Opening Statement:

Dear friends, we are gathered here today in the presence of God and these witnesses to unite this couple in holy
matrimony. Christian marriage is a way of life given by God so that husband and wife may provide each other
companionship, help, comfort, joy and love. Marriage is a promise of love that endures all things. Marriage,
therefore, is not to be entered into lightly, for God’s Word commands us to hold it in honor at all times.

Leave Taking:
Who is giving this woman to be married to this man?

Homily:
A Christian wedding ceremony, the only wedding ceremony ordained by God, finds its foundation, and
direction in one place alone, the perfect Word of God. When we turn there we find God’s plan for creation in
many areas. The Bible refers to it as God’s will for our lives, and so when we learn it, we are compelled to
follow it in all areas. The Bible reveals that it is God’s will that we would be saved, as the Apostle Paul shared
with Timothy when he said God, “will have all men to be saved”. ____ and ____, during our time of
counseling you have both made a clear confession of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior in your life. That you have
recognized separately that on your own, before a holy God, you stand guilty, guilty of trespass and sin, guilty of
rebelling against God and His perfect law. And as a result, knowing that we shall all give an account of our
lives before an all seeing and all knowing God on judgment day, and that you would be found guilty of
transgressing the law on that day and therefore sentenced to an eternity in hell, you have sought reconciliation
with God through His Son. By repentance and faith you have both come to Jesus for forgiveness and life,
thereby responding correctly to God’s will for your life. But the Bible reveals God’s perfect will for our lives in
many other areas as well, though it always starts with salvation. For instance, the Bible says it is God’s will that
you would be saved, Spirit filled, sanctified, and submissive, to list a few. But in the creation account we can
find a very clear statement of God’s perfect will for your new life together in God ordained marriage. We find
it in the second chapter of the book of Genesis. This chapter tells us how the Lord God formed man from the
dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life so that man would become a living soul. Then
the Lord God planted a garden east of Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Something was
missing though, something substantial enough for God to make this statement, “It is not good that the man
should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Gen 2:18). And so immediately the Word of God
directs us to God’ perfect will for marriage, and specifically to the role of the woman in that union. After the
Lord God had decided to make woman, He caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. God then took
one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man,
made he a woman. Many have observed a symbolic significance in God’s choice of a rib from which to fashion
woman. They have considered that God chose the rib to illustrate closeness, and intimacy, rather than if He had
chosen a foot, or a head either signifying that the man was to trample or rule over her. And so in a marriage
ceremony officiated by the very God of all creation, the Bible says that God, “brought her unto the man”. The
union was complete, the rings and vows now finished, it is interesting how the man responded to God’s perfect
provision for his life. The Bible records him saying, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh”.
Later, Jesus underscored the uniqueness of this first marriage and its perpetual importance when He made this
clear and strong statement, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For
this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh:
so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put
asunder”. And so God’s perfect will for your marriage is crystal clear, a permanent marriage, a permanent love
and care, and a permanent faithfulness to each other as God’s perfect and chosen mate. You will signify this in
your marriage and you will follow closely God’s will for your marriage if you do these three things; receive
each other as Adam did Eve, unconditionally recognizing that God in His infinite wisdom has brought you
together for His purposes; leave your parents, faithfully and willfully cutting the previously attached cords of
dependency and allegiance, and affixing them anew to each other; and cleave unto each other, something that
begins at this altar, but remains on and grows stronger with each day. God will faithfully cause you to become
one flesh.
Pastoral Prayer:
Colossians 2:2-3, “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of
the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and
of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”.

Intent to Marry:

______, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage; will you
love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long
as you both shall live? If so answer, “I will”.

______, will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage; will you
love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health forsaking all others, be faithful to him as
long as you both shall live? If so answer, “I will”.

If you, then _____ and _____ have freely and deliberately chosen each other as partners in this holy estate and
believe whole heartily that this is God’s perfect will for your lives, and know of no just cause why you should
not be united, in token thereof, will you please join your right hands.

Wedding Vows:

______, will you repeat after me: In taking the woman I hold by the right hand to be my wedded wife,
before God and these witnesses I vow to love her, to honor her and cherish her in this relationship, and
leaving all others, cleave only to her, in all things a true and faithful husband as long as we both shall live.

______, will you repeat after me: In taking the man I hold by the right hand to be my wedded husband,
before God and these witnesses I vow to love him, to honor him and cherish him in this relationship, and
leaving all others, cleave only to him, in all things a true and faithful wife as long as we both shall live.

Exchange of Rings:

As a sign and seal of the love you have for each other and for the vows you make this day, you have chosen to
exchange rings. May I please have the rings?

{Hand the bride’s ring to the groom} Please place your ring upon the third finger of _____’s left hand and
repeat after me saying, I give you this ring as a sign of the vows I have made this day.

{Hand the groom’s ring to the bride} Please place you ring upon the third finger of _____’s left hand and
repeat after me saying, I give you this ring as a sign of the vows I have made this day.

Prayer for Bride and Groom at kneeling bench:

Eternal God, bless ____ and _____ that the may live together in marriage according to the vows they have made
this day. Fill them with the love of your dear Son so that the love they have for each other will grow deeper and
more meaningful with each day. May they have a long and joy filled life together. May their home be a haven
of blessing and peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord amen.
Benediction:

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious to thee: The Lord
lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Declaration of Marriage:

You have come before God and these witnesses today to express your desire to be husband and wife. By the
clasping of hands, by the reciting of vows, by the exchanging of rings, you have shown your love and devotion
to each other today. I, therefore, pronounce that you are husband and wife. What God has joined together, let
no man put asunder.

Traditional Kiss:

Adam, you may kiss the bride.

Introduction:

It is my distinct honor and privilege to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Page!