Sermon -- For the Wedding of Tim Glodek and Amber Kirvan (May 25, 2025)

This sermon was preached at St. John's Inn in Plymouth, Michigan.

For the wedding of Tim Glodek and Amber Kirvan

COLOSSIANS 3:14-15

YOU ARE BOUND TOGETHER IN CHRIST.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Our Lord established marriage as the final act of creation.  While all things in creation were deemed to be good, the Lord had said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).  While it isn’t evil to be single, it is better for a man to be united to a woman.  And so our Lord decreed, “A man will leave his father and his mother and will remain united with his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).  In becoming one flesh, you will be bound together in Christ.

     Tim and Amber, you both left your father and mother some time ago.  You have been living independently, and you have become quite accustomed to doing things your way.  You’ve only had to care about your own schedule.  That is about to change.  Now you have to consider the schedule and the habits of someone else.  You have probably learned a few of each other’s quirks, but those quirks are going to become more pronounced when you are bound together as one.  What was once amusing might become annoying.  No matter how much you love each other, you will also prove to each other that you are sinners.

     This is why St. Paul’s words to you are so important.  The reading you have chosen begins, “In addition to all these things, put on love, which ties things together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:14).  It is worth taking a peak back to see what all these additional things are.  St. Paul refers to “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience” (Colossians 3:12) and forgiveness.  Marriage will give you a special opportunity to put these into practice.  You are being bound together today.  You will need to work together with schedules and household chores.  You will adjust to who gets to put what in bathroom drawers and to learn “the right way” to load the dishwasher.  You will learn to be patient, kind, and compassionate to each other.  But when you lose patience, when kindness turns into sarcasm, and when gentleness becomes harshness, you will learn to forgive each other. 

     Perhaps forgiveness sounds easy when you are standing here all lovey-dovey and googly-eyed.  “He’s so handsome.  How could I not overlook his faults?”  “She’s so beautiful.  How could I refuse to forgive her?”  But sins are ugly, and you will see and feel it.  But here is your hope, and it is a hope that you have had for years.  You are bound together to Christ.  Jesus Christ has demonstrated what love is. 

     Not all the sins you commit will be against each other.  But all the sins you commit are against God.  Even though he created you, provides all you need to live, protects you with is holy angels, and has brought you together for each other’s good, you still have sinned against him.  This earns God’s wrath.  But instead of sending his wrath, he sent a Savior.  Jesus demonstrated perfect love for you by taking up all your sins and paying the price for them.  Jesus’ love means he was committed to saving you.  That meant a cursed death in which he absorbed the hellish wrath of God the Father for you.  He did that so that you would be pardoned for all your sins.  In your baptism, Jesus washed you clean of all sin.  He presents you to his Father as pure and innocent—as a bride wearing a garment of white.

     You are bound together in Christ, and he has vowed faithful devotion to you.  Jesus is a heavenly groom, and the Church is his holy bride.  He does all things for your good.  He provides, protects, and preserves you in the kingdom of God.  He has given you his name.  All his benefits are yours.  He did not do this because he owed it.  He did it because he loves you.  And that love is not a lovey-dovey, googly-eyed feeling; it is his commitment.  Jesus is committed to you—so much so that he has bound himself to you.  That is the love that binds you together.

     Tim, Scripture urges you to love your wife “in the same way as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).  You love your wife by your commitment to protect her, preserve her, and provide for her.  You give her your name.  All that is yours is hers and for her benefit.  Amber, Scripture urges you to submit to such love.  “Submit to your own [husband] as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he himself is the Savior” (Ephesians 5:22-23).  The Church is not degraded by submitting to Christ.  On the contrary, by submitting to Christ, the Church is exalted and receives good things.  So also, by submitting to Tim who is committed to seeking your good, Amber, you are exalted and blessed.  This is why God binds a man and a woman together as husband and wife.  It is a blessing for both of you.

     “Love … ties things together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:14).  If you are bound together in Christ, you benefit yourself by seeking the good of each other.  For you are no longer individuals who are living independently.  Now you are one, living for the good of each other, striving to be a blessing for each other.  You get to rejoice together in good days.  You get to support one another in difficult days.  You are bound together through it all.  And through it all, Jesus Christ remains bound to you—seeking your eternal good so that you will have a place at the heavenly wedding banquet.

     So, “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts … and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).  The peace of Christ is what will sustain the peace in your life, your faith, and your marriage.  It is knowing that Jesus is committed to you no matter what is going on in your life.  The one who died to save you is risen and lives to assure you that God’s favor rests upon you.  That is a promise you can depend upon.  He has sworn by it.  That is the peace of Christ which controls and soothes your hearts.

     Tim and Amber, today you are taking your marriage vows.  You are swearing to love and faithfulness to each other.  Just as Jesus’ love is a commitment rather than a feeling, so is the love you have for each other.  You are vowing to seek each other’s good.  You are committed to serving one another.  You are bound together in Christ—intimately, exclusively, permanently devoted and united to each other.  Be thankful for it.  For, it is not good that the man should be alone.  And now you aren’t.  You are bound together in Christ.  And Christ has bound himself to you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.