Sermon Tone Analysis

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 Family Life 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.

\\ \\ Glenn Hawkins, Pastor.

\\ \\ Let’s pray, as we, as a Church Family, dedicate ourselves to always being available and willing to encourage these parents and children … to be there for them … to help them in their ministry as parents.