Nurturing Young Lives: A Commitment to Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The Blessing of Young Life

Our church is blessed with a significant number of young children, which presents both a privilege and a responsibility. We are called to nurture and guide these young lives, helping them to know and follow Jesus from an early age. This requires the collective effort of the entire church community to support and volunteer in various capacities. The presence of so many young children is a testament to the vibrant life within our congregation and a reminder of the future we are building together.

As we celebrate this blessing, we must also recognize the importance of our role in their spiritual development. This involves not only providing programs and resources but also being present in their lives, offering guidance, and modeling a life of faith. By doing so, we help lay a strong foundation for their spiritual journeys, ensuring they grow up knowing they are loved by God and their church community. [11:47]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in nurturing the young lives in our church community this week? Consider volunteering or simply being a supportive presence.

Day 2: The Commitment of Dedication

Dedicating a child to the Lord is more than a ritual; it is a profound commitment to guide them in their faith journey. Like Hannah, who dedicated Samuel to God, we must recognize that our children are ultimately God's and commit to raising them in a way that honors Him. This involves daily surrender and trust in God's plan for their lives. Hannah's story is a powerful reminder of the faith and dedication required in this commitment.

Hannah's unwavering faith and dedication to her promise, even when it meant giving up her son Samuel to be raised in the temple, exemplify the depth of trust and surrender we are called to have as parents and guardians. By dedicating our children to God, we are committing to guide them, help them discern His voice, and support them as they grow in their relationship with Him. [12:56]

1 Samuel 1:27-28 (ESV): "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

Reflection: What does it mean for you to truly dedicate your child or a child you influence to the Lord? How can you demonstrate this commitment in your daily life?

Day 3: Fostering God-Given Gifts

Each child has unique gifts and qualities that God has placed in them for a purpose. As parents and guardians, our role is to recognize these gifts and foster them, helping our children to use them for God's glory. This requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to see beyond the immediate challenges to the potential God has placed within them.

By fostering these gifts, we help our children understand their unique role in God's plan and encourage them to develop their talents in ways that honor Him. This involves creating opportunities for them to explore their interests, providing guidance and support, and celebrating their achievements. In doing so, we help them grow into the individuals God created them to be. [56:01]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: What unique gifts do you see in the children around you? How can you help them develop and use these gifts for God's glory?

Day 4: The Role of the Church Community

The spiritual development of our children is a collective responsibility. The church community plays a crucial role in supporting parents, providing resources, and creating an environment where children can grow in their faith. This includes mentoring, teaching, and being a consistent presence in their lives.

By working together, we can create a nurturing environment that supports the spiritual growth of our young ones. This involves not only formal programs and activities but also the everyday interactions and relationships that help shape their understanding of faith. As a church community, we are called to step up and actively participate in this mission, ensuring that every child feels supported and valued. [01:09:18]

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: How can you contribute to the spiritual development of the children in our church community? Consider ways you can mentor, teach, or simply be a supportive presence.

Day 5: Hearing and Responding to God's Voice

Teaching our children to hear and respond to God's voice is essential. Like Eli guided Samuel, we must help our children discern when God is speaking to them and encourage them to respond in faith. This involves modeling a life of listening to God and providing opportunities for our children to practice this themselves.

By teaching our children to recognize and respond to God's voice, we help them develop a personal relationship with Him that will guide them throughout their lives. This requires intentionality and patience, as well as a willingness to share our own experiences and struggles in hearing God's voice. By doing so, we help them build a strong foundation of faith that will sustain them in all circumstances. [01:02:51]

1 Samuel 3:10 (ESV): "And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant hears.'"

Reflection: How can you help the children in your life learn to hear and respond to God's voice? What practices can you model or introduce to encourage this?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we celebrated the vibrant young life within our church community, emphasizing the importance of nurturing and guiding our children in their spiritual journeys. We began by acknowledging the need for volunteers to support our growing nursery and preschool programs, highlighting the blessing of having so many young children in our congregation. This morning, we dedicated several children to the Lord, committing to help them know and follow Jesus. We also promoted our middle schoolers to the youth group, presenting them with study Bibles and praying over their continued spiritual growth.

