Jesus, Lord Over Religion (Mark 2:23-28)
CrossWay Community Church
March 19th, 2023
See all other content in this series.
Jesus, Lord Over Religion (Mark 2:23-28)
Author: Kirk E. Miller
The History of the EFCA (with David Gustafson)
What is the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America)? And where did it originate? In order to help us better understand the EFCA heritage, Kirk interviewed Dr. David Gustafson who is currently writing a book on the history of the EFCA.
Access the episode here. (Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more.)
Marriage as Death
The following was a wedding homily, which I’ve adapted here for written and public format.
“Marriage is…(fill in the blank?)” I wonder how we would finish that sentence, using just one word. “Marriage is (what?).” If we had the time, it’d be interesting to survey a range of people and hear all the different ways folks would answer that question.
Maybe some would say, especially at a wedding, “Marriage is… beautiful.” Or maybe others would say, “Marriage is a gift.”
And both of those are true. But what if I told you that we could also finish that sentence this way, “Marriage is death”?
Now if marriage is something of a death, I suppose that means a wedding is in fact a funeral. And if you’re the ones getting married, that means on your wedding day you’re actually attending your own funerals!
That’s what I would like us to consider: marriage as a death.
1. Leaving & Cleaving
First, marriage involves the death of two independent lives, as husband and wife come together to form “one flesh.”
Continue readingWhy Do Christians Disagree over Baptism? 4 Considerations
Logos Bible Software (Faithlife) recently asked me to come on as a regular writer for their Word by Word blog. Linked below you will find my first article, exploring the question, “Why do Christians disagree on baptism?”
Wedding Elements and Wording
The following are standard elements and language for use in officiating weddings. I’ve compiled the following from a variety of traditional protestant Wedding services. Feel free to take or adapt any of the following for your own use.
Giving of the Bride
Officiant: “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
Father: “Her mother and I.”
Call to Worship
Our Lord Jesus said: “From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mark 10:6-8).
Let us worship God as we now witness the marriage of (Groom) and (Bride – full names). May God be glorified this day in the lives of this couple and in the years to come.
Continue reading
Kirk E. Miller 