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Speaker: Rev. Shine Thomas
Posted on: 2011-12-18
Series: Child Dedication

Today we have one baby to be dedicated to the Lord. How thankful we are to this God-given gift to the parents and to our church.

Mark 10:13-16 13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Matthew 19:13-15

Prayer: Prayer of thanksgiving for God’s gift of children and for Christ’s love for them and for the baby who is to be dedicated.

Address congregation: (Speak about the significance of the dedication) Child dedication is a parental recognition of a responsibility to raise children in the nature and instruction of the Lord.

Parent’s Responsibilities

The Bible speaks of many responsibilities of the parents towards their children. Let us look at some of them.

1. Discipline your child.
Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.
Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.

2. Train your Child.
Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

3. Correct your Child.
Proverbs 29:15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

3. Train and instruction the child in the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

The dedication service providers the parents to make their commitment public before God, friends, and family. We always bring before God all the blessings God gives us like cars, bikes, houses etc and how much more important is to bring God’s gift, children to the presence of God and dedicate a child for His glory.

Call the parents in front.
Br. __________ & Sis. __________ in presenting this child for dedication you not only signify your faith in Christ and the Christian way of life, but also indicate your desire that he/she should grow to know the Lord and live a Christian life.

Today, you have come with thanks in your hearts for the little life which God has placed in your care. But in order for this dedication to be complete you must say to the Lord, “We give back to You, Lord that which is really Your own. Make of him/her what you desire. Use him for Your glory. Keep him/her in Your will until the day you take him/her to be with yourself.”

We give the child to God because only God knows the possibilities that are wrapped up in this little life and only God can develop in this child all the possibilities that are there.

In addition to surrendering this child to God you have another responsibility. Just as Moses was given back to his mother, Jochebed to rear as a son of Pharaoh’ daughter, so will this child be given back to you to rear for God.

• You will need to bring this child in Godly values.
• You must be willing to surrender this child for whatever ministry God calls.
• You will need to lead an exemplary life before this child.

Charge to Parents:
1. In the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses do you solemnly undertake to bring up this child in the fear of the Lord?
2. Do you promise to seek to lead him early to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord?
3. Do you promise to set before him examples of godly life as far as it lies within you?

Prayer of Dedication: (Holding child in minister’s hands.)
We thank you for this little baby and for what you will do with this life. Now I dedicate you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Sprit.

From this day forward this child will be called _______________ in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Let the Holy Spirit convict him/her of sin as he comes to the age of accountability.
Let the Holy Spirit make the love of Christ known to him/her.
Let the Holy Spirit guide this child throughout all him/her life.

Return child to parents: Now we lend __________ back to you to rear her in the fear of the Lord.

Pray for the Parents.