Dedication and Responsibility: Nurturing Faith in Children

Devotional

Day 1: Children as Divine Gifts

Children are a heritage from the Lord, and parents have the sacred duty to raise them in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This responsibility is not just about physical care but also about spiritual nurturing, ensuring that children grow up understanding their identity in Christ. As Emma Grace Reynolds was dedicated, her parents, Mike and Ashley, vowed to raise her in a home filled with love and a deep knowledge of Jesus Christ. This act of dedication is a significant spiritual commitment, echoing the biblical example of Joseph and Mary presenting Jesus at the temple. The church community also pledged to support Mike and Ashley in this journey, emphasizing the collective responsibility we share in nurturing the faith of the next generation. [37:23]

Psalm 127:3-4 (ESV): "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth."

Reflection: How can you actively nurture the spiritual growth of the children in your life today, ensuring they understand their identity in Christ?

Day 2: Community Support

Raising a child in the faith is a communal effort. The extended family and church community play crucial roles in supporting parents, providing encouragement, and helping to fulfill the vows made during the dedication. This collective responsibility strengthens the spiritual foundation of the child. As Emma grows, she will see the love and faith of her parents, which will shape her understanding of God. The church's role is to support this family, ensuring that Emma grows up in a community that reflects the love of Christ. [38:50]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: In what ways can you support a family in your church community today, helping them to raise their children in the faith?

Day 3: Spiritual Armor and Prayer

The full armor of God is essential for standing against the enemy's schemes. However, this armor is only effective when activated through consistent and fervent prayer. Prayer aligns us with God's will, enabling us to stand firm and repel the enemy's attacks. The message emphasized the necessity of wearing the full armor of God, not just for defense but also for advancing God's kingdom. It is through prayer that we align ourselves with God's will and purpose, enabling us to stand firm against the enemy's attacks. [49:31]

Ephesians 6:11-13 (ESV): "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Reflection: How can you incorporate more consistent and fervent prayer into your daily routine to ensure you are fully equipped with the armor of God?

Day 4: Facing Inadequacy

Feelings of inadequacy can be debilitating, but they are also opportunities for growth. Recognizing our inadequacies allows us to rely more on God's strength and less on our own. Biblical figures like Moses also faced feelings of inadequacy but overcame them by trusting in God's power and purpose. The message encourages us to see our inadequacies as opportunities to deepen our reliance on God and to trust in His strength and purpose for our lives. [50:02]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you begin to rely more on God's strength in this area today?

Day 5: Discipleship and Growth

The church has a mandate to not only win souls for Christ but also to disciple them. New believers need guidance and teaching to grow in their faith. This process of discipleship is crucial for developing mature Christians who can, in turn, disciple others. The message emphasized the importance of discipleship in the church, ensuring that new believers are nurtured and guided in their faith journey, ultimately leading to a stronger and more mature Christian community. [54:07]

Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV): "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can begin to disciple or mentor in their faith journey? What steps can you take today to start this process?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate the dedication of baby Emma Grace Reynolds, a precious gift from God. Mike and Ashley, her parents, stood before the church to make a solemn vow to raise Emma in a home filled with love and a deep knowledge of Jesus Christ. This act of dedication is not just a formality but a significant spiritual commitment, echoing the biblical example of Joseph and Mary presenting Jesus at the temple. The church community also pledged to support Mike and Ashley in this journey, emphasizing the collective responsibility we share in nurturing the faith of the next generation.

The sermon highlighted the importance of recognizing children as gifts from God and the profound responsibility parents have in guiding them spiritually. Proverbs and Psalms remind us that children look up to their parents and that parents are the pride of their children. As Emma grows, she will see the love and faith of her parents, which will shape her understanding of God. The church's role is to support this family, ensuring that Emma grows up in a community that reflects the love of Christ.

