Confirmation begins with questions.

Teenagers ask some of the biggest questions anyone will ever face: Who am I? Why am I here? Does my life matter? How do I know what is true? What happens when I die? These questions often hide beneath everyday conversations about school, friendships, sports, family, dating, social media, and the pressure to fit in. Whether students say them out loud or keep them to themselves, they are searching for meaning, purpose, identity, and hope.

The good news is that the Bible is filled with people who asked honest questions. Abraham questioned God’s promises. Moses wondered if he was enough. Job demanded answers in the middle of suffering. The disciples misunderstood Jesus more than once. Even the psalmists cried out, “Why?” God never rejected these questions. Instead, God met people with grace, invited them into deeper relationship, and continued walking with them.

Big Questions. Bigger Faith. follows that same pattern. Rather than beginning with information to memorize, it begins with the questions students are already asking. Each session connects one existential question with Scripture, Lutheran theology, and practical spiritual practices that help students discover God’s presence in everyday life.

Confirmation is not about reaching a point where every question has been answered. It is about learning to trust God, follow Jesus, and grow in faith while continuing to ask thoughtful questions. As students explore God’s story alongside their own stories, they discover that faith is not the end of curiosity—it is the beginning of a lifelong journey of wonder, grace, and discipleship.

Faith does not eliminate questions—it gives us the courage to ask them. And because God’s grace is always bigger than our doubts, our fears, and even our biggest questions, we can trust that every question is another opportunity to grow closer to the God who first came searching for us.

The curriculum is in progress below. I will post If you would like to contribute, just let me know at heather@storyboardingchurch.com.

Question #1: What Does Big Questions. Bigger Faith. Mean? By Heather Roth Johnson

Question #2: Who am I, really, beyond what other people think of me?

Question #3: What is the purpose of my life?

Question #4: Why am I here?

Question #5: Does my life actually matter?

Question #6: What kind of person do I want to become? 

Question #7:How do I know what is true?

Question #8: Why do bad things happen to good people?

Question #9: Am I loved for who I am or only for what I do?

Question #10: Will anyone truly know and understand me?

Question #11: How do I know if I’m making the right choices?

Question #12: What happens after we die?

Question #13: Is there a God, and if so, what does God want from me?

Question #14: Can people really change, including me? By Heather Roth Johnson

Question #15: Why do I feel alone even when I’m surrounded by people?

Question #16: What will people remember about me after I’m gone?

Leader Notes: The success of this curriculum depends less on providing perfect answers and more on creating a culture of holy curiosity. Resist the temptation to answer every question immediately. Instead, respond with phrases such as:

• That’s a thoughtful question.
• Let’s explore what Bible says.
• Christians have wondered about that for centuries.
• What do you notice in this Bible story?
• How does God’s grace shape the way we think about this?

Students are far more likely to develop lifelong faith when they experience the church as a safe place to wonder. Big Questions. Bigger Faith. is built on the conviction that God is never threatened by honest questions. Every question becomes another invitation to know Jesus more deeply, trust God’s promises more fully, and walk together as disciples.