Joe and Carrie's Wedding

July 15, 2000

 

 

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  For more pictures go to http://homestead.juno.com/schoolrm/wedding.html

Wedding Sermon 

Read Genesis 2:20-24

God placed Adam in the garden and gave him everything he needed for his livelihood, yet he was alone.   In order complete Adam’s life in the garden, God put Adam to sleep and created from his side a woman who was uniquely created to be his helpmate- his companion and friend.  Adam could say, “This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh”.  Today we have come to another garden to stand as witnesses to God’s creating another helpmate – sweet Carrie, a helpmate for precious Joe.  God’s creation of Eve from the side of Adam was a miracle, but no less a miracle will be that fact that the two lives that came to this stage, will leave as one.

God gave Eve to Adam as a helpmate and yet God did not forget to gift Eve as well.  God’s gift to Eve was the love of her husband.  So great was this love and affection that God compared his own love to it- Isaiah 62:5, “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”  The special love that you have for one another is not just an excitement of your own, but also a beautiful glimpse of God’s own love for His people, for His church.  Human marriage partakes of and imitates God’s love.  The redemptive work of Christ is what is reflected in marriage- his coming to bring his own to himself.  When we look upon the love of man and wife, our eyes a being given a small vision of that affection Christ has for his beloved.  Joe, you are exhorted in the scriptures to make your love for Carrie patterned after the model Christ has set for us.  Ephesians 5:28, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her to make her holy..”  Carrie has given herself to you, do not be timid in fulfilling your duty to redeem and cherish her through love.  Make her deepest good, your highest aspiration.  As Christ died to redeem the Church, Joe, die to yourself that you might truly love your bride.  Do not love with a wimpy and indecisive love, but one that is courageous and will gladly risk all to ensure the good of your beloved.

Joe and Carrie, know for certain that in coming to this marriage, you two bring with you everything you need to completely destroy it.  It will be no great surprise if this marriage ends in disaster- to that end you need only let your sin natures take their natural course.  Because of this, marriage is a great act of faith.  Your standing here shows that you trust God to make good His promises to hold you to Himself and keep you from destroying yourselves through sin.  You show that you believe marriage is not just a natural institution created by your own efforts but also a miraculous participation in Christ’s love for the redeemed.  You also show that you trust Christ Himself will faithfully guide as you strive to imitate His love in your marriage.  Your standing here is a quizimony to your confidence that God will take care of you- to your belief that God is real and that you can rest securely in His help and protection.  Without such faith in God, you would never have been able to trust one another so completely.  We rejoice that your attitude towards marriage results from your attitude towards God.

Today you are entering into one of God’s greaquiz blessings.  Delight greatly in this blessing, but also know that with every blessing comes additional responsibility as well.  You are being entrusted with a stewardship from God and you will be held accountable for your treatment of that stewardship.  The marriage that you take for yourself today comes from the hand of God Himself.  God created marriage and he owns this institution.  How you treat this marriage will be a direct reflection of your respect for the one who gave it to you.  Do not be lax in the attention you pay your marriage for your conduct will reflect upon the name of Christ- for honor or disgrace.

Because your marriage brings this weighty responsibility, your families and friends have gathered with you to stand as witnesses to the vows that you will take.  Our being with you today is a statement of our commitment to hold you to them- to strengthen you in times of weakness, to admonish when you are foolish, to rejoice with you when you triumph and to rebuke you when you are hard-hearted- in short, to love you and enter into the new life that you are creating.  Because we love you, we will enter into our roles as responsible witnesses with a firm persuasion and joyful belief that it is God who has brought you two together. 

Joe and Carrie, steward your marriage as God’s greaquiz gift to you.  When you find yourselves at odds with one another, do not fight each, fight the cause of your division- fight your sin. Strive for righteousness before the eyes of God.  You will quickly know the temptation to appear to have the perfect marriage before the eyes of men, but seek first the kingdom of God.  Strive to be real with each other and honest before God.  Be quick to apologize and quick to forgive.  Be willing to grant each other the unrelenting forgiveness that Christ has taught you.  Let each other know for repentance there will always await loving arms offering quick reconciliation.  To error is human, to forgive is divine.  Give each other a taste of heaven.  Life is too short to waste any time being at odds with one another.

A good marriage will be built over the dead body of your conquered pride.  Satan will use your pride to divide you and set you against one another.  But there is one who is mightier than the prince of this world.  Earnestly call upon Him and He will faithfully supply all your needs.  This marriage is not just your own idea- God treasures it as his own creation.  Carrie, God intended Joe for you since the day he was born.  Joe, God intended Carrie for you since the day she was born.  What God has put together, let no man put  asunder. 

Today is a unique moment of fruition for the years of life behind you.  All the experiences and talents God has given you are now going to be brought to service in a new and special way.  Today is a completion and a commencement- what is now over will be born again in a new life.

What you sow in your marriage, you will reap in the years to come.  This is not just a threat but also a promise of great blessings - the blessings that will be yours for faithfully keeping your vows. You both know the pleasures of united family and the sweet years of life together as a family.  Continue this heritage for your own children.  You both have been given very much - from you much will be expected - excel still more.

In the garden, marriage was created and the pattern for our lives together given, so also we stand here in this garden at a unique moment of creation to see the new marriage that God will has brought.  May He bless you with many children, a long and happy life together and the deep peace brought by His gaze of gentle favor.