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.

Adult Bible Class -- New Series begins April 7

 Oh, Come, Let Us Adore Him!

          Why do Lutherans worship the way they do?  What makes us different?  Should we be different? 

Our next Bible study will be entitled, “Oh, Come, Let Us Adore Him!”  We will consider how the Bible lays the foundation for our worship so that we gain a greater appreciation for our Lutheran heritage.  After all, “We’ve always done it that way” is not a good foundation.  There has to be a reason we’ve done it a certain way.

All are welcome to consider these matters and to ask questions about “Why this?” or “Why that?”  You can even bring up criticisms you’ve heard or had, and we will assess if they are valid and how they can be resolved.  The tentative schedule is below:

April 7             WORSHIP: Why do we do it?

April 14           WORSHIP: A Service?  Who serves whom?

April 21           WORSHIP: Different Theologies: Glory or the Cross?

April 28           WORSHIP: Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

(or, The way we worship is the way we believe)

May 5              WORSHIP: Rites and Ceremonies / Words and Actions

May 12            WORSHIP: The Church Year; Weddings; Funerals

May 19            Review of Luther’s Small Catechism / Examination of catechumen

Adult Bible Class beings promptly at 9:00 AM on Sundays.  All are welcome.

Summer Fun -- June and July 2023

For various reasons, I have not posted too many personal activities.  So, here are a sampling of photos from the activities this summer.  Our vacation will be documented later.

Here is some summer fun from the first half of the summer.

Putt-putt golf in Milford at the very end of May.

Family wedding in Indianapolis.  Getting us all together in one place is becoming quite rare.

I think this photo sums up Faith's relationship with five brothers over the course of her life.

This was from another family wedding in Wisconsin.  The night kicks in when the tie gets reset.

Cornhole has become quite a popular summer activity.  This is from July 4.

Sermon -- Wedding of Nick Doletzky and Andrea LeFevre (July 14, 2023)

RUTH 1:16-17

MARRIAGE IS A BLESSED COMMITMENT.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The background of this lesson you chose, as you know, is the bond between a young woman and her mother-in-law.  Naomi, the elder of the two, had taken refuge in the country of Moab during a famine.  Naomi’s sons had married local girls, but both marriages ended abruptly by the death of Naomi’s sons.  With the famine ended, Naomi returned to her homeland, Israel.  She urged her daughters-in-law to go back home to their families.  She had nothing to give them, no future to promise them.

     While the one woman went back home to her family, Ruth was determined to be faithful to her mother-in-law.  It was more than a familial bond that motivated her.  She vowed, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).  Through Naomi’s family, Ruth had learned about the Lord, the God who saves and loves sinners, the God who grants unbreakable peace and eternal life.  Ruth was not willing to be separated from Naomi because she did not want to be separated from this salvation.  Therefore, she made a blessed commitment to her.

     Nick & Andrea, your bond will be much tighter and much more intimate than any vow to an in-law.  Today, the Lord binds you together as husband and wife—not merely to become one family, but to become one flesh.  And while Ruth’s vow to Naomi is no marriage vow, part of her pledge will be yours today: “May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you” (Ruth 1:17).  For, what God joins together here today, no person may tear apart.  You are bound together, one flesh, for life.  Marriage is a blessed commitment to one another.

     The marriage bond is a reflection of the commitment that Jesus Christ has made to his Church.  The Church is his bride.  Jesus united himself to us when he became a man.  He is one with our flesh and blood.  Then Jesus gave his flesh and blood into death as the bride price to redeem all mankind.  Those who believe in Jesus are taken as his special people, the Church.  The Church is his bride.  By his precious blood, Jesus not only claimed his bride, but he also purified her of any blemish.  St. Paul wrote, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). 

     Nick, when you look at Andrea, you do not look for flaws or blemishes.  You only see her beauty.  Even more so, Jesus sees his Bride as beautiful!  Jesus has covered every blemish of sin with his purity.  Jesus emptied himself to enrich his Bride.  Jesus humbled himself to glorify his Bride.  Jesus sacrificed himself to give his Bride all good things.  Therefore, Jesus’ Bride is radiant.  She is evidence of his glory.  This is the love a groom is to have for his bride.  This is a blessed commitment, Nick, which you will make for the good of your bride.  Just as Jesus willingly did this to gain his Bride, so it is your delight to do so for your bride.

     Andrea, the vow which Ruth made to Naomi reflects the vow you make to Nick today.  It is a blessed commitment because it is made without fear or reservation.  You are eager to help and encourage him as he loves and serves, protects and provides for you.  This is a reflection of the Church’s commitment to Jesus Christ.  Jesus purifies his Church, protects his Church, provides for his Church, and faithfully loves his Church for time and eternity.  By submitting to Christ, the Church receives good gifts from Jesus and is exalted by him.  By submitting to your husband, Andrea, you will be exalted by him.  He will be devoted to your good, and you will be devoted to his honor.  Marriage is a blessed commitment.

