

Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:16, “...that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being…”

Commit yourselves to praying daily to experience the Spirit’s sustaining strength in your marriage.

[TRUTH #3] Next, know that God the Son, Jesus Christ, is the foundational love of your marriage (vv. 17-19).

Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:17-19, “...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Caleb, you must love Mia as Christ loves the church.

Mia, you must serve Caleb as the church should serve Christ.

[TRUTH #4] And finally, know that God deserves the praise for your marriage (vv. 20-21).

Paul wrote, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

No matter how wonderful this day is or how difficult the days ahead may become, may the words of your mouth in regard to your marriage always be, “Praise the Lord!”

Exchanging of Vows

[To Caleb]

Caleb, do you take Mia to be your wife, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage; do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? “I do.”

[To Mia]

Mia do you take Caleb to be your husband, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage; do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? “I do.”

Exchanging of Rings

As a sign and seal of the love you have for each other and of the vows you make to one another this day, you have chosen to exchange rings. May I please have those rings?

[Hand Mia’s ring to Caleb/ Speak to Caleb]

Caleb, please place your ring on Mia’s finger and make your vow.

{BACKUP—Caleb, please place your ring on Mia’s finer and repeat after me: “I, Caleb, take you, Mia, to be my wedded wife, [groom repeats], and I pledge that I will be faithful [groom repeats] and that I will love you [groom repeats] and that I will serve you [groom repeats] as long as we both shall live [groom repeats].”}

[Hand Caleb’s ring to Mia/ Speak to Mia]

Mia, please place your ring on Caleb’s finger and make your vow.

{BACKUP--Mia, please place your ring on Caleb’s finger and repeat this vow after me: “I, Mia, take you, Caleb, to be my wedded husband, [bride repeats] and I pledge that I will be faithful [bride repeats] and that I will love [bride repeats] and that I will serve you [bride repeats] as long as we both shall live [bride repeats].”}

Unity Cross

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says...

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 ESV

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.

[Caleb will lead Mia to the Unity Cross, braid it’s ropes, and then return.]

Declaration and Kiss

Caleb and Mia, you have come before God, family, and friends to express your commitment to one another as husband and wife. By making your vows and exchanging your rings you have testified to your love and devotion to one another.

I, therefore, pronounce you man and wife.

Caleb, you may kiss your bride!

Presentation of Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Lawson

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now my honor to present to you for the very first time ever, Mr. and Mrs. Caleb and Mia Lawson!

[Caleb and Mia will exit.]

[Wedding party will exit.]

[Mother’s and grandmother’s will exit.]

[THEN on to the Gospel.]

The Gospel

What thrills me most about performing the wedding ceremony for Caleb and Mia is that they both have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

And I know that nothing would thrill them more than for everyone of you to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and respond to it in faith.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ can be described with the word P.R.A.Y.

“P” is for promise. God’s word promises that he loves you.

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

“R” is for reality. Although God loves us, the reality is that we are separated from God because of our sin.

Romans 3:23 NASB95

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

“A” is for answer. The answer to our separation from God is Jesus Christ, who God the Father sent to die on the cross paying the price for our sins.

Romans 6:23 NASB95

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

“Y” is for you. You must decide whether you will trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord or reject him. Romans 10:9-13 says…

Romans 10:9–13 NASB95

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you’ve never called on the name of Jesus for salvation, today is the day to do that. The Lord is calling you, call out to him and be saved from his wrath on account of your sin!

I’m not going to ask you to stand up and walk the aisle or bow your heads and raise your hands, but if you want to know more about truly following the Jesus of the Bible come see me. I would be thrilled to talk with you and I know that nothing would thrill Caleb and Mia more than for all of you to believe and follow Jesus as they do.

Let us pray for once more for Caleb and Mia and let’s bless the food at the reception, and then we will be dismissed.

Pray with me.