Then Saturday was actually a very stress-free day. The actual ceremony at the church was only fifteen minutes long, but that is what they wanted. It was still very well done for being that short. Then I got to ride around with the wedding party on the party bus. Then the reception was a lot of fun.
I am back at work now trying to get back into work-mode after a few days off. I am preaching this Sunday and realizing writing a sermon every other week is going to be a challenge. I am a little anxious about someday when/if I have to write a sermon every week. However, the Lord is always with me helping me write them.
Here is my wedding sermon. Short and sweet just like the service. I almost lost it in the beginning, but used every ounce of might to hold off the tears. My heart was racing and pounding about a foot outside of my chest the entire time. However, everyone said I did well so I take it they couldn't notice. Again, so happy for both of them and truly do wish them God's richest blessings.
The sermon for today will focus mainly on the Old Testament reading from Genesis 2, specifically looking at verse 23 where Adam says, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.”
JoAnna and Steven,
I am honored to be a part of this joyous ceremony and celebration today. For those of you who may not know I am JoAnna’s younger brother. I can’t say little brother anymore now that I’m the biggest sibling of the four. I am four years younger than her and have spent my entire life annoying her, teasing her, making fun of her like a good little brother should, and giving her great nicknames like JoBubba. Well JoBubba, even with all the teasing and annoying things I have done to you, I know you know that I love you. As we have both grown older and maybe even grown up a little, we have become great friends. I truly do think of you as one of my bests friends and my older sister who I know I can count on and always rely on. As much as I love you, my love for you does not even begin to compare to the love that Steven has for you. Watching you two be friends over basically the past decade, and hearing you talk about him and how you felt, then seeing that friendship finally become a relationship, and watching you two grow as a couple, I have seen the love you have for him and the love you have for her.
The way you two love each other makes me think of our text for today, which is why I chose it. We know in Genesis, God created all of creation, the heavens and earth. He created everything that fills the earth such as plants, animals, birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and mankind. He created everything in six days and it was good, it was perfect. And then here in Genesis two we get a little flash back into how Eve was created on the sixth day. God was bringing all the animals of the field to be named by Adam. And after Adam had named every animal, God realized none of these animals would do to be a suitable helper for Adam. So as we know, God put Adam in a deep sleep, took out one of his ribs, and using Adam’s rib and the dust of the ground, God created Eve. When Adam wakes up and God brings Eve to him, his reaction is just so inspiring and touching. The English is translated as “This at last,” but what the Hebrew is actually conveying there is “FINALLY!” Adam has been staring at animals all day naming them, but when he sees Eve he says finally. Finally this is the one that is like him, she is the one God has brought to him. “Finally” God has given me the one that is meant to be.
You both have your pasts of failed relationships and enduring trials in the love department. But today as you stand here getting married, you can say, “Finally!” God has finally given you your suitable helper and the one that is meant to be. God has brought you together and given you to each other just as He gave Adam and Eve to each other in the garden.
So, Finally, God has brought you together and led you to get married and that’s it, the final step right? Well, not quite. Just because you have the rings on your fingers and have said “I do”, does not mean all the troubles and hard times disappear. In fact, in some ways they are about to get harder. Now every trial you face, you must face together as husband and wife. We live in a sinful world and that sin will be a part of your marriage. There will be trials and temptations, there will be hurt feelings and anger, and there will be harmful words exchanged and wrongs done. Sin will be a part of your relationship and the Devil will be ever present trying to tear this union apart. But remember, God brought you two together. I encourage you to hear and take to heart the words our Lord Jesus Christ speaks from our Gospel reading for today. In Mark chapter 10 Christ says, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” God has brought you two together, do not let that union be broken or separated because of sin or the Devil. Do not let the trials and hard times come between you or undo the work God has done to bring you into this marriage.
Remember these words of our Lord as you work together every day to keep this union healthy and holy. However, also remember that it is not just the two of you. God is always with you. The same one true God who created Adam and Eve and brought them together, the same God who has brought you two together, is the one true God who loves you and is with you. He loves you so much He sent His Son Jesus Christ to give Himself up unto death for you out of this love. That is why St. Paul says in Ephesians, “be like imitators of God and walk in love as Christ loved you.” If you walk in the love Christ has for you, nothing can separate you, because the love of Christ is stronger than sin and the devil. This love that Christ has shown you by giving up Himself for you includes forgiveness. So even when you fail to walk in this love together, and you let down the other person or hurt the other one, even when you sin because you are a sinner, the love Christ has for you is still stronger than all sin because there is forgiveness. Keep this love that Christ has shown you and the forgiveness that is included in that love as the foundation to your marriage. Strive to use these trials and hardships to grow closer instead of growing apart or risk being separated.
