BABY DEDICATION
We’re excited you’re interested in Baby Dedication!
Parents, children are a gift from God. Baby dedication is a public commitment you make before God, your family & your church declaring that you will bring your child up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4). It’s a public declaration that you will lead and spiritually nurture your child according to God’s Word as the Holy Spirit gives you strength.
Below you’ll find answers to the questions parents ask most about baby dedication, along with scriptural examples & teaching about the way Dwell Life carries out this beautiful ceremony.
Baby Dedication is primarily about the commitment that the parents are making before the Lord, family, church & others
Biblical Models of Baby Dedication
The biblical roots of baby dedication are found in the life of the Prophet Samuel and in the life of Jesus himself.
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, prayed for many years for God to give her a son. When God finally answered with the birth of Samuel, Hannah ‘gave him back to the Lord’ with these words:
“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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1 Now there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there. 4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; 5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
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9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”
12 Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 15 But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18 She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad
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Samuel Is Born to Hannah
19 Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the Lord.”
21 Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and stay there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only may the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli. 26 She said, “Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. 27 For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
Even Jesus was dedicated in a similar way as His parents, Mary & Joseph set an example for us to follow. Not long after Jesus birth, Mary & Joseph brought him to the temple “to present him to the Lord”(Luke 2:22). Be sure to read below the amazing story of how God confirmed the calling on Jesus through Simeon (v25-32) & the prophetess, Anna (v33-38). Once Mary & Joseph presented Jesus in the temple, they continued to raise him just as they promised (see v39-40 below).
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21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
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25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
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33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. 40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
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Just like we teach that the public confession of Water Baptism is an important step in our walk of faith, Baby Dedication is a similar ‘public confession’ for parents of young children, stating that you are committing to raise your child/children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
Taking our cues from the examples set by Samuel’s mother Hannah & Jesus’ parents Mary & Joseph, we believe that it is important that parents make this declaration of dedication so that “as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:28).
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Dwell Life believes that “baptism” follows an individual’s decision to follow Christ and trust Him alone for salvation. (Acts 2:41, 8:12, and 10:47–48). The New Testament records the baptisms of adult believers only—as such, we do not baptize infants.
In the New Testament, we find examples of parents bringing their children to Jesus (Mark 10:13-15, Matthew 19:13-15). Jesus laid His hands on, prayed for & blessed the children…but there is no record of him “baptizing” them.
At Dwell Life we do not believe that baby dedication imparts salvation to children. Salvation is a personal choice that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ as each person recognizes their sinfulness and receives forgiveness and eternal life through Christ and His work on the cross.
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At Dwell Life, we believe that ‘Child Dedication’ is genuinely for the parents—a declaration that you will lead your children in the discipline & instruction of the Lord. So whether your children are infants, toddlers or maybe even a little older, there’s never a WRONG time or age to make this decision & declaration.
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The child dedication ceremony at Dwell Life looks is a celebration—a banquet celebrating the families & children that God has given us! As we dedicate each child, you can expect us to discuss the meaning of your child’s name, speak blessing over your child and give a charge for the parents.
The Charge For Parents will ask you to affirm…
…that you recognize, with gratitude, that this child is God’s gift to you and your family.
…that you commit to be parents of personal faith, giving your children a model to follow in their own journey to faith.
…that you commit to lead a faith-filled home that commits to follow Jesus in your relationships, your choices and your instruction.
These and more are the kinds of ‘declarations’ that make Child Dedication such a personal & powerful moment—a milestone in the life of the family.
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Absolutely! Sharing this family milestone with those close to us is an integral part of the public declaration of Baby Dedication. We encourage you, the parents, to invite friends and family members to experience your commitment to Christ & your declaration to raise your children according to the Word of God—dedicating them to God’s purposes & plans.
What does Baby Dedication mean?
“We would like to dedicate our child to the Lord!”
To register yourself and your child/children for our next child dedication, fill out the form below. We will follow up with further information &
1 Samuel 1:27-28