Romans 6

Marriage as Death

Kirk E. Miller

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.”

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Paul’s Theology of Resurrection (with Richard Gaffin)

Kirk E. Miller

How did Paul think about resurrection, and what role did it play in his overall theological understanding? Kirk sits down for a conversation with retired professor, Dr. Richard Gaffin, about Paul’s theology of resurrection. We explore questions like, what is the connection between Christ’s resurrection and ours? What is the relationship between Christ’s resurrection and the ministry of the Spirit in our lives? What does Paul mean when he says that Jesus was “raised for our justification” (Rom 4:25)? And how does Christ’s resurrection empower us for our mission as a church?

Access the episode here. (Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more.)

You Don’t Have What It Takes (MRM Graduation Charge)

Kirk E. Miller

You Don’t Have What It Takes
Graduation charge
New Journey program at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission
December 28th, 2018

Kevin was one of my first client’s when I began working in the New Journey program at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission back in March. A little over 9 months later, he’s now also my first graduate — the first man to graduate who was assigned to me as his advocate.

As many of you know, as of November I’ve since moved on from employment at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission; I’m now working for my church, CrossWay. But I’ve been able to stay connected with Kevin, through my volunteer teaching at the Mission, and because Kevin attends CrossWay.

I’m incredibly proud of what Kevin has accomplished thus far, or more properly, the changes that God has worked in his life over the course of this past year. He’s an entirely new person today, even as God continues to do work in his life. I can look back at old habits that he has since identified and continues to change. He plans on pursuing education and job training, even as he’s already done, to further advance his career opportunities. And he is heavily invested in his church, with a deep appreciate for the role of the church in his life. Most importantly though, he places his faith in Christ.

** Shared with Kevin’s permission.

Podcast link.