Confirmation Sunday 10:30am

May 03, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Mountains and All Authority

The eleven disciples climbed the Galilean slope, dirt crunching beneath sandals. They saw Jesus—alive—and fell to their knees. Some still hesitated, eyes darting between resurrection scars and open sky. Then His voice cut through the mountain air: “All authority is mine. Go—make disciples.” Not a request. Not a suggestion. A king’s decree wrapped in nail-scarred hands. [26:09]

Jesus didn’t commission perfect experts. He sent trembling worshippers to baptize nations and teach obedience. His authority fuels their mission—and ours. Baptismal water still marks new disciples. Scripture still shapes wandering hearts.

You’ve been handed the same mission as those mountain climbers. What “good distractions”—sports, work, hobbies—quietly edge out time for disciple-making? When will you this week intentionally prioritize someone’s spiritual growth over convenience?

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
(Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to show you one person He wants you to encourage in baptism or Bible study this month.

Challenge: Write down three activities competing for your time. Circle one to limit for kingdom priorities.

Day 2: Through Christ Who Strengthens

Paul wrote Philippians from prison chains, not a palace. Rats scuttled. Guards mocked. Yet his pen scratched triumphant words: “I can do all things through Christ.” Not through optimism. Not through grit. Through the strength of a Savior who turned execution into exaltation. [33:17]

Christ’s power shines brightest in weakness. When Paul hungered, Christ became his bread. When Paul faced death, Christ became his resurrection. The same strength that split graves now fuels parents, students, and retirees facing ordinary battles.

Your “all things” might be diapers, deadlines, or hospital waits. Where are you relying on caffeine more than Christ this week? How might prayer replace panic in your next crisis?

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
(Philippians 4:13, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for three past struggles where His strength carried you—then ask for fresh power today.

Challenge: Text today’s Bible verse to someone facing a tough situation.

Day 3: Renouncing Chains at Dawn

The confirmands stood straight-backed as the pastor asked: “Do you renounce the devil?” Their “I renounce him” echoed through sanctuary rafters. One girl’s knees had buckled years before—yet here she stood, grace holding her upright. [28:42]

Spiritual warfare isn’t fantasy. The enemy targets confirmands, parents, pastors. He distracts with Netflix binges and family feuds. But renouncing isn’t mere words—it’s grabbing the sword of Scripture when lies attack.

What addiction, grudge, or fear have you half-tolerated? Jesus already crushed the serpent’s head. When will you stop negotiating with the enemy’s leftovers?

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
(Ephesians 6:11, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one specific area where you’ve compromised with darkness. Claim Christ’s victory aloud.

Challenge: Delete one app/media source that feeds doubt or impurity today.

Day 4: Water, Word, and Morning Light

The pastor poured water over each confirmand’s head, just as others had done at their baptism. “Remember your washing,” he urged. Not a ritual. A reality—sin’s stains scrubbed by Jesus’ blood. Their new Bibles thumped on the altar, ready to plant them like Psalm 1 trees. [27:04]

Baptism and Bible form twin anchors. Water marks our death to sin. Scripture directs our walk in life. To neglect either is to drift—yet how many closets hold unopened Bibles beside dusty baptism certificates?

When did you last read Scripture with the urgency of someone relying on it for survival? What verse will you cling to when storms hit this week?

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.”
(Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for your baptism day—then ask Him to rekindle your hunger for His Word.

Challenge: Place your Bible where you’ll see it first thing tomorrow morning.

Day 5: Confessions Before Crowds

Twelve-year-old legs shook as the girl faced the congregation. Run or stay? She ran once—but grace chased her down. Now her “I believe” rang clear, a sword thrust against hell’s shadows. Jesus smiled. He’d confessed her name long before. [24:26]

Public faith terrifies. Classmates mock. Coworkers sneer. Yet every whispered “Jesus is Lord” in break rooms or school halls echoes through heaven’s throne room. Each confession chips hell’s gates.

Who needs to hear your story of doubt-turned-to-faith this week? What shame keeps you silent about Sunday mornings?

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 10:32, ESV)

Prayer: Ask for boldness to mention Jesus’ name in a conversation today.

Challenge: Share one Bible verse from this devotional on social media or via text before bedtime.

