Youth Confirmation

Jesus said to make disciples "baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28.19-20). Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the youngest signers of the Declaration of Independence, wrote “There is a peculiar aptitude in the minds of children for religious knowledge.” Jesus, Himself said, “Let the little children come unto Me” (Mark 10.14).

Ideally this teaching begins at home, but it also continues in the church and school. Our instructions for youth begin in Sunday Youth Bible Study, Christian Day School, and Tuesday Evening Classes (for children who do not attend our school).

Bible History

Tuesday Evenings 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the Lower Level

This class is for 3rd and 4th grade students and 5th and 6th grade students not attending Good Shepherd Lutheran School. In this class we teach all the major Bible stories of the Old and New Testament. This class is required before beginning 7th and 8th grade confirmation class. For more information contact Carol Walther.

7th and 8th Grade Catechism

Tuesday Evenings 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Lower Level

Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday at Good Shepherd Lutheran School 8:20-9:00 a.m.

This class prepares students for Confirmation and participation in Holy Communion. This class focuses on the main teachings of the Bible using Martin Luther's Small Catechism. Teachers: Pastor Walther, Pastor Adle, Mr. Mueller, Mr. Westphal.

Texts:

Our most important text is the Bible. But the Bible is loaded with information that we can study for a lifetime. Martin Luther's Small Catechism helps us find the important things that new Christians need to know. Bibles and Small Catechisms are available at the Church or School.

Sermon Notes:

We like to say that the Catechism class really begins on Sunday. Everything we teach is connected to Christian worship. An important part of our learning process is to learn what is going on in worship. To help with this we require our students to take sermon notes. Students who are unable to attend worship may take notes from the online sermons. Directions for taking sermon notes.

Learning By Heart:

God encourages us to learn His word by heart (Psalm 119.11). This is a great help to our living by faith. But it also has other benefits as memorization trains the mind. We encourage you to set aside a little time each day for Learning by Heart. See Learning by Heart verses below.

Parent's Role:

Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism first for parents to use when teaching their children. We urge parents to work with their children in this vitally important aspect of their lives.

Members of Other Churches (School):

At this age students often ask very challenging questions. They can be especially sensitive to the differences in the teachings of different churches. If there are things taught in this class that you don’t understand or have questions about, don’t hesitate to email or call the teacher.

You know by now the classes at Good Shepherd are thoroughly Lutheran. We also hope you know that we are respectful of those who differ with our beliefs. “Respect” means that we will not ridicule or falsely characterize anyone’s beliefs. We are also careful to show the good that can be found in all religions.

However, sometimes we do have to say that we disagree with a certain teaching. This can cause tension in a young person’s heart. There’s no way to avoid this. We all have to wrestle with these things sooner or later. If there are doctrinal differences, our advice is to talk about them with your children. Explain what you believe and show them why. Talk to your pastor or with the teacher for more clarification. We do have a series of classes which cover the same teaching for adults. You’re welcome to attend at anytime.

Important Dates:

Practice for Profession of Faith Service, Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

Confirmation Profession of Faith Service, Friday, April 24th, 2020 7:00 p.m. (Pictures 6:00 p.m.)

Junior Confirmation, Sunday, April 26th, 2020 12:00 noon

Important Documents:

Martin Luther's Small Catechism Online

Learning by Heart

Learning by Heart Flash Cards

Explanation to Martin Luther's Catechism

Catechism Study Guides

Quizlet Catechism Review

Directions for Taking Sermon Notes