Baby Dedication - A Commitment by the Parents

 

    This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 5th July 2026, by Colin. For the audio , please click here.  For the worship, please click here.  

Baby Dedication: More Than a Ceremony—A Parent's Commitment to Raise a Child for God

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him." — Psalm 127:3

A baby's dedication is one of the most joyful moments in the life of a Christian family. It is filled with smiles, photographs, and heartfelt prayers. But beyond the celebration lies a much deeper spiritual significance.

Recently, during the dedication of baby Zachariah, an important question was asked:

What exactly is baby dedication, and why do Christians practice it?

The answer takes us back to one unchanging foundation—the Word of God.

The Bible: Our Standard for Truth

How do we know Jesus was born in Bethlehem? How do we know His first miracle was turning water into wine? How do we know He was crucified between two criminals?

Not because we witnessed these events, but because God's Word records them.

Our beliefs should never be shaped by tradition, popular opinion, or human reasoning. They must always be measured against Scripture.

Even after His resurrection, Jesus did not simply reveal Himself immediately to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Instead, He explained the Scriptures, showing them that everything had happened according to God's Word.

The Bible remains the believer's ultimate authority.

Why Don't We Baptize Babies?

Many Christian traditions practice infant baptism, while others practice baby dedication. This naturally raises the question:

What does the Bible teach?

Scripture consistently presents a clear order:

1. Repent
2. Believe in Jesus Christ
3. Be baptized

Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost:

"Repent and be baptized..."

Likewise, Paul told the Philippian jailer:

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."

Repentance and faith require a personal decision.

A baby cannot yet understand sin, repent, or place personal faith in Christ. Therefore, baptism—which publicly identifies a believer with Christ—belongs after someone personally trusts Him.

Understanding Original Sin

Every human being is born with what Scripture calls a sinful nature.

We are not sinners because we commit sins.

Rather,

We commit sins because we are born sinners.

Parents quickly discover this reality. Children do not need lessons in selfishness, disobedience, or lying. Those tendencies arise naturally because humanity inherited a sinful nature through Adam.

Only faith in Jesus Christ can deal with that deepest problem.

What Is Baby Dedication?

Baby dedication is not a command in Scripture.

Rather, it is a meaningful and biblical practice that allows believing parents to publicly acknowledge that:

• Their child is a gift from God.
• God has entrusted that child to their care.
• They desire to raise the child according to God's Word.
• They seek God's blessing and guidance as parents.

In many ways, dedication is similar to having a wedding reception or celebrating birthdays. These practices are not commanded in Scripture, yet they are good and meaningful expressions of joy and gratitude.

Biblical Examples of Dedication

Although Scripture does not command baby dedication, it provides meaningful examples.

Hannah and Samuel

Unable to have children, Hannah prayed earnestly for a son.

When God answered her prayer, she fulfilled her promise by presenting Samuel before the Lord, acknowledging that he ultimately belonged to God.

Her dedication reflected gratitude and surrender.

Mary, Joseph, and Jesus

After Jesus' birth, Mary and Joseph presented Him at the temple according to Jewish custom.

This was not baptism.

Years later, Jesus Himself chose to be baptized at around thirty years of age.

This distinction reminds us that dedication and baptism serve completely different purposes.

What Happens During a Dedication?

The child is not making promises.

The parents are.

They publicly commit themselves before God and the church to:

• Raise their child according to Scripture.
• Teach God's Word faithfully.
• Pray consistently for their child.
• Provide a loving Christian home.
• Point their child toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The dedication is less about dedicating the child and more about dedicating the parents to God's calling.

The Biblical Responsibility of Parents

Parenting involves far more than providing food, education, or financial security.

God entrusts parents with the eternal responsibility of shaping a child's heart.

Scripture instructs parents to:

Teach God's Word Daily

Deuteronomy encourages parents to speak about God's commands:

• at home,
• while walking,
• when lying down,
• and when rising up.

