Scriptural examples regarding Parent/Child dedication.

The tradition of Parent/Child dedication has ancient origins in the Bible. The Israelites, on the 8th day of a
child’s life, brought their children to the priest for a blessing. Hannah brought Samuel to Eli, the priest, to
dedicate him to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:21-28). Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple for his
dedication (Luke 2:21-40).

CHILD DEDICATION SERVICE

HAVE PARENTS/CHILDREN COME FORWARD
God sees children as important … so do these parents.
Ps. 127:3 says: “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.”
Some gifts have some strings attached … some do not.
In this case, God’s gifts to you DO have some strings attached.
Since God has given you the precious gift of children, He has also given you an awesome
responsibility.
God has given you the responsibility to:
o Train up your children in the ways of God.
o Be an example of Christian living both inside and outside the home.
o Provide for, protect, and nurture your children.
o Make them a part of your family, sharing with them your love, your time, and your life.
o Teach them to love the same Jesus that you love … and to serve, obey and honor Him with all
their heart.
As you heard in the message this AM, you are not alone in this responsibility.
God, your Heavenly Father, is always with you to provide you with the strength, encouragement,
love, and wisdom you need.
All you have to do is go to Him, and He will provide all that you need.
THIS AM, we are not dedicating the CHILDREN, as much as we are dedicating the PARENTS.
By coming up here this AM … you, as parents, are publicly saying that you want to raise your
children in a Christ-honoring home … and are asking God’s blessing on your ministry as Christian
parents.
LISTEN, as I ask you some questions.
In answering these questions, you are making promises to GOD.
NOT to me … NOT to your children … BUT … to GOD.
If you are willing to commit your children to God, and to dedicate yourself to raising them in
God’s strength, and for His honor and glory …
THEN … reply by saying “I do” to the following promises:
o Do you recognize your child as a gift from God, and give God thanks for blessing your
life with His gift?
o Do you then dedicate your child to the Lord, Who gave you your child?
o Do you pledge, as Christian parents, that you will bring up your child in a Christian
home, looking to God for wisdom, strength, and guidance?
o Do you promise to give your child every possible benefit of home, school and church?
o Do you promise to pray for your child on a regular basis, realizing that it is only with
God’s hand upon their life that they can be truly blessed?
o Do you ask God’s blessings upon the life of your child, to guide, guard, and direct
them through all their years?
If your heart was in these promises, then you have dedicated yourself to raising a child that God can
use mightily in His Kingdom.
I have a letter that I will give to each of you on behalf of your children.
SOMEDAY, you might wish to open it up, and share it with them, to let them know what you have
done here today.
Dear _______________
On this date your parents came before me in the presence of your Church Family here at Priscilla
Baptist Church, to dedicate themselves and you to the Lord whom they worship and serve.
They recognize you as a gift from God, and give thanks to Him for bringing you into their lives.
They promised to train you in the things of God, looking to Him for Divine guidance, wisdom, and
strength.
They asked God to bless your life and make you a blessing to others as you allow the Holy Spirit to
fill you with His power.
As your Church Family, we have promised to encourage your parents as they grow in the faith, and
to always be there for you when you need help in living the Christian life that God has planned for
you.
Although you will not remember this day, I pray that we will always remember the vows we have
made to God on your behalf.
May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus, and grow up to live a life pleasing to
our Lord.