The heart of our gathering was the story of Hannah from 1 Samuel, who fervently prayed for a child and promised to dedicate him to the Lord. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the commitment and faith required in dedicating our children to God. Hannah's unwavering faith and dedication to her promise, even when it meant giving up her son Samuel to be raised in the temple, exemplify the depth of trust and surrender we are called to have as parents and guardians.

We reflected on the significance of truly dedicating our children to God, not just as a ritual, but as a profound commitment to guide them in their faith. This involves recognizing and fostering the unique gifts God has placed in them, helping them discern His voice, and supporting them as they grow in their relationship with Him. We also acknowledged the role of the entire church community in this process, urging everyone to step up and support the spiritual development of our young ones.

As we move forward, we are committed to providing resources and events to help families integrate faith into their daily lives. We concluded with a call to action for the church to actively participate in this mission, whether through volunteering, mentoring, or simply being a supportive presence. Today, we also celebrated the baptisms of several children, marking their personal declarations of faith and commitment to Jesus.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Given Gifts**: Each child has unique gifts and qualities that God has placed in them for a purpose. As parents and guardians, our role is to recognize these gifts and foster them, helping our children to use them for God's glory. This requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to see beyond the immediate challenges to the potential God has placed within them. [56:01]
4. The Role of the Church Community: The spiritual development of our children is a collective responsibility. The church community plays a crucial role in supporting parents, providing resources, and creating an environment where children can grow in their faith. This includes mentoring, teaching, and being a consistent presence in their lives.

5. Hearing and Responding to God's Voice: Teaching our children to hear and respond to God's voice is essential. Like Eli guided Samuel, we must help our children discern when God is speaking to them and encourage them to respond in faith. This involves modeling a life of listening to God and providing opportunities for our children to practice this themselves.

### [56:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:47] - Call for Volunteers
[12:56] - Child Dedications
[37:40] - Middle School Promotions
[39:17] - Prayer for Middle Schoolers
[40:49] - Embracing Children in Worship
[42:32] - Celebrating Young Life in the Church
[44:10] - Foundations Sunday Introduction
[45:37] - The Story of Hannah
[46:56] - Hannah's Prayer and Promise
[48:22] - The Birth of Samuel
[49:57] - Hannah's Faith and Dedication
[51:22] - The True Meaning of Dedication
[52:57] - Hannah's Commitment Fulfilled
[54:31] - Raising Samuel in the Lord's House
[56:01] - Fostering God-Given Gifts in Children
[58:06] - Personal Reflections on Ministry Calling
[59:48] - The Promise of Dedication
[61:20] - Teaching Children to Hear God's Voice
[62:51] - Samuel's Call and Response
[64:22] - Samuel's Faithfulness
[66:09] - Baptism Declarations
[67:41] - Call to Action for the Church
[69:18] - Supporting Families in Faith
[70:54] - Celebrating Baptisms
[72:40] - Encouragement and Support
[76:56] - Closing Prayer and Reflections

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Hannah's emotional state when she prayed for a child, and how did she express her commitment to God? ([46:56])
How did Eli initially misunderstand Hannah's prayer, and what was his response once he understood her situation? ([46:56])
What actions did Hannah take after Samuel was born to fulfill her vow to God? ([52:57])
How did Eli guide Samuel when he first heard God's voice, and what was Samuel's response? ([01:02:51])

