RENEWING OF WEDDING VOWS
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Illustration
If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times from opponents of marriage-its just a piece of paper. To that I say, "Yeah, right!" I’ve never believed that those who say, "it is just a piece of paper," believe what they are saying. If it is "just a piece of paper," what are they afraid of?
Illustration:
Recently, network television made a mockery of marriage when they asked the question, "Who wants to marry a millionaire?" and turned a sacred institution into a for profit game show. Though I didn’t see the show, I did see a news report about it. Things didn’t turn out so well for the couple, but really, wouldn’t we have been surprised if it did?
Illustration:
Many times we do ceremonies of renewal of vows and that’s it. It’s just a ceremony. However we should examine what renewal means. When we renew an old house there are a few things we need to do:
1. First we must see the need for renewal.
2. We must closely examine the cracks and worn places in our lives.
3. In a building sometimes the heating air conditioning systems were worn out and they have been replaced. The ceiling tiles in the narthex and hall were falling down and they have been replaced. The paint is stained with age. The carpet is worn. The roof over the education wing leaks.
4. While we’re renewing the building, let’s take a close look at our lives. I’m sure if we look close enough; we’ll see a need for renewal there as well. Let’s take an honest look at ourselves. Many of us may have to stare long into a mirror before we begin to see the real person standing there. Look deep into the eyes. What do you see? Listen carefully to the voice. What do you hear? Look deep within the heart. What do you feel? If we only glance into the mirror, we will not see a need for renewal.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1. Renewal happens when we cover imperfection with perfection
a. Only Jesus is perfect
b. We need to cover ourselves with Him!
2. Renewal happens when we stop acting like children
a. Only Jesus can give us maturity
b. We need to put the childish attitudes behind us
3. We need to see ourselves in the Mirror of God
a. Instead of looking for perfection in other we need to look for that perfection in Jesus
b. Love for Jesus will produce these changes in our lives
c. The only thing that remains after all other disappear is Love
d. When we see ourselves in the mirror we need to put sin away from our lives.
Illustration
Many times we don’t see the sin within ourselves. After all, we hate sin, don’t we? Or do we? Sin is the first area that we need to renew in our lives if we really want God to bless us. I read a story about several residents in a neighborhood that were extremely upset at the reckless and fast driving in their quiet subdivision.
They organized a petition drive and demanded that the police patrol the area with greater frequency and penalize drivers who ignored the speed limits.
The police obliged and immediately ticketed five drivers who ignored the speed limits. All of them were fuming at the fines they received.
It seems, however, that all five who were ticketed had signed the petition calling for enforcement. We hate sin, don’t we?
After thinking briefly about these things we are going to ask God to help this couple to renew not only their vows but their marriage. This is not just a ceremony that we share before taking a meal and before the party. This is a very important time of reflection in your lives and as you will repeat these vows let us be reminded that God’s design is for a man and woman to enter into a permanent, intimate relationship with one another. A relationship like _________ and ___________ enjoy.
Please repeat after me:
VOWS
(Husband) _________, will you reaffirm your commitment to ________ to be your wife? Pledging yourself to her to be faithful, loving and honorable. To cherish her according to God’s will in the holy bond of marriage?
(Wife)____________, will you reaffirm your commitment to _______ to be your husband? Pledging yourself to him to be faithful, loving and honorable. To cherish him according to God’s will in the holy bond of marriage?
Will You please Join Hands
VOWS:
(Please join right hands).
q Do you promise to renew the vows, which you made when you were first united in marriage?
o Couple: We do.
q Do you promise to continue to keep the vows and the covenant, which you made at your wedding?
o Couple: We do.
q Do you promise to endeavor to create a Christian environment in your home and to help each other to live godly lives in Christian service?
o Couple: We do.
PRONOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE
Having reaffirmed your faith in, and love to each other, acting in my authority as your pastor, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride!
I now present to you for the second time in their lives Mr. and Mrs. _______________.