     When Ruth vowed, “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge…  Where you die I will die…” (Ruth 1:16,17), she had no idea where that would be.  Ruth may have heard stories about the land of Judah, but odds are she had never been there.  She did not know what her future would be, only that she would be faithful to her mother-in-law.

     Nick and Andrea, you don’t know your future either.  For now, Livonia will be home.  That house may end up welcoming children.  We pray it will, but we don’t know.  Jobs may change.  You may have problems with money and debt.  There will be days of utter happiness and days of deep sadness.  You have already known some of those difficult days this past year, having lost several family members.  And you will have disagreements.  Although you are called to deny your own selfish desires for the good of your marriage, you will fail to do that from time to time. 

     The devil will use every conflict and every challenge to drive a wedge between you.  But where the Church is, Christ is there to the very end of the age.  Where you go, Christ will be with you.  Where you stay, Christ will be with you.  The Lord will strengthen and preserve your blessed commitment to each.  This commitment is stronger than feelings.  A love based on feelings can turn gooey-eyes to daggers over a poor choice of words.  A love based on a blessed commitment will show mercy to one another, forgive one another, and continue to seek each other’s good.  This is precisely how Jesus Christ loves his Bride, the Church.  Jesus is resolved in his commitment to you.  The devil cannot break that.  Therefore, you need not let the devil break your commitment to each other. 

     Marriage is a blessed commitment.  God has established marriage for the good of a man and a woman.  His blessing rests upon it, and upon you.  Wherever you go, whatever you face, you face it together in joyful union.  You are bound together as one family, one flesh, until death parts you.  And—God be praised!—Jesus Christ has bound himself to you.  And not even death will part you from him.  For, Jesus lives and reigns eternally.  His Bride will live and reign forever with him.  “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).  The faithful Groom will strengthen and sustain his Bride in its commitment to him.  And he will strengthen and sustain your blessed commitment to each other.  

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

Sermon -- The Wedding of Bennie & Krystal Owens (March 4, 2023)

EPHESIANS 5:22-33

MARCH FORTH IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Bennie and Krystal,

     I don’t know if you gave any thought to the date you chose for your wedding, but whether this is on purpose or a happy coincidence, today is March 4^th.  It practically begs me to use it as the theme for this sermon: March Forth In The Love of Christ.

     Now, it makes sense to talk about love at a wedding, but “love” is a rather elastic word.  You love your country.  You love your spouse.  You love music.  I am guessing you love pizza and barbeque.  I mean, who doesn’t?  But they are not all the same.  You don’t love your spouse the way you love food.  So, we need to be a bit more specific about what kind of love we are talking about.

     St. Paul talks about the love that Jesus Christ has for the Church and the love that the Church has for Christ.  This is what the love of a husband and wife is to reflect.  Let’s consider St. Paul’s words, especially because they can be so easily misunderstood.

     Krystal, this is how St. Paul instructs you to march forth in the love of Christ: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior” (Ephesians 5:22-23).  Now, as a good American, you probably cringed at that verse.  You heard the word submit, and you might think that God is telling you to forfeit your personality or to let your husband walk all over you.  You would not be marrying Bennie if you expected him to do that.  Besides, your personality is a big reason Bennie wants to marry you.  So, what is this submission St. Paul is talking about?

     First of all, you should know that there is no verse in the Bible that tells a man to make his woman submit.  Your submission is to be done willingly.  You submit because you trust the man you are marrying.  You trust that he will do good to you and be good for you.  You submit as the Church submits to Christ.  Why does the Church submit to Christ?  In order to receive good things from him.  Jesus put his name upon us to make us his very own.  He loves us, protects us, provides for us.  The Church is not degraded by submitting to Jesus.  Christ devoted himself to the Church as his Bride so that he would exalt her and bless her.  So, by your willing submission, you trust that Bennie will be exalting you and blessing you.

     Now Bennie, this is how St. Paul tells you to march forth in the love of Christ: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church” (Ephesians 5:25-29). 

     Bennie, you march forth in the love of Christ by being committed to Krystal as Jesus is committed to his Church.  How did Jesus commit himself to the Church?  Jesus took from us every mark on our record.  Every selfish act, every bitter word, every wicked thought—Jesus took all of this and made himself accountable for it.  He did not do it because he had to.  He did it to rescue us from God’s anger.