Faith is meant to become part of everyday family life.

Lead by Example

Children learn far more from what parents do than from what they say.

A parent who teaches honesty while practicing dishonesty sends conflicting messages.

Authentic Christian living becomes one of the greatest lessons a child will ever receive.

Pray Constantly

Prayer should surround every stage of a child's life.

Parents can pray for:

• protection,
• wisdom,
• spiritual growth,
• friendships,
• education,
• future decisions,
• and ultimately, salvation.

Talk Naturally About Jesus

Faith should never be limited to Sundays.

Simple conversations about God's goodness, answered prayers, and daily dependence on Christ help children see Christianity as a living relationship rather than merely a religion.

Model Repentance

Christian parents are not perfect.

When they fail, admitting mistakes and asking forgiveness teaches humility, grace, and genuine repentance.

Children benefit enormously from seeing authentic faith lived out.

Raise Children Within Christian Community

God never intended families to walk alone.

The church plays an important role in encouraging, teaching, praying for, and supporting children as they grow in faith.

Parents, grandparents, relatives, and the wider church family all share the privilege of pointing children toward Christ.

The Goal of Every Christian Parent

The ultimate purpose of parenting is not simply to raise successful adults.

It is to raise children who know, love, and follow Jesus Christ.

Parents cannot make that decision for their children.

Each child must eventually repent, believe the gospel, and personally place their faith in Christ.

But parents can faithfully prepare the way by teaching God's truth, living godly lives, and praying without ceasing.

Final Thoughts

A baby dedication is not about securing a child's salvation.

It is about recognizing God's gift, thanking Him for that blessing, and committing to raise the child according to His Word.

While baptism belongs to those who personally believe in Christ, dedication reminds parents of their sacred calling.

May every Christian home become a place where children learn not only about God—but come to know Him personally.

Because the greatest inheritance any parent can leave is not wealth or success, but a life firmly rooted in Jesus Christ.

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

James - The Prayer of Faith - Part 5

 

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on November 23rd 2025, by Navaz. For the audio & video, please click here.  For the worship, please click here. 

The Prayer of Faith

James 5:13-20

INTRODUCTION

James was addressing the disconnect between words and the profession of faith – waywardness was creeping into the church, and he was addressing various contexts in which it was appearing. He was also addressing the real-life challenges of persecution and trials.

Verse 13- 14 – The troubled, happy and sick

Anyone in trouble? Anyone happy? Anyone sick? – This pretty much covers everyone! There is only one response that is the best in all three situations, and that is to PRAY and PRAISE.

V14- Role of Elders and the sick.

If anyone is sick, let him/her call the elders to pray and anoint him with oil, in the name of the Lord.

This, I think, is relatively neglected in the charismatic and evangelical circles. We do pray for each other at church, and we send WhatsApp texts requesting the church to pray. How about calling your leader and a couple of other friends to come and pray for you? It is a biblical way to respond.

One of the reasons I think we have not given this importance is partly because we are reacting to the religious Christian orders that did this as a ritual. Just because something was used badly is not a reason to stop using it. 

Notice the onus is on the sick person – It is their responsibility to call the elders to pray. This is good because it requires humility on the part of the church member, requires them to recognise the anointing and grace upon the leadership of the church, and recognises their spiritual authority over the church they claim to be part of.

It also takes the pressure off the Leaders to run to every household to pray. They are required to respond to your request. God is so wise!! This instruction is only for believers and not for non-Christians. This is a good guideline and is wisdom for these times.

Notice it says elders- plural. Again, this is a good practice as it takes the pressure off one person. Today, we have created almost an idol around faith healers. When two pray, you don’t know whose faith/anointing healed the person.

V14b - Anoint in the name of the Lord.

Anointing sick people with oil was a common ancient practice across multiple cultures—Jewish, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman—used for medical treatment, ritual blessing, and symbolic healing. James’s instruction fits into this wider world while giving the act a uniquely Christian meaning.

