The Wedding Ceremony of I’d like to ask that both sets of parents come and join

Lawrence and Brianna their children up here in order to bless them and
May 16, 2009
7:00 PM
The Church at Liberty Square
Cartersville, GA
Procession: “Love Song” (Third Day)
Performed by Matt Bella
I. Introduction
We acknowledge today that the duties of parenting as
clearly outlined in the Word of God include a rearing of
their children in the tender-loving nurture, discipline,
and admonition of the Lord. The Barnett Parents are
here today to present their daughter Brianna as a gift
from the Lord, lovingly nurtured and prepared for
marriage. Likewise, the Goodwin Parents are here
today to present their son Lawrence as their gift from
the Lord, well-disciplined in the art of lovingkindness
and prepared for marriage.
commit their previous labors and future labors to the
Lord.
“Lord Jesus, You alone are our substitute in all things
that the Father expects. Heavenly Father you expect
perfection of us. But your Son became and continues to
be that perfection for us, because we could never met
that requirement. You require perfect praying, yet You,
Lord Jesus, stand before the Father, praying on our
behalf, while the Holy Spirit takes our prayers and
makes them what they should be, so that you will
answer them, Father. And you require perfect worship.
Yet again, You have become that perfect, personal, self-
denying eternal worship of the Father for us. In our life,
our prayers, our worship, and everything else You
require, we could never satisfy You. But you have seen
to it that your Son did that for you and for us.
“And we pray to You now, Heavenly Father, the One
Who has ordained the family, parenting, and marriage…
“We pray to you, Holy Spirit, the One Who fills us with
the richness of the Godhead so that a person can truly
love another person…

