Trinity Lutheran Church Confirmation
Personal Faith Statement Guide
Your Faith Statement is a reflection of what you are intending to speak in the presence of God’s publicly gathered people on the day you affirm your faith in the Rite of Confirmation.
It is essential that you understand that participation in the Rite of Confirmation is voluntary, because you are making affirmations and commitments as a young adult in Christ’s church.
We rejoice with young people when they are ready to accept the responsibilities of adult membership in the life of the church and at that time plan to affirm their faith, publicly.
On her or his confirmation day, each confirmand will do the following:
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Declare your agreement with the claims and promises made to you and for you
when you were baptized.
This is a declaration that you intend to continue to practice your faith
as an active member of Christ’s church.
Specifically, you will
- Renounce all the forces of evil, the devil, and all his empty promises.
- Declare your belief in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
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Declare your intention to continue in the covenant which God made with you in Holy Baptism.
To live among God’s faithful people,
to hear God’s Word and share in his supper (i.e., regularly receive Holy Communion), to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
to serve all people, following the example of God in Christ through word and deed,
to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, the Master of your life,
and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING YOUR PERSONAL FAITH STATEMENT
Your personal faith statement will typically be about one page.
It would be worthwhile for you to address:
1) Who you understand God your creator to be?
(See Genesis chapters 1, 2; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor 2:9; John 3:16)
2) Who you understand Jesus of Nazareth to be and what does it mean to give him the title of LORD and Christ?
(See Acts 2:18-36)
3) Who do you understand the Holy Spirit to be?
(Mark 1:10; John 14:15-17; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:13; John 20:22)
4) In what ways can you serve God as a young adult and through all of life.
(See Matthew 5:5-10; Galatians 6:9; Matthew 25:34-40)
5) How do you experience faith as both
YOUR OWN PERSONAL FAITH IN GOD
(Romans 10:9; Matthew 9:29; Matthew 9:18; Matthew 15:28; 1 Corinthians 16:13)
and PUBLIC SHARING OF FAITH WITH OTHER BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS.
(1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 5:15, 16)
6) What do you understand God’s law to be?
(Matthew 5:18; Galatians 5:14; Luke 10:27)
7) What do you understand the Good News of God’s salvation to be?
(John 3:16) How does this effect how you look at sin in your life and in others?(Matthew 6:12; Ephesians 4:1-3)
8) What does your faith ask of you as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ?(Colossians 2:6-7; John 15:12)
Trinity Lutheran Church – Hagerstown May 2009