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

Parents who dedicate a child are making a vow to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise their child in a godly way publicly before God, family, and church.

Right from the time a child is formed in the womb parents, family, and church pray for the child and the mother. We submit them under God’s care, strength, and guidance. It is always good to come back to God to thank him for his favor. We can find such an attitude when God answered Hannah's prayer by giving her a son and she came back to the temple to remember her vow.

1 Samuel 1:26-28 "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.

Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple. Jesus also took little children in his arm, put his hands on them, and blessed them.

Parental Responsibilities

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

1. Parents must love God.
Bible commands parents to love God. If you truly wish your child to love and follow God, then first you must love and follow God. Parents how are your relationship with God?

2. Parents must teach your children.
The duty of teaching children belongs to parents. Parents must teach the child throughout life. Teach them the Bible, how to pray, tell them about God.

Disciple your child.
Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.
Proverbs 29:15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

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.

Call the parents in front.
As the parents come forward I would like the grandparents also to please and come forward to witness the dedication.

Song: I surrender all.

Standing before us are three generations.
Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Brothers and sisters, moms and dads in presenting your 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?

Congregation Standing

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 (name of the child) 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 (name of the child) back to you to rear her in the fear of the Lord.

Pray for the Parents.