We see this practice referred to in the story of the good Samaritan as well. So, James is making it clear in whose name  a sick person should be anointed. The anointing could be symbolic, like a dab on the forehead – All the kings were anointed with oil. Oil was medicinal as well – it had healing properties.

What we can get from this section of scripture is that prayer and medication go together. The Samaritan bound the victim's wounds. Ps 147:3 – the Lord is close to the broken-hearted and binds up our wounds.

V15- Prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well- the Lord will raise Him up.

Is James guaranteeing healing? We need to be careful about using scripture as a formula. You will need to listen to the sermon preached on James 1 to get a fuller understanding of our response to sickness and suffering. In short, God is sovereign in all things. He knows and does what He thinks is best, even though we do not understand. Be sure of this our pain is not not meaningless. When we suffer, God allows it so that our faith and character may be refined into pure gold. There is also an eschatological view of this, in that we will one day ultimately be saved from all sorrow, sickness and pain. “Raise him up” either now or on the last day.

The “save” is therefore for the body and or the spirit.

We can fall into two errors: God does not heal (the cessationists are of this view)

God will or must heal everyone who is prayed for in faith.

God sometimes heals and sometimes does not – it is a mystery that we must leave in God’s hands. The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law. (Jer 29:29)

Paul prayed 3 times, and the only answer he got was “My grace is sufficient for you”. This should sober us and humble us. Never guarantee anyone healing or answered prayer in the way they want it. Sometimes a No is the answer to prayer.

V15b – “and if he has sinned, he will be forgiven”

Forgiveness is guaranteed if we confess our sins. What a gracious God. He throws that in for free because forgiveness of sins is a gift our Lord gave us. It is for this reason that He went to the cross – the written code was cancelled, and we were condemned. Therefore, it is a good practice to ask people before we pray for them if there is anything they need to set right before God. Some things can hinder our prayers and one of them is unconfessed sin. Peter warns husbands to treat their wives well so that their prayers will not be hindered (1Pet 3:7).

V16 Confess your sins to each other so you may be healed.

However, from the whole counsel of scripture, we do see how sin can affect a person’s life. Hezekiah was about to die – God told him to repent and put his house in order, and he lived for another 15 years.  To some, Jesus said Your sins are forgiven and they got healed. Sometimes there can be a connection between our sickness and sin. Remember, we deal with the world, the flesh and the devil. It rains on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Sometimes our lifestyle choices cause diseases in our body, where we have not honoured God’s temple. We need to take this seriously, see it as sin, and repent. Sicknesses like diabetes, blood pressure, etc., are related to lifestyle – are we overeating, overworking, worrying, being anxious, harbouring unforgiveness and bitterness? These things are known to affect our bodies.

Confess: is to acknowledge. Confess your faults to one another.

As Christians, we have given up on this practice, and again, it could be a reaction to the tradition of confessing to the priest. We see confession of sin is a Jewish practice. In Matt 3:6, John the Baptist was baptising people as they confessed their sins. But here it says, “confess to each other”. The healing we can receive is both spiritual and physical. Remember, sins thrive in secrecy, but confession brings them into the open, and now someone can check on you and ask you how you are doing. Of course, our confession needs to happen with someone we can trust; it should be discreet and with integrity.

Lesson for the hearer of the confession: This is a sacred trust and is NEVER to be used as a point of discussion, even anonymously. The heart is a holy place, and we must handle it with integrity and grace.As the listener, do not judge, do not condemn, do not ever weaponise the information you have against that person.

V16b- The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Much of our prayer is not effective because it is not fervent or powerful. As David Guzik, a Bible commentator, puts it, “True prayer is sharing the heart of God where we enter into the things that He cares about as the song goes 'break my heart for what breaks yours”.

Fervent prayer is not to twist the arm of a reluctant God, but so that we might understand his heart, mind and will for the situation.

