The role of families

At Grace Baptist Church, we give praise and thanks to God for the gift of families and children. Through these familial relationships, we have the wonderful privilege of reflecting the love of our Heavenly Father and telling of his wondrous works to the next generation.

This is consistent with what God's Word says about how families are to bring up children and teach them the ways of the Lord:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
(Ps 145:1-4)

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
(Eph 6:4)

The purpose of Family Dedication

Unlike baptism or the Lord’s Supper, the act of family dedication is not an ordinance. We are not baptising these children. We believe Scripture teaches that baptism is only for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Nevertheless, we regard family dedications as an opportunity for parents and the rest of the church to commit to discipling the children whom God has entrusted to us. The parents are committing themselves first to the Lord, then to instruct their children in his ways. All of life, including parenthood, is lived for Jesus, by his grace.

We, the church, are committing ourselves to encourage these families in Christ. In our covenant with one another as fellow members of this local church, we have pledged to “endeavor to raise the children and youth under our care in the training and instruction of the Lord”. We will seek to point these families to Christ by being faithful examples of what it means to follow him, and by reflecting his love, grace, mercy and compassion in our relationships with one another.

The family dedications will take place throughout the year during our regular worship services. If you are interested to find out more or keen to be a part of it, please contact Siew Ting at siewting@gracebaptistchurch.sg.