Why
Dedicate Your Child?
Raising a child is
both a wonderful privilege and a serious responsibility. Because
of this many parents want to acknowledge their dependence upon
God with formal dedication of their child. In the Old Testament,
Hannah is a beautiful illustration of a parent who received a
child from the Lord and gave the dedicated child back to Him.
“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.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28
In the New
Testament, the Apostle Paul gives essential instruction for the
Christian Home.
“Children, obey
your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your
father and mother"-- which is the first commandment with a
promise-- "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy
long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your
children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction
of the Lord" Ephesians 6:1-4.
At Berean we feel
that it is inappropriate to baptize infants, since baptism is a
picture of what Christ has done in the life of the new convert.
We do, however, encourage you to dedicate your infant to the
Lord in a Parent-Child Dedication.
Please call the church office for more details.
The
Parent-Child Dedication Service
To All:
The privilege of
training a child belongs to both the parents and to those within
the local church.
To the
Congregation: Do you covenant
before God to always provide a place of teaching and worship
that exalts Jesus Christ and magnifies God's Word, so that this
child will be encouraged to love and serve the Lord Jesus
Christ? If so, say, "We do!"
Do you covenant to
walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, by His grace lest
your example cause this little one to stumble?" If so, say
"We do!"
Do you further
covenant before God to provide all the Biblical means possible
to bring this child into a personal, saving relationship
with Jesus Christ, including public worship and preaching,
prayer groups, Bible teaching, evangelism and fellowship, while
this child is among you? If so, say, "We do!"
To the Parents:
Do you acknowledge before God and this congregation that
Jesus Christ has all claim on your life and on the life of this
child?
Do you further
acknowledge the solemnness and the seriousness of this occasion
by affirming the following statement? "This child, at the age
of accountability, will spend all eternity either in heaven with
Christ, or in hell without Christ, depending on the decision
that only he can make, to either receive or reject Jesus Christ
as his own personal Savior?" If so, say, "I do!"
Do you covenant
before God to provide a home for this child, where Christ is
always welcome and exalted? Do you covenant also to attend God's
House frequently and with a gracious spirit, so that your child
will learn to love this place and all of God's people? Do you
covenant before God to read and practice God's Word so that this
child will learn to love the Scriptures and practice its
precepts? If so, say, "I do!"
Do you now freely
accept the charge of caring for your child, both physically and
spiritually, in tenderness and with understanding, and
to bring this child up in the nurture & admonition of the Lord?
If so, say "By God's grace I do!"
To the Child:
Having witnessed the commitments made by this congregation and
your parents, I now dedicate you to the Lord, with this prayer
that you will someday acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Savior
and Lord!
Some
Proverbs For Families
Proverbs 4:3-7,
When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only
child of my mother, he taught me and said, “Lay hold of my words
with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get
wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from
them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love
her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore
get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 6:20,
My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your
mother's teaching.
Proverbs 10:1,
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to
his mother.
Proverbs 20:20,
If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be
snuffed out in pitch darkness.
Proverbs 22:6,
Train a child in
the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from
it.
Proverbs 23:22,
Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise
your mother when she is old.
Proverbs 23:24,
The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a
wise son delights in him.
Proverbs 28:24,
He who robs his father
or mother and says, "It's not wrong"-- he is partner to him who
destroys.
Proverbs 29:15, The rod of correction
imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
Proverbs 31:1-9,
The sayings of King
Lemuel-- an oracle his mother taught him: "O my son, O son of
my womb, O son of my vows, do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings. "It is not for kings, O Lemuel--
not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they
drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed
of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those
who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and
remember their misery no more. "Speak up for those who cannot speak
for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up
and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
