Cheyenne Berean Church
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."
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