Sermon Summary

The service centers confirmation as a sacramental milestone that roots young believers in the baptismal promises and launches them into lifelong discipleship. Confirmation appears as a public reaffirmation of what baptism began: water joined with God’s word creates a child of God, and confirmation asks each person to claim those gifts personally. The teaching grounds discipleship in the Great Commission, insisting that making disciples requires both baptizing and teaching so faith can grow through Word and sacrament. The rite includes sober vows—renouncing the devil, embracing the creeds, committing to hear the Word and receive the Lord’s Supper, and pledging steadfastness even unto death—so that confirmation stands not as graduation but as commissioning.

The service also names the real enemies of spiritual growth. Scripture warns of spiritual warfare and of everyday competitors for allegiance, from sports and jobs to family pressures, and urges deliberate habits that preserve communion with Christ. The selected texts from confirmands reinforce the pastoral contour of the whole service: courage in God’s presence, reliance on Christ’s strength, the primacy of love, and walking by faith rather than sight. Each confirmation blessing repeats the theological center: baptismal new birth, the forgiveness of sins, and God’s promise to bring the good work begun in them to completion.

Communion and absolution frame the confirmation moment with reassurance and nourishment. The liturgy gives concrete means of grace—Word and sacrament—that sustain faith amid trials and distractors. Prayers lift named needs, intercede for communities and leaders, and ask God’s protection over ongoing ministry and construction work. The liturgy closes by sending confirmands and congregation into the world with a blessing, a reminder of God’s abiding presence, and an invitation to keep growing in faith through prayer, study, and faithful participation in the means of grace.

Key Takeaways

1. Confirmation confirms baptismal faith [27:57] Confirmation shows that baptism’s gifts become personally owned. It moves a faith from family inheritance into first-person confession so the baptized can answer God with their own yes. This public claim anchors identity in Christ rather than cultural or familial patterns, pressing each believer to live the baptismal reality through prayer, repentance, and participation in the sacraments. [27:57]
2. Discipleship pairs baptism with teaching [26:09] True discipleship always combines water and Word. Baptism initiates a child into God’s covenant; steady teaching shapes that life into obedience and love. This pairing resists shallow profession by cultivating a learned, practiced faith that can endure testing and mature into Christlike character. [26:09]
3. Antagonists will oppose spiritual growth [30:59] Spiritual progress meets real opposition: demonic craft, secular distractions, and even “good” activities that displace worship. Naming these enemies frees a disciple to form countermeasures—regular worship, Scripture meditation, and communal accountability. Such habits do not eliminate struggle but equip believers to endure and to keep returning to grace. [30:59]
4. God’s presence sustains through fear [34:48] Promises like “I am with you; do not fear” reframe courage as trust in God’s abiding presence. Faith does not remove fear but places it under the governance of God’s promise and power. Holding these promises in mind cultivates steady obedience, disciplined love, and resilient hope amid uncertainty. [34:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Sharing the Peace
[07:02] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[11:30] - Confession of Sin
[12:15] - Scripture Readings
[16:18] - Apostles Creed
[22:59] - Children’s Message
[26:09] - What Confirmation Means
[27:04] - Baptism and Teaching Linked
[28:42] - Renouncing Evil and Vows
[30:59] - Distractions and Perseverance
[33:17] - Confirmands’ Verses and Reflections
[50:37] - Confirmation Rite and Blessing
[57:30] - Communion and Lord’s Prayer
[72:02] - Announcements and Closing Blessing
[76:18] - Closing Song and Send-Off

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 28:19-20, what two actions does Jesus link to "making disciples"? How does the sermon connect these to confirmation and lifelong faith? [26:09]
The sermon mentions "renouncing the devil" and "embracing creeds" as part of confirmation vows. What specific promises are highlighted in the transcript, and why are they described as "sober"? [28:42]
According to the sermon, what are some "everyday competitors" that threaten spiritual growth, and how do they differ from overt evil? [30:59]
How does the sermon define courage in the context of fear, and what Bible verse is used to support this? [34:48]

Interpretation Questions

Jesus commands disciples to baptize and teach (Matthew 28:19-20). Why might both be essential for sustaining faith, and how do they work together to prevent "shallow profession"? [27:27]
The sermon warns that even "good" activities like sports or family commitments can become spiritual distractions. How do these differ from overt sin, and why might they still hinder discipleship? [32:18]
One confirmand’s verse was Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ"). How does the sermon’s emphasis on God’s presence reframe this verse beyond a motivational slogan? [33:17]
The confirmation blessing mentions God’s promise to "bring the good work begun in you to completion." What does this imply about the role of human effort versus divine faithfulness in spiritual growth?

