Baby Dedication Message Manuscript

Ned Gable 2.20.2014

I am so glad youre here today. This is a great day. We get to celebrate and mark a
significant moment in the lives of these young families. As we get started lets take a
second to ask an obvious question, What is a baby dedication? In a church like 12Stone
there are a lot of backgrounds and traditions represented and probably several different
ideas about the role and significance of dedication. And while there are not a great many
examples of child dedication in the Bible, there is one thats fairly well known.

We find it in the book of Samuel and it starts with a woman named Hannah. Now, Hannah
was barren. She and her husband had tried to have a child for years but could not. I dont
know if you know the anguish of wanting a child and not being able to have one but this is
what Hannah was feeling. So on this day Hannah was at the Tabernacle pouring her heart
out to God. As she begged and pleaded to God she made a vow that if God would allow her
to have a son then she would dedicate him to God for his whole life. She was praying so
intensely that her mouth was moving and she was crying but she couldnt even get the
words out. When Eli the priest noticed this he assumed she was drunk and he began to
scold her. But Hannah said no, no, Im not drunk Im just pouring my heart out to God in my
grief. So, Eli had mercy on her and said Go in peace and may God grant you what you have
asked.

And God did grant what she had asked. Not long after this Hannah and her husband
conceived and had a son. They named him Samuel. Hannah never forgot her vow to God
and when Samuel was old enough to be weaned she took him to the tabernacle and
dedicated him to God. That is she brought him to the Tabernacle and presented him to the
priest Eli and then she left Samuel there at the tabernacle for Eli to raise.. and she
went home (pause)

NO, HOLD ONThats not what were doing here . I mean, we love to see your kids come to
church every week. And a lot of weeks we love it even more they go home with you.

So thats obviously not what were about, and the truth is theres not a lot of direct Biblical
instruction when it comes to child dedication. So for clarity lets start with what baby
dedication is not:

First, its not a baptism. We believe that baptism is a symbol of an individuals choice to
respond to God and place their faith in Him. And these little ones, as bright as they
obviously are arent at that place yet. Second, dedication doesnt save. It doesnt
guarantee heaven or even make your child more likely to become a Christian.

At the end of the day, Baby Dedication isnt really even mostly about the babies its really
about parents. And I believe what we do most resembles a wedding because, like a
wedding its about a promise. Before your wedding you and your spouse decided that you
wanted love and care for each other for the rest of your lives. Then to mark or seal that

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choice you came together with family and friends and made a promise or covenant before
God to seek his help and blessing in living out that promise.

There are two important parallels between that day and today

First God takes promises seriously. They matter to him. We serve a God who keeps his
promises and expects the same of us. So, what we do here is significant because, at the core
promise making is an act of faith. Only by GODs blessing and power, and by leaning on the
strength of others in GODs community, can you promise to raise these children in the love
and knowledge of Jesus.

Second On your wedding day the question was not do you love each other- of course you
did! The question was will you love each other. Will you keep your promise to God and
each other even on the days you dont feel like keeping your promise. Will you continue to
try? The question today is not do you want to raise your children to know and love Jesus
the question. It is will you live and raise them in a way that supports that desire? For that
we need Gods guidance.

While there is a wealth of Biblical teaching for parents, one passage stands out as especially
relevant for today. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Moses is challenging the Israelites to live out and
pass on Gods law and Gods ways to the next generation. This is how he begins.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD 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 on your hearts.

He tells the Israelites that before you can pass on your faith to your children youve got to
live it yourself. Youve got to be an example.

I used to teach this academically. I knew it was true but I hadnt lived it. Well now I have a
ten year old daughter, Brindley. She is amazing in every way, but there something peculiar
about her. She is a rabid University of South Carolina Gamecocks football fan. Im not
kidding. She has a South Carolina cheerleader uniform, she sleeps on a gamecock mascot
pillow pet, and she has actually asked to go to a South Carolina bowl game over going to
Disney world. Heres my favorite Once I needed pipe cleaner to clean something out so I
asked her to bring me her least favorite color pipe cleaner. She brought me an orange pipe
cleaner because orange is a Clemson color. I dont think I could have been more proud.

Now, how did this happen? How did our little girl who has spent most of her life outside of
South Carolina become such a fan? Of course, because my wife and I are fans! I went to
South Carolina and I love South Carolina Football. Brindley learned that just from watching
my example.

You see my wife and I never had to sit her down and explain to her why the South Carolina
Gamecocks are the best and most important team in college football and as such they

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deserve to win each and every game. I didnt have to teach her to yell at the TV when the
official makes a bad call. We didnt have to convince her of any of this.

We reproduced who we are and so will you. Maybe in your college football preference
but definitely in the way you walk with God. So Love the LORD your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. And be an example your
children can follow.

