A Covenant of Consecration: Dedicating the Gift of Life

That sounds like a wonderful and meaningful task! I can certainly write both a 5-minute sermonette and a corresponding outline for a baby dedication service.

👶 A Covenant of Consecration: Dedicating the Gift of Life

We stand on holy ground today, witnesses to a profoundly joyous and solemn event: the dedication of a precious new soul to the Living God. This ceremony is far more than a simple formality; it is an act of unreserved surrender, a covenant acknowledging that this child, and indeed our very lives, belong wholly to Him14LtMs, Lt 178, 1899, par. 13+1.

The burden of every sermon must be the science of salvationCG 520.1. The highest education we can ever receive is the knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent John 17:324LtMs, Ms 5, 1909, par. 19. Today, we focus on the foundation of that science: Consecration—the willingness to return to God that which is already His13LtMs, Ms 124, 1898, par. 37.

A Lesson for Our Little Ones: The Gift to the Giver

I want to share a simple story, easy enough for all the children here to understand.

Before the Christ child was born in Bethlehem, there was a mother named Hannah 1 Samuel 1:2. She had prayed for years to receive a child, and when God finally blessed her, she made a solemn vow: she would dedicate her son, Samuel, to the Lord for all the days of his life 1 Samuel 1:11PaM 167.3. Hannah loved her son with all the devotion of a mother's heart, but because she had received him as a treasure consecrated to God, she would not withhold him from the GiverST October 27, 1881, par. 13. Even as a small boy, Samuel began his service, fulfilling his dedicationGCB December 1895, page 606.1.

This is the great lesson of dedication: When God grants us a gift, our highest privilege is to give it back to Him to be used in His serviceARSH August 28, 1860, page 118.1. We must recognize His ownership of our children, as well as of ourselvesUCR April 1898, page 57.3.

The Foundation of Holiness: Bible Sanctification

This dedication requires the parents to accept the work of true sanctification. Genuine religion demands not merely an external profession, but the inward devotedness of ourselves to God’s serviceARSH November 20, 1860, page 1.17.

The Will of God for Our Homes

The work of sanctification is a progressive, lifetime process 2 Corinthians 7:1SLH 8.3+1. It is rooted in practical godliness, starting right where we live. For parents, this includes a renewed focus on the spiritual climate of the home.

• Fixed Times for Worship: In every family, there must be a fixed time for morning and evening worshipCG 520.1+3. Before the fast is broken, gather your children to thank the heavenly Father for His protection and ask for His guidance during the dayCCh 152.5+1. At evening, thank Him once more for the blessings of the day that is pastPr 191.3+1.

• Simple, Earnest Prayer: Do not allow long prayers concerning remote objects to make the hour of worship a wearinessPr 201.2. In a simple petition, tell the Lord your needs and express gratitude for His mercies, thus inviting Jesus as a welcome guest into your heartPr 201.2.

• Parental Responsibility: The guidance you provide is a matter of life and death, for your children are in your hands to educate and train for characters which God will approveRH June 17, 1890, par. 15+1. The thoughts and sentiments of God’s law are to be interwoven with their knowledge, teaching them that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdomBEcho August 21, 1899, par. 2.

Indulged appetite is a great hindrance to soul sanctification and lies largely at the foundation of feebleness and premature deathGCB June 2, 1909, page 269.2+1. We need to remember that in Christ there is power to control the appetiteGCB June 2, 1909, page 269.2+1. We are bought with a price, and we must glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which are God's 1 Corinthians 6:19-20GCB December 1895, page 606.1.

Christ: Our Wisdom and Redemption

We acknowledge that by ourselves, we are helpless 1 Corinthians 1:27PTUK December 22, 1898, page 802.5. What comfort, then, is found in the fact that Jesus, the babe in the manger, is "Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" 1 Corinthians 1:24+1PTUK June 23, 1898, page 388.10.

The science of salvation is this: of God are we in Christ Jesus, "who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" 1 Corinthians 1:30YI June 24, 1897, par. 1+1. This is the mystery of godliness—that through Christ's righteousness, God will love fallen, redeemed man even as He loved His own SonCG 520.1.

The cross of Calvary must be the central theme, lifted higher and higher, revealing the wonderful mystery of redemptionCG 520.1. Christ's earthly work gave evidence of His divine anointing: He went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed by Satan, demonstrating love, mercy, and compassion in every act of His life Luke 4:18PaM 283.4+3. Even the little children were attracted to Him, climbing upon His knees to gaze into His face, benignant with lovePaM 283.4+2.

This is the Jesus we lift up today. He came because there is no other path; without the shedding of blood, there is no remission Hebrews 9:22GCDB February 15, 1897, page 28.5. God's love is unending for the sinner, and His wrath burns eternally only against the sinGCDB February 15, 1897, page 28.5.