Application Questions

Baptismal identity is described as being "rooted in Christ rather than cultural or familial patterns." What practical step could you take this week to live out this identity in a specific relationship or situation?
The sermon warns about distractions that "displace worship." What is one "good" thing in your life that risks crowding out time for prayer, Scripture, or community? How could you reorder your priorities? [31:40]
Confirmation vows include enduring trials "even unto death." While extreme persecution is rare, what smaller, daily challenges (e.g., peer pressure, stress) require similar steadfastness? How might you prepare for them?
A confirmand’s verse was 2 Corinthians 5:7 ("walk by faith, not by sight"). Where do you struggle to trust God’s promises over visible circumstances? What habit could help you "walk by faith" in that area? [36:16]
The sermon urges "deliberate habits" like worship and accountability. Which of these do you find most difficult to maintain? Who could you invite to support you in this habit, and how?

Sermon Clips

30s

“The confirmation would not be a graduation, what would be a launching point for you in your Christian journey. Because I'm here to tell you, there is a lot of things that oppose your growth and your faith in Jesus. The devil would like nothing better than for you not to attend church, for you not to receive the Lord's Supper on a regular basis. For you not to hear God's word and gather together with his people. To be reminded of the forgiveness you have in Jesus.”

from 00:30:52

#ConfirmationLaunch

31s

“So what does it mean to be a disciple? It means to be baptized. In the name of the father, son, and the holy spirit. To have the water combined with god's word applied to your heart and life. To become a child of god. And it means to be devoted to the teaching. It goes together, hand in glove, the baptism and the teaching, that those two are not to be separated from one another.”

from 00:27:04

#BaptismAndDiscipleship

35s

“Why do we do the right of confirmation? It's an opportunity for the kids to publicly declare their belief in Jesus Christ. One of the first questions I'm gonna ask them is that they do they believe that all the gifts that god gave them in their baptism that they've received them? That it's true. Confirmation is called confirmation because you're confirming that the faith that was given to them and what was spoken over them in the waters of baptism is theirs. You're confirming that they believe it themselves.”

from 00:27:35

#ConfirmYourFaith

36s

“What's the most important thing? Your faith in Jesus Christ and growing in him. That's the thing that's the most important. Other things compete for our attention. They compete for our allegiance to Jesus, and we wanna make sure that we keep the main thing the main thing. It's gonna be all kinds of things. Family, jobs, all kinds of commitments that distract us from being centered in the forgiveness in Jesus.”

from 00:32:20

#KeepFaithFirst

31s

“Someone who is continuing to learn and to grow in God's word. Jesus gives some more definition for that. Some people like to call a disciple an apprentice. Someone who follows Jesus and learns about him and with him. But Jesus gives some further definition. We'll make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I'm with you, be with you always, even to the very end of the age.”

from 00:26:33

#MakeDisciples

31s

“They needed to know the content of what they were baptized into. Who is god the father? Who is Jesus? Who is the holy spirit? Who has been what is their role in our lives in creating the world and redeeming them and sanctifying them for the life to come? And then I'm going to ask him some other questions. Do you hold that all the prophetic apostolic scriptures or the inspired word of God? Do you believe that the Bible is true? And that that's where we get the content of our faith.”

from 00:29:21

#KnowYourFaith

27s

“Well, I'm here to tell you, it's in second Hezekiah. You can look it up later. And for those of who don't know, second Hezekiah is not the Bible. But what is confirmation and why do we do it anyhow? Why do we even have this right of confirmation? Well, it goes really hand in glove with the great commission. Jesus is meeting with his disciples.”

from 00:25:47

#ConfirmationAndMission

31s

“I'm gonna ask if they renounce the devil, if renounce all of his works and all of his ways, and so answers by saying, yes. I renounce them. Why are we doing that? Well, for good reason. Because the enemy opposes their growth in Christ's Paul talks about it in the epistle lesson. That there's spiritual warfare that is going on that opposes their growth and their connection in Christ.”

from 00:28:31

#RenounceEvil

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How does confirmation connect to the Great Commission

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