II. Giving of the Bride “And we look to you, King Jesus, the ruler of this world,
ruler of the family, ruler of marriage, ruler of the
Now as for the Bride, who accompanies her to present Church…for YOU alone are the the perfect substitute.
her to her husband?
“You are the substitute for the Goodwin parents and the
Barnett parents in their parenting efforts. No earthly
parent can ever hope to parent perfectly. But they have
Your loving parenting of, Jesus, as the substitution
parenting for us.
III.Parental Blessing & Prayer
“You are the substitute for Lawrence and Brianna in
their marital efforts. No husband and no wife can ever
hope to love each other and serve each other perfectly.
But they have Your perfect love for us as our
substitution.
“And it is this…Your substation for us…on which we rest
our heads each night, on which we make any claim at
all to be a Christian, and on which we desire to live our
lives. Not to us, O Lord, but to YOUR name we give
glory, for YOUR mercy, and for YOUR truth’s sake.
“Amen.”
Move to the rock altar, bringing Lawrence and
Brianna with you.
IV. The Covenant of Marriage: Reconciliation
in Action
How many here today know what I mean when I use the
word, “reconciliation”? For those dozens of you out
there who have just finished another semester of
college, or who perhaps just graduated, big words are a
welcome absence from your brain at this moment! But
this is one big word I don’t want you to ever forget…and
neither does God!
The word normally has to do the concept of two people,
who previously didn’t like each other, now being
brought back together to be friends. It is a word, a
concept, and a doctrine in which a Christian’s salvation
is rooted and grounded. Here’s the way the Apostle
Paul understood reconciliation, in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has
become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life
has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who
brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has
given us this task of reconciling people to him.19 For
God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no
longer counting people's sins against them. And he
gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.20 So
we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal
through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come
back to God!"21 For God made Christ, who never
sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could
be made right with God through Christ.
This is one of the most incredible truths you’ll ever
encounter in your life. The same Apostle Paul said
elsewhere that before we were Christians, “By our
very nature we were subject to God's anger, just
like everyone else” (Eph. 2:3, NLT), and “hostile to
God” (Rom. 8:7, ESV).
Yet in some divine, mysterious, strange stroke of genius
and mercy at the cross of Calvary, Christians received
something that the enemies of God never deserved:
reconciliation through forgiveness of every single sin
that the Christian had ever committed, and would ever
commit…forever and ever.
No Christian ever deserved to receive anything so
completely amazing as this. Yet, as we read in 2
Corinthians 5, Paul said that “all of this is a gift from
God.” In Jesus Christ we have “God…no longer counting
people’s sins against them.” How could God something
like this? How in the world could God just wipe our slate
clean and not hold us accountable for our sins any
longer? That’s scandalous! A Holy, Divine judge letting
the guilty walk out of the courtroom of righteousness,
scot-free!
Here’s how God did that awesome work of forgiveness.
Once again, from 2 Corinthians 5, Paul said, “God made
Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,
so that we could be made right with God through
Christ.” Hallelujah! I’m forgiven! I’m free! I’m not
guilty! This is amazing!
Now, there’s a little known and often persecuted truth in
the Bible, which, although is no secret, is still so strange
to some. And I believe it is the driving force behind
marriage, especially the one we are witnessing today! It
is called the doctrine of election, or foreknowledge. And
it plainly teaches that before any Christian was ever
born, and before they had ever done anything at all,
good or bad, God had already determined that He would
set His love upon them and do for them this work of
reconciliation and forgiveness…this work of making
them right with Himself. Your salvation during the
course of your life is simply the outworking in time of
something God decided to do before the beginning of
the universe!
Marriage is a reflection of this truth. For what we are
seeing today is the outworking in time of something
Lawrence decided to do before he ever proposed to
Brianna. Before presenting to her the idea of her
becoming his bride, he had set his affection on her and
determined to love her and her alone. And here we are
today with this doctrine in motion, in living color, if you
will.
What’s so wonderful about the doctrine of election and
foreknowledge is that it confounds us even more when
it comes to reconciliation. How does it do that? Simply
put, even though the Apostle Paul said we were
enemies of God, and all that, God had already
determined to reconcile us and make us right with Him,
to make us His friends, and ensure that He could be our
friend. So while we lived like were God’s enemies, like
we never even knew God, and like He wasn’t even
familiar with us, it’s almost as if we were never
separated at all. God had been thinking about us,
madly in love with us, for thousands of years, in addition
to who knows how long before He ever created the
universe…much less before we were even born!
So also in this marriage today, two people who were
previously separated, (though not for long it would
appear according to the friendship of their history), had
not only been in God’s mind way before the beginning
of the universe, but were in each other’s hearts long
before this day! So it’s almost as if they were never
separated at all! God is, in fact, in eternity past, made
them His “soul mates” and is uniting them together
today as each others’ “soul mates.”
Praise God for His predetermining, electing, foreknowing
love, mercy, grace, kindness, friendship, and
forgiveness. And praise God for the gift of enjoying an
example of it everyday, in this life, through the
unbelievably accurate illustration and reflection of
marriage.
It is based on this display of grace toward Lawrence and
Brianna that they have desired to structure their
wedding ceremony today.
V. The Requirements of the Covenant of
Marriage
As a part of Lawrence and Brianna’s premarital
counseling, they were required to memorize a couple of
very important passages. Lawrence was required to
memorize and do intensive study through Ephesians
5:25-31 and 1 Peter 3:7, and likewise Brianna was
required to memorize and intently study Ephesians
5:22-23, and 1 Peter 3:1-6. Most definitely did
Lawrence get the bigger chunk, which of course, he
should since he is the leader of his marriage.
Based on their hard work, and what will continue to be
hard work through their post-marital counseling, we will
continue this ceremony with a brief reading of the
biblical requirements for Lawrence and Brianna as God
teaches them how to live as husband and wife.
The Requirements of Marriage: For Lawrence
Goodwin
Ephesians 5:25-33
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as
Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to
make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of
God's word.*27 He did this to present her to himself as
a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other
blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives
as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his
wife actually shows love for himself .29 No one hates
his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ
cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his
body. 31 As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his
father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two
are united into one."*32 This is a great mystery, but it
is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are
one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as
he loves himself, and the wife must respect her
husband (NLT).
1 Peter 3:7
In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your
wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live
together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is
your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as
you should so your prayers will not be hindere. (NLT)
Lawrence, according to Ephesians 5:25, you are to love
your wife as or in the same way that Christ loved the
church, and more specifically as Christ loved you.
What did He do to show His love for you? Verse 25 says
that He gave up His life for the church, for you Lawrence
and for you Brianna.
What did the giving up of His life accomplish? Verse 26
says that He did it in order to make the church holy and
clean from sin. This is symbolized by baptism and is
affected by your study of God’s Word. Christ gave up
His life for the church to present the church to Himself
as a glorious church without any spot or wrinkle or
blemish of any sin at all. He wants the church to be
holy and without any fault at all.
Lawrence this is what it means to love your wife. When
you say to your wife, “I love you,” you mean…
“I love you, you, you…you alone.”
As King Jesus died for you both to win you both from sin,
Lawrence you must give yourself, all your life, to win
your wife’s devotion to Jesus Christ. Lawrence you are
to have your wife’s spiritual maturity and love for Jesus
Christ in view.
You see, He died to present the church to Himself. You
also are to love your wife in the same way. Die to
yourself to present your wife to Him. It is not about you.
It is about Him.
Lsten those who witness today, as you hear the words
of Solomon to his bride combined with the application of
love in 1 Corinthians 13, both of which are a reflection
of King Jesus love for His bride. All of these truths
throughout Scripture are a reflection of Lawrence’s love
for Brianna.
Lawrence, repeat these phrases after me, as a
reaffirmation of your understanding of what it means to
be as madly in love with Brianna as Jesus is with you.
How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful!
You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
beautiful in every way.
Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!
You have captured my heart,
my treasure,* my bride.
You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes,
Your love delights me,
my treasure, my bride.
Your love is better than wine…
You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride,
a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.
Oh, how beautiful you are!
How pleasing, my love, how full of delights!
You alone will reign in my heart.
You are the one whom I have longed for.
Without you I am incomplete.
I will give everything for you,
and I will give up everything for you,
myself as well as all that I possess.
I will love you alone, and I will work for you alone.
I will wait for you.
I will never force you, not even by words.
I want to guard you, protect you, and keep you from all
evil and harm.
I want to share with you all my thoughts,
my heart and my body – all that I possess.
I want to listen to what you have to say.
There is nothing I want to do without your blessing.
I want to remain always at your side.”
Lawrence these are the ways Jesus loved you and this is
the way He loves you now. This is therefore how you
must love your wife. This is what you must mean when
you tell her, “I love you.”
The Requirements of Marriage: For Brianna
Barnett
Likewise, Brianna, God’s expectations of you in this
marriage, are no less ravishing, exciting, and
difficult at times. You also encountered the
requirements of marriage in the passages you
studied. Let me remind you of them in the presence
of these witness and friends.
1 Peter 3:1-2
1 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority
of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey
the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them
without any words. They will be won over 2 by
observing your pure and reverent lives. 3 Don't be
concerned about the outward beauty of fancy
hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You
should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that
comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how
the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They
trusted God and accepted the authority of their
husbands .6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband,
Abraham, and called him her master. You are her
daughters when you do what is right without fear of
what your husbands might do” (NLT).
Ephesians 5:22-24
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to
the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as
Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his
body, the church.24 As the church submits to Christ, so
you wives should submit to your husbands in everything
(NLT).
Brianna, repeat after me, as Lawrence, did, these
statements and phrases which serve as a reaffirmation
of your love and commitment to your new husband,
based on these passages, and based on the love King
Jesus as for you as a daughter of His kingdom.
You are so handsome, my love,
pleasing beyond words!
My lover is mine, and I am his.
Open to me, my treasure, my darling,
You are my dove, my perfect one.
My lover, you have unlatched the door of my heart,
and it is thrilled within me.
You are my lover, tall and dazzling,
better than ten thousand others!
My strong desires have taken me to the your chariot,
For you are my noble man.
You are my lover's, and you claims me as your own.
Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm.
For your love is as strong as death,
your jealousy for me is as enduring as the grave.
Your love for me is like flashes like fire,
the brightest kind of flame there is.
I joyfully surrender my will and my desires
and deny myself in order to please you.
I happily arrange the affairs of my life
Under your gracious authority as my lover.
Lawrence and Brianna, hearing once more God’s
requirements for the ravishing covenant of marriage
that the two of you have said you wish to establish, let’s
join you in holy matrimony through the exchange of
commitments and vows.
VI. The Oaths of the Covenant of Marriage
Questions and Oaths for Lawrence
Lawrence, Is it your intention and desire before God and
these witnesses:
• To make Brianna your lawfully wedded wife for the
duration of your life?
• To single her out as that one special woman in your
life?
• To treat her with kindness and consideration without
selfish motivation?
• To love and care for her in sickness and in health?
• To provide for her every need as best as you are
able, whether the need be physical, emotional,
mental, or spiritual?
• To place her above all other people and things,
refusing to sacrifice her well being for job, friends,
success, stature, or any other intruder that would
compete for your allegiance to her?
• Are these your intentions and desires before God and
these witnesses Lawrence?