True Christian sanctification means abiding in Christ, drawing our supplies from Him, the source of all strength, until the mind of Christ is transferred to usYI June 24, 1897, par. 1. When this happens, we walk with the Lord, as did Enoch, constantly inquiring, "Is this the way of the Lord?"6BC 1097.7. This process of heart work leads to humility, seeing our unworthiness in contrast with the Infinite OneHF 290.4.

The Appeal for Unreserved Surrender

We are called to have a deep, growing experience in heavenly things, constantly praying for the heavenly anointing, that we may distinguish the right from the commonTM 338.2+1.

I appeal to you, the parents, and to all here today: Will you comply with the requirements of God, accepting the condition laid down in His word—separation from the worldRH January 2, 1900, Art. A, par. 7? Your consecration to God must be a living principle, interwoven with your life, leading to self-denial and self-sacrificeRH January 2, 1900, Art. A, par. 7.

Let there be an entire, unreserved surrender to God20LtMs, Lt 297, 1905, par. 8+1. Put away all criticism, jealousy, and evil surmising, pressing together in unity and love, for a united communion with Christ will convince others of the truth John 17:2120LtMs, Lt 297, 1905, par. 8. Seek most earnestly for the heavenly anointing, the Holy Spirit8T 212.2+4.

What are you going to do with this sacred trust, this child of your prayers, and with your own life9LtMs, Ms 48, 1894, par. 20? I charge you, make a covenant with God to believe His word and live a life by faith on His SonARSH August 28, 1860, page 118.1. Choose this day to maintain your allegiance to God, working the works of righteousness, and following on to know the Lord more and more perfectlyRH October 5, 1911, par. 12.

May God help you to keep this pledge, that your life may be a living testimony of holy consecration, preparing you and this child to endure the hour of temptation and be ready for the appearing of our Lord3SM 269.3+2.

Here is the sermon outline

👶 A Covenant of Consecration: Dedicating the Gift of Life

I. Introduction: The Nature of Dedication

• A. Holy and Joyous Event: The dedication of a new soul to the Living God.
• B. Act of Surrender: A covenant acknowledging that the child and our lives belong wholly to God.
• C. Central Theme: The science of salvation, which is rooted in Consecration.
  • Highest education: Knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ John 17:3.
  • Consecration is returning to God that which is already His.

II. The Lesson of Dedication: Giving the Gift Back

• A. The Story of Hannah and Samuel 1 Samuel 1:2, 11:
  • Hannah prayed for years for a child.
  • Upon receiving him, she dedicated Samuel to the Lord for all the days of his life.
• B. The Core Principle:
  • When God grants a gift, our highest privilege is to give it back to Him for His service.
  • We must recognize His ownership of our children and ourselves.

III. The Foundation of Holiness: Bible Sanctification

• A. Requirement for Dedication: Parents must accept the work of true sanctification.
  • Genuine religion requires inward devotedness, not just external profession.
  • Sanctification is a progressive, lifetime process 2 Corinthians 7:1.
• B. Practical Godliness in the Home:
  • Fixed Times for Worship: Establishing morning and evening family worship.
    • Morning: Thanking God for protection and asking for guidance.
    • Evening: Thanking God for the day's blessings.
  • Simple, Earnest Prayer: Prayers should be simple and focused on immediate needs, making worship a joy, not a weariness.
  • Parental Responsibility: Education and training of children for characters God will approve, teaching the fear of the Lord.
• C. Health and Consecration:
  • Indulged appetite hinders soul sanctification and leads to feebleness/premature death.
  • We must glorify God in body and spirit 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 through Christ's power to control the appetite.

IV. Christ: Our Wisdom and Redemption

• A. Human Helplessness: We are powerless by ourselves 1 Corinthians 1:27.
• B. The Solution in Christ: Jesus is "the power of God, and the wisdom of God" 1 Corinthians 1:24.
• C. The Science of Salvation:
  • Christ is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption 1 Corinthians 1:30.
  • The cross of Calvary must be the central theme, revealing the mystery of redemption.
  • Christ's work demonstrated love, mercy, and compassion, attracting even the children.
  • His sacrifice provides remission of sin Hebrews 9:22.
• D. True Christian Sanctification:
  • Abiding in Christ and drawing strength from Him.
  • The goal is to transfer the mind of Christ to us.
  • Requires walking with the Lord (like Enoch) and cultivating humility.

V. The Appeal for Unreserved Surrender

• A. Call to Deep Experience: Seeking the heavenly anointing to distinguish the right from the common.
• B. The Required Condition: Separation from the world.
• C. Living Consecration:
  • Consecration must be a living principle, leading to self-denial and self-sacrifice.
  • Making an entire, unreserved surrender to God.
  • Putting away criticism and jealousy; pressing together in unity and love John 17:21.
• D. Final Charge to Parents:
  • Acknowledge the sacred trust of the child.
  • Make a covenant to believe His word and live by faith.
  • Maintain allegiance to God, working righteousness.
• E. Conclusion: May this pledge lead to a life of holy consecration, preparing the child and the family for the appearing of the Lord.