The Purpose of Parent-Child Dedications
Reston Bible Church exists as a community of faith to know Jesus Christ, and to make Him known. One important way that we do this is by raising a generation of children that know Christ and make Him known. We believe that parents have the primary role in this mission (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), and that the church community should support and encourage them along the way. Child dedications are a means for parents to make this belief and commitment known publicly and to reinforce the partnership between parents and their church family. It is practice that has its roots in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 1:26-28) as well as the New (Luke 2:22), and it is after this pattern that Reston Bible Church practices child dedication.
Parenting Principles Introduction Class
As part of scheduling your child’s dedication after registering below, is attending the Parenting Principles Introduction Class. The class is usually scheduled a couple of weeks before the dedication, on a Sunday evening, and we will notify you of the date. Parents will have the opportunity to ask any questions and we can get to know you a bit better, hear your story and your heart behind dedicating your child to the Lord, and begin to offer our ministry support to you as parents.
The Commitment
Dedication services are held quarterly during our Sunday morning worship services (available dates and registration links are below.) During the dedication service, you will join other families and children onstage and display your intent by answering these questions:
- Will you do your best to raise this child to honor, revere, and love Jesus Christ?
- Will you do your best to maintain a home where Jesus Christ is honored and obeyed, where the Word of God is the authority and Jesus Christ is the head?
- Will you commit this child to God in prayer on a regular basis, trusting God to override your mistakes and make up for your shortcomings?
- Will you actively rely on the Holy Spirit to raise this child and to incline his or her heart to the Lord?
- Will you do your best to release this child to the will of God, whatever that might be, without bitterness or resistance?
- Will you do your best to be living models of what fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ should be, so that this child has godly examples to follow?
Following the charge, the congregation is asked to stand and join in a congregational prayer of support and blessing over you and your children.
Register for Upcoming Dedication Dates
If you have questions about dedications, please email Diane Sheldon at dianesheldon@restonbible.org.