The message also touched on the broader theme of spiritual warfare and the necessity of wearing the full armor of God. This armor is not just for defense but also for advancing God's kingdom. The sermon concluded with a call to prayer, emphasizing that prayer is essential for activating the power of God's armor in our lives. It is through prayer that we align ourselves with God's will and purpose, enabling us to stand firm against the enemy's attacks.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Children as Divine Gifts: Children are a heritage from the Lord, and parents have the sacred duty to raise them in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This responsibility is not just about physical care but also about spiritual nurturing, ensuring that children grow up understanding their identity in Christ. [37:23]
2. Community Support: Raising a child in the faith is a communal effort. The extended family and church community play crucial roles in supporting parents, providing encouragement, and helping to fulfill the vows made during the dedication. This collective responsibility strengthens the spiritual foundation of the child. [38:50]
3. Spiritual Armor and Prayer: The full armor of God is essential for standing against the enemy's schemes. However, this armor is only effective when activated through consistent and fervent prayer. Prayer aligns us with God's will, enabling us to stand firm and repel the enemy's attacks. [49:31]
4. Facing Inadequacy: Feelings of inadequacy can be debilitating, but they are also opportunities for growth. Recognizing our inadequacies allows us to rely more on God's strength and less on our own. Biblical figures like Moses also faced feelings of inadequacy but overcame them by trusting in God's power and purpose. [50:02]
5. Discipleship and Growth: The church has a mandate to not only win souls for Christ but also to disciple them. New believers need guidance and teaching to grow in their faith. This process of discipleship is crucial for developing mature Christians who can, in turn, disciple others. [54:07]
### [54:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:18] - Introduction of Family
[35:59] - Acknowledging Special Guests
[36:32] - The Importance of Dedication
[37:23] - Children as Gifts from God
[37:51] - Biblical Examples of Dedication
[38:18] - Vows and Oaths
[38:50] - Community Support
[39:19] - Church's Role in Supporting Families
[40:17] - Prayer for Baby Emma
[42:31] - Presentation of Baby's First Bible
[43:25] - Certificate of Dedication
[44:24] - Importance of Placing God at the Center
[45:16] - Welcome to Online and Other Campuses
[45:43] - Introduction to the Sermon
[46:11] - The Power of God's Word
[47:05] - Armor of God Series Recap
[48:33] - The Importance of Prayer
[49:31] - Praying in Line with God's Will
[50:02] - Facing Inadequacy
[51:52] - Understanding Your Value in Christ
[53:11] - Commission to Advance God's Kingdom
[54:07] - The Need for Discipleship
[55:32] - The Power of the Church
[56:37] - Standing Firm in Faith
[57:41] - Church's Mission and Commission
[59:38] - Understanding the Full Value of You
[60:07] - Dealing with Inadequacy
[62:20] - Biblical Examples of Overcoming Inadequacy

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Proverbs 17:6, how are children and parents described in their relationship to each other?
What does Psalm 127:3 say about the nature of children and their significance?
In Ephesians 6:10-18, what are the components of the full armor of God, and what is their purpose?
How did the church community pledge to support Mike and Ashley in raising Emma? ([39:46])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that children are described as a "heritage from the Lord" in Psalm 127:3? How does this shape our understanding of parenting?
How does the concept of the full armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 relate to the idea of spiritual warfare mentioned in the sermon? ([47:05])
What does the sermon suggest about the role of the church community in the spiritual upbringing of children? ([39:46])
How can feelings of inadequacy, as discussed in the sermon, impact one's ability to fulfill their spiritual responsibilities? ([50:02])

