9/25/22 - Child Dedications

CHILD DEDICATIONS

Intro

Good morning again

We are excited to be doing Child Dedications for 5 families this morning.

This is the first of 2.

We’ll be doing another 5 families in September.

Let me just take a moment to explain what Child Dedications are and why we do them.

What are Child Dedications?

We do child dedications in order to celebrate and consecrate our children and commit to raise them in the training and instruction of the Lord.

CELEBRATE: We believe each child is a gift from God. And so we celebrate our children with the church and God as the gift they are.

CONSECRATE: We consecrate or set apart our children for the Lord. We want to give them to the Lord and ask Him to bless them.

COMMIT: Thirdly we commit to raise our children in the training and instruction of the Lord according the the Word of God and by the Spirit of God.

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 6:4–8 (ESV)

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

Moses is exhorting the Israelites the importance of impressing the truths of God on the next generation.

The interesting thing is that not all of the people present were parents.

It was an entire community being commanded to have these commands upon their hearts, and then to help raise the next generation to know their Heavenly Father.

New Testament

We see same pattern in the New Testament:

In the Ministry of Jesus we repeatedly see Him welcoming children and blessing them.

In Paul’s letters we see him teaching biblical families

Ephesians 6:1–4 (ESV)

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

These instructions are in the context of addressing the Church community at large.

Today

So today we are here to celebrate and dedicate these children before the Lord and to commit as a community to come alongside these parents as they raise their kids in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Some of the ways this happens at One Hope.

One hope kids

Moms group

Community groups

many interactions, relationships that are taking place on an organic level.

Invite the families up

Presentation of Families

Introduction of Families

Have each family introduce themselves and their child

Show picture of family

Have one parent read verse/vision for child (Homework assignment)

what kind of person do you want to be

date time with spouse

Homework Assignment #1:

Write a description of the kind of person you hope your child will become over the next 18 years.

Every year on their birthday, pull out the card. This exercise will give you a chance to evaluate how you’re doing as you lead your child spiritually and to remember the importance of your child’s relationship with their heavenly Father.

Homework Assignment #2:

What are two things that you are going to DO to invest in yourself and the supportive and significant relationships in your life?

Maybe you are going to get a babysitter once or twice a month. Maybe your baby goes to bed early so that you have couple or personal time at the end of every day. Maybe you’re going to go for a walk every night after dinner and enjoy God’s creation. These kinds of practical decisions can make a huge impact on your relationships over the long haul. Decide right now what two things you’re going to do and write them down.

Not only is it important to invest in your significant relationships with those who surround you, but you must also invest in your relationship with your heavenly Father. Perhaps you are going to join a small group. Maybe you are going to commit to quiet time three times a week. Make your decision on two things you are going to do to continue growing in your relationship with your heavenly Father and write them down.

Family order

Alex & Valerie Crawford | William James Crawford, 10/20/21

Spencer & Shirley Davis | Daisy Anavah Davis, 1/31/22

Chris & Kelsey Deloatche | Micah James DeLoatche, 11/7/21

Peter & Elanie Moore | Vidya Blair Moore - 6/12/22

Josh & Carly Rowe | Layelle Ember Rowe 3/12/22

Exhortation

At this time, I'd like to ask these parents and you, the church, a series of questions and after each one, if you affirm then please say out loud “We Do”.

First, to the Parents

Do you receive this child with gratitude, as God’s gift to you and your family?

Do you acknowledge that, like you, your child needs the cleansing blood of Jesus for salvation?

Do you dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon the Holy Spirit, that you will regularly pray for him/her, teach him/her the holy scriptures, demonstrate worship and repentance in your home, and seek to shepherd him/her to love and follow Jesus?

Now to the Church

Do you celebrate alongside these parents and welcome these precious children into our church family?

Do you, in humble reliance upon the Holy Spirit, commit to pray for and encourage these families, to uphold the holy scriptures, demonstrate worship and repentance in our church, and join in shepherding each of these children to love and follow Jesus?

We’ve also given each family a COPY OF THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE, written for kids to show how every story in the Bible points to Jesus.

Prayer of Dedication

God, we praise you for your goodness. We acknowledge that each of these children is a gift. They are completely Yours. You formed them. You love them. You know them. We breath in deep rest knowing you are a Good Father;

First, we ask that you would consecrate this ceremony. That You would ingrain these commitments in our minds and hearts. That you would help us to regularly remember what we’ve promised.

Second, we ask for your help. We know we are utterly incapable of remaining true to these vows without You. Without Your Holy Spirit in us we cannot succeed. But by your power working in us, we already have victory. By your power working in our church, help us to come alongside these parents as encouragers, as brothers and sisters, as their very family.

Finally, we pray for [LIST FIRST NAMES OF CHILDREN].

William James Crawford

Daisy Anavah Davis,

Micah James DeLoatche,

Vidya Blair Moore

Layelle Ember Rowe

In Jesus’ name, we ask that you would rescue each of them from their sin. We ask that they’d learn to love you and worship you with their whole hearts. We ask that they would become true disciples and ambassadors that boldly share Jesus with the world around them.

We ask that you’d allow them to be courageous in the face of fear and hopeful in times of great difficulty. We pray over their relationships, especially with their future spouses, that they would demonstrate Jesus’ love and kindness toward others.

Let these children grow in faith, health, and stature and emerge as the leaders of the next generation.

As your people, we boldly declare that we have one hope and His name is Jesus. We ask in faith that this would be the legacy passed down to each of these children.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Benediction

Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)

24 The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.