Baby Dedication

Intro

Chisom Michelle | Martha & Emeka | from Nigeria

God delights in children. He takes great pleasure in them. They are one of the greatest gifts He gives to husbands and wives.

Psalm 127:3 NIV

3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

Because children are a gift from God, it is natural that Christian parents present and dedicate their child to God. In the Gospels we read that people brought little children and babies to Jesus so that he might place his hands on them and pray for them.

What is a baby dedication?

The Baby Blessing & Dedication is a public declaration of the parents before God and man acknowledging with gratitude that the child is a gift from God. Recognizing that as parents you need God’s wisdom and help in raising your child and with His help you will do your best to set the example for this child to follow in the way of the LORD.

What’s not!

We as The Way don’t baptise little babies. It does not involve baptism. We believe that baptism is meant to take place at a time when an individual makes a personal decision to follow Christ and is old enough to repent and confess Jesus publicly.

Where in the Scripture does it say to dedicate your child?

Scripture does not mention anything about dedication of children; however, Hannah dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:27, 28). Jesus was dedicated to the Lord as a baby (Luke 2:22) and baptized as an adult (Matthew 3:13-17).

Vows

So that (Isabelle) may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you (Marcio & Suelen) vow by God's help and in partnership with the church, to provide (Isabelle) a Christian home of love and peace, to raise her in the truth of our Lord's instruction and discipline, and to encourage her to one day trust Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord? ("We do.")

Meaning of the name:

1 Samuel 1:27 NIV

27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

1 Samuel 1:28 NIV

28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

Luke 2:22 NIV

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

Matthew 3:13–17 NIV

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”