     You know how angry you can get when someone sins against you.  Now recognize that every sin we do is a violation of God’s word.  God supplies all we need to live so that we could love and serve him and love and serve our fellow man, too.  But we respond with self-centered disobedience.  God has every right to be angry with us.  Nothing we do can make up for our sins.  Since we cannot save ourselves, Jesus came to save us.  In taking our sin upon himself, Jesus made himself the guilty one in our place.  As the guilty one, Jesus suffered the cursed death that we deserve.  Jesus hung on a cross, enduring the wrath of God and the agonies of hell for one reason—out of love for us.  The love of Christ always seeks our good.

     This love is not a momentary infatuation.  It is not a romantic impulse.  It is a faithful commitment.  Jesus’ love is a policy: He seeks our good at all times and in all things.  Even when we fail him—and we still do because we are still sinners—Jesus continues to be merciful and forgives us.  In baptism, he cleanses us of every stain of sin.  With his innocence, Jesus covers every smudge of impurity.  Therefore, he does not see any blemishes on you.  You are beautiful to him.  He delights in you, and he has made you delightful to God.  Bennie, this is how you will march forth in the love of Christ.  “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).  You give of yourself to seek the good of Krystal and Maddie in everything you do.  And by submitting to him, Krystal, you will welcome his care, encourage him, and honor him in love.

     March forth in the love of Christ.  Bennie and Krystal, it will not always be easy to do this.  You are both sinners.  You will disagree from time to time.  You will argue from time to time.  There will be days when you are tired and will not feel very energized to show love like you know you should.  The devil will use moments like that to try to rip you apart.  The devil will try to convince you that you are rivals instead of partners.

     March forth in the love of Christ, which means that faithful love is the policy.  You will enjoy moments of romance and of passion, but no one can keep that up constantly.  Life will usually be routine, and that is okay.  Love is a faithful commitment.  You each get to seek each other’s good, especially when life gets hard.  If things should get ugly, you get to show mercy and to forgive.  Forgiveness is not given because it is deserved; it is given because it is good for the other person.  After you forgive your wrongs against each other, you get to work on building each other up to maintain a good marriage.  Love and mercy work together for your good.  This is the love Jesus has for you, for your eternal good.

     March forth in the love of Christ.  Continue to grow in the love of Jesus, and your love for each other will continue to grow, too.

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

Sermon -- Wedding of Jim Hardiman and Lindsey Holloway (January 25, 2020)

EPHESIANS 5:22-33

COMMIT TO ONE ANOTHER 

AS CHRIST IS COMMITTED TO YOU.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When God first established marriage, he said that it was good.  He brought together one holy man and one holy woman in a perfect Paradise to be joined as husband and wife.  This marriage was assessed by God at the close of his week of creation.  “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)  It stands to reason that marriage is good.  St. Paul said, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:32)  Since marriage is a reflection of the love Christ has for the Church and the love the Church has for Christ, it must be good.  And it shows us what God designs marriage to be.
     I suppose that we could define marriage in very simple terms—a man and a woman love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together.  Chances are, you've said that to each other a number of times.  But it is more than that.  St. Paul tells us how God has designed marriage so that it will serve as the highest blessing for both of you.
     Although St. Paul begins by addressing wives, we will turn to the husband first.  Jim, this is what the Lord says: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...” (Ephesians 5:25)  Jesus Christ loved the Church in this way: He gave up everything to have her.  The Son of God left the glories of heaven to live as a man and to endure the sorrows and pains of this world.  He took up our guilt and gave his life in exchange for ours.  So, he suffered for sins he did not commit and paid a debt he did not owe.  He assumed into himself all of our wickedness, and then he gave us credit for all of his holiness.  He took our hell so that we could have heaven.  Jesus did this because he was committed to our good—that he would take away our sins, that he would deliver us from death, and that he would open up heaven to us.  This is how Christ showed his commitment to the Church: He loves the Church and died to win her.
     Jim, as a veterinarian, you have one simple goal—to care for the health and well-being of each animal that is brought to you.  Even if a dog snarls or snaps at you, you still care for and do what is best for that animal.  Now, I am not suggesting that Lindsey will snarl or snap at you, but she will sin against you from time to time.  For, you are both sinners.  So, while marriage is intended to be a Paradise for you, it will not be perfect.  Now, just as Christ is committed to the Church, that is how you are to be committed to your bride, Lindsey.  Just as Jesus continually forgives and loves, so you get to remain committed to loving your bride.  You will continue to serve and love and seek her best, and forgive her even if she does snarl and snap at you.  For, she is more precious to you that someone's schnauzer.  Commit to one another as Christ is committed to you.
     And now, Lindsey, see what St. Paul has written for you.  “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” (Ephesians 5:22-24)  God's word is not telling you to present yourself as a doormat for your husband.  And I think you already know that your groom will not treat you that way.  No, the comparison is the commitment that the Church has to Christ.  Why does the Church submit to Christ?  In order to receive good things from him.  In fact, the Church receives her glory by submitting to Christ.  It is he who has given his name to his Bride, so that you confess to be a Christian.  It is he who provides for his Bride's well-being.  It is he who protects his Bride from all that would harm or destroy or damn her. 
     By submitting to your groom, Lindsey, you are accepting his provision, protection, love, and care.  The best of his is now yours and exclusively yours.  In turn, your submission means that you are committing yourself to love and care for him as the head of the household.  Now, the head does not do harm to the rest of his body.  What good would that be?  Think about it: If you are walking across a room in the dark and stub your toe, your head does not dismiss it and say, “I'll bet that hurt.”  No.  The whole body aches.  And so, Bride and Groom are united in this way.  If one hurts, you both hurt.  If one rejoices, you both rejoice.  Your commitment and devotion to each other serves for the great benefit of each one.  In a world that can be unkind and unfair, you each have a spouse who is committed to seeking your good.  You both get to support, encourage, and console one another.  You both get to exalt one another—just the Church exalts Christ and is exalted by Christ.  This is the commitment God intends for husbands and wives.  Commit to one another as Christ is committed to you.
     And so, today God brings together a man and a woman.  Even though it may not seem like it, you are a holy man and a holy woman in God's sight—for you have been “cleansed...by the washing of water with the word, so that (Jesus) might present (you) to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that (you) might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:26-27)  Today, God joins you in the bond of marriage which he has created to be a blessing for both of you.  Today, God brings together one man and one woman to be husband and wife.  And though this world is not Paradise, you are the beneficiaries of Christ's perfect, committed love.  Your marriage gets to reflect that kind of love in each other.  God sees what he has created here, and behold, it is very good.

