Trusting God: The Heart of Family Dedication
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to celebrate the dedications of our children, a significant moment for the Taubitz and King families. Dedication is not just a ceremony; it is a commitment by parents and the church community to raise children in the faith, trusting God with their lives and futures. This act of dedication symbolizes the parents' trust in God, acknowledging that He loves their children even more than they do and has the best plans for them. It is also a communal act, recognizing that faith is a family matter and that the church community plays a vital role in nurturing the faith of these children.
Parenting, much like our spiritual journey, involves a process of letting go and trusting God. From the first days of school to major life decisions, parents gradually release their grip, trusting that God will guide and protect their children. This trust is rooted in the belief that God is good, faithful, and capable of redeeming any situation. As we dedicate these children, we also dedicate ourselves to living out our faith daily, weaving it into the fabric of our lives and families, as instructed in Deuteronomy 6.
The sermon also touched on the importance of leading from the heart, emphasizing that true leadership is more about what is unseen than what is seen. It involves guarding our hearts, being honest with ourselves and God, and exercising self-control over our emotions. Leadership is not about external appearances but about the internal condition of our hearts. By inviting God into our hearts and allowing Him to lead us, we can lead others more effectively.
We are called to be honest with God, control our emotions, and be aware of the impact of our words and actions. Building relationships and working as a team are crucial aspects of leadership. Jesus modeled this by inviting His disciples into the work of ministry, showing that leadership is a collaborative effort. We need the help of the Holy Spirit and our community to lead well and bring God's love and kingdom into our spheres of influence.
### Key Takeaways
1. Dedication as Trust in God: Dedication is a profound act of trust where parents release their children to God, believing that He loves them more and knows what is best for them. This trust is essential in parenting and our spiritual journey, as it allows us to let go and rely on God's faithfulness and goodness. [11:00]
2. Faith as a Family Matter: Faith is not just an individual journey but a communal one. Parents and the church community play a vital role in nurturing the faith of children. This collective responsibility emphasizes the importance of living out our faith daily and integrating it into every aspect of our lives. [12:09]
3. Leading from the Heart: True leadership is more about the unseen condition of our hearts than external appearances. By guarding our hearts and being honest with ourselves and God, we can lead others more effectively. This involves allowing God's love to invade our hearts and flow out in our actions and attitudes. [39:12]
4. Controlling Our Emotions: Emotions are powerful and can lead to significant impact, both positive and negative. Exercising self-control, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, allows us to harness the power of our emotions and use them for good. This requires inviting God into our emotional experiences and seeking His guidance. [50:12]
5. Collaborative Leadership: Jesus modeled leadership as a collaborative effort, inviting His disciples into the work of ministry. We are called to build relationships, work as a team, and seek the help of the Holy Spirit. This approach not only strengthens our leadership but also brings more of God's love and kingdom into our spheres of influence. [01:03:36]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[09:28] - Understanding Dedication
[10:11] - Parenting and Letting Go
[11:00] - Trusting God with Our Children
[12:09] - Faith as a Family Matter
[13:05] - Weaving Faith into Daily Life
[14:59] - Taubitz Family Dedication
[16:36] - King Family Dedication
[19:10] - Prayers for the Families
[23:32] - Trusting God in Our Trials
[24:49] - Giving as an Act of Trust
[36:51] - Everyday Leadership Series
[39:12] - Leading from the Heart
[50:12] - Controlling Our Emotions
[01:03:36] - Collaborative Leadership
[01:04:31] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on 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."
2. Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
3. 1 Timothy 1:5 - "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Deuteronomy 6:6-7 instruct parents to do with God's commandments?
2. According to Proverbs 4:23, why is it important to guard our hearts?
3. In 1 Timothy 1:5, what are the sources of love mentioned by Paul?
4. How did the sermon describe the act of dedication and its significance for parents and the church community? [10:11]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the instruction in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 relate to the idea of weaving faith into the fabric of daily life as mentioned in the sermon? [13:05]
2. What does it mean to guard your heart with all vigilance, and how does this concept apply to leading from the heart as discussed in the sermon? [39:12]
3. How can the love that comes from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith, as described in 1 Timothy 1:5, influence our leadership and interactions with others? [40:41]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of controlling our emotions. How does this align with the biblical concept of self-control as a fruit of the Holy Spirit? [50:12]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Deuteronomy 6:6-7, how can you practically integrate faith discussions into your daily family routines? What specific steps can you take this week to start this practice?
