Acts 1:1-11 | THE OVERFLOWING RESIDENT

The Child Dedication Ceremony

1. The Purpose of Dedication

"Today is a significant day for these families and for our church. People often ask why we practice Child Dedication rather than infant baptism. To us, the answer is rooted in the nature of love and faith.

We believe that faith is a deeply personal decision—one that an individual must choose for themselves. In many ways, it is like marriage. As parents, we cannot force our children to marry a specific person; that heart-connection must be their own. However, we can train them on what a person of character looks like. We can model a healthy marriage in our own homes. We can show them what to look for and, more importantly, how to be a person worth marrying.

Dedication is not a 'saving' rite for the child; it is a commitment by the parents. It is a promise to say: 'I will raise and train my child to know and love Jesus. I will model for them what it looks like to follow Him.'"

2. The Deuteronomy 6 Mandate

"This commitment is found in the heart of Deuteronomy 6, where God instructs parents to love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength, and then says:

Deuteronomy 6:5–9 NIV

5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

From this passage we can see that dedication, is as much about the parents' lives as it is the children's. It is an acknowledgement faith is often times more caught than just taught. It’s about these parent’s have a faith that is lived out in the mundane moments of life—the car rides, the dinner table, and the bedtime stories. In as much as it depends upon them, to impress the Word of God upon their children’s hearts and minds!

3. The Parents' Vows

This is the heart behind dedication and why you are here today with you little kiddos!

And now, because you desire to lead your children toward a personal relationship with Christ, I ask you these three questions:

Do you promise to provide a home where the Gospel is not just a Sunday topic, but a daily reality, modeling the grace, forgiveness, and love of Jesus in your words and actions?

If so please answer we do.

Do you commit to 'training them up in the way they should go,' teaching them the Scriptures and helping them discover the character of God as you walk through life together?

If so please answer we do.

Do you invite this local body of believers to speak into your lives, acknowledging that you cannot do this alone and that you desire their accountability and support?"

If so, please answer we do.

4. The Church’s Support

And now, Church family, would you please stand? These parents have invited you into this journey. Do you, as their community of faith, commit to supporting these families, praying for these children, and being a people who reflect the light of Christ to them as they grow?"

If so, please respond: “We do.”(The congregation may be seated.)

5. Individual Prayers of Blessing

(Place a hand on the child’s shoulder or head as you pray for each one.)

For Ezra Short:"Lord, we thank You for Ezra. We dedicate him to You today. May he grow to be a man of strength and wisdom, living up to the legacy of his name as one who helps and leads others toward Your Word. Bless his parents with the patience and grace to lead him well. We consecrate Ezra for Your purposes. Bless him and keep him lord. Make your face shine upon Him. Be gracious unto him and give him peace. Amen."

For Maisy Badenhop:"Heavenly Father, we lift up Maisy to You. We pray that she would grow in the knowledge of Your deep love for her. May she be a light in every room she enters. We ask for a special blessing over her heart, that she would one day choose You with joy and confidence. We dedicate her life to Your glory. We consecrate her to your love and care! Bless her and keep him lord. Make your face shine upon her. Be gracious unto her and give her peace. Amen."

For Brody Bontrager:"Father, we thank You for the gift of Brody. We pray that You would protect his heart and mind as he grows. Give him a spirit of courage and a heart that seeks after Yours. We consecrate him today, asking that Your hand would be upon him and that he would be a man of great faith. We dedicate him to your love and care. Bless him and keep him lord. Make your face shine upon Him. Be gracious unto him and give him peace. Amen."

Worship Transition:

As we conclude these prayers for Ezra, Maisy, and Brody, we recognize that as parents and as a church, we can provide the environment, we can model the faith, and we can point the way—but we cannot provide the salvation. Only one Name can do that.

We’ve just spoken the names of these children over them in blessing, but now, we lift our eyes to the Name that makes that blessing possible. The Name that we pray these children will one day claim for themselves as their Savior, their King, and their firm foundation.

Church, would you stand with these families? Let’s transition from dedicating these little ones to declaring the greatness of the One who holds them. We know a Name that is above every other... let's worship Him together

THE HOOK: TWO TICKS AND NO DOG

I want to start today by talking about a scientific phenomenon I like to call “The Two Ticks and No Dog” Marriage.

You know how a tick works, right? A tick is a parasite. It’s a consumer. It doesn’t give; it only takes. It finds a host, latches on, and sucks the life out of it until it’s full. Now, imagine two ticks meet, fall in love, and get married. They walk down the aisle, they say their vows, and they move into a house together.

You can see the problem already, right? There ain’t no dog!

Both of them have walked into that relationship with an empty cup. They are looking at the other person and saying, “You are the one who is finally going to make me happy. You are the one who is going to give me the peace, the joy, and the validation I’ve been craving my whole life.”

