Rooted In Love
Sermon
Wedding Sermons And Marriage Ceremonies
(for a blended family)
Hear these words about God's idea of love as it has been shown to us in Jesus Christ, and is described in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 3:14--19 (TEV):
For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. Yes, may you come to know his love - although it can never be fully known - and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.
(Bride) and (Groom), we celebrate the new family that is being officially formed here today. We celebrate the love that grew between the two of you, until finally you decided: this is it; we don't want to live separate lives; we want to become one family. We're glad for your willingness to make this permanent commitment to one another. What a great gift of love that is for you to give to one another, and also to (Children's names). For as they see you two caring about and for each other, as they see you showing love in the way you treat each other with respect and consideration, and as you include them in that love and caring, they will be strengthened, along with you, by the love you are sharing.
Paul gives us a good picture of what love in God's family is like. It's a lot like a tree. Now a tree is only as strong as its roots. For the roots are what bring food and water to the rest of it to keep everything alive and working. A tree can't grow very strong if its roots are too shallow. Your marriage won't grow very strong either if you only concentrate on the surface of living. Take time, (Bride) and (Groom), to share your dreams and hopes with one another. Don't let your lives get totally consumed by all those daily and weekly little things that always seem to take our attention. Now and then, leave the dishes, the laundry, the lawn mowing, and the checkbook balancing, and spend time talking about things that really matter: like what you want your family to be like, what you hope people will remember about you when you're gone, how you can add to the good rather than the evil in the world, and how you can be a better person, partner, and parent.
Of course, if a tree tries to sink its roots into dry ground, it won't have much chance of growing, no matter how deep those roots try to go. It needs a constant, reliable source of water for steady growth. Paul talks about God's love being that kind of constant source of nourishment for our spirits. On our own, all of us at one time or another run out of the ability to love. Our hearts seem to run dry. We lose our patience; we get hurt and then we try to get even; we get all caught up in what we want, and forget to listen to and consider the other person. Over time that's what makes a lot of marriages dry up and become lifeless. God wants so much more for you. I pray that you will sink your family's roots into God's great love. For God's love never runs dry. God has the power to fill your lives with more love than you ever thought possible.
(Bride) and (Groom), sink your roots deep into the love of God and let your life together grow into something strong and beautiful. Like a healthy tree whose branches provide shade and fruit for all who come near, family and friends will enjoy being near you, for the love you share will refresh their lives. Then you will know what Paul was talking about: how broad and long, how high and deep is Christ's love. May your lives be filled with that kind of love always. God be with you.
Hear these words about God's idea of love as it has been shown to us in Jesus Christ, and is described in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 3:14--19 (TEV):
For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. Yes, may you come to know his love - although it can never be fully known - and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.
(Bride) and (Groom), we celebrate the new family that is being officially formed here today. We celebrate the love that grew between the two of you, until finally you decided: this is it; we don't want to live separate lives; we want to become one family. We're glad for your willingness to make this permanent commitment to one another. What a great gift of love that is for you to give to one another, and also to (Children's names). For as they see you two caring about and for each other, as they see you showing love in the way you treat each other with respect and consideration, and as you include them in that love and caring, they will be strengthened, along with you, by the love you are sharing.
Paul gives us a good picture of what love in God's family is like. It's a lot like a tree. Now a tree is only as strong as its roots. For the roots are what bring food and water to the rest of it to keep everything alive and working. A tree can't grow very strong if its roots are too shallow. Your marriage won't grow very strong either if you only concentrate on the surface of living. Take time, (Bride) and (Groom), to share your dreams and hopes with one another. Don't let your lives get totally consumed by all those daily and weekly little things that always seem to take our attention. Now and then, leave the dishes, the laundry, the lawn mowing, and the checkbook balancing, and spend time talking about things that really matter: like what you want your family to be like, what you hope people will remember about you when you're gone, how you can add to the good rather than the evil in the world, and how you can be a better person, partner, and parent.
Of course, if a tree tries to sink its roots into dry ground, it won't have much chance of growing, no matter how deep those roots try to go. It needs a constant, reliable source of water for steady growth. Paul talks about God's love being that kind of constant source of nourishment for our spirits. On our own, all of us at one time or another run out of the ability to love. Our hearts seem to run dry. We lose our patience; we get hurt and then we try to get even; we get all caught up in what we want, and forget to listen to and consider the other person. Over time that's what makes a lot of marriages dry up and become lifeless. God wants so much more for you. I pray that you will sink your family's roots into God's great love. For God's love never runs dry. God has the power to fill your lives with more love than you ever thought possible.
(Bride) and (Groom), sink your roots deep into the love of God and let your life together grow into something strong and beautiful. Like a healthy tree whose branches provide shade and fruit for all who come near, family and friends will enjoy being near you, for the love you share will refresh their lives. Then you will know what Paul was talking about: how broad and long, how high and deep is Christ's love. May your lives be filled with that kind of love always. God be with you.