2. Proverbs 4:23 emphasizes guarding your heart. What are some practical ways you can protect your heart from negative influences in your daily life? How can you implement one of these ways this week?
3. Considering the sermon’s point about dedication as an act of trust in God, what areas of your life or your children's lives do you find hardest to release to God? How can you take a step towards trusting God more in these areas? [11:00]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of being honest with God and ourselves. What is one area of your life where you need to be more honest with God? How can you start this process of honesty and vulnerability in your prayers? [43:50]
5. Controlling our emotions was highlighted as crucial for effective leadership. Think of a recent situation where your emotions got the better of you. How could you have handled it differently by exercising self-control? What steps can you take to improve in this area? [50:12]
6. The sermon talked about collaborative leadership and working as a team. Identify a situation in your life where you can invite others to collaborate with you. How can you approach them and what specific role can they play? [01:03:36]
7. Reflect on the idea of leading from the heart. What changes can you make in your daily life to ensure that your leadership is more about the unseen condition of your heart rather than external appearances? How can you start making these changes this week? [39:12]
Devotional
### Day 1: Trusting God with Our Children
Description: Dedication is a profound act of trust where parents release their children to God, believing that He loves them more and knows what is best for them. This trust is essential in parenting and our spiritual journey, as it allows us to let go and rely on God's faithfulness and goodness. Parents often face the challenge of letting go, whether it's the first day of school or major life decisions. This act of dedication symbolizes the parents' trust in God, acknowledging that He loves their children even more than they do and has the best plans for them. It is a reminder that God is good, faithful, and capable of redeeming any situation. [11:00]
Bible Passage: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a specific area in your child's life where you struggle to let go and trust God. How can you begin to release this area to Him today?
### Day 2: Faith as a Family Matter
Description: Faith is not just an individual journey but a communal one. Parents and the church community play a vital role in nurturing the faith of children. This collective responsibility emphasizes the importance of living out our faith daily and integrating it into every aspect of our lives. The act of dedication is a communal act, recognizing that faith is a family matter and that the church community plays a vital role in nurturing the faith of these children. It is a call to weave faith into the fabric of our daily lives, as instructed in Deuteronomy 6. [12:09]
Bible Passage: "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." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you and your family incorporate faith into your daily routines and conversations this week?
### Day 3: Leading from the Heart
Description: True leadership is more about the unseen condition of our hearts than external appearances. By guarding our hearts and being honest with ourselves and God, we can lead others more effectively. This involves allowing God's love to invade our hearts and flow out in our actions and attitudes. Leadership is not about external appearances but about the internal condition of our hearts. By inviting God into our hearts and allowing Him to lead us, we can lead others more effectively. [39:12]
Bible Passage: "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you guard your heart and ensure it is aligned with God's will today?
### Day 4: Controlling Our Emotions
Description: Emotions are powerful and can lead to significant impact, both positive and negative. Exercising self-control, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, allows us to harness the power of our emotions and use them for good. This requires inviting God into our emotional experiences and seeking His guidance. We are called to be honest with God, control our emotions, and be aware of the impact of our words and actions. [50:12]
Bible Passage: "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." (Proverbs 25:28, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a recent situation where your emotions got the best of you. How can you invite God into your emotional experiences to exercise better self-control?
### Day 5: Collaborative Leadership
Description: Jesus modeled leadership as a collaborative effort, inviting His disciples into the work of ministry. We are called to build relationships, work as a team, and seek the help of the Holy Spirit. This approach not only strengthens our leadership but also brings more of God's love and kingdom into our spheres of influence. Building relationships and working as a team are crucial aspects of leadership. [01:03:36]
Bible Passage: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a team or group you are part of. How can you contribute to a more collaborative and supportive environment within that group?
