CHILD DEDICATION SERVICE
Does anyone want to know the measure of God’s blessing?
Illustration:
There was a young mother with two kids who got pregnant and gave birth to her 3rd baby. She was very upset and could not accept the birth of this child. Because they never planned to have another baby. She always said that her baby was just an accident.
You know, I have 3 children. And all of them are a blessing. They are a joy! They have taught me more about God and His love and His joy. In fact, they are spoken of as a "heritage," a legacy and a "reward," a prize, a gift!
Let me READ to you Psalm 127:3-5
"Children are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from him. Children who are born to people when they are young are like arrows in the hands of a soldier. Blessed are those who have many children. They won’t be put to shame
when they go up against their enemies in court" (New International Readers Version)
Yes, God sees that children are so important, no doubt about that. Yet this past years, we heard of so many real life stories about children treated as toys, and throwaway things... being abuse, neglected, or not given care that they need from someone.
Illustration:
a) Do you remember the story of Andrea Yates from Texas? Who murdered her kids while under a psychotic delusion that Satan is sending them to hell.
b) How about in Los Angeles, CA? A Canadian couple who relied on prayer and denying to get medical help had been ordered to stand on trial on charge of manslaughter in the death of their11 - months’ old daughter.
c) In Canada, six children ages 2-11 years old were burned-out in their home.
d) There were many mothers that were arrested because of child neglect.
e) A mother from Florida was convicted and sentenced for 50 years for setting her daughter on fire.
Yes, there are so many children treated as toys, puppets, throwaway things... abuse, neglected, or not given care. But listen now to how Jesus sees the worth of a child as recorded in Mark 10:13-16.
Let us READ Mark 10:13-16
"People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them."
Yes, there are so many that react with hostility, and abuse to children, but not our Lord Jesus.
I believe God reacts the same way today. Jesus takes them into His arms and blesses them. Parents who are here today witnessing this child dedication,... please listen to me. The Bible is very clear saying that our children are a gift of the Lord. Yes, a precious GIFT from God.
So the question we must ask ourselves is ..."what must I do to preserve this precious gift?"
Yes, since God has given us this gift of child, He has also given us an awesome responsibility. Let me share the three necessities that our children need to live with.
I. OUR LOVE
Illustration:
John Lennon wrote a song called "Love." In it he said,
Love is real, real is love
Love is feeling, feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved
But listen to what John Lennon’s son, Julian Lennon, said about his father: "I felt my Dad was a hypocrite. Dad could talk about peace and love out loud to the world. But he could never show it to the people who supposedly meant the most to him: his wife and son.
How can you talk about peace and love and have a family in bits and pieces—no communication, adultery, divorce? You can’t do it, not if you are being true and honest with yourself"
Yes, ninety-nine percent of parents will say that they love their children, but love is MORE THAN A FEELING; love is an ACTION. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" (John 3:16a). God showed that He loves us by His action of giving His only Son for us.
Do you think that our children see loving actions in our homes?
My fellow parents who are here today, I want us to learn to see the positive in our children and always praise their strengths rather than continually criticizing their weaknesses. Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:1, "Love builds up."
Yes, not only do children need to see that their parents love them. But they also need to see that their parents love each other. One of the best things WE can do for our children is to love our partner.
Now let us ask ourselves... "Do our children see that we love them by our actions?"
II. OUR TIME
Let me read what apostle Paul says in
Ephesians 5:15-16, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
I don’t need to tell you that "the days are evil." Yes, these are dangerous times for children. And today, more than ever, parents need to spend time with their children.
Why do you think there are so many children who are in so much trouble? Let me share with one reason: "Because they spend much more time in front of the TV or computer or with friends of poor character than they do with their parents. Our children need our presence more than our presents."
Let me ask you a multiple choice question: What do you think the only thing we can take to heaven with us?
A. Your house; B. Your money, C. Your job, D. Your child.
The answer? Your child (if he or she commits his or her life to Christ). I cannot think of a greater responsibility for a parent than to do all he or she can to lead a child to Christ and train him or her to serve Him.
Parents, we only have a limited amount of time to be a positive influence in the lives of our children. Are we making the most of every opportunity?
III. OUR DISCIPLINE
My fellow parents, I’m not going to tell you the form that your discipline should take to your children. . I want to stress one point: Children need discipline.