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

A Pastoral Concern -- The Cost of a Wedding

I have had many thoughts ruminating about weddings, but have not taken the time to jot them down.  Then I saw someone post a link to this article on Facebook 19 Wedding Traditions To Seriously Ditch (And Replace With These Trendy Alternatives), and I thought I would respond to it.

I agree with some of the advice, and I whole-heartedly disagree with others--e.g., to ditch the traditional wedding vows.  The Church has those vows for theological reasons.  Husbands and wives are vowing to serve each other in marriage as God has designed marriage to be.  They should not be put aside for your own personal "what marriage means to me" vows.  God designed marriage to be a blessing for husband and wife.  He knows what he's doing with his design.

There are lots of concerns that I could express regarding the Christian wedding, but I will try to limit myself to just this point: The wedding industry is making weddings so cost prohibitive that men and women are in no hurry to get married.  (I know, there are other reasons they prefer to cohabitate, but the cost of the wedding is a common excuse.)

Ask anyone how much a wedding costs and you will get answers in the thousands of dollars.  Sometimes, that is just the cost of the dress!  Then there is the reception (hall, caterer, drinks, DJ, etc...).  Plus the party favors and gifts for the bridal party.  The photographer, the wedding album, and whatever other photo package you want.  Don't forget the appointments at the hair salon.  Why not a bus for the bridal party?  What about a photo booth?  Gifts for all the guests?  Maybe a destination wedding?  Also factor in the cost of the church, a pastor, the organist and/or other musicians.  Good grief!  No wonder people take forever to get married!  The cost is extravagant.

Or is it?

Do you know how much it costs to get married in Michigan?  $20.  (I looked it up.)  If any couple insists that it is too costly to get married, they are wrong.  A marriage license costs $20.  There is really no reason for a man and a woman who claim they want to get married to put it off.  In fact, it used to be pretty common for a marriage ceremony to be conducted in conjunction with the Divine Service on Sunday morning.  The bride and groom present themselves before the congregation to vow themselves to each other, to receive God's blessings, and the prayers of the Church.  Do you know what that would cost?  $20.

I can actually hear sighs of incredulity and eye rolls from here.  People are expressing displeasure (if not outrage) that a wedding would be done with so little fanfare and revelry.  But here is the point: It is not that people can't afford to get married; it is that people can't afford the giant party and the limitless extras that come along with it.  If you can afford that and want to do that, good for you!  I'm sure your guests will love it.  But it is not necessary.  The problem is that we all think it is.  And thus, you end up with a bill that is equivalent to a year of college tuition, room, and board.

Here is a thought, and you may want to give it some serious thought: Keep the wedding simple.  Do you really need to invest hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in dresses and tuxes that you will never wear again?  Do you really need a $30/plate dinner to follow?  Or the $1,000 DJ who blares the music which kills any conversation among family members who rarely get to see each other?  Will your wedding party really despise you if they don't get lavish gifts?

Rather than invest thousands of dollars into your special day, perhaps you can scale back significantly and use that money toward a down-payment on a house or pay off college loans.  That way, you will not enter married life so deeply in debt.  Once again, if you can afford to do all this stuff, go for it.  No one is stopping you.  The reality is, most people can't afford it.  But we believe we have to do it.  