Quotes
1. "And today, as these parents dedicate their baby, they're saying, I'm releasing my hold, my grip on my child, on what's good for them sometimes, on their future. I'm releasing them to you, God. I'm letting them go because I actually believe, I actually trust that you love them more than I do. You have what's best. You know what's best. So dedication is this recognition. And we all get to participate in this all over again every time we do it. That God loves us more than any of us can even imagine. And we release our control of our kids and our lives to him." [11:00] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We recognize that faith is a communal or family matter. That this is not just saying, hey, well, every single one of us needs to make decisions and live our own lives. We have responsibility. There is a part that community has to play. And there's no community like family. So these parents and us as a church family are saying, we recognize that faith is a family matter, and we will, third, play an active role. There's a recognition that faith is not just something that's up here. It's not just something they do on Sunday. But it is an everyday, week in, week out, moment by moment choice." [12:09] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We pray that God would take your life and use it for his glory. three of you standing up here today, Carson, your life is already a testament to God's goodness, his faithfulness. I love that you see that we have a God that can take absolutely anything. That's right. He's got the biggest smile, right now. That's awesome. Because he knows that we have a God that can take absolutely anything. Wherever you're at right now, whatever trial you're facing, whatever dark valley you're walking through, we have a God that redeems and is good and is faithful and can be trusted and he saves." [16:36] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There's so many things that we're facing, that we're in, where it's like, it's scary. We can't rest. We're working. And so we cry out. We cry out like kids, like babies, help. And God in Jesus has come close. He's inclined his ear. He leans in. He's nearby. He's close. He cares. And he listens. He's able. He's powerful. We can trust him. One of the ways that we declare our trust in God is by giving." [23:32] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I pray that you would have an encounter here today with a God who loves you just as you are, not as you should be, that you would know that no matter what your trial is, what you're facing, the anxiety, the fear, as you're walking through a valley that feels like it even could be the shadow of death, we don't have to fear because death, doesn't have the final word, we have a perfect love in Jesus that casts out all fear, I pray that you would know that." [24:49] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We often think that in this life, we're just resigned to the fact that we have to let all this stuff in, the things that are said, the things that are going on around us, the stresses and the anxieties, the pressures of our world. We just have no choice but to let it all in and to let it all in. And then if you're going to lead or follow Jesus, you have to somehow manage and figure out how to control all of this negativity that got inside and keep it from getting out. Anybody else exhausted by that? I'm so exhausted from trying to control all the bad stuff in here and make sure that it doesn't get out." [38:36] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I believe that godly, biblical, healthy, Jesus-style, leadership isn't about letting it all in and controlling what comes out, but actually participating in this process of trying to control what comes in and then letting it all out. That is a flip that I need to make today. Maybe you do too. That's because the stuff of leadership is more unseen than seen." [39:12] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Your emotions aren't bad. The sadness that you feel, not wrong. The anger, not evil. Your emotions aren't bad. What you do with them, could be. Many of us go, oh, I shouldn't feel that way. Have you ever said that? I know I shouldn't feel this way. You can feel any way you want. You know? What are you going to do with that? Here's, here's, what we're instructed to do is take control over it. Exercise power over it. Invite Jesus, but by the Holy Spirit, into it so that you can have power to release it with power for good and bring life instead of death and destruction." [55:19] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Control means to harness the power of our emotions and make them God's servant. You're going to come in here? No, you're going to leave a servant of the Most High God. You're going to go and do some good in the world. But that doesn't just happen. We have to control it. We have to learn to take care of what's going on in here, not just let it go in, out, in, out, in, out in the social media sharing world. Do something about it, okay?" [56:28] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We sometimes need others to help us pay close attention to our lives. That's where we get to invite other people in to give us feedback. To say, hey, can I help you pay close attention to your life right now? I love you. We're in relationship. But you might want to pay attention to the words that you say. They're really hurtful. I know you don't mean it this way, but this is how I receive it. This is a grown-up, healthy, mature way to enter into each other's life and, as Ephesians 4 say, to speak the truth to one another." [59:12] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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