According to the New Testament, the church is not the building but the assembly of those who believe in Christ, the assembly in which the Holy Spirit dwells. Even so, it is good and right that buildings raised up for a special service in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ should be expressly set apart and dedicated to their particular purpose. In the Book of Ezra 6:16 we read that in his day, when the temple had been rebuilt:
Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. (Ezra 6:16)
For a dedication like this one we too have gathered now. We thank God for the opportunity He has given us to build—for our own generation and for the generations that will come after us—a place in which God’s church may gather. And may all the glory for this belong to God. As Psalm 115:1 says:
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. (Psalm 115:1)
And since the dedication of this building would be empty without the solemn dedication of those it is meant to serve, let us now make a solemn promise before God:
- That we give Him our souls—that they may be transformed into the image of Christ;
- That we give Him our bodies—that they may be fitting temples for the Holy Spirit who dwells in us;
- That we dedicate to Him our work and our business—that they may be for the glory of His name and the advance of God’s kingdom;
- That we will serve Him with the gifts He has given us, in the ministry in which He has placed us;
- That we will keep His great commandment: “To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind, and our neighbor as ourselves.”
Now I will say for what purpose we dedicate this church, and you, if you agree, will say aloud: “We dedicate this building!” Do you agree that we should make this confession together?
Minister: For the glory of God, our Father, from whom comes down every good thing and every perfect gift,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: For the honor of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Lord and Savior,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: For the worship of God through praise and prayer, for the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the administering of the holy sacraments He commanded,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: For the comfort of those who mourn, for the support of the weak, for the encouragement of those who are in trials,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: For the teaching of the eternal truths of God’s Word, for the transforming of our lives after the example of Christ,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: For the salvation of the lost who will come into this house of God,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: With gratitude for the giving of all who have loved and, with hand and heart, have served this church,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: In memory of all who have finished their course, and in prayer for those who will worship and serve in this place in the days to come,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: For the lifting up of righteousness and for the extending of God’s kingdom,
People: We dedicate this building!
Minister: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I now declare this house to be set apart for holy use, and used for the worship and service of Almighty God, to whom be “power and wealth, wisdom and strength, honor, glory and blessing” from now and forever. Amen.
Prayer: Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to His Church in Dolno Ezerovo just as He promised. Not one of all the good promises He gave us through His Holy Spirit has failed. May the Lord our God be with us; may He never leave us nor forsake us! May He turn our hearts to Himself, so that we may walk in all His ways, live in fellowship with our risen Lord, and carry His saving gospel to all the world! (1 Kings 8:56-58)