Righteous man – Our righteousness is our standing in Christ – what he has done for us. We are clothed in His righteousness. WE don’t earn it – it is a gift. So, it is basically talking about someone who is a Christ follower. Maybe people were putting their faith in all kinds of “god men” in those days, and James is careful to qualify who prays and what type of prayer and to whom. In verse 14, we also see the care he takes to mention “in the name of the Lord”.

V17 – Elijah was a man just like us.

What this means is we see Elijah as one of the greats of the OT. But he was an ordinary man with all kinds of weaknesses, but he knew how to pray fervently.  What I get from this is that God is no respecter of persons. Anyone who prays in line with God's will sees their prayers answered.

CONCLUSION

V19- As we draw this series to a close, we see James' intent of this letter – for whom it was written. It is for people who were slowly wandering from the truth.

Nobody wanders deliberately. You are never static – some tide is constantly pulling you in a direction. If it is not the tide and pull of the Holy Spirit towards the things of God, then it’s the tide of culture, pleasure, and the world that will pull you in its direction.

The Christian faith is to be lived in community. We cannot practice it alone. That's why we need to come together in house groups and share life; we need to come together to pray and seek God.

God uses people to bring us back on track. When we do this, God gets the glory. It is not that God cannot work alone, but He has chosen to use flawed people like you and me to restore another flawed brother or sister.

V20. Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.

The great news is that God is a God of second and third chances. He is ever willing to forgive us and restore us. That is the hope we have in the cross.

So, the wandering soul is the subject of James’ letter, i.e., people who have wandered from a living faith that needs to be followed in action. We cannot profess a living faith without it being accompanied by action. We need to do the work of God and be obedient (not selectively but in everything) to demonstrate an active living faith. This is the salt and the light, even the world will experience and see, and God gets put on display.

There are several topics in James. Please read it and allow the Holy Spirit to show you where your obedience is lacking. Then confess it to a trusted Christian and friend, ask for prayer, and see the power of God surge through your life.

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Honouring Father and Mother

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on September 21st 2025 by David Fernandes. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here. 

Honouring Father and Mother: A Pathway to Wholeness

One of the greatest treasures in God’s Kingdom is relationships. Friendships that endure over decades, families that stand together through trials, and communities that worship in Spirit and in truth remind us that God values love expressed over time. Yet, broken relationships also bring some of life’s deepest pain.

Among all the relationships we navigate, Scripture places a profound emphasis on one foundational command: “Honor your father and your mother.” (Exodus 20:12) This is not merely advice—it is a principle that carries with it a promise of blessing and longevity.

Why Honor Matters So Deeply

In Malachi 4:5–6, God warns that unless the hearts of parents turn to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, the land itself risks being cursed. That’s how central family is to the health of society. Nations aren’t transformed by policies alone, but by the strength of their families.

This truth became very real to me years ago when I faced a personal health crisis. Amid this, God used a teaching on blessings and curses to reveal something hidden in my own heart—a failure to fully honour my parents. Though I had what many would call “good parents,” the Holy Spirit gently uncovered moments where I had fallen short. In weeping repentance, I realized the weight of this command.

The Blessing of Reconciliation

Through Jesus Christ, reconciliation is possible—not only with God but also within families. 2 Corinthians 5:19 reminds us that He gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That means no matter how broken things may feel—whether from generational sin, strained relationships, or past dishonour—healing is available at the cross.

Some of us carry wounds from parents who were absent, harsh, or deeply flawed. Others may feel guilt over dishonouring them in word or deed. Yet, God calls us not to deny their shortcomings, but to choose honour. Honor is not blind approval—it is an act of obedience and humility before God.

What Does Honouring Look Like?

Honouring our parents can take many forms:

• Listening and respecting their counsel.
• Serving and providing for them in practical ways.
• Covering their weaknesses rather than exposing them.
• Expressing gratitude for the life and care they gave us.

