Pre Baby Dedication Counsel Pastor Fred Mapp

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Pre Baby Dedication Counsel Pastor Fred Mapp

• Preparing Parents
• For the Dedication
• of Their Baby.

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Outline

• First things first
• Dedication is not
• Dedication is
• Purpose of Service
• Biblical Precedents
• Responsibilities
• Planning the Service

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First Things First

• Whose idea is it to have the baby dedicated?
• Why do you want your baby dedicated?
• What do you think will happen if the baby is not
  dedicated?

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Dedication Is Not

• A Christening, ie a naming ceremony

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Dedication is not

• A Baptism.
• Baptism is an adult Believers decisive act of
  commitment to Christ. Matt. 2813-14.
• Baptism is by immersion. Rom. 61-3.

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Dedication is not

• A Good Luck Charm.

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Dedication is not

• Just an Excuse for a Party.

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To dedicate is to

• Devote wholly to a special purpose or cause
• Commit wholeheartedly or unreservedly
• To set apart for a duty or for sacred use.

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Dedication is

• A complete and wholehearted devotion of self to
  the ideals, duties and responsibilities of
  parenting.
• A giving up of your child to God, acknowledging
  as you do that your child is Gods property.

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Purpose of the Dedication Service

• Thanksgiving.
• Covenant.
• Commitment.
• Blessing.

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Biblical Precedents for Infant Dedication

• Samuel
• 1 Samuel 120 28

• Jesus
• Luke 221 40

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Jesus Response to the Mothers Request

• He blessed the children. Mark 1016
• This was a profound event.
• Infant children were included. Luke 1815

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Jesus Response to the Mothers Request (Contd)

• He neither commanded nor initiated the blessing.
  Matthew 1913
• He encouraged the blessing when the parents
  requested it. Matthew 1914
• He was displeased with those opposing the
  blessing. Mark 1013, 14

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Responsibilities of Parents

• Duties Outlined in Scriptures.
• Church Attendance.
• Family Worship
• Poems.

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A. Duties Outlined

• Love them Titus 24
• Bring them to Christ Matthew 1913,14
• Train them for God Prov. 226 Eph 64
• Instruct them in the word of God command them
  to obey God Deut. 49 3246 Isa. 3819
• Provide for them Job 4215

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A. Duties Outlined (Contd)

• Correct them Prov. 1324
• Not to Provoke them Eph 64
• Not to make unholy marriage connections for them
  Gen. 241-4 281-2
• To restrain them 1Sam 311-14
• To govern them by kindness Prov. 3126-36

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B. Church Attendance

• Bring your child(ren) to Sab. School
• On Time
• Equipped
• Supported

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C. Family Worship

• Teach
• Religious songs
• How to Pray
• How to behave in relationships
• Bible Stories
• Faith in God
• Submission to God

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Poems

• Children Live What They Learn.
• Childs 10 Commandments to Parents.
• The Bad Example.

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D. The Bad Example

• He whipped his boy for lying,
• And his cheeks were flaming red,
• And of course theres no denying
• There was truth in what he said
• That a liars always hated.
• But the little fellow knew
• That his father often stated
• Many things that were untrue.

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The Bad Example (Contd)

• He caught the youngster cheating
• And he sent him up to bed,
• And its useless now repeating
• All the bitter things he said
• He talked of honour loudly,
• As a lesson to be learned,
• And forgot hed boasted proudly
• Of the cunning tricks hed turned.

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The Bad Example (Contd)

• He heard the youngster swearing
• And he punished him again
• Hed have no boy so daring
• As to utter words profane.
• Yet the youngster could have told him,
• Poor misguided little elf,
• That it seemed unfair to scold him
• When he often cursed, himself.

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The Bad Example (Concld)

• All in vain is splendid preaching
• And the noble things we say,
• All our talk is wasted teaching
• If we do not lead the way.
• We can never by reviewing
• All the sermons on the shelves
• Keep the younger hands from doing
• What we often do ourselves.

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Implications for the Child

• Gods blessings mediated to the child through
  the parents.

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Any Questions / Comments?
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Necessary Information

• Names
• Hymns
• Scripture
• Covenant

• Date
• Venue
• Photography
• Fees

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Planning the Service

• Printed Invitations!
• Order of Service
• Family up front
• Dedication Covenant
• Language
• Presentation

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The End.