BABY DEDICATION
– EXPLANATION & APPLICATION
“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD;
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them . . .
Psalm 127:3-5
Our children are a blessing given to us by God. They are also
a great responsibility because we are commanded to bring them up in the “nurture and
admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). The following application will try to
explain what a “Baby Dedication” is all about and have you work through
materials so that you will know what it means to raise a child in the “nurture
and admonition of the Lord.”
The precedent for the ceremony of a baby dedication is found
several places in Scripture. For example, the presentation of Samuel by his
mother Hannah ( 1 Samuel 1:28), of Jesus by Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:22) and the
children brought to Jesus (Luke 18:15-17). In addition Paul reminded Timothy
that “from a child” he had know the Holy Scriptures. However, a “baby
dedication” is not to be confused with baptism or a “christening service.”
In some churches a tradition has been established to
“baptize” a child at a “christening” service. The Roman Catholic church teaches
that baptism is a means of grace that brings the infant into the family of God
and therefore into salvation. Other churches practice infant baptism with the
idea that it is either the means or the recognition of the infant being brought
into a covenant relationship the parents have with God. However neither practice
is Biblical and practices of infant baptism distort the clear teaching of the
Bible concerning baptism. Baptism cannot save a child, give grace to a child or
enter the child into any covenant. Baptism is an act of obedience that
demonstrates the commitment of a person who has already accepted Jesus Christ as
their Lord and Savior. Every example in the Bible of baptism is upon a person
who has reached an age where they can think and make decisions for themselves.
(See the paper on “Baptism” available from the pastor for further explanation).
The purpose of a baby dedication is really to be found in the
dedication of the parents to raise the child in the “nurture and admonition of
the Lord.” It is a public commitment by the parents to fulfill the
responsibilities God has given them in the Scriptures.
Several items are attached.
1) A sample copy of a Parental Dedication Certificate. This
has on it the resolutions you would be committing yourself to fulfill. Consider
each charge carefully, as God does not pleasure in those that do not fulfill
their vows (Deut. 23:21; Eccl. 5:4).
2) A copy of “The Duties of Parents” by J.C. Ryle.
3) An Application and Work Sheet based on “The Duties of
Parents”
Those who would like to participate in a “Baby dedication”
must complete the Application and Work Sheet form and meet with the pastor.
BABY/PARENT DEDICATION
Application & Work Sheet
Parenting is a serious responsibility requiring much
work on the part of both the father and mother. However, God has placed the
primary obligation for directing the rearing of the child(ren) on the shoulders
of the father (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21; etc.). With that in mind we ask
that the following application and worksheet be completed by the father. Please
bring this with you when you meet with the pastor. Please print the names
clearly as this application will be used in preparing the Dedication
Certificate.
Father’s Name
Mother’s Name
Child’s Name (First, Middle & Last)
(If more than one child being dedicated,
please indicate)
Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord & Savior?
Does your wife know Jesus Christ as her personal Lord &
Savior?
Have you both read “The Duties of Parents” by J.C. Ryle?
Have you filled out the work sheets for “The Duties of
Parents”?
Have you both read the resolutions printed on the Parental
Dedication Certificate and are you willing to publicly commit yourselves to
fulfilling these promises to the best of your abilities?
(Father’s Signature)
(Mother’s Signature)
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – — – – – – – – – – – – –
Date met with pastor
Date completed all assignments
Date set for Dedication Ceremony
Work Sheets for “The Duties of Parents” by
J.C. Ryle
Please complete the sentences for each section as written in your book.
I. Train them in the way they should go, and not in the way that they would.
1) Children are born with a decided bias toward evil, and
therefore if you let them choose for themselves,
______________________________________________________________
2) If then you would deal wisely with your child, you must
not
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Train him in the way that is Scripture and right, and
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
II. Train up your child with all tenderness, affection, and patience.
1) Few are to be found, even among grown-up people, who
are not
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2) We must not expect
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Try hard to keep up a hold on your child’s affections.
It is a
dangerous_______________________________________________________________________________________
III. Train your children with an abiding persuasion on your mind that much
depends upon you.
1) Our character takes the form of that mould into which
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Beware of that miserable delusion into which some have
fallen, —
that________________________________________________________________________________________
3) But I know also that God says expressly, “Train up a
child in the way he should go,” and that He
___________________________________________________________________
IV. Train with this thought continually before your eyes — that the soul of
your child is the first thing to be considered.
1) No part of them should be so dear
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) To pet and pamper and indulge your child, as if this
world was all he had to look to, and this life the only season for happiness–
____________________________________________
3) He that has trained his children for heaven, rather
than for earth, — for God, rather than for man,
____________________________________________________________________
V. Train your child to a knowledge of the Bible.
1) See that your children read the Bible . Train them to
look on it, not as the word of men, but as it is
___________________________________________________________________
2) See that they read it . Train them to regard it as
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) See that they read it . You need not shrink from
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VI. Train them to a habit of prayer.
1) Prayer is the very life-breath of true religion. It is
one
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Parents, if you love your children, do all that lies in
your power to train them up to a habit of prayer. them how to begin. them what
to say. them to persevere. them if they become careless and slack about
it.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Let it not be your fault
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VII. Train them to habits of diligence, and regularity about public means of
grace.
