Parent-Child Dedication
A. IT IS ABOUT GOD’S SPECIAL LOVE!
1What MARVELOUS LOVE the Father has extended to us! Just look at it--we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.
2But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him--and in seeing him, become like him. 3All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own. 1 John 3:1-3(MSG)
B. Special Delivery from God:
“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 (NLT)
B. Jesus values what you are doing:
13Some children were brought to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples told them not to bother him. 14But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." 15And he put his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. Matthew 19:13-15 (NLT)
C. What you are doing is a Commitment to teach about the God of LOVE:
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 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 upon 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. Deuteronomy 6:4-9(NIV)
The dedication of children is a three-fold covenant.
First, it is a covenant of parents to God as they promise to teach their children to love and honor God.
"Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it." Pro.22:6 (NIV) - Recognize their individuals bents, giftings, and lead them to God!
Second, it is a covenant of parents to children as they promise to love them unconditionally and provide for them.
Finally, it represents a covenant of the church body to support parents in the task of raising children in the faith.
