Marriage Lesson 5 Renewal of Vows and Ceremony Script

Lesson 5 

Renewal of Vows and Ceremony Script

GREETING:

On behalf of Eddie and Mallory, greetings to friends and family. They are deeply grateful to you for coming to be witnesses of their covenant to one-another to become ONE and to forsake all others. It is now their intention and It is by God’s design that a man and a woman leave their father and mother and to cleave to each other. At this time in light of their intentions, it is indeed appropriate to ask …

 

TO THE FATHER:

Who gives Mallory to be married to Eddie?

 

(The two position themselves and face each other)

 

PRAYER: Our Heavenly Father it is a privilege to be here to witness the start of Eddie and Mallory’s new life together. May the two of them approach this time with grateful hearts for your work in their lives and may today be a joy and a celebration… we entrust this time to you and ask for your blessing upon this ceremony. May the covenant that is made today be pleasing in your sight and we pray this for the glory of your name – AMEN.

 

THE ADDRESS:

Before you make vows to each other, and seal your promises with a kiss, before you place rings upon each other’s fingers symbolizing your commitment to one-another…

I would like to remind you why God made marriage and what He expects of each of you as you relate to the other in marriage.

 

1. Why did God make marriage? God made marriage for Companionship.

 

In Genesis 2, when God told Adam that He had taken a bone from his side to fashion a companion for him, Adam said,

“This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh;” 

 

She was created from man – for man…

Man and Woman naturally belong together and 

are “God-Given” for companionship in a complimentary union where neither are higher or lower than the other but complementary expressions of the image of God – reflecting His glory. 

 

Each of you together will reflect His image in a unique and distinct way that you could not do alone. You will complete one-another and compliment the weaknesses in the other with your strengths. You will not be alone in your Journey with Christ throughout this life – you will be together as One.

 

Marriage “works” for both Believers in Christ and unbelievers, because marriage is deeply rooted in God’s design… both as…

 

His creatures designed in His image and as

His creatures designed relationally with one another.

 

2. God made Marriage to display Redemption as seen in the Biblical Narrative

 

Marriage is redemptive. Marriage is the Redemptive center of mankind.

It is redemptive in its very nature and design – 

 

Redemptive meaning the act that God took in restoring mankind back into fellowship with Himself.

 

When He created Adam and Eve, they were without fault, blemish or sin - enjoying a unique and unfettered relationship with their Creator and with each other. But it wasn’t long before they decided to go it alone. They disobeyed their God and thus, the Fall of mankind was established, bringing hostility and disharmony between one-another, removal from paradise – and eventually, death.

 

Marriage was in the Mind of God before the beginning of time, before He created the first man and woman, and before the first sin was ever committed – God prepared a way of salvation before there was ever a need for salvation – a way to restore man to fellowship with our Creator and to null the curse, diminish its grip and ultimately, total victory in Heaven.

 

It was for the returning of man back to fellowship with our Creator, and the undoing of the curse that God instituted marriage in the Garden of Eden. 

 

Marriage gave us a redemptive structure in society, an analogy that would point to a coming Redeemer in such a way that it would affect every aspect of our culture, every aspect of our thinking and every aspect of our entire lives.

 

This union between two people in marriage illustrates a divine union between a Redeemer and His people. Marriage illustrates God’s love for mankind later seen when the Savior sacrificed His life for His beloved– This is seen in Scripture where Christ is referred to as The Groom and His bride as the Church.

                                                                                            

Christ, The Groom sacrificed Himself for His bride the Church, to bring us back into perfect union with Himself and His life gives us power to reflect this love toward one-another in marriage and to the world.

 

So, marriage pictures how God provided a way back into union with Himself that was lost in the Garden. This great event of marriage points us toward the Gospel. The Good News of how God entered into history to redeem the world – the Eternal came into time, the kingdom of heaven invaded the realm of earth, in the great events of the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

 

These great events are not strange to us, for we celebrate the Incarnation during Christmas and we remember the Crucifixion and Resurrection when we celebrate Easter.

 

For it was during Easter that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor 5.21)

 

How did this happen? Well, as a reminder of the meaning of Easter, God cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us by nailing it to the cross…for everyone who would look to Jesus. (Col 2.14)

 

In other words, I was a sinner in need of a Savior and when God the Father observed His Son on the cross, He treated Christ as though He had lived my sinful life. And, God treated me as though I had lived Christ’s perfect life. He took my sin and nailed it to the cross and took the Righteous life of Christ and gave me credit for it.

 

3.  Lastly, God made marriage to represent the present relationship of Christ and the Church.

 

The Groom has come to His Bride and now the marriage institution finds its true meaning. This illustration is lived out in how husband and wife relate to one another. In understanding the meaning of marriage between Christ and His Church, we also see the complimentary roles of the Husband and Wife.

 

 

Eph 5.22-33 says: (Read)

 

And in so understanding the meaning of marriage between Christ and His Church, we also see the complimentary roles together of the Husband and Wife.

 

Eddie and Mallory…

 

Having reviewed the meaning of marriage and having heard the reading of God’s Word, let me give you charge you both, reminding you of God’s expectations to one-another:

 

To, EDDIE, I charge you first - 

 

EDDIE:

 

In view of Christ to the Church…

 

I charge you to LEAD, to LOVE, to PROVIDE, and to PROTECT Mallory.