So on this happy day you can both say “Finally” knowing God has brought you together and this is the one that is meant to be; but your life together is not final, it is only beginning. As you walk together in the love God has shown us in His Son, no man, no sin, and no work of the devil can separate this blessed union God has brought together. I pray God’s richest blessings for both of you as you walk together in this love.
JoAnna and Steven,
I am honored to be a part of this joyous ceremony and celebration today. For those of you who may not know I am JoAnna’s younger brother. I can’t say little brother anymore now that I’m the biggest sibling of the four. I am four years younger than her and have spent my entire life annoying her, teasing her, making fun of her like a good little brother should, and giving her great nicknames like JoBubba. Well JoBubba, even with all the teasing and annoying things I have done to you, I know you know that I love you. As we have both grown older and maybe even grown up a little, we have become great friends. I truly do think of you as one of my bests friends and my older sister who I know I can count on and always rely on. As much as I love you, my love for you does not even begin to compare to the love that Steven has for you. Watching you two be friends over basically the past decade, and hearing you talk about him and how you felt, then seeing that friendship finally become a relationship, and watching you two grow as a couple, I have seen the love you have for him and the love you have for her.
The way you two love each other makes me think of our text for today, which is why I chose it. We know in Genesis, God created all of creation, the heavens and earth. He created everything that fills the earth such as plants, animals, birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and mankind. He created everything in six days and it was good, it was perfect. And then here in Genesis two we get a little flash back into how Eve was created on the sixth day. God was bringing all the animals of the field to be named by Adam. And after Adam had named every animal, God realized none of these animals would do to be a suitable helper for Adam. So as we know, God put Adam in a deep sleep, took out one of his ribs, and using Adam’s rib and the dust of the ground, God created Eve. When Adam wakes up and God brings Eve to him, his reaction is just so inspiring and touching. The English is translated as “This at last,” but what the Hebrew is actually conveying there is “FINALLY!” Adam has been staring at animals all day naming them, but when he sees Eve he says finally. Finally this is the one that is like him, she is the one God has brought to him. “Finally” God has given me the one that is meant to be.
You both have your pasts of failed relationships and enduring trials in the love department. But today as you stand here getting married, you can say, “Finally!” God has finally given you your suitable helper and the one that is meant to be. God has brought you together and given you to each other just as He gave Adam and Eve to each other in the garden.
So, Finally, God has brought you together and led you to get married and that’s it, the final step right? Well, not quite. Just because you have the rings on your fingers and have said “I do”, does not mean all the troubles and hard times disappear. In fact, in some ways they are about to get harder. Now every trial you face, you must face together as husband and wife. We live in a sinful world and that sin will be a part of your marriage. There will be trials and temptations, there will be hurt feelings and anger, and there will be harmful words exchanged and wrongs done. Sin will be a part of your relationship and the Devil will be ever present trying to tear this union apart. But remember, God brought you two together. I encourage you to hear and take to heart the words our Lord Jesus Christ speaks from our Gospel reading for today. In Mark chapter 10 Christ says, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” God has brought you two together, do not let that union be broken or separated because of sin or the Devil. Do not let the trials and hard times come between you or undo the work God has done to bring you into this marriage.
Remember these words of our Lord as you work together every day to keep this union healthy and holy. However, also remember that it is not just the two of you. God is always with you. The same one true God who created Adam and Eve and brought them together, the same God who has brought you two together, is the one true God who loves you and is with you. He loves you so much He sent His Son Jesus Christ to give Himself up unto death for you out of this love. That is why St. Paul says in Ephesians, “be like imitators of God and walk in love as Christ loved you.” If you walk in the love Christ has for you, nothing can separate you, because the love of Christ is stronger than sin and the devil. This love that Christ has shown you by giving up Himself for you includes forgiveness. So even when you fail to walk in this love together, and you let down the other person or hurt the other one, even when you sin because you are a sinner, the love Christ has for you is still stronger than all sin because there is forgiveness. Keep this love that Christ has shown you and the forgiveness that is included in that love as the foundation to your marriage. Strive to use these trials and hardships to grow closer instead of growing apart or risk being separated.
So on this happy day you can both say “Finally” knowing God has brought you together and this is the one that is meant to be; but your life together is not final, it is only beginning. As you walk together in the love God has shown us in His Son, no man, no sin, and no work of the devil can separate this blessed union God has brought together. I pray God’s richest blessings for both of you as you walk together in this love.
In the name of our Lord who loves you and has brought you together, Jesus Christ. Amen.
So good to read this again! You did a great job and so special to have you do that for us :) Love ya brother
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