Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Senior Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
Note to the reader:
If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure, and give thanks to Almighty God, that all over the globe the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God.
Thank you. Herman Abrahams, Cape Town, South Africa.
------------------------------------------------------
Marriage Ceremony
A. OPENING
A.1) INTRODUCTION
We are gathered together in the presence of God to witness the marriage of ..................… .................. and .......................... .......................... and to ask God for His blessing on them through Jesus Christ our Lord, and to share in their joy.
A.2) WHO GIVES ……………………. TO BE MARRIED?
(bride’s first name)
A.3) THE BOND AND COVENANT OF MARRIAGE WAS GIVEN BY GOD IN CREATION. It is God who says in His Word, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24)
It is God who instituted marriage. Marriage belongs to God and husband and wife are responsible to Him for their marriage. They will have to give an account of that which God has entrusted to them.
A.4) CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE IS NOT JUST A LEGAL CONTRACT; it is at the same time a spiritual contract. The parties to this spiritual contract about to take place here today is ...................... ...................... and the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, there are three parties to a Christian marriage – husband, wife and Jesus of Nazareth, who died in order to save us from our sins.
A.5) MARRIAGE IS A SIGN TO US OF THE UNION BETWEEN JESUS AND HIS CHURCH, and HOLY SCRIPTURE commands that all should hold it in honour. Marriage should be respected and not be tampered with.
A.6) THE UNION OF HUSBAND AND WIFE IN HEART, MIND AND BODY IS A GIFT FROM GOD FOR THEIR MUTUAL JOY.
¨ It is given for the companionship, help and comfort that the one ought to be for the other in times of prosperity and adversity.
¨ It is given that the natural instincts and sexual desires, bestowed by God, should be regarded as holy and ordered properly.
¨ It is given that they may have children and nurture them in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
A.7) Therefore, marriage in not to be entered into unadvisedly, without counselling, lightly, or merely to satisfy physical desires; but reverently, with discretion and due consideration of the purposes for which it was instituted by God. Those who are called by God to this Holy State, should continue in mutual faithfulness and love.
Into this Holy State of life ............................ and .................................. come now to be joined.
B. PRAYER, PRAISE AND WORSHIP
C. BIBLE READING AND SERMON
D. THE MARRIAGE
D.1) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
TO GROOM: .............................. have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour?
Response: I have.
TO BRIDE: .................................... have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour?
Response: I have.
TO BRIDE AND GROOM: Now upon public confession of your faith, you have made known to all men that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is your Lord and Saviour…
(Here the minister may add such words as he sees fit)
D.2) BRIDEGROOMS CONSENT: (South African legal version)
Do you ...................................... declare that as far as you know there is no lawful impediment to your proposed marriage to .................... here present, and that you call all here present to witness that you take .................... as your lawful wife.
Answer: I do
Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her alone, as long as your both shall live?
Answer: I will
D.3) BRIDES CONSENT (South African legal version)
Do you ................................declare that as far as you know there is no lawful impediment to your proposed marriage to ........................... and that you call all here present to witness that you take .......................... as your lawful husband?
Answer: I do
Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Answer: I will
D.4. BRIDEGROOMS VOWS
The bridegroom takes the bride’s right hand in his and they turn towards each other.
HE SAYS:
I .......................... take you ...................................
to be my wedded wife,
to have and to hold
from this day forward;
In prosperity and adversity
to love and to cherish
and to honour in the Lord;
Where you go, I will go,
And where you stay, I will stay.
Your people will be my people
and your God will be my God;
till death do us part
according to God’s holy law;
this is my solemn vow.
D.5) BRIDES VOWS
They loose hands. The bride takes the bride-
grooms right hand in hers:
SHE SAYS:
I .......................... take you ...................................
to be my wedded husband,
to have and to hold
from this day forward;
In prosperity and adversity
to love and to cherish
and to honour in the Lord;
Where you go, I will go,
And where you stay, I will stay.
Your people will be my people
and your God will be my God;
till death do us part
according to God’s holy law;
this is my solemn vow.
D.6) RINGS
THEY LOOSE HANDS. THE MINISTER RECEIVES THE RING(S).
HE SAYS:
(EXPLAIN,,, Just as the (agape) love of God is an unending, sacrificial kind of love which has no beginning and no end, it is our prayer today that these rings will symbolize the love of God whereby ……groom’s name……………… and ………… bridegroom’s name …….. love for each other will be an everlasting love which says, “until death do us part” )
Heavenly father, by your blessing, let this ring be to ................... and ................ a symbol of unending love and faithfulness, to remind them of the vow and covenant which they have made this day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
THE BRIDEGROOM PLACES THE RING ON THE FOURTH FINGER OF THE BRIDE’S HAND, HOLDING IT THERE HE SAYS:
I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage
With my body I honour you
All that I am I give to you
and all that I have I share with you
within the love of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
BRIDE’S RESPONSE - IF ONLY ONE RING IS USED, BEFORE THEY LOSE HANDS THE BRIDE SAYS:
I receive this ring
as a sign of our marriage
With my body I honour you
all that I am I give to you
and all that I have I share with you
within the love of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
IF RINGS ARE EXCHANGED, THEY LOOSE HANDS AND THE BRIDE PLACES A RING ON THE FOURTH FINGER OF THE GROOMS LEFT HAND AND HOLDING IT THERE, SHE SAYS:
I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage
With my body I honour you
all that I am I give to you
and all that I have I share with you
within the love of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
7. SONG BY SOLOIST (IF ANY)
8. PRAYER FOR COUPLE BY PASTOR & ELDERS.
9. THE PRONOUNCEMENT (South African Legal Version)
Now that ........................ and .......................... have given their consent and made their vows to each other before God and this congregation, with the joining of hands and the receiving of rings, in the name of God I declare that ............................ and ............................ here present have been lawfully married.
They are now husband and wife and I present to you Mr and Mrs ......................................
10. MINISTER SAYS, “The bridegroom may now kiss the bride”.
11. THE SIGNING OF THE REGISTER (South African Legal Requirement)
A Marriage Ceremony
Compiled by:
Herman Abrahams (Pastor),
Cornerstone Faith Ministries,
P.O. Box 740,
Westridge 7802,
Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