The point of the wedding day is for the bride and groom to make their marriage vows to each other, to declare to the world that they are husband and wife, and to receive God's blessing and the prayers of the people.  Everything beyond that is extra.  And while you are free to do all the extras you want, it should be obvious that they are not free.  They can end up being very expensive.  They could even result in massive debt.  I contend that the fanfare and the party dominate the day far more than the wedding vows and God's blessing. These costs have consequences.  Brides and groom should give serious consideration if they are worth the expense.  

Sermon -- For the Wedding of Jerry Fix & Ruth Gonzalez (May 20, 2017)

GENESIS 2:18-25

AND GOD SEES THAT IT IS GOOD.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Throughout the days of creation, the Lord surveyed all that he was making.  We read about Lord's assessment over and over again: “And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25)  However, after he had created the man, the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18)  God's design is not for a man and a woman to go it alone.  Some can and do, but most men and women crave the companionship of marital union.  God was pleased to unite both of you in marriage before, and it was good.  But the course of life found each of you alone again.  And now God has been pleased to bring you together, each for the second time, as husband and wife.  And this, too, is good.
     So that we would know what God intends for a husband and wife, the Lord points to the perfect union of Jesus Christ who is the Groom and his Bride, the Church.  Holy Scripture tells us: “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives....” (Ephesians 5:25-28)  
     Everything Jesus did was for the good of his Bride, the Church, even though we are not good.  We all have flaws and blemishes.  We are marred by sin and scarred by guilt.  Our lives are not pretty.  We live with the shame of people who have forsaken our Lord and chased after what God forbids to find our thrills.  We may be able to hide our shame from each other, but Jesus sees us for what we are.
     We do not deserve the love and affection that Jesus shows us.  But then again, Jesus does not love us or care for us because we are worthy.  Jesus loves us because he is love.  Jesus cares for us because he is compassion.  He chose you not because he needs you, but because he loves you.  Therefore, Jesus did everything to remove every stain of sin from our record.  Jesus did not spare anything for her.  He suffered for the sins we had committed and died bearing the curse we deserve.  Though holy baptism, Jesus clothed you in his own righteousness so that you stand before him without spot, wrinkle, or blemish.  In Christ, you are beautiful and blameless.  And God sees that it is good.
     Jerry, this is how you get to love your bride.  You do all things to exalt and honor her.  Like Jesus does for his Church, you do not focus on faults of your bride, but you get to serve her with love and compassion.  You give yourself to her for her good.  And you share the joy that Adam had when he was first joined to his bride: “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh....” (Genesis 2:23)
     Just as Scripture speaks to husbands, so it also speak to wives.  “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.” (Ephesians 5:22-23)  Now, Americans bristle at the word submit.  If God had told husbands, “Do whatever you want to your wife,” you might have good reason to bristle—although I don't think you would agree to marry a man you don't trust or respect.  But what God tells the man is to lay down his life for his wife, as Christ loved the Church.  To the wife, the Lord says, “Submit to that.”  If you submit to your husband, then you are willingly submitting to a man who will love you as Christ loves the Church.
     The Church submits to Christ in order to receive all good things from him.  Jesus has taken up all that is yours—your sin and the cursed death that accompanies it.  In turn, Jesus has given the Church all that is his.  His righteousness is yours.  His resurrection is yours.  His kingdom is yours.  His mercy, grace, and salvation are yours.  By submitting to Jesus, you receive all these things from him.  Likewise, Ruth, by submitting to your husband, all that is Jerry's is yours.  You get to receive all good things from him.  And God sees that it is good.
     When God first created a bride for Adam, he did not simply summon her into being as he did with all other parts of creation.  God had crafted Adam from the dust of the ground, but the woman he took from Adam's rib.  She was not to be someone for him to walk over, but someone who would be near and dear to his heart.  The bride received her life from the man's side.  In the same way, our Lord Jesus went to the cross to win his bride.  The dowry was his life.  When Jesus died, a Roman soldier ran his sword into Jesus' side, bringing forth a sudden flow of blood and water.  Jesus' Bride receives her life from what comes from his side.  The water of baptism has cleansed you and covered you with garments of salvation.  His blood is given in the Lord's Supper to keep you holy, to nurture you in godly living, and to keep you faithful to your heavenly Groom forever.  By these, he also works in you to sustain your love and faithfulness to each other.  And God sees that it is good.
     The love which the Lord has shown you, you now will strive to show one another.  Though you are not perfect and you will sin against one another, you also know what it is to be forgiven.  The love which Jesus bestows on you will work in you so that you will forgive each other, serve each other, find contentment in each other, and be faithful to each other.  This is the joy which the Lord intends for husbands and wives, which dimly reflects the joy between Christ, the Groom, and his Bride, the Church.
     The Lord, in his wisdom, saw that it was not good that you two remained alone.  The Savior who loves you has been pleased to bind you together today.  God sees it, and bless it; and it is very good.