And what happens? They both start sucking. They are both trying to draw life from a well that is already bone-dry. Within six months, they aren’t just disappointed; they’re bitter. Why? Because they’re trying to live on a performance-based, "tick-for-tat" economy. When it doesn't work, they think if they just try harder—if they just "do" marriage better—they’ll feel full. But you can’t "do" better when you’re empty. You can't give what you don't have.

THE RELATIONAL ON-RAMP

Over the past several months, we’ve been on a journey called Rhythms of Residency: Training for Life with Jesus. For two months now, we’ve been talking about Training. We’ve covered Solitude, Sabbath, and Prayer, among other practices.

Most people who give church a try live with some degree of hope. We think, "This is the year I finally get my act together. This is the year I become a better version of myself." We want to be good humans. We aspire for change. But if we’re honest... some of us are sitting here today and we just feel tired.

We’ve been trying to "do" the disciplines and "work" on our life with God. But instead of feeling like a "Resident" who is growing in skill, we feel like a Resident who has been on a 48-hour shift with no caffeine. We’re running on fumes.

And when we hear today's topic is "Witnessing," our internal reaction isn't "Joy"; it’s "Dread." We think, "I'm bone dry. I have nothing left to give." If that’s you, I want you to know: You haven't failed the Residency. You’ve just misunderstood the Power Source.

Folks, the Bible tells us that marriage is meant to be a picture of how Christ loves His Church (Eph. 5). The problem is that most of the marriages we observe give us the wrong picture! They give us the "Two Ticks and No Dog" picture, which we then carry into our relationship with Christ. We’ve come to believe life with God is just "religious work," and we treat witnessing like a sales job for a company we don't even like working for.

But look at me: The Residency isn't about giving you more work to do; it’s about giving you a new way to be filled. Jesus doesn't want you out there “ticking" on the world. He wants you overflowing.

Witnessing isn't a job you do for Jesus; it’s the natural spillover of a life overflowing with Him. It’s the spillover—which means if you aren’t spilling, you aren't filling.

THE ROADMAP

To understand how we move from being "Ticks" who drain people to "Springs" who bless people, we’re going to look at four movements here in Acts 1:

First, The Problem of the Empty Cup: Why we are so obsessed with our own kingdoms.

Second, The Promise of the Perpetual Well: How Jesus provides a change in our attachment.

Third, The Reality of the Overflow: Why witnessing is an identity, not a chore.

And finally, The Urgency of the Mission: Why we are the "Living Evidence" until the Master returns.

1. THE PROBLEM OF THE EMPTY CUP

If you have your Bibles, open them to Acts chapter 1.

We’re dropping into a 40-day "post-grad" residency. The Resurrection has happened. The Master has defeated death. He has literally conquered the grave, walked through walls, and shared a meal with these guys. You would think that after three years of seeing miracles and 40 days of private tutoring from the Risen King, these Residents would be ready to change the world.

But look at how the Master starts the final briefing in verse 4:

Acts 1:4 NIV

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

Jesus starts the meeting with a “Restraining Order.” He says, “Do not move. Do not start the mission. Do not leave the city.”

Why? Because the Master knows something the Residents haven't realized yet: They are empty. They have the information—they know the tomb is empty—but they don’t have the Power. And look at how their "Empty Cup" theology is immediately put on full display in verse 6:

Acts 1:6 NIV

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Do you hear the “Tick” in that question?

They’re essentially saying, “Lord, we’ve been through a lot. We’ve been stressed and afraid. When are you going to fix the political situation so we can finally feel like we’ve won? When are you going to fill our cup with the national pride and comfort we’ve been waiting for?”

They are looking for a political "host" to latch onto. Which is something we can all identify with, can’t we? We think if we could just get the right governmental system, the right politician, or the right political party in power, then we’d be good. Then all would finally be right in the world.

THE WORLD’S STORY: THE EXTERNAL FIX

See, this is the story the world tells us every day. The World’s Story says: “If you are empty, it’s because your circumstances are wrong.” * If you’re unhappy, it’s because your marriage is dry—so you need a new spouse.

If you’re stressed, it’s because your job is too demanding—so you need a new career.

If you’re anxious, it’s because the "other guys" are in power—so you need a new government.

The World’s Story is about Restoration without Attachment. It’s the belief that if God would just fix the external kingdom, our internal cups would finally be full.

THE GOSPEL’S BETTER STORY: THE PERFECT CUP

But this is where the Good News of Jesus breaks through. The Gospel tells a different story. It shows us Jesus, the only Human who never lived like a Tick. He was the only one who never walked around with an empty cup. Even in the wilderness, even when He was being betrayed, He was perfectly attached to the Father. He was so full of the Father's love that He didn't need to suck life out of a political kingdom or a crowd's approval.

