Confirmation

Christians are disciples of Jesus for life.  Christians learn from His Word continuously as they sit together at Jesus' feet in the Christian congregation and in the Christian home.

8th Graders - Test on the Lord’s Prayer after Sunday School

Assignment

Daily (10 minutes per day/six days per week):

1. Pray the Parish at Prayer daily

2. Learn by Heart: What is Baptism? Which is that Word of God? What  benefits does Baptism give?  Which are these words and promises of God.

Weekly

3.  Turn in Sermon Evaluation after the Sunday service

4.  Attend Sunday School

5.  Bring Bible & Catechism to Weekday School 

Objectives:

The confirmand should understand that (1) Baptism is God's work and gift that (2) gives us the forgiveness of sins and (3) the gift of the Holy Spirit and (4) new spiritual life.

Notes:  At this point, the catechumen should be able to recite the 10 commandments (in proper order), the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer from memory. As well as the meanings.

This week we begin our look at the Sacraments. 

Points to be made:

1. God comes to each of us personally through the Means of the Holy Spirit (means of grace).

2. A means is a way something gets from one place to another.

3. God's grace is his undeserved mercy toward us – which is chiefly shown by Jesus' death for us on the cross.

4. This grace gets to us through the preaching of God's Word, Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord's Supper. These are the means of the Holy Spirit (means of grace).

5. The means of the Holy Spirit/grace often go by the somewhat more detailed description: Word and Sacraments.

6. Baptism is the first means of grace that comes into our life. It is the new spiritual birth that God gives through water and the word by the power of his Name.

7. "Baptize" is a Greek word, it means "to wash." Baptism therefore may be done by sprinkling, pouring, or dunking.

8. Baptism is God's gift to us, it is not our promise to God. It is God's work, not ours.

9. We need this gift because we are born sinful and out of a right relationship with God (original sin)

10. Baptism gives us the forgiveness of our sins. (Acts 2)

11. Baptism gives us the Holy Spirit (Act 2)

12. Baptism puts us in Christ. (Rom 6)

 Baptism is God's way of bringing people into his kingdom. It is a mystery how this takes place, but we take God at his word.