Deuteronomy continues These commandments that I give you today are to be on your
hearts. Impress them on your children. While your children will certainly learn from
your example, Spiritual formation does not happen by accident. You must also be
Intentional.

In this verse the word impress comes from a word that means to repeat something so it can
be remembered. It carries the imagery of sharpening or honing a sword. It implies time
and commitment and coming back to what is essential over and over again. This is how we
teach our kids not to just develop spiritual habits but we introduce them to Jesus and help
them learn to trust and follow him.

But the world we live in competes with this goal. There are so many things that clamor for
you and your childs attention. If youre not intentional you can end up busy doing a lot of
good things but miss out on the most important things.

This world tells us that good parents raise well rounded, happy, educated kids who grow
up to be successful. These are all great but Jesus says

Matt 16:26
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world and yet forfeits his soul.

We can strive to give our children all the advantages the world has to offer, and motivate
them to make the most of available opportunities and resources; but unless their spiritual
life is prioritized and nurtured, they will miss out on much of the meaning, purpose and joy
of life.

So be an example and be intentional.

Finally we learn that as we (Deut 6:7)Impress [these things] on our children. [we should] Talk
about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie
down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your
foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

As I read these verses one thing stands out. If youre going to talk about Gods ways with
your kids as youre sitting around your house, as you travel together, when they go to
sleep and when they wake up. In order for these things to happen you have to be there
you have to be present.

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Im pretty sure the idea of quality time is a myth. You know that idea that you can
maintain relational health by making a big effort on an occasional basis. We apply this logic
to relationships, especially family, and expect it to work but we wouldnt apply this logic to
any other areas of our life.

For example: Would any of you tell me that if I want to save money a good strategy would
be to throw a few thousand dollars in my bank account every other year. No youd tell me
save small amounts on a consistent basis, over an extended period of time.

What about if I wanted to lose weight and get healthier? (and Ive been working on this)
Would you tell me I should start by going out and running ten miles. Then repeat that
every month or so. Nothat would kill me. Instead youd tell me to maybe run a mile every
day for a couple of weeks and slowly build up to more.

If you want to build health in most areas of life the formula is small amounts on a
consistent basis over an extended period of time. I think thats the pattern that is
illustrated in our passage.

My Dad got this. He was a youth and music pastor (imagine that combo for second
anyway) And once while preaching on Fathers Day he said, as an aside that he didnt
think hed been a very good father that stuck with me. Years later reflecting on this I
wrote the following note to Dad.

One time I heard you preaching on Fathers Day and you said you didnt think you had
been a very good father. Well, if thats the case I thought I should come up with some
other titles you might want to use to define our relationship. So, here is a list of
possibilities: Soccer Coach, Baseball Coach, cheerleader, nature guide, camping
instructor, Assistant Den Leader, Den Leader, Cub Scout Pack Leader, Assistant Troop
Leader, Chaperone, tutor, doctor, vacation planner, Jr. Church teacher, Childrens
Pastor, event planner, VBS Director, Youth Pastor, Choir Director, taxi driver, driving
instructor, band booster, band announcer, college scout pastor, example, mentor,
friend. You see, every step Ive taken youve been right there with me. To me that
makes you the best dad I could ever ask for.

You see, I didnt have a lot materially when I was growing up, but I did have two parents
who were there for me every step of the way. They loved me and introduced me to Jesus.
Thats all I really needed and its all your children really need.

These children need: parents who will set an example of what it means to put God first,
parents who will be intentional about introducing them to Jesus, and parents who will be
present to walk alongside them on the journey.
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This is the promise we are making its what we are dedicating ourselves to today.

And so now wed like to introduce the parents and children who are being dedicated today.
In preparation for today these parents have written a letter to their child to try and capture
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the personal significance of this day. So after a brief video well introduce these families
and theyll read a portion of that letter.

(Play video followed by parent introductions and reading of letters)

Parents,
(Have parents stand)

Will you promise today to pursuing the Lord your God with all you heart mind soul
and strength as an example before your child? We will

Will you promise to be intentional in introducing your child to Jesus and teaching
them to trust and follow Him? We will

Will you promise to be present for your kids and walk with the on their journey? -
We will

Now promise making and promise keeping are serious business and so you dont make this
promise on your own. Your family, friends and your church join you in this promise.

Family and Friends.

(Have family and friends stand)

Will you promise to pray for and influence these children acting as role models and
guides, helping them to lead godly lives? We will

Will you support and honor their parents as they raise them? We will

Church

On behalf of 12Stone Church I promise that we will support and partner with you as
you seek to bring these little ones up in Christ.

Close in Prayer
(Open, allow families to pray together for 2-3 minutes then close)