Baby Dedication Registration From

Dedicating children to the Lord at Mars Hill Church

As your pastors at Mars Hill Church we strongly encourage you as parents to actively take up your biblical responsibility to raise your children in the knowledge, love and grace of God in Jesus (Deut. 6:6-7; 11:19; Psalm 34:11; 78:1-8; Prov. 1:1-8ff; 3:1-10; 22:6; 1 Kings 2:1-4).

Some things to understand about dedicating your children to the Lord:

1. The practice of baby dedication is based on scriptural precedent, rooted in the Old Testament, in which Jesus was presented to the Lord in the Temple as an infant (Luke 2:22-35).

2.  It is also based on and acknowledges God’s blessing upon and concern and care for children (Isaiah 54:13; Matt 18:1-5, 10; 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17; Acts 2:39; 1 John 2:12-13).

3.  It is you, Parents, who are doing the dedicating.  It is a commitment you make in your heart before Jesus and agree together to live out in your home.  The dedication we perform during the church service is simply a public acknowledgment of that commitment.

4.  You acknowledge that your children are a gift given you by God (Gen 33:5; Psalm 127:3-5).  As such they are a blessing, a great privilege, and a source of joy (Prov. 23:24-25)—and a lot of work too we know!  But ultimately we recognize that they have been created by our Father in heaven, and as such belong to him and have simply been entrusted to you as stewards to raise in Jesus (Exodus 13:2, 12).

5.  You commit to live your lives as parents by the grace of God in such a way as to be a positive example as a follower of Jesus so your children will find it easy to follow you as you follow Jesus, and that you will not be a stumbling block to your children’s saving faith in Jesus.

6.  Your church leadership and community (elders, deacons, and members) commits to support and equip you by the grace of God to fulfill your responsibility, and likewise to be good examples to your children.

Baby dedication is not:

Baptism:  Baby dedication is not “dry” baptism of infants nor is it a substitute for baptism.  Mars Hill Church recognizes believers baptism as being the only biblical expression of baptism.

Magic:  Baby dedication is not “magic,” nor is it a formula of any kind that manipulates God, nor does it place any kind of extra-special blessing or protection upon your children, nor does it secure or ensure their immediate or eventual salvation.

Click Here to register to dedicate your child.