Lawrence Says “By God’s Grace…YES!!!”
Questions and Oaths for Brianna
Brianna, is it your intention and desire before God and
these witnesses:
• To make Lawrence your lawfully wedded husband for
the duration of your life?
• To single him out as that one special man in your
life?
• To treat him with kindness and consideration without
selfish motivation?
• To love and care for him in sickness and in health?
• To provide for him every need as best as you are
able, whether the need be physical, emotional,
mental, or spiritual?
• To place him above all other people and things,
refusing to sacrifice his well being for job, friends,
success, stature, or any other intruder that would
compete for your allegiance to him?
• Are these your intentions and desires before God and
these witnesses Brianna?
Brianna Says, “By God’s Grace…YES!!!”
VII. The Exchange of Rings
Lawrence, now that you have confirmed your
commitment and given your vows, acquire your wife’s
new ring, place it on the third finger of Brianna’s left
hand and repeat after me.
Lawrence’s Vows to Brianna
“I Lawrence take you Brianna to be my wedded wife
to love and to cherish you…
to treat you with dignity and respect…
to commit myself to you without reservation…
for as long as we both shall live…
before God and our family [or these people].
And I give you this ring…
as a symbol and pledge of my abiding love for you…
and as a seal of our covenant…
one to another.”
Brianna’s Vows to Lawrence
Brianna, now that you have confirmed your
commitment and given your vows, acquire your
husband’s new ring, place it on the third finger of
Lawrence’s left hand and repeat after me.
I Brianna take you Lawrence to be my wedded
husband…
to love and to cherish you…
to treat you with dignity and respect…
to commit myself to you without reservation…
for as long as we both shall live…
before God, and our family,
our friends, and these witnesses.
Lawrence, I give you this ring…
as a symbol and pledge of my abiding love for you…
and as a seal of our commitment…
one to another
Lighting of the Unity Lamp
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of the young virgins
who were supposed to keep their lamps burning bright,
awaiting patiently but diligently the arrival of the bride.
Some of the virgins did not, and some did. Jesus’ point
here was to symbolize the readiness in heart and mind
that Christians are to have for the arrival of King Jesus
to marry them and take them to heaven.
That is what these lamps symbolize up here today. And
that is what is symbolized by the lamp Lawrence and
Brianna will light together now. Motion for them to go
ahead and light the unity lamp. In so doing they are
symbolizing before Christ and these witnesses that they
intend to keep their marriage vows and commitments
diligently and patiently until Jesus comes back to get
them.
Lawrence and Brianna’s First Communion
Together?
One of the things Jesus stated the night before He died
was that He would not eat the Passover meal again until
He returned to get them and eat it with them. That is
one of the reasons why we partake of communion…to
symbolize our fellowship and partnership with King
Jesus in His forgiveness.
Lawrence and Brianna have also chosen to partake in
the most special meal that any two Christians could
participate in together – the Lord’s Table. Because they
have rightly identified God as the Author and Ultimate
Witness to their covenant today, their very first act as
man and wife right now is to worship the Lord Jesus
Christ through the remembrance of His death, burial,
and resurrection for them. In taking this meal together,
they are acknowledging His special ministry for them on
the cross, and they are confessing His Lordship over
their individual and familial lives.
Acquire tray with elements, and distribute them. Have
Lawrence lead his wife in prayer before partaking of the
elements together.
Closing Prayer
(Adapted from an Ancient Hebrew Wedding Prayer)
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe,
who has created joy and gladness, bridegroom and
bride,
mirth and exultation, pleasure and delight,
love and brotherhood, peace and friendship.
May there soon be heard in all the surrounding cities,
and in the streets of their home town,
the voice of joy and gladness,
the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride,
the jubilant voice of bridegrooms from the wedding
ceremony,
and of the children from their feasts of song.
Blessed are You, O Lord, who gives the Bridegroom joy
in his bride.
Benediction and
Pastoral Blessing
May the God who has shaped the universe bless you
both this day. May you both live and breath, as do all
other created things, to speak of God’s glory, to one
another, to His people, and to all mankind.
May the God who has fashioned each one of you bless
you completely and entirely, within and without.
May the God who has formed each of you in His own
image, bless you this day. He has planted within each
of you a vision of Himself and He has given you the
means whereby you may flourish in your new life
together.
May the Barnett parents and the Goodwin parents, now
separated from their children, now delight as they
gather together in joy this day. May the God who so
graciously allows you to rejoice together, bless you
today.

May the God who ordained marriage bless you today as

two loving friends, and may you taste of the bliss God
gave to the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden
in the days of old.

May the God whose presence dwells with you both,

bless you today.

May the God who lights the world with happiness and
contentment, love and companionship, peace and
friendship, bridegroom and bride. Bless you this day.
Let the Great Lakes dance! Let the streets of
Hudsonville, MI ring with the sounds of joy, song,
merriment, and delight — the voice of the groom and
the voice of the bride, the happy shouts of their friends
and companions. May the God who brings bride and
groom together to rejoice in each other bless you this
day.

By the authority vested in my by King Jesus,

Church in the Boro, and the state of Georgia, I
now happily pronounce you Man and Wife!

Lawrence Goodwin, you may kiss your new bride.

Presentation of
Mr. And Mrs. Lawrence Goodwin

I now have the pleasure and privilege of presenting to you,

Mr. AND Mrs. Lawrence and Brianna Goodwin.

Follow the Parents out of the ceremony!