“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”
(Colossians 2:6-7).
Looking back on my confirmation, I remember the faith my fellow confirmands and I confessed and the promises we made.
They’re promises that highlight the importance of being in God’s house regularly and remaining rooted in the Word and sacraments. They’re promises that remind me of Jesus’ words in Revelation 2:10, a commonly chosen confirmation verse: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
Those are weighty promises—whether you make them as a 14-year-old or an 84-year-old.
Dear Christian, how do we encourage the young Christians in our churches who confessed their faith to remain rooted in Christ and strengthened in faith as they were taught? How do we help them to be faithful—even to the point of death itself?
Let’s consider several practical ways. And to be clear, the three points below are not the be-all and end-all ways of encouraging young Christians. Nor are they foolproof, guaranteed methods of keeping teens rooted in Christ and strengthening their faith—that isn’t something we can control. Creating, sustaining, and strengthening faith is the work of the Holy Spirit.
But as we have the opportunities to share the means of grace with our fellow believers, let’s make the most of them!
#1 – Don’t underestimate the impact of being in church with them.
(As with all of these ways, this looks different depending on whether or not you’re a parent.)
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).
It’s no secret that teenagers have a lot going on with school, sports, after-school activities, etc. The same is true for adults—life is incredibly busy, and schedules quickly get filled up with events. But we make time for and prioritize the things that are important to us.
As Christians, we realize that we’re not being forced or compelled to worship in God’s house. It’s something we get to do! It isn’t something that’s merely a one- to two-hour chunk out of our busy schedule; it’s where we need to be. It’s how we get through the week until we can get back to being in God’s house again. What a gift!
Even if you don’t have children, dear Christian, don’t underestimate the impact of being in church with them. Being a Christian role model for younger generations is no small thing. By your actions, you are showing that being in God’s house is important to you—that it’s a foundational, integral part of your life. It’s also providing you with opportunities to build relationships with the younger generations of your church family.
#2 – Don’t underestimate the impact of being in the Word with them.
If you are a parent, prioritize time spent in God’s Word for yourself, with your spouse, and with your family. When we as Christians show that being in God’s Word daily is a priority and not an afterthought, it sets the foundation for life. God’s Word strengthens our faith and helps keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and what he has promised us.
I imagine that’s why many confirmands receive Bibles as confirmation gifts. The gift of a Bible is a powerful reminder of the importance of the gospel truths they’ve been taught—and an encouragement to keep reading those truths and growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord!
Don’t know where to go from there? NPH offers plenty of gospel-filled devotional resources written specifically for teenagers. Even if you aren’t a parent, you can encourage the young believers in your church in this way as well!
#3 – Don’t underestimate the impact of sharing your experiences with them.
We don’t always get it right. We make mistakes. No one knows that better than us. We might miss a church service or two or skip Sunday Bible class altogether. Our devotional life at home might be inconsistent, and we’re struggling to live as the people God has made us to be. We might be fearful, anxious, and worried. We might be weighed down at times with guilt over the things we’ve done and left undone.
Young confirmands—and other young Christians—struggle with those things too. The only difference is, they haven’t experienced some of those fears and failures before. We have. If you have children—or have taken the time to build relationships with the younger generations in your church family—you have opportunities (as appropriate) to encourage them through their hardships and to teach them how to learn from their mistakes.
Some advice might be taken, and some might not. Regardless, you and I have opportunities to show what it means to live in the joy of the gospel message—that all of our sins have been forgiven by our Savior Jesus and that each day we live a new life rooted in Christ Jesus and the peace he gives us. We have opportunities to show what it means to be a Christian who clings to Christ and his promises because he is always faithful . . . for us and to us.
Dear Christian, one of the many joys and responsibilities of being a part of the body of believers is that we get to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We need that from one another. We need each other. We’re a family and we want to all get home to our Father in heaven together. To do that, we know the way and point others to him as well. We cling to Christ and the unbreakable promises he has made in his Word.
Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.