Interpretation Questions

What does Hannah's story teach us about the nature of vows and commitments to God? How might this apply to our own promises and dedications? ([49:57])
How does the church community play a role in the spiritual development of children, according to the sermon? ([01:09:18])
In what ways can parents and guardians foster the unique gifts that God has placed in their children? ([56:01])
How can we help children discern and respond to God's voice, as Eli did for Samuel? ([01:02:51])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you made a commitment to God. How did you follow through on that commitment, and what challenges did you face? ([49:57])
How can you personally contribute to the spiritual development of the children in our church community? Are there specific roles or volunteer opportunities you feel called to? ([11:47])
Think about the unique gifts and qualities of the children in your life. How can you encourage and nurture these gifts for God's glory? ([56:01])
What practical steps can you take to help the children in your life hear and respond to God's voice? ([01:02:51])
How can our church community better support parents and guardians in raising their children in faith? What specific actions can we take to create a nurturing environment? ([01:09:18])
Consider the story of Hannah and her dedication of Samuel. How can you apply the principles of trust and surrender in your own parenting or mentoring relationships? ([52:57])
How can you integrate faith into your daily family life? Share one specific practice or routine you can start this week to help your children grow in their relationship with God. ([01:09:18])

Sermon Clips

1. "We believe that dedication is a time. It's a time where we commit the lives of our little ones back to Jesus. Jesus has blessed us with this gift. And we are here today saying they belong to you, God. And we want to do everything in our power to help them know you and follow you." [12:56] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We are so proud of the young men and the young women that you are becoming. And we are here for you. We are here to continue to help you grow. And just like we made that promise to the smallest of our friends this morning, we make that same promise to you. That we, as your church, will do everything we can to guide you and teach you in the ways of the Lord." [39:17] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Today, our kiddos are staying in service with us, and we are a church that not only enjoys having our kids in service with us, but treasures it as special time. I heard Thomas belting out lyrics as he yelled, Lord, Lord, and nothing makes my heart happier. He is in here learning what it means to worship God, his Father." [40:49] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God is truly pouring into this church and into the young life around here, and we don't want to miss it. We don't want to miss out on this great responsibility and this great privilege and this great role that God has given us the chance to be a part of." [42:32] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Everything we are doing today is about laying the foundation of faith in the lives of our kids and our tweens and our teenagers. And we wanted to emphasize that this morning. God, thank you for the privilege to be a part of what you are doing here in Southeast Roanoke. Thank you for the privilege to be a part of what you are doing in our families, God, in our grandchildren, in our nieces and nephews, in our friends, in our church." [44:10] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Hannah wanted nothing more than to be a mother. And she turned to the Lord. She poured her soul out to the Lord. The amount of times as a mother that I have had to pour my soul out to the Lord on behalf of my children, I know that feeling well. And she made a vow to God. If you will just give me a son, I will give him back to you, for his entire life, every day shall be yours." [48:22] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "When we dedicate our children, when I have dedicated my children, God has not yet asked me to physically leave them, but he has. He has asked me to truly and fully give them over to him. When we look at our babies, at our grand babies, at our nieces and our nephews, at our loved ones, we all sit and we think of the dreams we have for them, the hopes we have for who they might be, for what we want for them in their life, for what we want their adult years to look like." [51:22] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "I think if that's all it is, just a ritual, a day to dress up and take pictures, something you do in a newborn's life, then we have missed the point. We have missed what dedication truly means. In 1 Samuel 1, 24 through 28, Hannah knew. She knew those were not empty words, but that they were the core of Samuel's identity, that God had entrusted her with this precious life to lead and to guide, but not as the one who was in charge, not as the owner of her son, but as a steward, a steward who was put there in place to point him to God." [52:57] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We as a church are making a commitment to walk this journey with you, parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles. We are making a commitment to help you along this journey. Foundation Sunday doesn't end today. You're going to see that logo pop up throughout the next year as we provide resources and events and guidance to help you guide the kids in your life, to help you teach them." [01:09:18] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "God has given us such a blessing as a church, such a privilege, such a responsibility. And church, I am asking you to say yes. I'm asking you to hear the ways in which God is calling you to be a part of this. Maybe that's in your own home with your grandkids and your three-year-old. Maybe it's in the church nursery, loving on babies so that mamas can spend time in the word." [01:10:54] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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