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

Sermon -- Wedding of Patrick Lawrie and Mary Jo Weindorf (December 24, 2014)

ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12

TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” (Genesis 2:18)  Even the Lord God did not desire to be alone; for he created mankind whom he desired to bless and on whom he could shower his love.  As the Lord created the world, he assessed his creation at each step of the way.  With each step, we read: “And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25)  It was good that people would have these created things which they could enjoy and use. 

     But after God had created Adam, God declared, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” (Genesis 2:18)  Two are better than one. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)  It would be good for the man to have a wife to whom he could be united, whom he could love and bless and protect and serve.  So God created a woman for the man.  And two are better than one. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)  It would be good for the woman to be united to the man whom she could love and bless and serve.

     God joins the two of you together because marriage is good.  And marriage is good because two are better than one. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)  God gives you to each other to love each other.  That love means that you are always seeking the good of the other.  Patrick, you are made the head of the household.  Therefore, all you do is to be for the good of your house and for the benefit of your bride.  Mary Jo, you are submitting yourself to Patrick so that you can receive good things from him.  You get to support and encourage him as he loves and serves you.  If one hurts, the other is there to comfort.  If one falls, the other is there to help him or her up.  Two are better than one. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)  Our Lord tells you to love your neighbor as yourself, and there is no closer neighbor you will ever have than the one to whom you are united in marriage.  God sees this, and he says that it is good.  Two are better than one. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

     Patrick and Mary Jo, even though the Lord joins you together today, you will from time to time find yourself at odds rather than feeling united.  You will try to maintain your independence, exert your will, and have your way.  We all have a sinful nature, and it is recognized best in our selfish desires.  It rears its ugly head when you see your spouse as the one who keeps you from getting what you want.  It turns your spouse into someone you use instead of someone you serve.  You can dig in your heels, and you may even win your share of arguments, but it is at the cost of your unity.  Your own sinful desires would have you engage in a tug-of-war and rip things apart.

     We are on the threshold of Christmas this morning, keeping us mindful that our Lord was also pleased to establish one other union.  It is not good for mankind to be alone, cut off from God because of his sin and selfishness.  It is not good for people to devote themselves to themselves at the expense of others and in defiance of God’s commandments.  It is not good for people to fail to love even of their loved ones.  It is not good.  It results in angry and bitter people.  It results in strained relationships and broken homes.  And finally, it results in God’s eternal punishment.

     You know that it is not good to be under this curse.  The Lord also thinks that it is not good.  Therefore, the Lord was pleased to unite himself with you by becoming man.  Jesus did this because he was seeking your highest good; for, that is what love does.  Jesus was born to unite himself to you not only by becoming flesh, but especially by becoming sin for you.  Jesus was pleased to take up the guilt of your selfishness and self-indulgence.  For this, he was cut off, banished, and forsaken by his Father.  He endured a cursed death; that is the wages of sin.  Jesus does not bear a grudge against you for your sins.  Rather, he bore your punishment in order to release you from all your guilt. 

     Just as Jesus has united himself to you by becoming flesh, so he unites you to himself through your baptism.  He has drowned your sinful nature and has raised you up a new creation.  The love Jesus has for you, you now get to show to one another.  You get to seek each other’s good as Jesus has done for you.  You get to forgive one another as Jesus has forgiven you.  In this way, the Lord does not send you in your marriage on your own.  The Lord is the one who ties all things together.  The Lord is the binding agent of your life in his kingdom and in your life together.  So, as the Lord joins the two of you together, he is the third strand in your marriage, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) 

    On this Christmas Eve day, the Lord was pleased to unite himself to mankind, to be our Immanuel, and to dwell with us so that we will dwell in his kingdom forever.  Today, the Lord unites you as husband and wife.  Today, the Lord is pleased to dwell in your home and to bless you through his gift of marriage.  The Lord will be pleased to continue to bless you throughout your life as you serve one another as husband and wife.  And you will please one another by growing in your unity and by serving and supporting each other at all times.  Two are better than one, and today the two become one.  God sees it, and it is good.

All Scripture references are NKJV.

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

Sermon -- Wedding of Thomas & Mikaela Mattison (July 5, 2014)

REVELATION 19:6-9

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED

TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.

In the name + of Jesus.

