Confirmation is tricky. Parents value education for their students to learn about the stories of God and Martin Luther’s small catechism. But I am not sure these are things students value or need to talk about. I have been at my church for almost 3 years, confirmation has waded through the Bible stories of Jesus (year 1) and through the small catechism (year 2). I will say that students did love re-writing the 10 Commandments! Now in year 3, I want to bring the questions that students ask me every year to the table. I want confirmation to be relevant for them.

Introducing: 20 Questions for Confirmation Students! Using the 5 Baptismal Promises as a framework. The promises include Living Among God’s Faithful People, Hear God’s Word & Share in the Lord’s Supper, Proclaim the Good News in Word and Deed, Follow the Example of Jesus, and Strive for Justice and Peace. Here are the 20 questions:

Baptismal Promise: Living Among God’s Faithful People

Q1. What does it mean to be faithful? What if I doubt God? What about people who don’t believe in God? By Pastor Heather Roth Johnson

Q2. What does it mean to be baptized? What about people who die and are not baptized? Does “hell” exist? By Pastor Kirsten Nelson Roenfeldt

Q3. What is the difference between being spiritual and being religious? Do I need to go to church to be spiritual? By Pastor Connie Thomson

Q4. Are the saints among God’s faithful? What happens when we die? What about heaven? By Pastor Heather Roth Johnson

Baptismal Promise: Hear God’s Word & Share in the Lord’s Supper

Q5.  Why do we worship? What is church all about? Why do we do the things we do? By Pastor Rhia Strom

Q6. Yikes! We eat Jesus’ body and drink his blood? Isn’t that weird? What does the Lord’s Supper do and mean for my faith? By Victoria Hoppes

Q7. How can hearing God’s word help my mental health? How does meditation benefit my mind, body, and soul? By Pastor Amy Truhe

Q8: How does prayer work? Does God really answer my prayers or even hear me? How often do I need to say “Amen?” What does that even mean? By Deacon Carole Joyce

Baptismal Promise: Proclaim the Good News in Word and Deed

Q9: What is the Good News? Why would I share it? How do I share it? How does sharing the news about Jesus work in my daily life?

Q10: How important is it to talk about my faith with friends? What if my friends are from a different faith tradition? How can there be so many different religions when there is only one God? By Pastor Carrie Stiles

Q11: Do actions speak louder than words? By Cindy Fritz and Peter Horn

Q12: Does your choice of friends matter in everyday life? How do we keep healthy relationships? By Diana Salzer Brown

Baptismal Promise: Follow the Example of Jesus 

Q13: Why does the “Old Testament” God seem different then the “New Testament” God? How is Jesus different? Why does Jesus matter? By Shari Simon

Q14: How does Jesus interact with God’s people today? How can we know that Jesus loves the people of this day and age? How do I see Jesus at work today? By Pastor Kris Kincaid

Q15: What does it mean to serve others? What are ways we can serve others? How can we put others first in our daily lives? By Deacon Jody Winter

Q16: What is the difference between being a “good person” and a “Christian?” What does it mean to be in spiritual shape? By Pastor Emily Dalen

Baptismal Promise: Strive for Justice and Peace

Q17: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there injustice? Why is life not fair for all people? By Shawna Berg

Q18: What does it mean to really love God? What does it mean to trust God? Why doesn’t God reveal God’s self more obviously in everyday life?

Q19: How should Christians make faith-based decisions concerning the environment? What do we need to do to make better choices for Mother Earth? Was the earth really created in 7 days?  By Kirsten Nelson Roenfeldt

Q.20: What does it mean to be a peacemaker? Who are the peacemakers in your life? How might you follow in their footsteps? By Pastor Julie Recher and Pastor Amy Truhe