And then, on the cross, the only "Full Cup" in history was poured out to the point of being "bone dry" so that our leaky, empty cups could be made whole.

See, our deepest problem isn't our circumstances; it's our unattachment. If you are obsessed with the question, “When is God going to fix my life?”, you are likely living with an Empty Cup. You’re trying to find a “dog” to latch onto because you aren't yet attached to the Source of Life!

You aren't a bad person; you’re just unattached. You’re disconnected. And a Resident without a connection to the Master is just a “Tick” looking for another empty vessel to latch onto and drain dry.

But look at how Jesus responds. He doesn't give them a political lecture. He doesn't give them a to-do list. He points them to a different kind of power. He points them to a Well.

2. THE PROMISE OF THE PERPETUAL WELL

So, the disciples are standing there with their empty cups, asking for a political kingdom. And look at how the Master responds. He doesn’t scold them for being "ticks"; He just redirects them to the Source.

Look at verse 5:

Acts 1:5 NIV

5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

And then verse 8:

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus is saying, “You’re asking for a new government, but what you need is a new Source. You’re looking for a change in your circumstances, but I’m giving you a change in your Attachment.” It’s the promise of the Perpetual Well—streams of never-ending living water that come from the inside out, not the outside in.

THE THEOLOGY OF ATTACHMENT

Now, I use that word "Attachment" on purpose. For 300 years, the Western church has been stuck in what historians call the "Enlightenment." We’ve operated under the belief that if we just get people to know the right truth, that truth will magically transform them. We put information at the center.

But that’s not actually how people change. Science and Scripture both tell us that we are formed through relational attachment. We change when we are securely attached to someone who loves us and is glad to see us. Transformation isn't "Willpower + Information"; it is "Connection + Overflow."

THE "HOISTING THE SAILS" METAPHOR

For the last eight weeks of this Residency, we’ve been practicing disciplines: Solitude, Sabbath, Prayer, and Community. And if you aren't careful, you’ll start to think these practices are how you "fill your own cup." You’ll think, "If I pray for thirty minutes, I’ve manufactured some spiritual fuel."

That’s Tick Theology. You can't manufacture the Spirit. You have to think of the disciplines like hoisting a sail.

A sailor doesn't create the wind. He can’t control the wind. But what he can do is get the sail up. He can position the boat so that when the wind does blow, he’s ready to catch it. The disciplines are how we "hoist the sail." They are how we position our empty cups under the Faucet of God’s presence and stay there.

THE "HOLE" IN THE CUP (DIAGNOSING THE LEAK)

Now, this sounds simple enough, but some of you are thinking, "Pastor, I’ve been doing that! I’ve been hoisting the sails, I’ve been reading my Bible and trying to pray, but I still feel dry. My cup never seems to get full."

If that’s you, we need to ask a deeper question: Does your cup have a hole in the bottom?

Sometimes we aren't filling because we are in spiritual bondage. There is a pattern of sin, a stronghold, or a wound from your past that is acting like a leak. It’s not that God isn’t speaking or the Wind isn't blowing; it’s that you are in need of freedom or healing.

Remember this: God won’t heal what we conceal. Church, Freedom Prayer—which is a core part of who we are—is how we stop the leaks in our soul. Freedom Prayer isn't a "merit badge" for super-Christians; it’s simply plugging the holes. It’s coming to the Master and saying, "I'm tired of being empty. Show me where the leaks are so I can stay attached to You in love rather than fear."

If you’re doing the disciplines and you still feel stuck, go to our website today. Fill out a freedom form. Let us help you walk with Jesus to receive healing. Because the reality is this: If you want to be a witness, you don’t need a better sales pitch or a better apologetic argument. You need to be full of the Spirit, healed, and freed! You need the Wind. That is why Jesus tells the disciples to WAIT. And look what happens when they finally stop striving and start attaching...

3. THE NATURALNESS OF THE OVERFLOW

When we stop trying to manufacture power and start attaching to the Source, something miraculous happens to our identity. Look at the result of being filled by the Spirit in verse 8:

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Notice Jesus doesn't say, “And then you will perform the chore of witnessing.” He says, “You will be.” It’s a statement of identity. It’s not a job description; it’s a description of what naturally happens when a Resident is attached to the Master.

THE "SPILLOVER" EFFECT

This is where the Overflow comes in.

Imagine you have a cup. If that cup is empty, and I tell you to get the floor wet, you have to work for it. You have to go find a bucket, lug it over, and start splashing. It’s effort. It’s a job. And frankly, it’s exhausting.

