Child Dedication
Introduction
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from Him.” Psalm 127:3
A gift, a reward, a blessing! A baby is all of this and more. Children are the hope for the future. You sense your awesome responsibility as a parent, and you want to give your best to your child. This, and much more, brings you to participate in the milestone event of Parent Child Dedication.
God is the author of life, and your child is ultimately His. God brought all of His creative power together to give your child life. There has never been and never will be anyone just like your child. God had a plan for your child even before conception (Psalm 139:13-16), and He places immense value on your child. Hill Country Bible Church Leander stands firmly on Scripture in treasuring your child with you.
A Time to Celebrate!
Parent Child Dedication is a public celebration of God’s incredible gift to your family. The Bible tells the story of Hannah, who prayed for a child for years. When she finally gave birth to Samuel, she was overcome with thankfulness, and she went to the temple and dedicated Samuel to the Lord for all his life (I Samuel 1:27-2:10).
A Time for Parents to Commit to God’s Plan
In addition to dedicating your child, this is also a time of dedication for you as parents. Parent Child Dedication is a public expression of your commitment to seek God first (Matthew 6:33) in all aspects of bringing your child to maturity—spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical. You are committing to rely on God and give Him first priority in your home. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 clearly tells parents how to make God first in their homes:
Through Parent Child Dedication, you acknowledge before God and those present that you need His wisdom, guidance, and strength in your family. You are committing to be a good steward of God’s gift to you. Also, you recognize and embrace your spiritual accountability to God for the child He has placed in your home.
What is your accountability to God? What does God require of you as a parent? Most importantly, that you maintain a vibrant relationship with Him, model lifelong reliance on Him, and show your child how to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As a parent, God calls you to take the primary role in the discipleship of your child. Parenting is not easy, but God is on your side – and so is the family at Hill Country Bible Church Leander.
A Time for Our Church to Partner with You
You are not alone in parenting. Your family at Hill Country Bible Church Leander stands with you. We join you in dedication through our commitment to teach God’s Word (II Timothy 4:2), to serve one another in love (Galatians 6:2), to train disciples of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:2), and to bring others to Jesus (John 1:40-42).
If we do not share Jesus with the next generation, who will? As a church family, we welcome the opportunity to partner with you. We pray that God will use all of us to make an eternal impact on your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t HCBC baptize babies?
The Bible does not support infant baptism, which is based on church tradition rather than biblical doctrine. Baptism is only for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. Infant baptism may be intended to identify a child with the Christian faith, but baptism has no saving power. Each person must choose to follow Christ for him/herself.
How old does my child have to be for me to dedicate him/her?
Parents are welcome to dedicate children of any age.
Can single parents dedicate their children?
Yes. HCBC will do all it can to encourage you and partner with you in raising your child. Single parents have a difficult role to fill. You have a large extended family at HCBC that will provide support, spiritual growth opportunities, and ministries to help you succeed as a parent.
Can parents dedicate their child if they are not married?
No. A key part of Parent Child Dedication is a commitment by the parents to model a biblical lifestyle and worldview to their child. Dedication is an act of public worship based on the standards of God’s Word. Parents who are unmarried must first acknowledge their biblical responsibility to come under God’s authority regarding marriage and the home. If you would like to find out more about what the Bible says about marriage and family, one of our pastors would welcome the opportunity to meet with you.