WHAT IS A BABY DEDICATION?
It is our desire at Calvary Chapel of El Paso for the parents of each child being dedicated to the Lord to have a Biblical understanding of what "baby dedication" signifies. With this as our goal, please read over all this information and fill out the baby dedication form on the last page.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3
What a wonderful blessing form the Lord, to be a parent. Whether this is your first baby or sixth, aren't you amazed at the miracle of a new life? Perhaps you are a little overwhelmed at the thought of the tremendous responsibility you have been given in raising a child in the way of the Lord, and establishing early in their life a foundation built upon Jesus Christ. Parenting your child now becomes your ministry to God!
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 18:10
It is this important responsibility that causes us to think of baby dedications as a "family dedication". To dedicate is to set apart and consecrate something or someone for a scared purpose. We feel that the whole family unit needs to be lifted up to the Lord so that each member can present himself to God.
As mentioned, children are a heritage (or gift) from the Lord. So as an outward sign of your inward attitude, you bring your child before the congregation to publicly bring them to Jesus.
This public commitment serves to strengthen your faith and allow the congregation the opportunity to also commit to do everything in each person's power to stand with you as you raise your child according to God's Word.
Dedicating a child is not a ceremony to make them Christians or guarantee their salvation, but it is a good start on the road to godly upbringing. A perfect example of "dedicating" a child to the Lord is given to us in 1 Samuel 1:11, 26-28:
Hannah, being barren for many years, was weeping before the Lord because of her condition. As she was weeping, she made a vow to God... and said, "O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he'll be Yours for his entire lifetime..."
God honored Hanna's request and gave her a son named Samuel. Hannah then, in keeping her vow, dedicated Samuel unto the Lord, and he became a priest and judge of Israel, and God spoke to him even as a little child. We see here a beautiful example of what our attitude should be toward our children and their relationship to God.
We are to set our children apart to God by raising them in His ways and not our own.
It is our desire at Calvary Chapel of El Paso for the parents of each child being dedicated to the Lord to have a Biblical understanding of what "baby dedication" signifies. With this as our goal, please read over all this information and fill out the baby dedication form on the last page.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3
What a wonderful blessing form the Lord, to be a parent. Whether this is your first baby or sixth, aren't you amazed at the miracle of a new life? Perhaps you are a little overwhelmed at the thought of the tremendous responsibility you have been given in raising a child in the way of the Lord, and establishing early in their life a foundation built upon Jesus Christ. Parenting your child now becomes your ministry to God!
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 18:10
It is this important responsibility that causes us to think of baby dedications as a "family dedication". To dedicate is to set apart and consecrate something or someone for a scared purpose. We feel that the whole family unit needs to be lifted up to the Lord so that each member can present himself to God.
As mentioned, children are a heritage (or gift) from the Lord. So as an outward sign of your inward attitude, you bring your child before the congregation to publicly bring them to Jesus.
This public commitment serves to strengthen your faith and allow the congregation the opportunity to also commit to do everything in each person's power to stand with you as you raise your child according to God's Word.
Dedicating a child is not a ceremony to make them Christians or guarantee their salvation, but it is a good start on the road to godly upbringing. A perfect example of "dedicating" a child to the Lord is given to us in 1 Samuel 1:11, 26-28:
Hannah, being barren for many years, was weeping before the Lord because of her condition. As she was weeping, she made a vow to God... and said, "O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he'll be Yours for his entire lifetime..."
God honored Hanna's request and gave her a son named Samuel. Hannah then, in keeping her vow, dedicated Samuel unto the Lord, and he became a priest and judge of Israel, and God spoke to him even as a little child. We see here a beautiful example of what our attitude should be toward our children and their relationship to God.
We are to set our children apart to God by raising them in His ways and not our own.