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Confirmation Part 1/10: The Bible

This is part of a ten-part series of mix-and-match curriculum resource for UMC Confirmation Classes and Teachers
Also available in paperback and ebook

T h e Bible i s one of the most influent ial colle ction s of writing in human hi s t ory. The wor d Bible co me s f rom the Gree k b iblia, me aning "books." It 's not a sin gle boo k wri tten by a single author. It's a library of sacred writings concern ing God's dealings wit h humankind and the re v elations of God's will, assembled across centuries and continents.

Why does that matter? Because the Bible has shaped the course of civilizations, political development, literature, art, and ideas about truth, justice, and purpose. It continues to influence the world today — at its best, helping humanity to be more humane. For Christians and Jews, the Bible is their Holy Book: a source of religious belief, truth revealed by God, laws for living according to God's plan, guidelines for worship, and historical documents. And for anyone willing to open it, the Bible can be a source of inspiration and insight, a guide for living a just and loving life, and a place to bring the big questions.

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Confirmation Part 2/10: English Bibles

For most of Christian history, ordinary people couldn't read the Bible in their own language. Scripture existed in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (the Vulgate), and access was controlled by the church and the educated. Translating the Bible into English was a long, costly, and sometimes deadly process — people gave their lives for the conviction that everyone should be able to read Scripture for themselves.

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Confirmation Part 3/10: Christianity

Christianity and the Gospel of Jesus

Christianity is currently the largest religious tradition in the world — and if you're studying this, you're part of a story that started roughly 2,000 years ago. The people who identify with Christianity are known as Christians. Many Christians identify with a specific branch, such as "Roman Catholic" or "United Methodist." Christians uphold the unique importance of Jesus. For Christians, Jesus is considered a human, the Son of God, and/or the living presence of God.

The Birthplace of Christianity

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Confirmation Part 4/10: People Called Methodists

What's a Methodist?

John Wesley put it this way: "A Methodist is one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength."

John Wesley was an ordained Anglican priest from England. At a prayer meeting in London in 1738, he had a powerful spiritual experience which inspired the rest of his teaching. Wesley described the moment this way:

"I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

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Confirmation Part 5/10: Foundational Methodist Teachings

Foundational Teachings in Methodism

What Do Methodists Believe?

This isn't a simple question. Methodists don't agree on all aspects of doctrine. In general, though, Methodists tend to agree on major Christian teachings.

(Where do these teachings come from? The Bible, Wesley's writings, the Articles of Religion, the Confession of Faith, the Book of Discipline, the United Methodist Hymnal, and the work of theologians and educators across the centuries.)

United Methodists share a common heritage with other Christians:

Conviction that God has mercy and love for all people
Belief in the Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Faith in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ
Celebration of the Sacraments

Some Foundational Methodist Teachings…

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Confirmation Part 6/10: Advanced Methodist Teachings

Justification by Grace Alone

In Christianity, "justification" is the event or process by which sinners are made or declared to be righteous in the sight of God. During John Wesley's time, two common Reformation teachings shaped the conversation: "Justification by Faith Alone" (sola fide), meaning that justification comes on the basis of faith, and "Scripture Alone" (sola scriptura), meaning that the Bible is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice.

Wesley affirmed the importance of both faith and Scripture, but his teachings emphasized something distinctive: Justification by Grace Alone — salvation comes by divine grace, or "unmerited favor" only, not as something merited or earned.

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Confirmation Part 7/10: A History of Methodism

Every church has a story. Here's ours.

The United Methodist Church shares its history with the ancient Jewish faith, the early Christian Church, the Anglican Church (English), the Methodist church (English), the Evangelical and Moravian Churches (German), the United Church of Canada, and other Methodist bodies in the U.S.

United Methodist faith and doctrine are based on the Word of God — the Holy Bible.

"We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation." — The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2012

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Confirmation Part 8/10: Methodist Sacraments — Baptism and Communion

Methodist Sacraments — Baptism and Communion

A sacrament is a sacred act instituted by Christ — a visible sign of God's love and grace acting in our lives. Like most other Protestants, United Methodists recognize two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper (also called Communion or the Eucharist). United Methodists also celebrate other important acts of worship, including confirmation, marriage, funerals, family devotions, and the laying on of hands — but baptism and communion hold a unique place because Jesus himself participated in them.

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Confirmation Part 9/10: Methodist Promises

Confirmation

Confirmation is the occasion for public profession of faith in Christ, commitment to lives of Christian discipleship, and acceptance of the responsibilities of church membership.

In Confirmation, God reaffirms the divine promise given at baptism, members make a personal commitment to God before the congregation, and participants strengthen their faith and relationship with God.

Membership Vows

New members are asked to covenant together:

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Confirmation Part 10/10: Five Hymns for Confirmation

Amazing Grace

It is Well With My Soul

Leaning On the Everlasting Arms

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee

This Little Light of Mine