Forming Lifelong Disciples

A junior confirmation program that prepares our youth to live confidently as ‘sent ones’ in the Lord

MissionCatechism

A Missional Catechism

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Project Timeline

2024-05-31

Stage 1 Funding

Capital Development for stage one to be completed

2024-05-31

2024-08-01

Content Creators' Gathering

The Content Creators' team will meet and make writing assignments for year one.
2024-08-01

2025-08-01

Test Site Receive Drafts

The test sites will receive early drafts to review instructional design.

2025-08-01

2026-04-01

Public Release of Stage 1

2026-04-01

2026-06-01

Stage 2 Draft Completed

2026-06-01

Proposal Overview

The junior confirmation program materials used by most Lutheran churches is based on Luther’s Small Catechism which was written in 1523.  The content of Luther’s Small Catechism is as valid today as it was the day it was written.  It addresses the central dilemma in our relationship with God, justification.  However, it was written for an audience that was steeped in the 16th century Roman Catholic view of works righteousness.  It was written in an age when society acknowledged God as the supreme authority in all matters of life and faith.  In short, the catechism was written to answer questions that few are asking today and it was written in the context that no longer exists.

As tragic, our current programs are designed to provide our students with knowledge, simple answers to complex truths.  A reliance on simplistic answers to complex truths leaves our students vulnerable to the complex philosophies and pressure to conform they experience in High School, college, and beyond.  The effects of our current faith formation process can be seen in the rapid loss of students in the life of the church post confirmation.  We are reaping the fruit of the failed system in our parents who do not place a priority on faith formation.

The Unique ‘Life of Sending’ Proposition:

The junior confirmation program that we are proposing will use the questions asked by kids in Junior High to teach theological truths.  For example, today’s youth are very interested in the environment. The proposed confirmation program would use that interest to teach about the creation of the world and the implications for our daily life when the Lord charged Adam to steward His creation.  Gender identity and sexual orientation are divisive and complex issues.  However, our youth can find clarity and confidence as they learn what it means to be created in the image of God and to find one’s identity in Christ.

The proposed confirmation program isn’t just about knowledge.  It is about faith formation.  Knowledge provides information.  Formation instills in the youth the understanding, knowledge, skills, (Collosians 1:9) and desire (Philippians 2:13) to live a God honoring life.  The goal of the curriculum is to equip the youth to be missionaries—sent ones—of the gospel to the world around them.  Having been equipped to live and share the Christian faith, they will be prepared to lead their children into the faith and, Lord willing, prepare their children to be missionaries to the next generation.

This confirmation program incorporates the five missionary practices of (BELLS).

BELLS

Learning Modality

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The Junior Confirmation program will be crafted for—three teaching modalities:  online, parent led, and classroom based (church, school, etc).  The training will be divided into 16 units.  The program will disburse the units based on the training modality. The classroom format will require 16 months of classroom learning.

Learning Units

One Faith

One Foundation

Christianity: A Different Type of Religion

The purpose of this unit is to provide the participants a foundational understanding of the Christian faith through a comparison of the major religions in the world.  The unit will emphasize the three sola’s of the Christian faith and the importance of justification.  The unit will introduce Bible memorization.

Our Identity

A Fresh Perspective

Our Identity In Christ

Identity is a critical problem facing junior high youth.  They are beginning to sense the need to shed their childhood identity and take-up their identity as adults.  While it will be covered more extensively in a later unit, this unit will address the reason why our identity in Christ is our best self and how that identity enables us to live our best life.  Our identity in Christ will be explores using the language of 1 Peter, we are chosen, and we are scattered.

Life In Christ

Growing in the Presence of Christ

Prayer: Fellowship with Our Father

In this unit the students will learn about prayer; what it is and how we do it.  The students will be challenged to develop a prayer journal and form a habit of prayer.  The students will learn how to form public prayers, as well as memorize the Lord’s prayer and Luther’s morning and evening prayers.

