It’s not that I’m a masochist but I’ve always wondered how I would approach it. As a pastor and preacher I’ve been to tons of them and the wedding sermon usually covers the following passages
- Gen 2:18-25
- 1 Cor 13:4-13
- Ephesians 5:21-33
- 1 John 4:10-19
- Revelation 21:1-7
There are some odds one here and there but in the main the above passages are, to a large degree the set text for preaching at a wedding
Now I’ve got nothing against preaching on these passages. I use them as well but one wonders whether there is more we can say at a wedding than just these passages. Besides if you are in a marrying congregations as I have been, I think your congregation can only stomach so many rounds of 1 Cor 13. As well as this, not only will they get a dose of what you have to say, more than likely they’ll be invited by others, and the pastor will undoubtedly choose one of these passages.
So why these passages? We need to remember that they were never originally written for weddings, but for churches facing a lot of relational problems. In Corinth they were trying to out do the other person in spirituality. In the church John was writing to they also had relational problems. Sure enough Genesis 2, John 2, Ephesians and Revelation are more directly related, but apart from these it seems we have very little more to say. Of course time is a major problem. When you only have 10-15 minutes you can only say so much. So it’s understandable that we zoom in on passages which speaks more directly and pointedly about core issues related to marriage. But there in lies the problem. Doesn’t the WHOLE bible have something to say, directly or indirectly about marriage and not just these few passages? In fact as I said, even the passages we commonly turn to are not really directly related to marriage. If we can make the connection between these passages and marriage could we not make the connection between marriage and the more “obscure”, if not seemingly unrelated passages? Undoubtedly the whole of scripture touches on the key issues of life that is relevant to all of us irrespective of our station in life.
OK so here is the challenge; What does Leviticus 1 have to say to a married couple if anything? Here’s my stab at it for what it’s worth in simple point form;
- God rescues his bride to be and brings her to himself (ie the exodus) but can they live happily ever after?
- It depends on whether they can own up and deal with the dark side of their relationship that will invariably tear them apart i.e. the problem of sin. Instead, we only think of marriage in terms of kisses, flowers and romantics walks at sunset but never face the dark side of sin
- The sacrificing of animals regularly and daily is an extremely powerful and painful reminder of this dark side. The every day activity of slicing the animals throat, ripping out its insides, washing it and then burning it – the sight, sounds and smells tells us that sin cannot be ignored nor is it a small matter. It is something that will destroy all relationships – God/man and man/woman
- Sin cannot be ignored. It has to be dealt with, but dealing with sin is both costly and painfully yet very necessary.
- How do we deal with sin in marriage? God has dealt with our sin and the sin of our spouse. We need to therefore forgive.
Hmmm? Well it all comes back to Jesus doesn’t it but imagine talking about all the blood and gore at a romantic wedding. But instead of jumping straight to 1John 4:10-19 we start with Leviticus 1. It would really make an impact and graphically show the reality of sin and the need to deal with it. But when you think about it that’s what it was intended for in the beginning.
OK what do you think? Yes? No? Try a different angle? Or maybe I should just stick with 1 John 4:10-19 for the next 10 wedding sermons?
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