Advancing the Gospel One Family at a Time
What a great day we had as a faith family yesterday! 20 couples stood before the church to publically dedicate themselves to raising their children according to the Lord’s instruction. We called our time a “Parent-Child Dedication,” but the parents were the ones making the public vows before God and one another.Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Psalm 127
Society often views children not as gifts or blessings, but as nuisances and hindrances.
God ordained the family as the primary avenue for faith development. The family is God’s chosen instrument for the spread of His glory. Our marriages exist for his glory and our families exist for his glory. To this end, we live our lives.
The Bible calls parents to be the primary disciple-makers of their children.
At FBC, we refuse to “drop off” our kids and outsource their spiritual development to others. As parents, we realize that spiritual development among our families is our own responsibility.
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 6:4-7
As our Children's and Families Pastor Josh Cornett leads us, FBC is establishing a God-centered trajectory to lead, hold accountable, support, encourage, and equip Dads and Moms as they strive to lead their children to the Lord and rear them in a manner that brings glory to God. We want children to become mighty men and women of the faith, to love the Word, live by it, depend on it, and memorize it. We want our kids to have a faith that blossoms and perseveres in the midst of difficulty, to have a big view of God and His holiness, His glory, His righteousness, and His perfect plan. We want them to know that God rules the universe. We long for our children to be radically committed to evangelism and radically committed to spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples. We want kids to have a God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated view of themselves and the world. In all these things, we pray that they will belong wholly to the Lord, recognize His presence, respond in worship to Him, recognize His control, trust Him, submit to His authority, obey Him, serve Him, and glorify Him in all they do. We pray that our families might spread God's glory to future generations.
Our goal as a church is to partner with parents, encouraging and equipping in the child-rearing process in hopes of seeing God raise up the next generation of Gospel-men and women.
Enjoy these photos and pray for these families as they strive to glorify God through their family life.
Pastor Todd