Sword Practice

Wielding the Word of God

Gaining Confidence in the Study of the Word.

In this unit the students will receive an overview of the Bible and the history of its development.  They will learn how to use the Bible Study tools found in most Bible.  They will learn a simple five-step process for understanding Scripture.  The students will learn to use technology to help them find and evaluate Bible answers.

Love & Family

Growing in the Art of Love

Love & Family

This unit will not focus on romantic love.  It will focus on the Biblical concept of Love and the six practices of love: compassion, confession, absolution, patience, encouragement, and space.  The students will learn the connection between Biblical love and our lives as family members and children of God. The unit will stress the importance of mutual support and contrarian thinking in the healthy family dynamic.

Live in Service

Developing a Servant Heart

Developing a Servant Heart and a Submissive Will

In this unit the participants will grapple with the Christian’s call to be a servant of all and the practice of submission.  The unit will involve hands-on service projects with guided reflection.

The Body of Christ

Being an Active Member of the Church

The Body of Christ

In this unit the participants will learn about the Christian church as well as the basic history of the Lutheran Church. The unit will help the participants explore their role in the local church.  The students will discover the role of the local congregation in their mission work.  This unit will include a section on worship, its structure, role in faith development, and public witness.

Strengthened in God's Grace

Being Strengthened Through the Means of Grace

Reconciliation (Sacraments)

Christ’s message centers of reconciliation.  God reconciled to His lost children through Jesus Christ.  The participants will learn through this unit about the reality of sin, the various ways that we sin, and God’s provision for sin through the sacraments and confession and absolution.

A Divided People

Racism

Racism: Understanding how others perceive our actions and motives

This unit will use the issue of racism to guide the participants in the development of emotional intelligence.  The concepts of two kingdoms and social justice within the framework of the body of Christ will be taught.  The participants will have a culture-crossing ministry experience as part of this unit.

Biblical Hospitality

The Power of Biblical Hospitality

The Power of Biblical Hospitality

Biblical hospitality creates an environment for God driven conversation to occur.  Through our practice of Biblical Hospitality, we are given opportunities to serve our neighbor and share our faith in Jesus.

Suffering in the World

Being an Active Member of the Church

Suffering in the World

This unit will address the issues of the Law and the Gospel.  The unit will include an overview of the 10 commandments and an overview of the role of suffering in the Christian’s life.

Gender Identity

and Sexual Orientation

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

This unit will include a review of our identity in Christ.  Through the materials, the students will explore sin’s impact on gender identity and sexual orientation.  The students will be challenged to develop the skill to be accepting of people, but not approving of their choices.

Caring Conversations

The Art of Discussion and Debate

The Art of Discussion and Debate

The purpose of this unit is to provide the students with a foundation in logic and rhetoric so that they may understand the fallacies offered by those who challenge the faith.  The goal is not to make the participants better at argumentation, but to make them more discerning.

Hard Truths

Understand the Heart of God

Hard Truths

The Christian faith is not a matter of logical propositions, it is a matter of faith.  Faith calls us to hold two, often contradictory, truths in tension.  In this unit, we will explore the tensions that are a challenging part of our Christian faith.

Service in the Church

Contributing to the Mission of God

Service in the Church

Contributing to the life and witness of the church through service is a vital aspect of our Christian life.  In this unit the participants will explore the various ways that they can serve in the mission and ministry of the local church.  They will learn how they can contribute to the planning and execution of a mission or ministry project.

Your Missionary Calling

Living in Mission For Christ

Your Missionary Calling

The final unit will guide the participants through the process of developing a missionary action plan (MAP).  The MAP will include a statement of faith, a listing of anticipated activities for continued learning, and a schedule of commitments to future mission and service opportunities.

Author

  • tbarjonas

    Rev. Dr. Todd Jones serves as an assistant to the President of the Michigan district for the development of continuing education and the facilitation of new mission starts.

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