The Charge to the Parents
God has given us great and exceeding precious promises. One of those promises has to do with our children. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Promises of God
Let us hear the Word of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7. 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. 8. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

This is the commandment of God, that we should diligently rear our children in the Lord. In obedience to this command _______ (husband) and _________ (wife) are bringing their child, __________ (first name) (middle name) ____________ _____________________ (last name)

Precedent
The precedent for the ceremony of baby dedication may be found in the Scriptures. Hannah gave Samuel back to the Lord (I Samuel 1:28). Joseph and Mary did the same when they took Jesus to the temple to be dedicated (Luke 2:22). Paul mentioned Timothy’s godly heritage in his godly mother and grandmother. Jesus commanded, "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not; for such is the kingdom of heaven." (Mark 10:14)

Purpose
The purpose of baby dedication is found in the purpose of the parents. Rightly understood, the service is a ceremony of parental dedication in which both parents pledge themselves before God to raise their child in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)

Parental Covenant

1. Do you __________ and __________ here today to dedicate this child to God and commit yourselves to bring (him/her) up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? (Answer: We do)
2. Do you pledge yourselves as parents to live before (him/her) godly lives that will leave no stumbling block before this child? (Answer: We do)
3. Do you promise to do all in your power to bring this child into a saving faith in Jesus Christ? (Answer: We do)
4. Do you covenant with God to read the Scriptures together, pray together, and together to attend the services of the house of God? (Answer: We do)

People's Response
As members of the body of Christ and the family of God will you promise to do all in your power to assist these parents in their covenant by praying for _______ and living exemplary lives before (him/her)? If so will you stand with us as we pray?

Prayer
"Father in heaven we now bring this child to you on behalf of (his/her) parents and dedicate him to the Lord. We pray for his/her parents that you will empower them and enable them to maintain the covenant they make here today. We pray now for ________ that you would begin a work in (his/her) heart and life to early convict of sin and bring (his/her) to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We ask that you will go before (his/her) and to protect from sin and sickness and all those things of this world that can ruin this life. We dedicate (his/her) now to the Lord in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN"