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BABY DEDICATION GUIDEBOOK

Ten Questions to Prepare Your Family
to Step into Gods Best

By Pastor Jeff Leake

Table of Contents
What is Baby Dedication?........................................7
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dedication sevice?...................................................8
Why is this step so powerfully important?................9
Whats the difference between baby dedication
and infant baptism?................................................11
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can I dedicate my child?........................................17
How can I make the most of this
baby dedication weekend?.....................................17
What can I expect from Allison Park Church
after dedication?.....................................................18
5

Congratulations!
We are so excited for you as you take this step of Baby Dedication. It
will be our honor, not only to pray a prayer of blessing over your child, but
also to stand with you as you begin this new journey of parenting.
We are committed to your success as a family. Our desire is to make
this dedication ceremony a part of your personal and spiritual progress.
I have listed answers to TEN QUESTIONS that most often are asked
regarding the baby dedication process. Please read over this dialog. If
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feel free to call and ask.
At the end of this booklet, there is an interest form for you to complete
and turn in prior to the ceremony. This document is NOT really about
qualifying or disqualifying any baby from being dedicated. We want all
babies to be dedicated to Gods purpose. This form is more a method for
us to interact and make the dedication more personal.




We want to make sure you have read the Guidelines and fully
understand the commitment you are making before God.
We encourage you to list your vision and dreams for your child.
Select a Bible promise that we can pray over your child (there
are below options listed for you to choose from or you can
select one of your own).

Biblical promises to review and potentially select for the dedication.

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Psalm 91
Psalm 112
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Psalm 1
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Pastor Jeff Leake



EN QUESTIONS ABOUT BABY DEDICATIONS

1 What is baby dedication?

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when a Jewish woman named Hannah was unable to conceive. She
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I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him.
So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to
the LORD. And he worshiped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 1:27-28
Joseph and Mary took

Even Mary has a moment of dedication with

Jesus when He was just an infant.

him to Jerusalem to
present Him to the Lord.
Luke 2:22

And when Jesus was presented at the

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do and become.
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dedication to Gods purposes.
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FKLOG  $W WLPHV WKH +RO\ 6SLULW PD\ HYHQ VSHDN SURSKHWLFDOO\
about the childs future.)
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Heres how the dedication moment of Jesus concludes:
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with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:40

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service?

$WVRPHSRLQWLQWKHVHUYLFHZHZLOOinvite parents and their child

VRPHZLOOEULQJWKHHQWLUHIDPLO\XQLWonto the platform. The pastor
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occasion.
Then he/she will ask the parents the dedication questions of
commitment:


Do you present your child in dedication to Gods purpose?

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for your child a life of obedience to Gods purpose?

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make their own decision to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior?

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the pastor will take the opportunity to pray over each child EHLQJ
GHGLFDWHG  'XULQJ WKLV SUD\HU PRPHQW ZH OLNH WR project a picture
on the screen of your child VRWKDWWKHFRQJUHJDWLRQFDQJHWDEHWWHU
view of who they are and what they
look like. So we will ask you to supply
a picture of your choice.
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may use the verses you selected to
declare Gods promises of their lives.
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be poured out upon their life.
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as a reminder of this day when you
dedicated your child to the Lord.

3 Why is this step so powerfully important?

There are several factors to consider:
1. Moments of dedication (in the Bible) often directly precede
moments of provision and breakthrough.  )RU LQVWDQFH
when Joshua was ready to lead the people of Israel into the
promised land he told them
Consecrate yourselves (which means to dedicate completely)
for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.
Joshua 3:5

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made their way into the promise God had for them. As you
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for your life and for your childs future.
2. Seasons of agreement in prayer can produce powerful
answers from heaven.  'XULQJ WKLV VHUYLFH KXQGUHGV RI
SHRSOH ZLOO EH DJUHHLQJ LQ SUD\HU RYHU WKH OLIH RI \RXU FKLOG
Listen to the words of Jesus
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you
ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two
or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
Matthew 18:19-20

3. The prayers we pray and the promises we declare will

make a difference in the health, protection, direction, and
anointing that is on your son or daughter. &ROOHFWLYHO\WKH
entire church will use its lips to declare Gods promise to be
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realm at this moment.

In Proverbs 18:21 it says,

The tongue has the power of life and death.

POWERFUL PROMISES OFTEN PRAYED

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 Whats the difference between baby dedication

4
and infant baptism?
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rather than just a dedication. But the Biblical practice of baptism was
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matter of choice. Baptism is an expression of personal faith in
Christ. The dedication service is designed to bless infants and is
based on the choice that parents make on their childs behalf.
Whats the same?
 Parents present their child to God.
 A pastor prays over that child.
 7KHFRQJUHJDWLRQZLWQHVVHVWKHPRPHQWDQGDJUHHVLQSUD\HU
over the child.
 The Holy Spirit marks this moment in the childs life as a moment
when they were intentionally dedicated to Gods purpose.
Whats different?
The only thing that is different is theology behind the moment.
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word capsize means for a boat to tip over).
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It is absent from the early history of the church.
The picture of baptism is all about death, burial, and
resurrection.
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symbol of death/burial.)
 Just as Jesus rose
We were therefore buried with Him
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through baptism into death in order
we symbolically rise
that, just as Christ was raised from the
out of the water as a
dead through the glory of the Father,
declaration of a fresh
we too may live a new life.
start and a new life.
Romans 6:4
11

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willfully sinned. There is no need yet to rise to a new life because their
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cross. When they come to understand the power of the cross and the
opportunity to have new and spiritual life
in Christ then they can be water baptized
in the Biblical sense of the word.
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them is to present them to God in dedication
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XSRQ WKH EHJLQQLQJV RI WKHLU OLIH This is
actually the most historically accurate and
Biblical consistent practice of baptism and
dedication.
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HDUO\DJH*RGIRUELGDQGDUHQRWEDSWL]HGZLOOWKH\JRWRKHDYHQ"The
Bible seems to indicate that children are under Gods grace prior to
the age where they can be held accountable for their own sin.
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son.

While the child was still alive, I

fasted and wept. I thought, Who
knows? The LORD may be gracious
to me and let the child live. But
now that he is dead, why should I
fast? Can I bring him back again? I
will go to him, but he will not return

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idea that the boy was in heaven and
that one day they would be reunited.
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choose their own way.

So neither dedication nor baptism is

necessary to preserve their soul at
this moment in their early life. What
LV LPSRUWDQW KRZHYHU LV WKDW WKH\ begin their life on earth with the
launching moment of being properly presented to God and pointed
toward Gods promise and purpose.
to me.

12

Why is a prayer of blessing so spiritually

5

impacting?
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speaking a blessing. This is somewhat of a lost art in our culture.
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%OHVVLQJ LQYROYHV SLFWXULQJ D positive future for someone else,
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promises over someone else).
It seems that there were
some baby dedication
hands on them and blessed them.
moments that Jesus
Mark 10:16
practiced while he was
here on earth:
%OHVVLQJLV127WKHVDPHDVSUD\HU,WLVPRUHDdeclaration than a
request. It is a bold declaration that pronounces over someone else the
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And He took the children in His arms, put His

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you for a special purpose!... God
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earth... You are special... May God
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ride forth into this battle of life.
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basis. Place your hands on them
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them to understand the purpose God has for their life.
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declaring Gods best over their life in the future.



6 How to avoid hindering Gods blessing on my

family?

7KH1HZ7HVWDPHQWWHDFKHVXVVRPHDPD]LQJWUXWKGod has already

decided to bless your life. He
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He who did not spare His own
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Son, but gave Him up for us
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all how will He not also, along
could be rescued from your sin and
with Him, graciously give us all
all its consequences.
things?

Gods will is to bless you and your

child. He has a plan for you and He
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all of the resources of heaven. When you speak blessing over your
child, you are agreeing with what God has already chosen. We are
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Romans 8:32

Consider even the most famous prayer in the Bible. Its called the
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prayer with the will of God.
Our Father in heaven

Jesus teaches us to call down the will

of God. What God has already willed in
Your Kingdom come, your
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Will be done on earth as it
release that will to be completed on the
is in heaven.
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on our situations here on earth. Wow!
7KDWVDPD]LQJYour prayers as a parent can unlock Gods best
promises for your childs life here on earth. Such an honor!
Hallowed be your name.

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our 2%(',(1&(. ,QIDFWWKHJUDFHRI*RGRZVLQWKHGLUHFWLRQRI
our obedience.:KHQZHREH\WKH:RUGRI*RGDQGGR+LVZLOOZH
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But the opposite is also true. 'LVREHGLHQFHLVOLNHDFORJLQWKHRZ
of Gods grace.:KHQZHOLYHLQUHEHOOLRQDJDLQVW*RGV:RUGDQG
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of disobedience.


We need to consider some very direct realities. It is impossible to

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of willful disobedience.
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Thats what its like for a couple who is


Not married, having sex, maybe even living together, and

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EOHVVLQJ

Living a lifestyle of addiction without repentance. :HUH

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Filled with bitterness, hatred, or rage and yet is unrepentant

and proud.7KHVHDWWLWXGHVZLOODOVREHDZDOODJDLQVWWKHRZ
of Gods best.

