Child Dedication Service/Sermon: Oliver Vincent Grabski (Luke 18:15-17 – September 29, 2024)
In a few moments parents from our church are going to publicly dedicate their child to the LORD. They will be making a powerful statement. But I’m also going to ask this congregation and family present to make commitments as well. So I want us to understand what we are doing this morning. I know many of you have been to a child dedication service, and for others this is new. I would like you all to understand what a child dedication service IS and what it IS NOT.
What a child dedication service is not:
1) A child dedication service is not Biblically required. There are examples in Scripture where a parent dedicated their child to the LORD. When Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel dedicated him to the LORD, she said:
1 Sam. 1:27-28 "For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." After Hannah dedicated Samuel to the LORD, she left him at the Lord’s tent to continue to serve his whole life. Now, we are not expecting anyone to leave their child at church this morning for the rest of their lives. But the intent of Hannah was to surrender her child unto the LORD’s service and to invite God’s blessing onto her child’s life. This is the kind of dedication we are hoping for.
2) Second, a child dedication service is not salvific. That is, the things we say and do this morning do not make this child spiritually saved, or destined for heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9 reads: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. This child may be my grandson but (like all of us) OLIVER stands before God guilty of sin. No one is righteous, no not one. This service is not what saves any child. What saves people is God’s grace. What saves people is deep trust and faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A child dedication service does not purify the child or make them holy. This service is more like a prayer, asking God to please one day bring our children into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. A child dedication does not bring eternal salvation, it just invites the hope of it.
3) Third, and finally, a child dedication service is not related to baptism. Baptism is the outward symbol of saving faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is the public act of being immersed in water to symbolize that we have immersed our lives into Christ. This child dedication service is not a baptism service. It is an act of hope that one day this child will believe in Jesus Christ and publicly testify to that faith through baptism.
So these three things – a Child Dedication is not biblically required, it doesn’t save anyone from their sin, and it doesn’t relate to baptism.
So why do it? What is a child dedication service really about?
1) A baby dedication is ultimately about receiving God’s precious gifts of children with a sense of joy and responsibility. Psalm 127:3 says Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.. Today we receive this child as parents and God’s people with joy and with a sobered sense of our responsibility to raise his to know and follow Jesus.
2) A baby dedication service is also about modeling Jesus’ love for little ones. Mark 10:13-16 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them. Today we will lay hands on OLIVER VINCENT GRABSKI and ask Jesus to bless his because we believe that the LORD delights to give the Kingdom of God to children.
3) A baby dedication is also an initial step in obeying God’s commands to raise children to know and follow Him. Ephesians 6:4 says Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This is a high calling for both mom and dad.
So too Deuteronomy 6:4-9 reads
Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
It should be noted that this command is not just for parents. This was a command given to the entire people of Israel, God’s family. Thus, today, I’m going to ask not only Sam & Megan to dedicate their child to the LORD and commit to raise him to know Christ and follow Him. I’m also going to ask you, God’s family, and His church, to commit to be a part of OLIVER’S life. We are all to bless him. We are all to receive him. We are all to use our spiritual gifts and labors of love to see that this little boy grows to know, love, and follow Jesus. No parent can do this job alone; that’s why the church is so necessary.
(Parents come forward. I hold the child)
These parents today, (SAMUEL & MEGAN GRABSKI), recognize the sacredness of their responsibility and now bring back to the Lord the treasure which He has entrusted to them. In so doing, they publicly acknowledge their responsibility for the nurture and training of their child in the ways of righteousness and godliness.
Parents:
• (Samuel & Megan), do you as parents of (Oliver Vincent) recognize him as a gift of God entrusted to you by God?
• Do you give Oliver to the Lord for whatever purpose God may have for his life?
• Will you seek by your example, prayers, love, discipline, and instruction in God’s Word to rear Oliver so that early in his life he might come to know Christ as his Savior and grow to be a useful servant in this generation?
Hebrews 12:1-2 speaks of a cloud of witnesses that has gone on before us. Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
Therefore I speak to the parental cloud of witnesses, RODERICK & SHIRLEY GRABSKI, behold your great-grandson. KEN & OLIVE PITSCH, behold your great-grandson. NICK & ELLA HUTNICK, behold your great-grandson. JIM NILLES, behold your great-grandson.
I speak now to the parental family witnesses here today (please stand when I call your name): *JOYCE NILLES, behold your great-grandson. Love him, nurture him, and bring him up in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
AL & KATHY HUTNICK, behold your grandson. Love him, nurture him, and bring him up in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Julia & Paul Anderson behold your grandson. Love him, nurture him, and bring him up in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
RODERICK & JAIME GRABSKI, behold your grandson. Love him, nurture him, and bring him up in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Congregation (Ask to Stand): Do you promise to stand with this family and see to it that (Samuel & Megan) have the support of the larger Body of Christ in prayer, training, and encouragement as (Oliver Vincent) matures? (If so, answer “we do.”) (All may be seated.)
PRAYER (lay hands on Oliver)
The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen
SONG: Good God Almighty
Luke 18:15-17 NASB
15 And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.16 But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”