Wedding Sermon

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

It takes three to make your marriage work. With Jesus at the center, He can help each of you develop patience, understanding, forgiveness, and unconditional love.

The “leave and cleave” in the marriage bond is also a picture of the union God wants us to have with Him. Check out Deuteronomy 13:4 in the King James Version: “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”

It means we leave all other gods, whatever form they may take, and join to Him alone as our God. We cleave to Him as we read His Word and submit to His authority over us. And then the Holy Spirit weaves His character and fruit into our lives and we follow His ways and do His will.

It is Nick and Kim’s great desire that each of you come to know the God whom they worship. The Lord who has led them together also wants very much for you to become a part of His family. Just as Nick and Kim have received one another and become a member of each other’s family, we must receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior to become part of God’s family.

It’s as if Jesus is the bridegroom and all who hear Him are his prospective brides. You see, Jesus wants each of us to open our lives to Him. He wants to have a relationship with us because He is unconditionally committed to imperfect people just like me, and just like you. He’s waiting for each of us here this afternoon to say, “I will” to Him. Will you love Him and honor Him? Will you trust Him to forgive your sin and give you eternal life? Once you do, you will receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. That’s something to think over…

Challenge

To Nick: Nick, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live

Together after God’s ordinance in the holy state of matrimony? Will

You love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health;

And forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

“I will”

To Kim: Kim, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together

After God’s ordinance in the holy state of matrimony? Will

You love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health;

And forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

“I will”

You’re now going to make vows before your family and friends, but most of all, in the presence of a Holy God. I urge you to not take these lightly. Listen to these words from Ecclesiastes 5:4-6: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”