     It is probably no secret to anyone here that you actually pledged your marriage vows to each other about a year ago.  This was good and right to do, as it is God’s will that children come into the world through husband and wife.  Children are to be a blessing that God grants in marriage.  For, those who are outside of marriage usually respond to the news of pregnancy with anguish or regret.  This was not God’s intention for you, and so you did well to get married a year ago.  And God granted you a daughter who gets to rely on both mom and dad for love, care, and protection.

     And yet, one year later, you are here again before God’s altar.  This time, the ceremony is not so modest.  There are fine garments.  There is festive music.  And there is a wedding banquet to follow with music, dancing, and laughter.  It is no surprise that you want to mark your marriage with such a celebration. 

     St. John was given a vision of a great wedding banquet.  All of heaven rejoiced at this great banquet, as St. John heard angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven cry out: “Hallelujah!  For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come…” (Revelation 19:6-7)  This marriage feast of the Lamb is the eternal, heavenly union of Jesus Christ and his Bride, the Church.  Just as people dress up for the wedding banquet today, so it is even in the glory of heaven.  “The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. (Revelation 19:7-8) 

     The Lord Jesus himself prepared his Bride for the wedding.  For the Church is not naturally radiant and beautiful.  You can look at any group of Christians and they will prove that they are sinners.  Their words can get ugly.  Their deeds can be unattractive.  And their thoughts are often best kept behind hidden. 

     Tom and Mikaela, you are aware of these things, too.  Though you love each other and are going to pledge yourself to each other again, after a year of marriage you have gotten to know each other very well.  That is good, but it has a dark side to it as well.  When you were dating, you made efforts to hide your faults and blemishes from each other.  But being married, there is no hiding them.  You have seen each other’s sins.  You have witnessed ugly words, unattractive deeds, and even thoughts that you wished you had kept hidden.  You have sinned against each other, as well as against the God who has given you to each other.

     The Lord Jesus Christ knows of your sins, too.  He does not choose to overlook your faults or to ignore your sins.  Rather, Jesus took your sins and ugliness from you.  When a man and a woman get married, the Groom may have to assume the credit card debt of his bride.  Out of love, he will.  As a loving groom, Jesus assumed every debt and flaw and failing of his Bride.  He suffered the consequences for your sins.  He laid down his life on your behalf to deliver you from the wrath that you deserved for your ugliness and unfaithfulness.  Jesus purified you in your baptism and covered you in his righteousness.  These are the clean, bright garments that cover every blemish and every spot.  These are the wedding garments that you wear now.  These are what you shall wear in the everlasting, heavenly wedding banquet.  “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9)

     Tom & Mikaela, when you sin against each other, do not pretend that it doesn’t matter.  Your sins against each other will leave marks and scars.  If they are allowed to fester, the fabric of your marriage will pull apart at the seams, fray, and rip apart.  Therefore, confess your sins to each other, and then forgive one another.  Forgiveness is not like ignoring a grape juice stain in the middle of your spouse’s shirt.  “Forgiving” and “ignoring” are not synonyms.  Forgiveness is saying, “I do not hold this against you.  I will not hold this over you.  I relinquish my rights to rub this in your face.  Instead, I choose to see you as beautiful and blameless.  I remain firm in my commitment to love you, honor you, and to cherish you.”  In this way, neither sin nor Satan will be able to reduce your marriage to tatters.  In this way, Jesus Christ will reign in your house with love and mercy.  In this way, your marriage will still echo the “Hallelujah!” you sing today in celebration of the marriage feast.

     Tom & Mikaela, those who have come to your wedding rejoice with you.  Everyone loves a wedding feast.  The hall is filled with friends and loved ones.  There is a sumptuous feast awaiting.  There is good music and good conversation.  It is one of the few times that people don’t care about the time, because everyone loves the feast. 

     “Hallelujah!  For…the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready…  Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:6-7,9)  Your heavenly Groom, Jesus, has invited you to the marriage feast in heaven.  It will be a great hall filled with good music and good food.  Jesus’ Bride, the Church, will be beautiful, glorious, and pure, for he has given her wedding garments, garments of salvation, to wear.  And the celebration will be timeless, endless, and perfect.  The Church will rejoice in the presence of her Savior, and the Savior will rejoice that you are with him.  For that is the way it is with a Bride and a Groom—they delight over each other. 

     “Hallelujah!  Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:6,9)  Blessed are you, who already feast on the marriage supper from this altar.  Blessed are you who are holy and blameless before God, every sin cleansed and every blemish covered.  And blessed are you who have made the Lord Jesus the foundation of your marriage and your home.  For, he who has saved you will also sustain you—both as husband and wife, and as children of his Bride, the Church.

