Dedication of the Parenting of Pheobe to the LORD

Dedication To The LORD

This morning it is an honor to stand before you with Jon and Stephanie Richason. After much thoughtful and prayerful contemplation Jon and Stephanie are standing before you to make a public vow before God that they will be raising Phoebe up in the fear and admonition of the LORD. (Ephesians 6:1-4; Dt. 6:4-7)

I would like to read to you Joshua 24:14-19, “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.”

This morning Jon and Stephanie are making a public declaration like Joshua did when he said,  “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Let me make 6 observations about these words and its context…

Observation#1: This is a public declaration before the people. Joshua is not doing this privately but before the whole congregation. Covenant promises, and covenant renewals, were always done before witnesses.

• Jon and Stephanie, thank you for expressing this commitment to raise Phoebe in the fear and admonition of the LORD before this gathered congregation today.

Observation#2: Notice that Joshua, as the head of the home, speaks of his personal commitment to make his home a godly and faith filled home. Joshua says, “As for me...”. Joshua takes the lead and the responsibility and for this. What a joyful moment this must have been for Joshua’s wife who probably heard these words.

• You both, individually and together, are making this vow today. You both have the responsibility to teach and instruct Phoebe in the Scriptures. (Proverbs 1:8) It is a blessing that you both are willing to make this commitment together. This is the blessing of being in a family that is equally yoked together in the LORD. (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Observation#3: Joshua leads his family with the authority that has been given to him by God so he can say, “...we will serve the LORD (together)”. What a beautiful thing it is to see fathers lead their families in this way. Because Joshua is committed to this his home will be on mission.

Joshua is committed to leading his family according to the scriptures in a godly, faithful, and loving manner. As such, his family will find it a blessing to follow him in this example.  

• A family that fails to do so will experience a life characterized by Galatians 5:19-20 (characterized by the acts of the flesh). The family that serves the LORD, however, can have a life that is characterized by Galatians 5:21-22 (characterized by the fruit of the Spirit).

Observation#4: Let’s consider the verb ‘serve’ in the words, “...we will serve the LORD’.

• First, it is in the imperfect tense. This means that the promise that Joshua is making is an open-ended assignment. It is an incomplete task that is worked towards each and every day. You will need to receive grace so that we do not grow tired and weary in the parenting of Phoebe.

• Second, the word ‘serve’ is synonymous with the word ‘worship’, ‘labor’ and ‘work’. All of family life is worship and it is work. Christian parents should strive to have godly priorities in every area of life.

Observation#5: As we consider these words we may picture Joshua as a young man. This, however, is not the case according to Joshua 23:2. Joshua is ‘old and well advanced in years’. The context of these words in Joshua 24 is a covenant renewal. This is not the first time Joshua has spoken these words and committed publicly to doing these things faithfully.

Joshua has raised up his children in the LORD and now his children’s children. He has been a faithful father, grand-father, and now a great-grandfather! Joshua lives to be 110 years old.

Jon and Stephanie, you are committing to be a godly father and mother who will train Phoebe up in the ways of the LORD. You will recommit to this again and again as you seek to fulfill this vow.

• You are here with your parents (Scott and Tami Peterson; Ray Richason and Diane Fishbaugher) who are also committed to be godly parents to you and to their grand-daughter Phoebe.

• What a blessing it is for you to be here with your grandparents (Lloyd and Karen Peterson; Ed and Ardith Bender) who are committing to be godly great-grandparents to Phoebe. She is a blessed little girl!

Since Joshua is old and well advanced in years he has faithfully passed on the faith to his family over the past two or three generations. He has seen the LORD prove Himself to be faithful through many things. Now, all these years later Joshua confesses that he is willing to do it all over again.

• Joshua can say with David in Pslam 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

• Like Paul, Joshua can say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…”.

• Remember Joshua and those like him on the days when you are tired, discouraged, and frustrated. With every passing day you will become an example like Joshua.

Observation#6: Perhaps it is because Joshua is old that he seems so hesitant to get excited with Israel when they eagerly try to commit to do these same things with him. Joshua knows that perfect parenting is impossible and that we will need daily to come to the LORD for His mercy and grace.

• There are no perfect parents and we all sin. As parents we need to confess our sin to God and even to our family. (Proverbs 28:13) You can tell Phoebe that you will sin as a parent and if she points sin out to you that you will be quick to confess it and receive grace to turn from it and grow in sanctification. (Hebrews 6:1, 4:16)

As Joshua leads this covenant renewal it appears that Joshua believes that there are a few lessons that Israel needs to learn…(Have you learned these lessons?)

• God is a holy and jealous God and sin is a serious problem that only God can cure.

• God’s people will sin so they will need to look to the Word of God and obey it.

• They need to pray, confess their sins, obtain mercy, and receive God’s grace.

• They will need to remember, and not forget, the commitments they have made.

Having been reminded of these things by Joshua perhaps this is a good time for us to humble ourselves before God and pray about these things in our own lives.

• Proverbs 20:25- “It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. ”

• James 4:6-10- “But the LORD gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will exalt you.”

Prayer:

Acknowledgment of the Parents

Today, Jon and Stephanie have come acknowledging and professing your dependence upon the LORD to raise your daughter Phoebe in a godly way.

Minister: Jon and Stephanie, do you come professing Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your lives?

Parents: We do

Minister: And do you come to dedicate yourselves to biblical instruction, discipline, and love of this child?

Parents: We do

Minister: And do you come to dedicate Phoebe into the ultimate control and will of God through the LORD Jesus Christ.