Yes, discipline must always be motivated by and exercised in love. Proverbs 3:11-12 says, "My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in"
Also, Proverbs 19:18 says, "Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death."
Yes, discipline must be exercised in such a way as to lead children to respect their parents. It must not be done in anger or frustration, inconsistent, unreasonable, and excessive.
Now, Are we setting proper boundaries for our children? When those boundaries are broken, are we disciplining them in love?
CONCLUSION:
Parents, our children are precious and blessings from God. Yes, we can give our children all sorts of nice things, but what they need most is our love, time, and discipline.
This afternoon, we are dedicating this CHILD and at the same time we are dedicating the PARENT.
By coming here … you, as parents, are publicly saying that you want to raise your child in a Christ-honoring home … and asking God’s blessing on your ministry as Christian parents.
CHARGE TO THE PARENTS
LISTEN, as I ask you some questions. Answering these questions, you are making a promises to GOD. NOT to me … NOT to your children … BUT … to GOD.
If you are willing to commit your child to God, and to dedicate yourselves to raising him in God’s strength, and for His honor and glory …
THEN …PLEASE... reply by saying "I do" to the following promises:
@Do you recognize your child as a precious gift from God, and give God thanks for this blessing?
@Do you then dedicate your child to the Lord, Who gave you your child?
@Do you pledge, as Christian parents, that you will bring up your child in a Christian home, looking to God for wisdom, strength, and guidance?
@Do you promise to give your child every possible benefit of home, school and church?
@Do you promise to pray for your child on a regular basis, realizing that it is only with God’s hand upon their life that they can be truly blessed?
@Do you ask God’s blessings upon the life of your child, to guide, guard, and direct them through all their years?
Answer: We do..
If your heart was in these promises, then you have dedicated yourself to raise a child that God can use mightily in His Kingdom.
The responsibility for the Christian training of this child does not lie with these parents alone.
POEM
(Mother of the Baby)
CHARGE TO THE GOD-PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS
This is a beautiful Filipino custom that has a wonderful significant for families that are being joined together as
"Co-parents" of the child we are dedicating to the Lord.
You are now comadres and compadres (co-parent) ; second parents to the child. Your children will call themselves "kinakapatid", or second brothers and sisters.
Not necessarily by blood but by a covenant or promise that you do to each other today to rear this child together.
There are responsibilities too. Your responsibilities are not only to or to pay for the "handaan" or the food today. or to give gifts during Christmas and birthdays.
To the GRANDPARENTS
@Do you recognize your grandchild as a precious gift from God, and give God thanks for this blessing?
@Do you pledge, as Christian grandparents, that you will help the parent to bring up your grandchild in a Christian home, looking to God for wisdom, strength, and guidance?
@Do you promise to pray for your grandchild on a regular basis, realizing that it is only with God’s hand upon their life that they can be truly blessed?
@Do you ask God’s blessings upon the life of your grandchild, to guide, guard, and direct them through all their years?
The biggest covenant you must promise today.... Lord forbid, but whatever happens to the parents, you’re responsibility is to see to it that the child will be provided for his needs materially and spiritually.
Do you promise before God and these witnesses, by God’s help that you will perform your responsibility.
Please say a loud "AMEN"
POEM
(Nieves Marmolejo)
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
(Present of the Water-"presence of God")
Let us join in the prayer of dedication. Let us pray that God will grant in the years to come, a revelation of grace to his to receive Jesus as his Savior and Lord.
That God will uphold the parents so that they would be sources of wisdom and guidance, leading EVAN to a life of loving the God who loves him and wants to bless him.
We dedicate EVAN CALEB ZILVERBERG to the care of God, to the Christian life, for the worship and glory of God, to the service of those created in God’s image.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRESENTATION OF THE LETTER
I have a letter that I will give to each of you on behalf of your children.
SOMEDAY, you might wish to open it up, and share it with them, to let them know what you have done here today.
(READ THE CERTIFICATE & LETTER)
PRESENTATION OF FAMILY BIBLE
(Frank and Susan Zilverberg)
CLOSING PRAYER
(Rev. Mike Miguel)
WORDS OF BLESSING
May the God of hope fill us will all joy and peace as we trust in Him. May his blessing be upon us, May He gives endurance and encouragement give us a spirit of unity among ourselves as we follow Christ Jesus ...NOW and FOREVER.
Amen.