But what happens if you put that cup under a high-pressure faucet and just leave it there? You don't have to try to get the floor wet. The floor gets wet because the cup simply cannot contain the volume of what is coming into it.

Witnessing is just the spillover of a life overflowing with Jesus.

When you are "hoisting the sails" of solitude and prayer—when you are staying attached to the Well—you aren't going to work on Monday morning thinking, "Okay, I have to find a way to work Jesus into the conversation so I can hit my quota." No, you’re just going to work as a person who is so full of the Master’s peace and "glad-to-see-you" joy that it starts to leak out of your words. People will notice. They’ll see a Resident who isn't a “Tick”—someone who isn't trying to suck life out of the office culture, but someone who is actually bringing life into it.

THE MARRIAGE UPGRADE

When you truly get grace, it changes everything—including your home. Remember those Two Ticks who fell in love and got married?

When you stop looking at your spouse as the one who has to fill your cup, and you start getting your fill from Jesus, you stop being a “Tick” and you become a Spring. You stop demanding that they “make you happy” and you start overflowing onto them. You give them grace not because they earned it, but because you have so much of it spilling out of you that you have to put it somewhere!

If you aren't spilling, you aren't filling. If there’s no "wet floor" around your life—if there’s no one hearing about the Master, no one feeling the warmth of His love through you—don't go out and try to "witness" harder. Go back to the Faucet. Check for a leak. Get attached.

4. THE URGENCY OF THE MISSION

So, we have the Attachment (The Filling) and we have the Identity (The Spilling). But why does it matter right now? Why not just stay in our rooms and enjoy the "relational joy" of Jesus by ourselves?

Look at verse 9:

Acts 1:9 NIV

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

The Master ascends. In our metaphor, the Attending Physician has finished His shift on earth and has moved to the Command Center. He is now the reigning King of the Universe. Но as the disciples are standing there, staring at the sky with their mouths open, two men in white robes show up and ask a very pointed question in verse 11:

Acts 1:10–11 NIV

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

The angels are saying, “The Residency has a graduation date.” The reason we "hoist the sails," the reason we "plug the leaks," and the reason we allow His life to "spill over" isn't just because it feels good. It’s because the King is coming back. We are living in the "In-Between." We are the "Living Evidence" left on the ground until the Master returns.

If you’re a Resident in a hospital and you know the Chief of Surgery is coming back in ten minutes to check the patients, you don't stand around looking out the window. You get to work. You make sure the patients are being cared for.

THE LIVING EVIDENCE (THE HISTORICAL PROOF)

The world thinks that to change a city, you need a new law or a new doctor. But history shows us that what actually changes a city is a group of people who are so full of God that they don't have to protect their own lives anymore—they just spill over.

Historian Rodney Stark, in his book The Rise of Christianity, writes about how this played out in the second and third centuries. Massive plagues swept through the Roman Empire. Everyone who could leave, left—including the famous Roman doctors. They fled because they were "Ticks"—they had no source of life greater than their own survival.

But the Christians stayed.

The Residents stayed in the hospital. While everyone else was running away, the followers of Jesus were running into the plague-stricken houses. Why? Because they were so securely attached to the Master that they weren't afraid of death. They stayed to wash the sores and feed the hungry at great risk to their own lives. That kind of "spillover" love is what changed the world.

There is a world dying of thirst today. People are sucking the life out of their kids, their careers, and their hobbies because they are bone-dry. You are the only one in that office, on that cul-de-sac, or in that locker room who is attached to the Perpetual Well. You aren't spilling for a grade; you are spilling because the clock is ticking.

THE HAND-OFF (See One, Do One, Teach One)

As we close today, I know the tension. You feel the "tug" to spill, but you’re still terrified. You’re thinking, "I'm attached to Jesus... but I still don't know how to explain it without sounding like a salesman."

You weren't meant to learn how to spill alone. In a medical residency, the concept is "See One, Do One, Teach One." No doctor ever learns to save a life just by reading a textbook. They learn it in the hospital, alongside other residents.

And we do that in Community.

For some of you, that means this week in your Connect Groups, you’re going into the "Lab" to practice the mechanics of sharing the truth. But for all of us, it means learning to drink together. It means doing life with your "Fridge Friends"—those people who point you back to the Well when you start to act like a "Tick" again.

THE CLOSING CHALLENGE

Our goal as a church isn't to create "expert apologists." Our goal is to stay connected to Jesus, continually hoisting the sail to be filled by the Holy Spirit.

When we do that, witnessing transforms from a chore we feel like we have to do, to a natural overflow of our life and our joy in relationship with God. When the cup is full, witnessing overflows from you!

Let’s be a people so full of His Spirit that the world around us can’t help but get a taste of the Living Water!

Let’s pray.