Nearly two dozen married couples renewed their vows in a Valentine's Day-themed service at Landmark Church that was delayed a week due to inclement weather.
Pastor Scott Breedlove quoted parts of Ephesians Chapter 5 in his sermon, which talks about how wives should submit to their husbands and husbands should love their wives.
Hollywood divorces, he said, often cite "irreconcilable differences" in divorce - a no-fault divorce in which the two parties simply can't get along enough to make it work.
But with God's help, there are no obstacles that married couples cannot overcome, he said.
"Marriage is maybe the hardest thing you will ever do in life," Breedlove said, but he added it has the potential to be the most rewarding.
Malachi 2:13-16 talks about marriage and divorce and essentially says God hates divorce, he said. He said the marital relationship is a representation of the Church, and divorce goes against everything God stands for.
Breedlove said he, too, hates divorce, as his parents separated when he was 16.
"I'm not here to beat anybody up this morning," he said. "There are people sitting out here today who have been divorced, and that's not what this is about. But what this is about today is the spouse sitting with you this morning and saying 'I'm committed to this marriage.'"
"Let's be an example to the world of what it means to be a Christian," Breedlove said. "Let's have marriages that are an example. This is what it means to be Christ-like. This is what it means to have a biblical marriage, to fulfill our purpose and calling."
At the end of the service, the pastor called married couples to the front of the church to renew their vows. As they held their spouse's hands, Breedlove asked them: "Do you wish now to reaffirm the vows that you took on your wedding day?"
He asked them to reaffirm their love for each other, to love, honor and cherish each other "in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and forsaking all others "
He then prayed for the couples, asking the married couples to put the Lord in the center of their marriages.
One of the couples that renewed their vows was Joseph and Heather Petershagen, who have been married close to six years but have been together since 2000.
The Petershagens have three children, and it was the first time they had renewed their vows.
"It just kind of rekindled some old sparks the way it was when we originally said our vows," Joseph Petershagen said. "It was kind of nice and romantic."
Breedlove said he hoped to make the Valentine's-themed service and vow renewal an annual event.
At the end of the service, one married couple won a $150 Visa gift card to be used for an evening out to strengthen their marriage.