WEDDING: Brett & Ali Barrs (BIG CEREMONY)

WELCOME

Welcome friends and family...we are gathered here today in the sight of God and man to witness and celebrate the joining of Brett & Ali in the honorable union of marriage. It is intriguing that the first ministry miracle Jesus did was at a WEDDING. He was there for 1 reason - He was invited.

So too Brett & Ali invite Jesus not only to their wedding, but to be the FOUNDATION of their MARRIAGE.

In fact, Brett & Ali were SO SERIOUS about doing this God’s way, that they called me on a Tuesday night and blew me away with what they said…”We’ve been living together, but we want to honor Jesus so…we have 2 options 1) Ali moves out until the wedding OR 2) We get married this week. And THAT’S what we did!

I am so proud of their desire to obey the Lord and not be ashamed to share that.

PRAY

King Jesus, we thank You for Brett & Ali..

GIVING AWAY THE BRIDE

Who gives this fine young woman to be married to this fine young man?

Ali’s Dad (Les) - “Her mother and I."

(Les hands Ali to Brett - holding hands facing me - back to audience)

CHALLENGE TO COUPLE

Marriage is a sacred union, invented and instituted by God.

God Created Marriage

He actually performed the first wedding ceremony! And here’s how it happened:

Genesis 2:18, 21-24 (NIV) The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Marriage is God’s idea. But He didn’t just CREATE marriage. He COMPLETES marriage.

Marriage is a serious covenant that is not to be entered into lightly. It is a picture of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for His people, the Church. The apostle Paul writes these words about marriage RIGHT AFTER writing this about how followers of Jesus are to treat one another.

Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Then, he writes these words and WIVES and HUSBANDS.

Eph. 5:22-27 (NIV)

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now [ALI] as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way [BRETT], husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Denny Burk writes "Our marriages were always meant to be about this other marriage (Eph. 5 - the mystery of Christ and the Church)...Our marriages are supposed to be saying something about the gospel...because marriages are supposed to be these little dramas of redemption put on display for the world.”

In this way…

Marriage is also a CANVAS that demonstrates God’s love in skin.

On your way driving in you likely saw the signs that quoted from a 2000 tear old text, communicating the characteristics of LOVE. Each one of those characteristics are true of the GOD who created us. In fact, you could replace each one, like “love is patient” with “GOD is patient”. Listen to the characteristics of what real love is - a CANVAS that demonstrates God’s love in skin.

1 Corinthians 13:4–8a (NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Brett & Ali, God CREATED marriage, COMPLETES marriage - a relationship between 3, AND God will use your marriage as a CANVAS to SHOW what HIS LOVE looks like to others!

So…if you’re ready...let’s do this! (Facing me)

CONSENT

Do you Brett, take Ali to be your lawfully wedded wife?

Will you live considerate of her and serve her by being the spiritual leader of your family? Will you take every opportunity to strengthen your covenant with her? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her; and forsaking all others, hold only to her forevermore?

-"I do”

Do you Ali, take Brett to be your lawfully wedded husband?

Will you encourage and trust Brett's role as the spiritual leader of your family? Will you take every opportunity possible to strengthen your covenant with him? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him; and forsaking all others, hold only to him forevermore?

-"I do."

Family & Friends, will you celebrate with Brett & Ali during the good times and encourage them during the tough times? Will you hold them up in prayer and remind them of their public commitment before you and lifelong commitment to one another?

If you will say “WE DO”.

[NOW FACE EACH OTHER HOLDING HANDS]

VOWS: (facing each other)

HUSBAND

I Brett, take you Ali, to be my cherished wife. I promise you, with all my heart, to walk beside you, in days of hurt, and in days of happiness, to provide for our family, to protect our home, and to pursue a deep relationship, with the One, who gave you to me.

WIFE

I Ali, take you Brett to be my cherished husband. I promise you, with all my heart, to walk beside you, in days of hurt, and in days of happiness, to serve our family, to protect our love, and to seek a deep relationship, with the One, who gave you to me.

RINGS

(Holding ring up)

Brett & Ali, this ring is a symbol of the love you have for each other. Its unending circle represents love's eternal quality and the high quality of this metal speaks to the purity of unconditional love. This will be a physical reminder of the lifelong covenant you are entering into today.

Brett, place the ring on Ali’s left ring finger and repeat these words:

“I give you this ring, as a promise of keeping my vows, and loving you, today, tomorrow, and as long as we both shall live. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Ali, place the ring on Brett’s left ring finger and repeat these words:

“I give you this ring, as a promise of keeping my vows, and loving you, today, tomorrow, and as long as we both shall live. In Jesus' name, Amen."

PRAYER OF BLESSING

ANNOUNCEMENT

Because of your commitment to each other before these witnesses, & the Creator who made you for one another, it is my privilege and great honor to pronounce you HUSBAND and WIFE. What God has joined together, never let anyone separate.

Brett, you may kiss your bride.

Let me be the first to introduce, Mr. and Mrs. Brett Barrs.