We are providing questions that tie back to the preceding Sunday's primary reading and sermon each week. Feel free to think about these on your own, to discuss with a family member or friend, or to use these within your small group.
October 25 - Celebration of Reformation and Affirmation of Baptism
Martin Luther liked to call John 3:16, the mini-gospel, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” It’s also what’s at the heart of baptism in the Lutheran tradition: That everyone is loved by God, before we can ever do anything to earn that love. What we do as followers of Jesus comes as a response to God’s love; Not as a way of earning God’s love. That is why we bring infants or children for baptism (although baptism is a gift at any age) we are celebrating God’s extreme love for us - and our desire for our little ones to know that love. Years ago when the confirmands were baptized, their parents promised
to faithfully bring them to the services of God's house, and teach them the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments. They promised to place in their hands the Holy Scriptures and provide for their instruction in the Christian faith, that, living in the covenant of their Baptism and in communion with the Church, they might lead godly lives until the day of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, the confirmation students made those promises for themselves:
- live among God's faithful people,
- to hear God’s Word and share in God’s supper
- to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed
- to serve all people, following the example of Jesus
- and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
As a congregation, when our confirmands make these promises, we also affirm our commitment to them. In that way, confirmation is not a one-time event; It’s not a graduation from our faith. It’s the promise of continually confirming our commitment to follow Jesus.
1. Which of these promises comes more easily to you and why?
2. What is an experience of hearing God's word that has been pivotal in your life?
3. Which of these promises has been more challenging? What might be the next step for you in responding to this promise?
4. As you think of the week and the places, meetings, appointments, conversations you might have - please consider praying for an opportunity to share the good news through word and deed.
