Matthew 19:13-15
Infant Dedication
Our Children Need to Know
Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
( A short service of infant dedication is at the end of this document)
Introduction:
Due to the fact that young children are so unpredictable, We are doing the infant dedication in two parts. Early in the service we brought the child to the front to pray for him and dedicated him to the Lord. Now, when the child may be sleeping (along with some adults), I want to preach about God’s love for children and our responsibilities to them.
Illustration – Some Things Change but Some Don’t
-Car seats designed for space travel
-Bottle warmers that are almost automatic
-Diapers that have a line on them to tell you when they are wet
But … Children still want to be held, to be loved, to know what the limits are …
They still need to know about a God who loves them –
1. Our Children Need to Know that Jesus Loves Them – Matthew 19:13
"Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them."
In the previous chapter Matthew 18) Jesus had used a child as an illustration:
"He called a little child and had him stand among them" (Matthew 18:2). The child wasn’t afraid to come to Jesus.
Jesus loves them as they are and so should we …
Illustration – Our Son David (6) – Soccer on the Farm
When our son was 6, we left him with some friends on a farm while we did an errand. He was allowed to play soccer with other boys on a dirty, dusty farm road. When we returned our friend said: I wanted to wash him off a little before you got here but they were having so much fun that I couldn’t do it. Our son was covered in dirt from head to toe but the joy in his face was so exciting to see.
Jesus loves them as they are and so should we.
They need to know that Jesus loves them.
2. Our Children Need to Know that Jesus Can Bless Them – Matthew 19:14a
"But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them…"
Bring your children to Jesus and don’t hinder them in their faith.
Their lives can be different – they can live a life under the Lord’s blessing
The Bible says there are two paths – one leads to destruction and one is the path of God’s blessing. I don’t mean that their lives will be free from struggles and problems but we can tell our children that there is a life that is far better out there than what the world has to offer.
Children Should Enjoy Church
Illustration: Awana Grandmother
Every week she brings her two small grandchildren and loves to see how happy it makes them. My prayer is that she will also discover that the love she senses here can be theirs for a lifetime and not just for an hour a week
Church Should be part of your child’s life
Illustration – Our daughter had a bag to carry her toys in when she came to church
As a pastor, our children had to come to church. We didn’t miss a service but when our daughter was young, her attention span was not long enough for the whole message so we allowed her to put some toys in a paper bag and bring them with her (bags used to be made of paper back then). When the service would start she would take a toy out and roll the bag closed. Later, she’d open the bag again and take out a different toy. Evidently, the paper bag made some noise because someone made her a cloth one after a few weeks. I think being in church all of her life was good for her.
3.Our Children Need to Know that Jesus Can Save Them – Matthew 19:14c
"… for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
God’s desire for our children is for them to know about the Savior and to trust Jesus as their personal savior early in life.
Theologians tell us that we are not only sinners but that we are born with a sinful nature. The sin of Adam and Eve affects everyone born. I look at little children and I see “innocence” but the day will come when their sin nature and their sin acts will be evident to us and to them.
The Bible tells us that we "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and that all the good we try to do could be compared to “filthy rags” when we think of God’s holiness (Romans 6:23).
The Good News of the gospel is that God has sent a Savior. Jesus, the Savior, died for us and took the penalty for sin on himself – and we can receive God’s Gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Our children need to know that Jesus can save them.
Conclusion – Matthew 15a
15 "When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."
Nothing “more important” had to be done afterwards. Jesus was done and he left.
Illustration—Conducting Class
For some strange reason, I once took a conducting class. I still remember the professor saying that one of the best ways to end was to bring your hands in to your body so that those singing or playing know you are done (and don’t just jump back to the last repeat).
Concluding Illustration – A Very Young Christian Family
While traveling as a missionary on home assignment, I had the privilege of eating an evening meal with a young couple with two small children. When it was time for the children to go to bed, they asked me if I wanted to go with them to the children’s bedroom while they prayed together as a family. It was a beautiful thing to witness. What a wonderful family bringing their children up in faith. When we went back to the living room, the wife served some coffee and they asked me if they seemed young to be parents and I said, “All new parents seem young to me.” Then they shared how God had worked in their lives. When they were younger yet and not married the woman became pregnant. Everyone thought they were very young to get married but they decided to marry anyway. With help from their Christian families, they were able to get into a small rental home, someone in the church gave him a job with the opportunity to continue in school. A couple years later, they decided to have another child and that was the beautiful home that I was able to see – four years after they married.
We all make mistakes, we all have sinned, but God can make something beautiful out of our lives if we let Him. Maybe, you have made different mistakes, maybe your sins have been different ones, but God can make your home into something beautiful if you allow Him to do that.
Prayer:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra Resources:
A Unison Scripture Reading was used earlier in the service (Matthew 18:1-6, Matthew 19:13-15, Proverbs 22:6.
I found a number of infant dedication services online and modified one to fit our style.
Infant Dedication
(Modified and Shortened Infant Dedication)
Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 proclaims that "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him." As believers 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.
In Luke 2:22 we read that Mary and Joseph brought their baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem in order to present him before the Lord. In the same way, Mark and Marcia Smith today bring their son, Parker James Smith, presenting first themselves and then their Son before the Lord our God.
Marcia and Mark, I call your attention to the commands of God recorded in Holy Scripture. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us:
"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on their 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."
Ephesians 6:4 says:
"fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Mark and Marcia, love God with every ounce and fiber of your energy and teach Parker to do the same. As you love God, one another, you will model before Parker a wonderful love for God that he will want for himself.
Marcia and Mark, by coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and your Son, Parker to the Lord? If so, please respond by saying "we do." ("We do.")
Having come freely, I ask now that you enter into the following commitment in the presence of God and his people. So that Parker may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers. Will you, as parents, vow with God's help and in partnership with your family and the church, to provide Parker a Christian home of love and peace, to raise him in the truth of our Lord's instruction and discipline, and to encourage him to one day trust Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord? If so, please respond by saying “we do.” ("We do.")
(Mother hands child to pastor for prayer of dedication)
Prayer of Dedication:
(Pastor hands child to father).
