The Most Important Confirmation Teacher

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old

he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

This past Sunday was confirmation Sunday here at Trinity!  The whole weekend was a great celebration.  On Saturday, the confirmands gave their faith statements and wow, was it great. One sang, others gave their personal testimony of faith.  One did a children’s message, another used soil and seed and growing plant, two others used their own artwork.  Each expressed their faith in their own unique way.  Then on Sunday they were confirmed.  All of us, the three teachers who taught their confirmation class, rejoiced to see and hear what God has been doing in their lives.

I have been reflecting on that a lot this week – on my role as Pastor and teacher in their lives.  Then the Lord humbled me.  He reminded me that I am not the most important teacher of the faith in the lives of our confirmands.  Luther in his Small Catechism, leaves no doubt about who that teacher is.  At the beginning of each of the six chief parts you will find these words – “The Ten Commandments (or creed or Lord’s prayer) as the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.”  Mom and dad, let there be no doubt about this – You are the most important teacher of the faith to your children. 

In 33 years of pastoral ministry – this fact has always been true.  The students who get the most out of confirmation are almost always those who come from homes where the faith is important to Mom and/or (the best is when it is both) Dad.  When the faith is talked about, and practiced at home… when the faith is important at home, it will be important to that student in confirmation too.  Now parents I don’t mean that as a guilt trip.  I mean that as an affirmation.  You are the most important people God has placed into the lives of your children.  No one else has the influence over them that you do.  What I saw and heard in the faith statements of our confirmands is more a reflection of a life time of learning the faith from mom and dad, than anything the three of us did these past two years.

There are so many ways in which you parents pass on Jesus to your children.  Think about this.  Who brings your child to be baptized?  You do.  Who says teaches them how to pray at bed time and at meals?  Who says their prayers with them from the time they are infants?  You do.  Who answers their earliest and most important faith questions?  You do.  Who is the first one to tell them about Jesus, to read bible stories to them?  You are.  Who takes them to church and makes sure they are in Sunday School?  You do..  When their grandma or grandpa dies, who comforts them with the assurance that grandmas and grandpa are in heaven with Jesus?  You do. 

The most important way in which you teach the faith is by your example.  When your kids see you going to church and Bible class… when your kids see you at home reading your Bible… when they see and hear you praying… when they see how you act towards others.  I remember watching as my dad spent his entire holiday at the church replacing the boiler with all the labor free.  I remember watching as my dad was getting yelled at by someone but dad didn’t lost his temper.  I reading my mom’s notes from my oldest sister was sick.  Those notes were filled with faith.  Their example was so very important.  So is yours mom and dad.  You are a gift from God to your kids. 

And you are not alone.  God promise that the word you share with your children will not return to Him empty but will accomplish the purposes for which He gave it  “Faith,” He promises, “comes from hearing the word, the word about Christ.”   “The Scriptures are able to make” your children “wise unto salvation through faith in Christ.”  He loves your kids even more than you do. He gave His Son for them.  His Son gave His life for them.  Trust this promise – “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Trust that promise and share Jesus with your kids.  You are their most important confirmation teachers.  Thank you.