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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF Child DEDICATION?

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The scriptural root of a baby dedication is found in 1 Samuel 1:27–28 (NASB), where a godly woman named Hannah prayed year after year for God to give her a child. He answered her prayer and she gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel. When Samuel was born, Hannah prayed these words:

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“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.”

— 1 SAMUEL 1:27-28

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In Luke chapter 2 of the New Testament, following the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus to the temple and dedicated Him.

In both Scripture passages, the parents entrusted their child completely to God.

 

The writings of Moses found in Deuteronomy 6:5–9 describe God's plan for how a parent should raise up a child:

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“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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”— DEUTERONOMY 6:5-9

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One key step in marking your desire to nurture your child in the ways of God is to dedicate him or her to God publically, through a child dedication ceremony.

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1. Do I need to be a member of The Gate Church to have my child dedicated at The Gate?

• You do not need to be a member of The Gate Church to have your child dedicated in a public ceremony. We do encourage parents to make sure they are calling The Gate their home church.

• Why? In dedicating your child to God, you are stating that you are willing to partner with God and the church to raise your child in cooperation with God’s intentions. To partner with any church, a parent would be wise to decide if he or she agrees with its beliefs and vision, so they can be all-in in their partnership with the church.

• When you choose to become a member at The Gate, you are stating that you agree with The Gate's beliefs and values, and that you want The Gate to be your home church. For more information on membership, visit the membership page.

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2. To have your child dedicated at The Gate Church:

• We ask parents to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

• We ask parents to be sure their beliefs line up with What We Believe.

• We ask parents to be regular attenders of The Gate’s services.

• Contact pastorjeremy@thegatecog.com or call (863) 289-6193.

 

3. What can I expect during a child dedication?

• During the dedication service, parents express vows before God, their family, and the church, declaring their desire to raise their child in a God-honoring way.

• Because parents are the key role models for their children, they play a primary role in the dedication service.

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4.Parents will be asked to affirm the following commitments:

• Do you receive this child with gratitude, as God’s gift to you and your family?

• Do you commit to each other as parents, creating a stable environment in which your child can mature? Will you make a covenant to strengthen your marriage relationship?

• Do you commit to be parents of personal faith, recognizing your children are more likely to follow God’s path by the model they first observe in you?

• Do you commit to lead a faith-filled home that honors God in all your relationships and in the choices you make in spiritually growing your family?

• Do you commit to be parents with patience, recognizing that with your inherent strengths and weaknesses, your desire to shape your child is a loving act that will require time, prayer, and God in order to produce in your children what He and you hope for?

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