1) Give them plainly to understand, that so long as they
are under your roof it is the rule of your house for everyone in health to
_______________________________________________
2) Samuel, in the days of his childhood, appears to have
ministered unto the
____________________________________________________________________________________
3) Set it before their minds as high, holy, and solemn
duty, and believe me the day will
______________________________________________________________________________
VIII. Train them to a habit of faith
1) I mean by this
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Reader, you train your children to little purpose if
you do not train them to a
__________________________________________________________________________________
3) But in the meantime if you say a think is right, it
must be enough
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
IX. Train them to a habit of obedience.
1) Early obedience has
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Teach them to obey while young, or else they will be
fretting against
________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Parents, if you love your children, let
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
X. Train them to a habit of always speaking the truth.
1) Reader, I would have you remark how often God is spoken
of in the
________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Press upon them at all times, that than the truth is a
.______________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) You will find it a mighty help indeed,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
XI. Train them to a habit of always redeeming the time.
1) Idleness is
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) It is the still water which becomes
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Teach them the of time and try to make them learn the
habit of
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
XII. Train them with a constant fear of over-indulgence.
1) Now it is the shortest way to spoil children to let
them have their own way, — to
________________________________________________________________________________
2) I call on you to remember, it is your first duty to
consult their
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Learn to say “ ” to your children. Show them
that you are able
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
XIII. Train them remembering continually how God trains His children.
1) Reader, if you would train your children wisely, mark
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Fear not to withhold from your child
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Reader, be not than God;
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
XIV. Train them remembering continually the influence of your own example.
1) Instruction, and advice, and commands
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Fathers and mothers, do not forget that children
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
No school
will___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) He that preaches to his children what he does not
practice,
________________________________________________________________________________________________
XV. Train them remembering continually the power of sin.
1) It is painful to see how much corruption and evil
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Never listen to those who tell you
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parental Dedication
“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD;
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them…
Psalm 127:3-5
We, names of parents, the parents of name of
child do solemnly resolve before God to do all within our power to
raise Jonathan in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and follow the pattern
for teaching children about God as set forth for parents in Deuteronomy 6:4-7.
We do solemnly resolve to:
1. Recognize this child to be a gift from God, and give heartfelt thanks
for God’s blessing.
2. Commit ourselves to be an example to name of child by
following the Lord God in our own daily lives, in seeking to know Him, in
loving Him and obeying Him with all of our hearts, minds and strength.
3. Commit ourselves to be diligent to teach name of
child the truth of God’s Holy Word and instruct him how to love
and obey God.
4. Commit ourselves to love name of child ,
to protect him, guide him, and endeavor to provide an environment that is
nurturing, loving and honest.
5. Commit ourselves to loving, honoring and respecting each other, carrying
out the Biblical roles for a husband and wife in remaining committed and
united in our own relationship, so that name of child
will have the security of a true home and understand how to have proper
relationships with others.
Father
Mother
Date
Parental Dedication
“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD;
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them…
Psalm 127:3-5
We rejoice in the blessings that God has given to us in our children, But we
also understand the great responsibility that parents have before God in rearing
those children. Today we want to come both to rejoice in the blessing God has
given to Name of Parents in bringing into their lives this
precious child Name of Child
The precedent for the ceremony of baby dedication is found in several places
in Scripture. For example, the presentation of Samuel by his mother Hannah ( 1
Samuel 1:28), of Jesus by Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:22), and the children brought
to Jesus (Luke 18:15-17). In addition Paul reminded Timothy that “from a child”
he had know the Holy Scriptures.
We understand that within part of the Christian church a tradition has been
established to “baptize” a child at a “christening” service. That is not what we
are here to do today. We do not believe that baptism saves a child. We believe
that baptism is an act of obedience that demonstrates the commitment of a person
who has already accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Every example
in the Bible of baptism is upon a person who has reached an age where they can
think and make decisions for themselves.
The purpose of a baby dedication is really to be found in the dedication of
the parents. Today, we are here to witness the commitment of Name of
Parents in raising Name of Child in the “nurture
and admonition of the Lord” – Eph 6:4. In Deuteronomy 6:4-7 the parents were
charged to teach their children both the “how and why” of following God. The
LORD, speaking through Moses said, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD our God is one
LORD: and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all
your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you
today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons
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 up.
TO THE PARENTS:
Names of Parents, God has given you a precious and wonderful gift in
Name of Child, but along with this gift comes the responsibilities of
raising Name of CHild properly before God. You are standing here
today to commit yourselves in front of these witnesses to raise Name of CHild
according to the will of God.
As I read these statements of commitment, respond “I DO” if they express your
desire and commitment to carry them out.
1. Do you recognize this child to be a gift from God, and give heartfelt
thanks for God’s blessing?
2. Do you commit yourself to be an example to Name of Child by
following the Lord God in your own daily life, seeking to know Him, love Him and
obey Him with all of your heart, mind and strength?
3. Do you commit yourself to be diligent to teach Name of Child
the truth of God’s Holy Word and instruct him/her how to love and obey God?
4. Do you commit yourself to love Name of Child , to protect,
guide, and endeavor to provide an environment that is nurturing, loving and
honest?
5. Do you commit yourselves to loving, honoring and respecting each other,
carrying out the Biblical roles for a husband and wife in remaining committed
and united in your own relationship, so that Name of Child will
have the security of a true home and understand how to have proper relationships
with others?
You have answered affirmatively to all these commitments before all these
witnesses.
TO THE CONGREGATION:
As the Christian brothers and sisters of Names of Parents , Will you
endeavor to carry out your God given responsibilities to both encourage and help
them to carry out these commitments they have just made to raise Name
of Child in the nurture and admonition of the LORD? (We will)