Sammons & Watts Wedding

Ceremony

Jeff & Jenny, We are gathered together here in the sight of God, for you to join together in holy matrimony, which is commended of the apostle Paul to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and in the fear of God.

Outside the power of the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ that brings a person from death to life, from darkness to light, from self to selflessness, from doubt to faith, from uncertainty to assurance, there is nothing more visibly powerful than the genuine love of a man and woman who are in Christ Jesus. That power gives order to a household, a community, and a nation.

The Bible teaches that a Christian marriage is a picture of Christ and His relationship to the church.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

And one of the seven angels … came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the lamb” (Rev. 21:2, 9, NASB).

Our Heavenly Father, in seeking to describe that intimate, heavenly relationship between Himself and His redeemed people, used the earthly picture of the bride and groom (bridegroom) to give us an idea of our unique position as His beloved. That is all the more reason that we should guard our marital ties.

The Bible teaches that marriage is to be a permanent relationship of one man and one woman freely and totally committed to each other as companions for life. Our Lord declared that “man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24, NASB).

God’s will and ideal for marriage is that it is a lifetime commitment. Jesus’ remarks in the Gospels reaffirmed what God had stated early in Genesis. Marriage is divinely instituted, sacred, blessed by God, and a lifelong covenant.

The Christian home is built upon God’s love. While we were his enemy, he showed his love in sending us his Son who in every way lived a perfect life, completely obedient to God the Father, even to the point of death. Jesus took our sin and bore the wrath of God for us!

Most believers are familiar with this passage. What I’d like you to do is to replace Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; … Let me ask, can we place Jesus’ name in this instead of the word LOVE? Jesus is patient and kind; Jesus is not jealous or boastful; Jesus is now arrogant or rude. Absolutely! He fulfills all of these perfectly!

Now let me ask you to put YOUR name in place of LOVE. Jeff/Jenny is patient and kind. Jeff is not jealous, Jenny is not boastful, nor arrogant or rude. Jeff/Jenny does not insist in his/her own way, not irritable or resentful.

Jesus is our model! Scripture tells us that we are to be like Christ. Christ MUST be first in our lives for us to be like him, for YOU to be patient, kind. Let me finish the rest of this passage.

(LOVE) does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; … So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:4–13, RSV).

Marriage is a companionship which involves mutual commitment and responsibility. You both will mess up. Run to each other and ask for forgiveness. I’m sorry goes a long way. Repent before Holy God, ask him to help you be more like Christ to your partner. In marriage, you will share alike in the responsibilities and the joys of life. When companions share a sorrow the sorrow is halved, and when they share a joy the joy is doubled.

Dedicate your life and home to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Take His Word, the Bible, as your guide. Give loyal devotion to His church. In doing so uniting the mutual strength of your marriage and Chris’s Church, living your lives as His willing servants.

VOWS

Jeff, wilt 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 and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?

“I do,”

Jenny, 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 obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?

“I do,”

Jeff, this ring is very special. You have chosen it with careful attention and consideration. It is and will always be a precious reminder of this holy occasion.

Jeff, as you receive this ring will you place it on Jenny’s finger and repeat after me to her your vow:

I, Jeff, take you, Jenny, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, in times of plenty, or in times of poverty, in great wealth or in simplicity, in health and sickness, I will love you; I will cherish each day that God unfolds to us, depending on his provision and grace. I will celebrate the joyous moments with you, and weep with you in sorrow and trouble. I will be faithful to you and to you alone till in death do we part, according to our Father’s holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge you my faith.

Jenny, this ring is very special to you. Prayerfully and joyfully you selected it to represent your vows and your love for your husband. It is and always will be a precious reminder of this holy occasion.

Jenny as you receive this ring will you place it on Jeff’s finger and repeat after me to him your vow:

I, Jenny, take you, Jeff, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, in times of plenty, or in times when material blessings are few; in great wealth or simplicity, in health and sickness, I will love you; I will cherish each day that God unfolds to us, depending on His provision and grace. I will celebrate the joyous moments with you, and weep with you in sorrow and trouble. I will be faithful to you and to you alone till in death do we part, according to our Father’s holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge you my faith.

Jeff) and Jenny, I require and charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, to keep these solemn vows and build a marriage that brings glory to God and joy to your family and all of those who know and love you. Believing that is your deepest intention, it is my privilege as a minister of the gospel and by the authority invested in me by the laws of this state to pronounce from this day forward that you are now husband and wife.