Application Questions

Reflect on Proverbs 17:6. How can you actively show your children or the children in your community that you are proud of them? What specific actions can you take this week?
Considering Psalm 127:3, how can you remind yourself daily that children are a reward from God? What practical steps can you take to cherish and nurture this gift?
Ephesians 6:10-18 emphasizes the importance of the full armor of God. What specific piece of the armor do you feel you need to focus on this week, and how will you incorporate it into your daily life?
The sermon highlighted the importance of community support in raising children. How can you contribute to supporting a family in your church community this week? ([39:46])
Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate in your spiritual journey. How did you overcome it, or how can you seek God's strength to overcome it now? ([50:02])
The sermon mentioned the necessity of prayer in activating the power of God's armor. What specific prayer habit can you start or improve upon this week to align yourself more with God's will? ([49:31])
How can you take an active role in discipleship within your church? Identify one person you can mentor or support in their faith journey this month. ([54:07])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We serve a God that's a personal God that he loves you, he loves you and even things like baby dedications not you know it's he loves you and that's that's important to God and he he uniquely and wonderfully made you and we're going to talk about that a little bit this morning." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "It's important to understand and recognize that she is a gift and so bringing here today so that we can pray over her and present her to the church and to God is Right Joseph and Mary did the same thing with Jesus we saw that in Luke Chapter 2:22 where they took him to the synagogue to the and and they showed him to the church just like you're doing today with her in a different way but it's the same concept that we're realizing recognizing that she is a gift and so it's proper it's biblical and it's right to do it." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We know that gifts babies are gifts of the Lord and and this is no different and man when we see young families that are willing to come before the church and just dedicate their baby to God it's not a small thing and like we say every time Emma's not going to remember this she's not going to remember the moments but she's going to see the pictures and and the videos and all that and she's going to hear about it and and so in that she's going to know from the very beginning of her life she's born into a family and a set of parents that knows the value of making sure that she knows her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We have the awesome privilege of raising babies and and teaching them everything that they should know about how to eat and walk and take care of themselves but we also have the great responsibility of teaching them about their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and so it's important to understand and recognize that she is a gift." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We have a responsibility not to just win three but to disciple three amen that's our mandate that's our commission that's our mission and we just finished a series on the armor of God that we've been given these weapons to defend against the enemy as we go out there and fulfill that commission but not only to defend but to go on the offense we can go on the offense with these weapons of our Warfare too to fulfill the commission that God has given us to go Advance the kingdom of God." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "It's the processes that we go through that solidify our faith it's the process that you go through that you see that God will never leave you or forsake you he'll never he'll never leave you wanting he's always there his promises are yes and amen through Christ in us for his glory he'll never leave you it's the process that we go through that solidifies our faith you see it's the struggles we go through together that builds bonds of relationship ties that are not easily broken between you and me between you and your friends between you and the community but also between you and your God he will never leave you." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Paul never told him to pray for those things to go away he always prayed that they would come to know Christ more in those situations remember we said the very situation you're trying to pray away and avoid might be the very situation God is using to bring you a deeper revelation of him in your life amen amen I didn't hear a lot of amens people got quiet on me on that one I know I know you're all thinking you're like I don't really want to go through those things though Pastor Jake that's what I was excited about the armor of God series because you were telling me that we could put those things down I don't really want to deal with all these issues." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We have a mission we have the weapons we have the understanding of how to apply them we've been talking about that we've been training for that we've been commissioned since February to go Advance the kingdom and we have been kicking down some doors in seone church I am excited about all the opportunities that God has given us to go into the school systems and the homes and help people man we have done so much I was telling them in the 9:00 service and they're catching up to y'all the numbers FYI so be ready y'all better be telling people I'm tell where's Jay at yeah Jay they catching up baby 9:00's catching up get ready we've been doing so much and the doors been open I would tell them this in the nine o' man sometimes it's overwhelming what God is doing through the church man we talk to the Pastoral staff all the time and the and the and the administrator staff and and I'm telling them man sometimes like we can't get outpaced you can't get outpaced we have been called to a commission to go Advance the kingdom." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We have established that we're not just called we are commissioned to go Advance the kingdom of God we've been given a mandate to reach just three people for Christ don't forget that just three people for Christ and help them develop in their decision to follow Christ that's called discipleship that's another series we're going to be getting into as we go down the rest of this year we're going to get into prayer and how to pray properly and we're going to get into discipleship and the necessity of it in our church it's a deficiency in our church today somebody becomes a believer in Jesus Christ accepts accepts him as the Lord and Savior we just leave them there as though they can take care of it on their own you wouldn't do that to a baby was just born Mike and Ashley would not take baby Emma and leave her at the house by herself and be like she'd be fine she'd be all right cuz she won't be and neither are young believers when they come into a knowledge of Jesus Christ they need somebody to show them how are they going to know unless we teach them how are they going to know unless we show them that's in the Bible FYI discipleship is a great deficiency in our church culture and we wonder why we have 40-year-old baby Christians running around making a big mess like babies do because what does a baby do a baby makes a mess all kinds of different ways and it's us who are mature who have to go behind and clean that up and we wonder why the church world is the way it is it's because we have a lot of 40-year-old baby Christians still out there who have never been discipled into more mature things of their faith and so a lot of times they just make a mess of things with the right intention but without the understanding that comes with it." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We have a responsibility not to just win three but to disciple three amen that's our mandate that's our commission that's our mission and we just finished a series on the armor of God that we've been given these weapons to defend against the enemy as we go out there and fulfill that commission but not only to defend but to go on the offense we can go on the offense with these weapons of our Warfare too to fulfill the commission that God has given us to go Advance the kingdom of God see in fact the Bible says in Matthew 16:18 it says the Gates of Hell cannot stand against the church that understands who they are in Christ the Gates of Hell cannot stand up against the church who knows how to wear and wield the armor of God properly the Gates of Hell cannot stand up against a church that understands that they have purposed they've been purposed and commissioned and empowered to go forth in advance the kingdom of God nothing can stand against it not even the gates of hell can come against you see that means this if we're in line with his commission and purpose we cannot be overcome you cannot be overcome we know that with this armor we will not might we will overcome the fiery arrows that the enemy sends at us and those fiery arrows represents the most advanced tactics and trickery that the enemy has to throw at you the most advanced trickery the most advanced schemes that the enemy throws at you will be extinguished if you are wearing and wielding the armor of God properly understanding your purpose and his Commission in your life for you to go and do what he's called you to do there is nothing that can stand against you not even the Gaze of hell can stand against it amen those are powerful promises in the word do you believe the Bible or do you not is it the word of God or is it not because if it is then put on the armor of God and like we've been talking about stand firm then having done everything to prepare stand stand firm then amen but it's not going good Pastor Jake okay stand firm but I don't know what else to do I've tried everything okay then having done everything stand that's what about stand firm then amen and watch as the power and anointing of God penetrates everything because all things work out for good for those that love God and are called according to his purpose walking in line with his purpose understanding his purpose for you that's what we have to get to today." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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