Love - Gift Of God
Sermon
Wedding Sermons And Marriage Ceremonies
(for a couple with a baby)
Listen to these words of Scripture from the First Letter of John, chapter 4, verses 7--12 (TEV):
Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.
Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. No one has ever seen God, but it we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us.
(Bride) and (Groom), remember all those years that you lived in the same neighborhood, but never dreamed you would be standing here like this, ready to promise yourselves to one another in marriage? Back then you were just the boy, the girl, who lived down the block. It's truly amazing how love can begin and grow from such almost unnoticed beginnings.
We all rejoice that you are here! Finally, your love has matured to the point where you want to share it with the world. You are ready to make a permanent commitment to each other and seal it with special vows of faithfulness and caring, witnessed by all these family and friends.
You have put a great deal of time, thought, and effort into preparing for this day. Why? Could it be because you are beginning to realize how important and precious this gift of love is which you are giving to each other?
It is a gift that you will need to keep giving to each other again and again. Just saying how much you love one another as you stand here today won't be enough. In fact, the words, "I love you," will never be enough alone. The author of 1 John states a great truth when he writes in chapter 3, "My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action."
When you stop what you are doing and take time to listen carefully to your partner, that is an act of true love. When you take your turn entertaining a cranky, teething baby, that is an act of true love. When you give an unexpected hug, make a special meal, leave a little love note - those are the kind of small actions which often speak louder than words of your love for each other. They show how much you value the gift of love you have been given.
At this moment, you may feel like this love is a gift only the two of you share. Not so! True love cannot be contained - it has a way of overflowing and touching the lives of all those around you. But right now I want you to think about one very special person your love is affecting. As you nurture your love for one another, you are giving your child a tremendous gift also. For he/she will learn his/her first lessons about love as he/she watches your relationship. Your honesty, openness, and affection toward each other - or the lack of them - will be a powerful example for him/her. As you shower him/her with love, don't forget to keep showering love on each other too. It will add to his/her sense of security, and it will be an important way of passing on God's gift of love to him/her.
On those days when you feel overwhelmed by all of this, when you are just not sure you have another loving action or word in you, remember that love is not something we manufacture ourselves. As 1 John 4 says, love is from God. Our love is renewed when we turn to God, the Source and Power behind all love.
Your love is a gift from God, (Bride) and (Groom). Rejoice in it, nurture it, share it with your little one, and remember always to thank the Giver. May the love of God remain with you always. Amen.
Listen to these words of Scripture from the First Letter of John, chapter 4, verses 7--12 (TEV):
Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.
Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. No one has ever seen God, but it we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us.
(Bride) and (Groom), remember all those years that you lived in the same neighborhood, but never dreamed you would be standing here like this, ready to promise yourselves to one another in marriage? Back then you were just the boy, the girl, who lived down the block. It's truly amazing how love can begin and grow from such almost unnoticed beginnings.
We all rejoice that you are here! Finally, your love has matured to the point where you want to share it with the world. You are ready to make a permanent commitment to each other and seal it with special vows of faithfulness and caring, witnessed by all these family and friends.
You have put a great deal of time, thought, and effort into preparing for this day. Why? Could it be because you are beginning to realize how important and precious this gift of love is which you are giving to each other?
It is a gift that you will need to keep giving to each other again and again. Just saying how much you love one another as you stand here today won't be enough. In fact, the words, "I love you," will never be enough alone. The author of 1 John states a great truth when he writes in chapter 3, "My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action."
When you stop what you are doing and take time to listen carefully to your partner, that is an act of true love. When you take your turn entertaining a cranky, teething baby, that is an act of true love. When you give an unexpected hug, make a special meal, leave a little love note - those are the kind of small actions which often speak louder than words of your love for each other. They show how much you value the gift of love you have been given.
At this moment, you may feel like this love is a gift only the two of you share. Not so! True love cannot be contained - it has a way of overflowing and touching the lives of all those around you. But right now I want you to think about one very special person your love is affecting. As you nurture your love for one another, you are giving your child a tremendous gift also. For he/she will learn his/her first lessons about love as he/she watches your relationship. Your honesty, openness, and affection toward each other - or the lack of them - will be a powerful example for him/her. As you shower him/her with love, don't forget to keep showering love on each other too. It will add to his/her sense of security, and it will be an important way of passing on God's gift of love to him/her.
On those days when you feel overwhelmed by all of this, when you are just not sure you have another loving action or word in you, remember that love is not something we manufacture ourselves. As 1 John 4 says, love is from God. Our love is renewed when we turn to God, the Source and Power behind all love.
Your love is a gift from God, (Bride) and (Groom). Rejoice in it, nurture it, share it with your little one, and remember always to thank the Giver. May the love of God remain with you always. Amen.
