Baby Dedication Request

Please read and indicate your understanding of the dedication service. 

Dedicating a child acknowledges God's control not only over the child, but also mom and dad. Parents present their child before God and His people asking for grace and wisdom in carrying out their responsibilities. Parents also come praying that their child might one day trust Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sin. The meaning of dedication is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7. 

First, it commands parents to love God; if they truly wish for their child to one day love and follow God, their lives must be an example. 

Second, Deuteronomy makes clear that the duty of teaching children belongs to parents; the church can provide weekly instruction, but it is meant only as a supplement much like a vitamin. Parents must seize the teachable moments that arise throughout life. Explain the value of prayer at meal times and before bed. Urge them to read aloud Bible stories for devotions. Give them practical ideas they can implement into their daily family routines. Psalm 127:3 proclaims that "Children are a gift from the Lord, they are a reward from Him." 

As Christ-followers we are called to recognize that children belong first and foremost to God. God in his goodness gives children as gifts to parents. They not only have the awesome responsibility of caring for this gift, but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying the gift. Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God. In no way does this dedication remove or erase your child’s sin, that we each are born with. It also does not guarantee heaven for your child. The only way that sin can be erased is by asking Jesus to forgive us of our sins and to become our Savior, which children must do when they are old enough to understand. The dedication service is asking God and His church for help in raising your child in the nurture and admonition of our Lord.