Understand you dont have to be perfect to be eligible for Gods

blessing. You just have to be humble enough to admit you need
help and willing enoughWREHJLQWKHVWHSVWRJHW\RXUOLIHLQOLQHZLWK
obedience.
WE WILL DEDICATE YOUR CHILD TO GOD REGARDLESS OF
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protect and bless their life.
But realize this: No ceremony can guarantee Gods blessing. No
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The goal LV WKDW ZKHQ \RX VWDQG EHIRUH *RG GXULQJ WKH GHGLFDWLRQ
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can completely and totally bless.
15

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a better parent?
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recommended approach to JURZLQ\RXUVNLOOVDQGFRQGHQFH
1. Recognize my need for Gods grace dedication is an open
declaration before God and a request for His help.
2. Get aligned with His WordWDNHVWHSVWRJHW\RXUOLIHULJKW
ZLWK*RG7KDWPLJKWPHDQJHWWLQJPDUULHGRUJHWWLQJKHOSIRU
some issue that you need to address.
3. Continue to bless your child every day take time to speak
in faith over your child. Claim Gods promises. Pray for them
in your personal devotional times. Pray over them before bed
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4. Study  VRPH RI WKH JLIWV ZH JLYH WR SDUHQWV GXULQJ WKH
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5. Find a model and seek a coach some of us may have had
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6RPHPD\EHODFNLQJWKDW%XWWKHUHDUHPRGHOVRXWWKHUHWKDW
you can observe and learn from. Maybe you could even seek
them out and ask them to coach you when you have a need.
6. Join a small group  QGLQJ IULHQGV ZKR DUH RQ WKH VDPH
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years.
7. Stay focused on the goal  ZKHQ OLIH JHWV WRXJK DQG RXU
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north What is that? The goal is to
raise GREAT CHILDREN. We are
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HYHU\ZD\FKDUDFWHUVNLOOVSXUSRVH



and result.

What if I am a single parent, can I dedicate my

child?

ABSOLUTELY!!!,QIDFWEHLQJDEOHWREHVXUURXQGHGE\\RXUFKXUFK
IDPLO\DV\RXEHJLQWKHMRXUQH\RISDUHQWLQJLVDYHU\LPSRUWDQWWKLQJ
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alone.
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VPDOOJURXSOHDGHURUDIULHQGFeel free to make this moment one
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9 How can I make the most of this baby dedication

weekend?
1. Prepare SpirituallyDIWHUUHDGLQJRYHUWKLVERRNOHWDQGOOLQJ
out the interest form discuss the spiritual implications of this
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pray over your child the faucets of heaven can be turned on
full blast.
2. Consider a day of fasting and prayer maybe on the Friday
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when hundreds of believers will pray over your child.
3. Plan the celebration moments like this are a fantastic time
to have a party and mark this moment with family. So plan
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time.
4. Invite your friends and family to church we would love to
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to their lives. This may be the one moment where your family
is most likely to attend church with you. We want to make the
most of this opportunity for you.

17

 What can I expect from Allison Park Church

10
after dedication?
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woman. We want to stand with you in your journey as a parent.
1. Childrens and Youth MinistriesDYDLODEOHIURPQXUVHU\WKURXJK
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children.
2. Tools, Teachings, and Resources we also want to be a source
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of practical support.
3. Pastoral Care, Prayer, and Coaching if you ever need to talk
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always available to you.

18

Allison Park Church Baby Dedication Information Form

The purpose of dedicating your child to the Lord is two-fold in nature;
both to present your child to God and to present yourselves to God
for the help that you will need as parents to raise this child.
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BIRTH DATE
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SERVICE TIME 6$730_681'$<$0 11:15 AM

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MARRIED

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FATHERS NAME
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CHECK THE FOLLOWING TO COMMUNICATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Mother Father










 I have read the Baby Dedication Booklet and understand the purpose
of the ceremony.
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would like to talk to a pastor about what steps to take next.
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I am
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dedication ceremony anyway.
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my Savior and Lord.
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to invite Him to be my Savior and the leader of my life and family.
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TO PERSONALIZE YOUR BABYS DEDICATION PLEASE LET US KNOW IF

THERE IS ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE. For Example:
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What is your vision for your childs life?

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child is dedicated?
Is there a special scripture you have for your child.

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Please provide additional comments if necessary.

Please submit a picture of your baby that we will display on the overhead
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Dedication

22



Allison Park Church

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