A Wedding Ceremony
I. John and Mary have invited to you here today to witness the exchanging of vows that will unite them together as husband and wife.
A. They bring here today their hopes and dreams which they desire to bind together.
B. More importantly, they are here out of respect for God and in obedience to
His laws in marriage.
C. When this ceremony has ended, John and Mary will leave this place as husband and wife, having been joined together by God.
II. Who gives this daughter in marriage? (Wait for her father to respond). III. The institution of marriage is not a casual one.
A. We need to reassert that God ordained marriage.
B. So holy is this institution that Paul could only liken it to the relationship of
Christ and His church (Eph. 5:22–31).
IV. God ordained marriage to be a lifelong commitment.
A. In Matthew 19 our Lord was questioned as to the nature of marriage.
B. He was asked whether marriage was a precarious relationship, one subject to dissolution by the whim of either party, or a permanent relationship, one
which would bind couples together for life.
C. The question posed was, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
D. Jesus explained that God ordained the marriage relationship in the beginning and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
E. He then added, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man
separate.”
V. Light and frivolous excuses for divorce are not acceptable to Him before whom we live and by whom we will be judged for eternity.
A. The vows you take this day cannot be broken with impunity. B. These vows are to be sacred to you, for they are sacred to God.
C. The time might come when your friends and these witnesses might forget
the vows you make today, but God will not. D. Do you both understand this?
VI. A good marriage is the union of two hearts and two lives, welded together by mutual love and respect.
A. You will walk together, work together, bear each others burdens and share
each others joys.
B. Remember, the vows you take today are as binding in adversity as in prosperity.
VII. According to state law, several things are necessary to have a marriage: A. A license must be obtained from the country clerk.
B. Vows must be exchanged in a civil ceremony.
C. Records must be made at the court house.
David Padfield www.ExpositorySermonOutlines.com 1
VIII. However, marriage is more than a piece of paper or a ring of gold.
A. Marriage involves a new relationship in which a man leaves his father and mother to cleave to his wife.
B. The old parental ties, though they remain in affection, give way in strength
to a new union.
IX. Do not expect instant success in every aspect of your newly formed relationship. A. Rather, with patience and love you can cause your vows to be renewed day
by day, and your marriage will blossom into that which God intended for it to be.
B. You hold within your hands and hearts the ability to make it so.
X. Mary, John has paid you the highest compliment a man can pay a woman—he has asked you to be his wife, to bear his children and guide his home.
XI. John, Mary has paid you the highest compliment a woman can pay a man—she has agreed to leave the security of her parent’s home to be your wife and to
entrust you with her future.
Vows Of Intent
I. John Doe, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife?
A. Do you promise here today, with God and your friends as witnesses, that
you will be to her a faithful, loving and devoted husband?
B. Do you promise to love her, provide for her, protect her, cherish and honor her all the days of your life?
C. Do you promise to be faithful to her so long as you both shall live? II. Mary Smith, will you take this man to be your wedded husband?
A. Do you promise here today, before God and your friends, that you will be to
him a faithful, loving and devoted wife?
B. Do you promise that you willlove, honor and obey him all the days of your life?
C. Do you promise to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Exchanging Of Vows
I. I will now ask you both to seal the vows you have just made by the giving and receiving of rings.
A. For generations, rings have been used as tokens of pledges made in good faith and as seals of sacred vows.
B. In the giving and receiving of these rings you pledge yourselves one to the
other.
C. Our prayer is that your love and happiness will be as unending as these rings you give.
D. May these rings glow in the reflection of the warmth and love which flows in your heart today.
E. Let these rings remind you of this happy hour that you shared in the
presence of God and your friends and family.
David Padfield www.ExpositorySermonOutlines.com 2
II. John, will you place your ring on the third finger of Mary’s left hand and repeat after me: “With this ring I thee wed and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. I offer you my name to wear, my home to share, my hand to hold, my heart to
keep. I pledge to you patience, kindness, loyalty and love. I promise to be your
faithful husband in sickness and in health. I look forward to our life of love together, and with this ring I thee wed, and with my body I thee honor, till in death we part.”
III. Mary, will you place your ring on the third finger of John’s left hand and repeat after me: “To your gracious offer I gladly respond, and give you the loyalty of
my life. I give you the love of my heart and the devotion of my soul. I promise
to be your faithful wife in sickness and in health. I look forward to our life of love together, and with this ring I thee wed, and with my body I thee honor, till in death we part.”
IV. I pray that you two will know the deepest joys of marriage through a lifetime together.
A. May the sorrows of life be halved and the joys of life doubled because you
experience them together.
B. May you be very patient and kind one to another.
C. Always be hopeful, faithful, loving and considerate one for another.
Invocation
I. Let us bow in prayer. “Almighty God, we humbly come before Your throne of grace bringing prayer this day. We thank You for the gift of marriage. Please let Your richest blessings rest upon this couple who have here vowed their lives to each other. Please grant them happiness in each others companionship, and that
they may have a long life together. May their quiver of children be full, and their
cup of joy overflowing. Bestow upon them mercy and peace. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
II. Having pledged your faith in and your love towards one another, and having sealed your solemn vows by the giving and receiving of rings before God and these witnesses—now by the power vested in me by this state—I now
pronounce you Husband and Wife.
III. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. IV. You may now kiss your bride.
V. I now present unto you Mr. & Mrs. John Doe.
David Padfield www.ExpositorySermonOutlines.com 3