 

YOU ARE CALLED TO LEAD her – 

 

In the Home by immersing yourself in the knowledge of Biblical Truth, wherein you will find the wisdom to lead Mallory.

 

Spiritually, by presenting her holy and blameless before the Lord and washing her with the water of the Word.

 

Emotionally, by helping her to think through life’s situations based on the foundations and principles of Scripture.

 

And, to instill the Commands of God into any children that He may bless you with in the future and to model Christ in your life before them.

 

YOU ARE CALLED TO LOVE HER – 

 

As Christ loves the church. To give yourself up for her and honor her and prefer her..

To be committed to her, sacrifice for her, and to listen to her and to serve her.

 

YOU ARE CALLED TO PROVIDE FOR HER – 

 

As a servant, saying “NO” to your own desire in preference to her. To provide financially and spiritually and to study the Scriptures for the spiritual food that she needs to thrive.

 

YOU ARE CALLED TO PROTECT HER – 

 

To step in the way of danger on her behalf – to defend her publicly when others may accuse her or undermine her character -

She must feel confident and secure because of your selfless protection-

You are not to lead her into temptation or to downfall – to be a stronghold and a refuge against all harm.

As Christ protects His church so are you to protect Mallory. 

It is a great responsibility, that God will ask you to give account someday; but, do not Fear, God will enable you and strengthen you with His mighty and righteous right hand. You were created for this.

 

 

TO MALLORY , I now Charge you– 

 

God has brought you into Eddie’s life to be his lifelong companion and partner for the rest of your life. Between you two, there should be no secrets and there should be unlimited access in your hearts for each other that you may experience the heights of joy and to not faint in the shadow of fears and failures and to not be shaken in your eternal love for one another.

 

Mallory, I remind you of God’s expectations toward Eddie…

 

As His life long partner, YOU ARE CALLED TO BE A HELPER to Eddie and to come alongside him … that is your primary responsibility. 

To be his biggest supporter, his most consistent encourager, most faithful friend, you must pray for him, listen to him and offer support and encouragement to him in all his endeavors – this is what it means to help him.

 

YOU ARE CALLED SUBMIT to Eddie

God calls you to submit to his leadership, recognizing his leadership and headship in your home as the perfect compliment to him.

You are to do this with an attitude of love and respect exemplifying to the world again the relationship of the church in its submission of itself to Christ.

 

 

YOU ARE CALLED TO MANAGE YOUR HOME

The Bible calls you to be the steward of you house – it is hard, but rewarding work … like the woman of Proverbs 31…

Diligently and delightfully at labor raising your children that the Lord may bless you as you do it all For the glory and pleasure of your Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ.

 

Eddie and Mallory, these are only the beginning of God’s expectations for a biblical and glorious marriage. Love is a covenant based on a choice and you have made that commitment to be here today and we rejoice and celebrate with you as you commit yourselves to one another for the rest of your days. You will experience great joy as you allow the Holy Spirit to enable you to fulfill all His expectations for your marriage.

 

It is now time to say your vows and to promises your lives to each other forever.

 

We will start with you Eddie, please repeat your wedding vows after me:

 

I, Eddie, take you Mallory,

To be my wedded wife 

As Christ is to His body the church

So I will be to you 

A loving and faithful husband

I promise you my deepest love

My fullest devotion

My most tender care

I promise I will live first unto God 

And then unto you

To lead us unto a life of faith

And hope

In Christ Jesus

Ever honoring Gods guidance

By his spirit through his word

No matter what may lie ahead of us

For richer or poorer

In sickness and in health

I pledge to you my life

As long as we both shall live

Or until Jesus returns.

 

Mallory, these are your vows, please repeat after me…

 

I, Mallory, take you Eddie,

To be my wedded husband

I happily give you my life 

And in confidence

Submit myself to your headship 

As to the Lord

As the church is 

In her relationship to Christ

So I will be to you

I will live first unto our God

And then unto you

Loving You

Submitting to you

Caring for you

And ever seeking to please you

With God’s Help

I pray that I may ever strengthen

Help

Comfort

And encourage you

No matter what may lie ahead of us

For richer or for poorer

In sickness and in health

I pledge to you my life

As a loving and faithful wife

As long as we both shall live

Or until Jesus returns.

 

In marriage the ring is a symbol of Gods goodness to both of you and of the commitment that you have just made to one-another before God and these witnesses. The rings are just a reminder of the vows you have made.

 

(Ask for Mallory’s ring to give to Eddie for Mallory’s finger)

 

Every time you look at or touch these rings may they remind you of your vows and the unbroken and untarnished nature of your promises to one-another.

 

Eddie, take this ring and place it on the appropriate finger of Mallory’s left hand and as you do say these words,

 

“This ring I give you 

in token and pledge 

of our constant faith 

and abiding love.”

 

 

(Ask for Eddie’s ring to give to Mallory for Eddie’s finger)

 

Mallory, would you do the same and repeat after me,

 

“This ring I give you 

in token and pledge 

of our constant faith 

and abiding love.”

 

And now because you have pledged mutual love and trust to one another before God and these witnesses, I now declare according to the Ordinances of God and the Laws of this state – I now pronounce you to be husband and wife.

 

Eddie, you may now kiss your wife.

 

(Turn to face the congregation)

 

“Family and Friends, it is now my distinct privilege to present to you for the very first time…

 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Sanderlin, III