Worship and the Wedding

Worship Articles by Stephen M. Newman Pastor of Worship and Arts June 09, 2011

If I ever have the opportunity to influence a wedding ceremony, I will share this story with the couple to be. I don't know if it is something we have never thought about, or if we just don't feel that it is an appropriate thing to do during a wedding. I can speak from experience that it is more than appropriate, and should be a fundamental part of every believer's wedding. On the day that two people join together as one in the Lord and come before Him first in worship, giving thanks to Him for bringing them together, and saying to Him that He is the center of their lives as they grow in their relationship with each other and the Lord, should be the ultimate goal of any prospective bride and groom.

Many weddings already carry elements of worship in them. I was impressed by the way this couple took it a step further by having a time of congregational worship. It was an opportunity for me and all who were there to say, "Lord as we worship together, we pray for these two young people. We give them to You as part of the family of God. We worship You together as a statement of our love to You and our commitment to serve You. For them, it was a great start to a great marriage as they began their service with singing praise to the Lord they set a standard for the years to come in their lives. Their desire to worship the Lord as a family began with the first day of their union and set a pattern for years of growing together in the Lord, and of worshiping together as one in Christ. May their example be an encouragement to other believers who choose to make a statement of the importance of worship in their lives. May we all remember that it's not about us, but about the One who saved us from sin and gave us eternal life. The lasting impression that I carry of their wedding was the fact that this young couple chose to place God on His throne for all to see that He was Lord and King of their lives.