Child Dedication

SCF believes children are a gift from God and celebrates parents who choose to raise their kids with godly principles. Dedication is a time of public and personal commitment, where parents make a covenant to teach their kids about building a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Silver Creek Fellowship believes the Bible states very clearly that the parents are the ones instructed and mandated to teach their children about God. We want to equip and partner with parents to help make this happen. One of the first steps in this process is dedicating your child to the Lord.  What does the Bible have to say about raising Godly children?

Is there Scriptural evidence for child dedication?
In Samuel 1:27-38, Hannah dedicated her son, Samuel, to the Lord.
In Luke 2:22, Jesus was dedicated to the Lord as a baby (and then baptized as an adult).
In Mark 10:13-16, Jesus welcomed and blessed the little children.
Is dedicating a child to the Lord the same as infant baptism?
No. In the dedication of children, the primary emphasis is not on the child, but on the parents. The dedication celebration recognizes that everything we have belongs to God, including the children born or adopted into our homes, and that parents have a responsibility to rear their children in faith.

The dedication of a child does not ensure that child’s salvation, but rather it gives parents an opportunity to express their intention to do everything in their power, as God gives them wisdom, to see that their child grows up to experience God’s love and to serve Him. We believe the Bible teaches baptism is for those who have come to Jesus Christ in faith for salvation and have decided to become his “disciples” or followers.

Why do we have our child or children dedicated?

Child Dedication is a statement of the parents’ or guardians’ faith and their commitment to raise their children in that same faith, teaching them about God.

More verses
“These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord Your God directed me to teach you…so that your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live…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 upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:1-9)

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'” (Matthew 28:18-20)

“Those who accepted this message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:41)

I Would Like To Dedicate My Child