Conversely, dishonour may show up as deceit, disobedience, rebellion, or even simply taking them for granted. Scripture places dishonour in the same category as serious sins like murder and adultery (Luke 18:20), underscoring its gravity.

When Parents Fail

What about parents who abused, abandoned, or misled us? Here lies one of the hardest truths: God still asks us to honour them. That doesn’t mean condoning sin or enabling harm but rather choosing forgiveness and entrusting judgment to Him. By doing so, we release ourselves from bitterness and open the door to God’s blessing.

Steps Toward Healing

If the Holy Spirit is stirring your heart, here are some practical steps:

1. Repent before God for any specific ways you may have dishonoured your parents.
2. Seek forgiveness—first from the Lord, then, where possible, from your parents.
3. Forgive your parents for their failings, recognizing their humanity and brokenness.
4. Take practical steps to restore the relationship, including with in-laws.

The promise of Ephesians 6:1–3 stands true today: “Honor your father and mother… so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Walking in Freedom

Honouring father and mother is not just about them—it’s about us stepping into God’s design for wholeness. I have personally witnessed physical healing, emotional restoration, and even unexpected blessings flow from aligning with this principle.

Today, you have an opportunity to do business with God. Whether your parents are alive or have passed on, you can choose to forgive, repent, and honour them in your heart. In doing so, you unlock a floodgate of blessing that brings freedom, peace, and joy.

Let’s live as children of the cross, not captives of our past. Let us honour our parents, and in doing so, honour our heavenly Father.

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

The One goes after the one

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on December 1st 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

What is God's purpose for us in this place? 

Luke 15 - lost sheep, lost coin and lost son. 

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."” - Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Every society has a social order. In Jesus' time, at the very bottom of the barrel, were lepers, then there were shepherds, tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners were next. The Pharisees and scribes set themselves apart from them.  They looked down on Jesus because he related to them and ate with them.

Even in today’s society, these distinctions still exist. Jesus addresses this situation in this passage. 

“"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” - Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."” - Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Luke 15 is about 3 parables that Jesus teaches. They all have the same theme - something lost, something found, great rejoicing. He repeats it in 3 parables to hammer in the point. 

The parable is the use of an illustration using everyday life. He is taking a story to communicate a deeper moral truth and a spiritual lesson. 

Jesus was showing how important and precious lost people are. These parables are similar but not identical. 

Sheep are not the sharpest animals. They are always afraid of predators. 3 types of sinners are lost. 

1. The lost sheep: They are lost, know they’re lost and can’t help themselves. They need a good shepherd. God is interested in lost people. There are 100s of people in this mall who are lost without Jesus. What is it that gives the Father in heaven great joy? A sinner repenting. the angels rejoice with him! People go from crisis to calm. Lost sheep are those who are lost and just a friend to come along and give them hope. Jesus can come into their lives and change them. That’s why we pursue them. 

2. The lost coin: this is the kind of person who is lost and doesn’t know that he is lost. Our job is to seek people like this and bring the light of Jesus into their life. When the coin is found, again there is rejoicing. 

3. The lost son: “And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬.

This guy came to his senses. The lost sheep couldn’t help himself. The lost coin didn’t know that he was lost. But the prodigal son takes steps to come back to the father. There are people in our lives who have made bad decisions and find themselves with the pigs. You cannot stop them from leaving. The shepherd went looking for the coin and the woman went looking for the coin. But the father didn’t go looking, he stayed waiting. We need to be like the father, looking out for them to take steps to return. 

God's heart : God rejoices over sinners repenting. Sadly the Pharisees and scribes who had the word of God did not rejoice in the sinners repenting. Do we have the heart of the father or the heart of the Pharisees? Do we seek out the lost or stay away from them to keep ourselves clean? 

Let’s examine our hearts. Do you identify with any one of these lost people? Your response is to come to Jesus. For the rest of us, our job is to take the love of God to the lost ones. 

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.