Parents: We do

Minister Turns To Face The Church

Do you, Community Church, agree to support the Richason’s by your example and through acts of service; and do you agree to reinforce the biblical instruction, discipline, and love of this child under the supreme rule of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Congregation: We do

Dedication To The LORD

This morning it is an honor to stand before you with Jon and Stephanie Richason. After much thoughtful and prayerful contemplation Jon and Stephanie are standing before you to make a public vow before God that they will be raising Phoebe up in the fear and admonition of the LORD. (Ephesians 6:1-4; Dt. 6:4-7)

I would like to read to you Joshua 24:14-19, “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.”

This morning Jon and Stephanie are making a public declaration like Joshua did when he said,  “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Let me make 6 observations about these words and its context…

Observation#1: This is a public declaration before the people. Joshua is not doing this privately but before the whole congregation. Covenant promises, and covenant renewals, were always done before witnesses.

• Jon and Stephanie, thank you for expressing this commitment to raise Phoebe in the fear and admonition of the LORD before this gathered congregation today.

Observation#2: Notice that Joshua, as the head of the home, speaks of his personal commitment to make his home a godly and faith filled home. Joshua says, “As for me...”. Joshua takes the lead and the responsibility and for this. What a joyful moment this must have been for Joshua’s wife who probably heard these words.

• You both, individually and together, are making this vow today. You both have the responsibility to teach and instruct Phoebe in the Scriptures. (Proverbs 1:8) It is a blessing that you both are willing to make this commitment together. This is the blessing of being in a family that is equally yoked together in the LORD. (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Observation#3: Joshua leads his family with the authority that has been given to him by God so he can say, “...we will serve the LORD (together)”. What a beautiful thing it is to see fathers lead their families in this way. Because Joshua is committed to this his home will be on mission.

Joshua is committed to leading his family according to the scriptures in a godly, faithful, and loving manner. As such, his family will find it a blessing to follow him in this example.  

• A family that fails to do so will experience a life characterized by Galatians 5:19-20 (characterized by the acts of the flesh). The family that serves the LORD, however, can have a life that is characterized by Galatians 5:21-22 (characterized by the fruit of the Spirit).

Observation#4: Let’s consider the verb ‘serve’ in the words, “...we will serve the LORD’.

• First, it is in the imperfect tense. This means that the promise that Joshua is making is an open-ended assignment. It is an incomplete task that is worked towards each and every day. You will need to receive grace so that we do not grow tired and weary in the parenting of Phoebe.

• Second, the word ‘serve’ is synonymous with the word ‘worship’, ‘labor’ and ‘work’. All of family life is worship and it is work. Christian parents should strive to have godly priorities in every area of life.

Observation#5: As we consider these words we may picture Joshua as a young man. This, however, is not the case according to Joshua 23:2. Joshua is ‘old and well advanced in years’. The context of these words in Joshua 24 is a covenant renewal. This is not the first time Joshua has spoken these words and committed publicly to doing these things faithfully.

Joshua has raised up his children in the LORD and now his children’s children. He has been a faithful father, grand-father, and now a great-grandfather! Joshua lives to be 110 years old.

Jon and Stephanie, you are committing to be a godly father and mother who will train Phoebe up in the ways of the LORD. You will recommit to this again and again as you seek to fulfill this vow.

• You are here with your parents (Scott and Tami Peterson; Ray Richason and Diane Fishbaugher) who are also committed to be godly parents to you and to their grand-daughter Phoebe.

• What a blessing it is for you to be here with your grandparents (Lloyd and Karen Peterson; Ed and Ardith Bender) who are committing to be godly great-grandparents to Phoebe. She is a blessed little girl!

Since Joshua is old and well advanced in years he has faithfully passed on the faith to his family over the past two or three generations. He has seen the LORD prove Himself to be faithful through many things. Now, all these years later Joshua confesses that he is willing to do it all over again.

• Joshua can say with David in Pslam 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

• Like Paul, Joshua can say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…”.

• Remember Joshua and those like him on the days when you are tired, discouraged, and frustrated. With every passing day you will become an example like Joshua.

Observation#6: Perhaps it is because Joshua is old that he seems so hesitant to get excited with Israel when they eagerly try to commit to do these same things with him. Joshua knows that perfect parenting is impossible and that we will need daily to come to the LORD for His mercy and grace.

• There are no perfect parents and we all sin. As parents we need to confess our sin to God and even to our family. (Proverbs 28:13) You can tell Phoebe that you will sin as a parent and if she points sin out to you that you will be quick to confess it and receive grace to turn from it and grow in sanctification. (Hebrews 6:1, 4:16)

As Joshua leads this covenant renewal it appears that Joshua believes that there are a few lessons that Israel needs to learn…(Have you learned these lessons?)

• God is a holy and jealous God and sin is a serious problem that only God can cure.

• God’s people will sin so they will need to look to the Word of God and obey it.

• They need to pray, confess their sins, obtain mercy, and receive God’s grace.

• They will need to remember, and not forget, the commitments they have made.

Having been reminded of these things by Joshua perhaps this is a good time for us to humble ourselves before God and pray about these things in our own lives.

• Proverbs 20:25- “It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. ”

• James 4:6-10- “But the LORD gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will exalt you.”

Prayer:

Acknowledgment of the Parents

Today, Jon and Stephanie have come acknowledging and professing your dependence upon the LORD to raise your daughter Phoebe in a godly way.

Minister: Jon and Stephanie, do you come professing Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your lives?

Parents: We do

Minister: And do you come to dedicate yourselves to biblical instruction, discipline, and love of this child?

Parents: We do

Minister: And do you come to dedicate Phoebe into the ultimate control and will of God through the LORD Jesus Christ.

Parents: We do

Minister Turns To Face The Church

Do you, Community Church, agree to support the Richason’s by your example and through acts of service; and do you agree to reinforce the biblical instruction, discipline, and love of this child under the supreme rule of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Congregation: We do