Sermon Central
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Why Commit? (Part 2)
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 21, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Why should we commit our way to the Lord? Because it is the right thing to do for us and it’s good for your family and for your nation.
Why Commit? (part 2)
Baby Dedication: Kathleen Rose Converse (Katie-Rose) this Dedication ceremony is all about Commitment to the way of the Lord. This is what I talked about last week in my message and what we will be exploring again today both in this ceremony and in my message.
Baby Dedication:
Most of you know that some churches baptize infants but we in the evangelical realm believe that baptism is for those who have come into the Christian faith by verbally repenting of their sins and experiencing the new birth found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. So in the place of infant Baptism which you cannot find in scripture we choose to practice Baby dedication to be Biblically accurate.
In Scripture we have two counts of godly parents dedicating their children to the Lord. We see it with Hannah’s dedication of Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:27, 28 and Joseph and Mary dedicating baby Jesus to the Lord in Luke 2:21-24. Truth is the parents are the ones making the commitment to dedicate their children to the Lord and promising to raise them in accordance with God’s Word so that their children will be blessed by the Lord.
Deut. 6:4-9:
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7Impress 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. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Psalm 103:17, 18:
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’S love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When 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. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Call the parents forward:
To the Parents:
We see through Scripture and throughout church history that godly parents have presented their children to the Lord. Therefore you follow a noble heritage that sees the value of presenting their children to the Lord. In doing this covenant act between you two and the Lord you enter a holy alliance with the Lord for your child. You believe that this child is a blessing from the Lord and you acknowledge that the Lord will hold you accountable for raising this child His way.
Charges to Parents:
Do you now solemnly confess that it is your hearts desire to dedicate this child to the Lord for his service?
Response of the parents: We do!
Do you commit to pray for and with this child?
Response of the parents: We will!
Do you promise to instruct this child in the ways of the Lord and in the Christian faith?
Response of the parents: We will with God’s help!
Do you promise to teach your child to read the Bible?
Response of Parents: We will with God’s help!
Do you promise to faithfully take your child to the house of the Lord?
Response of Parents: We will with God’s help!
Do you promise to do everything within your power to bring your child to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?
Response of Parents: We Will!
Charge to the church: (Have everyone in the church stand and respond with we will.)
Will you pray for Katie Rose and instruct her in the way of the Lord faithfully?
Response of church: We will!
Will you teach her about the teaching of the Bible by your words and your lives?
Response of the church: We will!
Will you help teach her to read her Bible and to pray to the Lord Jesus Christ?
Response of the Church: We will!
Will you be a living example of a Christian for Katie Rose to follow and model?
Response of the Church: We will!
(Take Child in arms and pray)
Katie Rose Converse, I dedicate you to God in the name of the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. May you young life be nurtured and matured under the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit and your parents. May God protect you physically and deliver you from temptation. May he early call you into His Kingdom and ultimately into His service, using you to advance His glory and to hasten the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