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

Sermon -- The Wedding of Robert McFarlane and Lindsey Vermillion (June 7, 2014)

ISAIAH 61:10

JESUS CLOTHES YOU

IN GLORIOUS WEDDING GARMENTS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     It used to be that people spoke of coming to church in their Sunday best.  They had one suit or one dress, their best one, reserved for coming to God’s house and entering God’s presence.  You have come here today into God’s house and into God’s presence.  And you have done better than your Sunday best.  Lindsey, I suspect that you logged a few hours looking for the right dress for today.  Bob, you probably took more time getting fitted for your tux than it takes you to get dressed all week.  You have even invested a chunk of money to have photographs of yourselves in your wedding garments.  It is your wedding day.  It is probably the best you will ever be dressed. 

     This is not unique to American culture.  As it is for you, so it was for the Israelite bride and groom.  Their wedding day was as lavishly as they would ever be dressed.  The bride would even borrow jewels to adorn herself.  They would cover up their blemishes.  They would douse themselves in perfumes.  It was as good as they would ever look.

     Now, I suppose we could be flippant and suggest that it is all down hill from here.  Today, a white dress and a tux.  Tomorrow, a ratty T-shirt and pajama pants.  Well, maybe.  But you have certainly seen each other at your less-than-pretty moments.  You know what the blemishes look like.  You have probably even been responsible for some of each other’s scars and wounds.  That’s no surprise; for, you are sinners.  You have each sinned against the other, and you will again.  Now, you love each other, so you choose to overlook some of petty ugliness.  But some cannot be hidden. 

     It surely does not look good to God.  Every sin is rebellion against God and repulsive to him.  You can try to pretty it up all you want.  But it is like putting lipstick on a pig.  The lipstick does not make it pretty, and it is still a pig.  Sin is ugly, and you can’t make it look better.  The prophet Isaiah spoke of our appearance before God when he said, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6, NIV ‘84)  Even our best is filth before God.

     Since you cannot fix your sin or make it look pretty, God acted on your behalf.  Jesus suffered a brutal and gruesome death for you.  He was bloodied by lashes and fists.  He was stripped of his garments and nailed to the cross.  He suffered and died in shame for your shame.  Jesus wrapped himself in your sin and guilt, and he bore the curse of sin for you.  Jesus’ death was not pretty because it shows us what God thinks of sin.

     But Jesus’ crucifixion also shows you what God thinks of you.  He does not let you die with your sins clinging to you like filthy rags.  The Lord has atoned for all your guilt.  And now, he covers your guilt and your shame with his own righteousness.  Jesus clothes you in glorious wedding garments.

     Therefore, Isaiah says, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10) 

     Jesus clothes you in glorious wedding garments.  The Lord, therefore, does not look upon you and see filthy rags or the ugliness of sin.  That has been covered by the blood of Jesus.  Since you are baptized, you are now clothed with Christ.  God sees you in better than your Sunday best.  He sees you in robes of righteousness and garments of salvation.  Jesus Christ, the Groom, has dressed up his Church as a beautiful Bride, without blemish or spot or wrinkle.  Jesus clothes you in glorious wedding garments.

     The love that Jesus Christ has for his Church is the love that you are to have for your bride, Bob.  You do not pledge your love to Lindsey based on any conditions.  Your love is a commitment to her, casting aside your own self-interests for the good of your bride and of your family.  That is what Christ-like love is.  Love does not insist on its own way.  Love does not keep score.  Love only seeks the good of the other.  The husband, therefore, loves his wife as Christ loves the Church.

     Lindsey, you get to submit to your husband as the Church submits to Christ.  You get to support him in his efforts to bless you and care for you.  The Church suffers no shame in submitting to Christ.  In fact, the Church is glorified by submitting to her Groom, Jesus.  Likewise, by submitting to your husband, Lindsey, you get to receive good things from him, and you honor him as he gives them to you. 

     Now, you will still have your ugly moments with each other.  You will still see the blemishes.  Your marriage may develop a wrinkle or two.  Satan will try to drive a wedge between what God joins together.  Again, you will get to demonstrate the love of Christ to each other by confessing your sins to each other and forgiving one another.  You don’t do it because it is deserved, but because it is needed.  You remain committed to the vows you take today—to love each other, to seek the best for each other, and to see each other as children of God.

     For, the Lord Jesus Christ has clothed you in glorious wedding garments.  He does not tie conditions to that, as if you have to be good enough before he calls you his own.  He has purchased you for his own, and the dowry was his precious blood.  He has made you beautiful by clothing you with garments of salvation.  He has covered every blemish.  He has taken out every wrinkle.  He has made you radiant and rejoices that you are his.

     Bob and Lindsey, you will not want the joy of this day to come to an end.  Wedding banquets are a blast.  So also, the Lord has prepared an eternal wedding banquet for Christ, the Groom, and for his Bride, the Church.  And Jesus has clothed you in glorious wedding garments so you are prepared for your place there.  There, you will get to receive good things from your Lord forever, and the joy will never come to an end. 

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