Sermon Tone Analysis

The rite of Confirmation in the Lutheran Church (which we observe today at Grace) is a goal that is reached by a member of a congregation.

Typically it is reached in this way.

Soon after the birth of a child of a member or members of a Lutheran congregation, that child is baptized in the name of the Triune God.

We believe that in baptism God’s goal of saving that child is reached as through baptism that child is brought to faith since the Word of God connects that child to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We can identify this as STEP ONE.

In theological terms, the child is justified and has been saved by faith in Jesus Christ which is given in baptism.

This is not a process but a pronouncement of a new status for that child in his/her relationship with God.

At this point, the child is also sanctified.

(Set apart to begin a life of dedicated living to God.)

This goal is never fully reached until that person reaches heaven so it is an ongoing series of goals that are pursued and hopefully accomplished.

Since Confirmation involves a major step in Christian education, we will consider how our sanctification involves growing in faith and knowledge.

At baptism, we make a solemn promise to teach children in the faith into which they have been baptized.

(Quote)

Our Lord commands that we teach his precious truths to all who are baptized.

Christian love therefore urges all of us, especially parents and sponsors, to assist in whatever manner possible so that _____ may remain a child of God until death.

If you are willing to carry out this responsibility, then answer: “Yes, as God gives me strength.”

How is this done?

Sunday school.

Vacation Bible School.

Lutheran Elementary School (for many)

Teaching in the home.

Confirmation class—study of Luther’s Small Catechism.

This is in keeping with the encouragement of Scripture to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

— Even Jesus according to his human nature was educated.

Although someone could become a lifelong student who formally takes Bible and religion classes for decades, we have decided that three years of catechism class is sufficient.

At the conclusion of that formal instruction, a goal has been achieved.

This is marked in a formal way by Confirmation.

Ceremony

Certificate

Change of Status

Invitation to the Lord’s Supper.

A sermon just for you?

Have you ever wondered how a pastor decides what text to use for a sermon on Sunday?

Normally, I follow a pericope.

But on special occasions, I will choose a special text.

Confirmation is a special occasion.

The text I have chosen is the confirmation verse that Emmitt chose for himself.

This image of Jesus as the Vine and we as Christians as the Branches reminds us that even though we may achieve the goal of being confirmed, God has in store for us the ongoing goal of bearing much fruit.

What does this mean?

See passages on being fruitful.

John 15:7 (NIV)

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

John 15:11-12 (NIV)

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Galatians 5:22-24 (NIV)

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.

24  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

5  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

8  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can we do this?

Just as a branch needs to remain in the vine in order to be nourished to produce fruit, so too the Christian needs to stay connected to Jesus through the means of grace so that the Holy Spirit can inspired him/her to be productive.

Jesus teaches this to those with whom he had been in daily contact for the better part of three years.

Emmitt, you have had to “put up with me” in class for the past three years.

You may even have looked forward to not having to be in class anymore.

Although I would like to say that you have been a very engaged student and always seemed eager to learn and apply the word of God to your life.

But now this will change.

Things would change for the disciples as well.

Jesus was going away and where he was going they would not follow until they were reunited in heaven.

But even though they would not be with Jesus in the same way, Jesus promises that he would never leave them.

“I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

He would be with them through the Word and sacraments.

You may remain here for decades to come but at my age, that won’t be possible for me.

But confirmation is not about remaining a student of the pastor who instructed you.

It is about remaining in Jesus about whom you have been instructed.

We do that by remaining in his Word.

One reason part of the curriculum for catechism class is memorizing Bible passages is that they will be in your heart and mind so that they can give you guidance and strength in your thoughts and actions.

Those who do so are promised to be blessed.

We are also encouraged to reflect on and add to what we have learned and become convinced of.

Jesus warns what can happen to those who try to go it on their own and forsake the lessons they have learned.

They are like dead branches.

Jesus says dead branches are useless.

I think of this passage every spring and after some wind storms.

Branches fall of the trees around the parsonage.

I pick them up, throw them into the fire, and burn them.

Jesus was most likely referring to branches from grape vines but the effect is the same.

Does this happen to young men and women who are confirmed?

Are there those who neglect the means of grace and falter in their faith?

Way back in 1984 NPH published a book for pastors called Sermon Texts: It is a compilation of lists of passages that can be used to base sermons on.

On page 98 in Part Three we have suggested free texts for confirmation.

The introduction of that section has this wise observance by the author: “The pastor will try to bring a message in his confirmation sermon which will stay with the members of his class through life.

He will do so not without a tinge of sadness as he recalls others of previous classes who have since proved to be like the seed which fell upon the rock.

He will remind the class of the blessings which they have received from Lord in their baptism, their Christian training, and the new blessings which they are soon to receive in the Lord’s Supper.”

The man who wrote this was an experience pastor who had seen this happen in his ministry and understood the challenges that young confirmands face.

I have been using this book for almost 40 years and can now look back and have witnessed his same sadness at times.

But I have also seen reasons for hope.

Just as the early disciples listened to Jesus and his illustration of the vine and the branches and remained in him and bore much fruit, I have witnessed many young Christians who have grown in their faith and have become very productive Christians who trust in the Lord and have proven to be fruitful.

Why?

Because they have remained in the Word and sacraments — the means of grace.

Reason #1.

The Word remains.

And that word has remained for all these years.

Earlier I had read that a pastor in the confirmation sermon will try to preach a sermon that will remain with his student their entire lives.

I find that hard to accomplish.

It is difficult for me to write or say anything that will so noteworthy that anyone would remember it for more than a short period of time.

But we have the teachings of Jesus preserved for us in the Bible.

God's Word is our great heritage

And shall be ours forever;