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God has given you a precious gift! But this gift can feel like an overwhelming responsibility and challenge. Being a parent requires daily dependence on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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God has given you a precious gift! But this gift can feel like an overwhelming responsibility and challenge. Being a parent requires daily dependence on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There aren’t any perfect parents! We all need help. Ask God for His wisdom, guidance, and strength as you parent.
The Saddleback Kids Staff treasure your children and want to support you. Please use our nursery and children’s classes. Your children will learn that church is a special place, that Jesus loves them, and that you trust the people at your church. Be intentional about living in community with other Believers.
We have very caring and nurturing volunteer leaders who serve every weekend. We are so glad you are part of our church and we hope you will feel encouraged in your faith as you raise your children to know Jesus and grow to serve Him.
Saddleback Kids • Vision: • Connecting Kids to • God and Others • Winning kids to Christ • Growing kids spiritually • Every kid connects with another kid • -Every kid connects with a leader
We know that each child has a purpose in life and that your child is not here by chance! Your child is a miracle and an example of God’s amazing power. Child Dedication is a time for you to publicly thank God for your child. It is a time for you to make a commitment to God that you will raise your child to know Jesus.
The difference between… Child Dedication and Baptism
1. Child Dedication is a time for parents to offer their child to the Lord and to dedicate themselves to raising their child to the glory of God. 2. Child Dedication is an act of worship, thanksgiving, dependence, trust, and commitment. 3. Child Dedication is a time for celebrating the gift that God has given to you.
Child Dedication is a Biblical Tradition
We read in 1 Samuel about a woman named Hannah. She desired to be a Mother but experienced continual disappointment. Hannah cried out to God. Much later than she would have liked, God gave Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, a baby boy. When their son Samuel was weaned, she brought him to the priest, Eli and said,
“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be given to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28)
Hannah literally gave her son to God, by giving him to Eli to raise. God later blessed her again with 5 more children. (1 Samuel 2:21) Obviously, this was not the norm, but God had very special plans for young Samuel. He grew up to lead the Israelites as a Judge, Prophet, and Priest.
Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to be dedicated.
In Leviticus 12:3 we read that Jewish law required all parents to bring their boys to be circumcised on the 8th day after their birth. At this time they were also officially named. This was part of the dedication and blessing upon infant boys. Joseph and Mary followed this law and brought Jesus to the temple where Simeon blessed him. (Luke 2:28-34)
Child Dedication • Child Dedication is not a sacrament • Child Dedication does not impart salvation, which is eternal life with Christ in Heaven. • Salvation only comes to a child • through a personal relationship • with Jesus Christ.
According to Acts 8:12-13 believers are to be baptized. Therefore, we do not baptize people who have not first chosen to repent of their sin, believe that Jesus is God’s only Son, and receive Jesus through prayer into their life.
Baptism is a symbol that you have a new life in Christ – it tells others that you believe in Christ. Like a wedding ring, it is an outward symbol of an inward commitment.
We baptize 3rd through 6th grade children after they have attended our baptism class.
The Bible shows us that all children will live with Christ in heaven if they die before they are old enough to make a personal decision to follow Christ.
Babies and children hold a special place in God’s heart. We see this when Jesus is talking to the disciples about who will hold the highest rank in heaven . . .
Matthew 18:1-5 (The Message) says, “At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?’ For an answer, Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, . . .
“I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get to look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the child on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.’”
In the Old Testament, we read that when King David’s young son died, David understood that he would see his son again in heaven. 2 Samuel 12:23b says, “I can go to him, but he can’t come to me.”
Since we see how God views children and how King David will see his son in heaven, children who have not rejected Jesus will be in Heaven. It is our hope and prayer that your child will come to know Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior as he or she grows up.
You have the most influence and the most significant role in developing your son or daughter’s faith. At our Baptism Class for children, most children tell us that they prayed with and accepted Christ with their Mom or Dad.
Connect at Saddleback Church • Bring your child to Saddleback Kids every weekend. • Attend the same service so the leaders gets to know your child. • Consider volunteering in your child’s age group. • Join a small group. • Attend Married Life seminars.
At our child dedication service, with the support of your friends and family, you will be making 5 Parent Declarations.
Parent Declaration 1I will treasure my child as a gift from God on loan to me.
Infants and young children are incredibly helpless! Their everyday care and survival is in your hands. There are times when you gaze at your baby, especially when he or she is sleeping. Treasure those times! Soon they become 2 and 3 years old, develop strong opinions, and can become defiant and challenging.
Then before we know it they are 15, they may roll their eyes every time we speak, and think parents are totally lame. This is when this verse will be a command to us; when we don’t feel like treasuring our teenagers, we choose to treasure them because God’s word says to.
Parent Declaration 2I will teach my child of God’s love and of His gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus.
God requires Christian parents to teach their children the ways of the Lord. God’s will is for every child to know, believe in, love, respect, and serve Jesus as Lord all the days of their life. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says,
“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, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7
It’s not too early to start “high chair time”: give individual attention, sing songs, read a story, and model prayer. Bring your child to church regularly. Your relationship with Christ will be strengthened and so will your child’s. Watch our teaching videos at home with your children. We have activities and lessons on-line for you. Read Bible Stories at bedtime. Talk about how the heroes of the Bible can teach us how to have faith in God and His son Jesus Christ.
Parent Declaration 3I will give grace to my child, as grace has been given to me.
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4
Grace means favor or good will. We are accepted into heaven by grace, not because we are “good enough”. As parents, we give our children grace because we love them. It’s not because they have earned it by their talent, athleticism, or academic achievement. The grace given to us from Jesus needs to be given to our children.
Parent Declaration 4I will forgive my child, as I have been forgiven.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”Ephesians 4:32
Children need discipline, guidance, and boundaries. This doesn’t mean to be fierce or permissive. It does mean to be “slow to anger” and to see mistakes as an opportunity to learn. Discipleship is a journey. Often it is an opportunity for both parents and children to learn. It’s important to remember that we worship a God of second chances. Our children will need many chances as they learn and grow.
Parent Declaration 5I will accept responsibility for helping my child discover his/her God given purpose in life.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14
CLASS 301 and your SHAPE - The personality inventory is a helpful tool in defining your spiritual gifts and abilities: S - Spiritual Gifts H - Heart A - Abilities P - Personality E - Experiences
The most powerful tool you have as a parent is prayer! Pray with your child and for your child. Teach them by example that no matter what or when, he or she can always pray to Jesus and ask for help, say “Thank you”, and say “I’m sorry”.
Child Dedication isn’t all about your child; it’s about you. It is not possible to commit to raise your child to know Christ if you have not accepted Christ for yourself.
