HIGHS AND LOWS: (15 minutes)
Write down one high and one low from your week in your prayer journal and share them with the group. Pastor Breen or another student will gather them in prayer as we light our candles.
REVIEW: (3 minutes)
What sticks with you from last class? You may refer to your one sentence summary from last week if you are stumped. What questions remain about Stephen?
INTRODUCTION: (5 minutes)
The Gospel: Turn to page 1261 in your Connect Bible NRSV and do the activity marked “The Gospel” on that page. If you are doing this for homework, make a copy or take a picture of this page when you are finished.
EXPERIENCE THE WORD: (7 minutes)
Today, we will watch a scene from the miniseries “AD: The Bible Continues” which shows the community of new believers. I do not recommend the whole series because much of the material is fictional, but when they do get to the Bible sections of Acts, it is visually stunning and impactful. Begin on disc four, and choose “play all.” Fast-forward to 1:17:23 and watch until 1:20:54.
DWELLING IN THE WORD: (25 minutes)
First, read Acts 8:26-40 from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (take turns reading aloud, verse by verse). Answer the following questions about the whole story as completely as possible (group activity: do this with your parents):
Comprehension Questions:
- Who spoke to Philip? (verse 26)
- Where was Philip supposed to go? (verse 26)
- Did Philip go there? (verse 27)
- Who did Philip meet on the road? (verse 27)
- Why had he come to Jerusalem? (verse 27)
- Where was the Ethiopian going? (verse 28)
- What was he reading? (verse 28)
- What did the Spirit say to Philip? (verse 29)
- What did Philip do next? (verse 30)
- What did Philip hear? (verse 30)
- What did Philip ask? (verse 30)
- How did the Ethiopian reply? (verse 31)
- What did he invite Philip to do? (verse 31)
- What question did the Ethiopian ask? (verse 34)
- What did Philip proclaim to him? (verse 35)
- To where did they come as they were going down the road? (verse 36)
- What did the Ethiopian say? (verse 36)
- What did Philip do to him after the chariot stopped? (verse 38)
- What happened to Philip after they came up out of the water? (verse 39)
- Where did the Ethiopian go next? (verse 39)
- Where did Philip find himself? (verse 40)
- What did he proclaim? (verse 40)
Content Questions:
- What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
- What is my favorite part of this text? Why?
- What stories or memories does this text stir up in you? You might remember a time when you had an “Aha!” moment in your faith life, for example.
- What is God doing in this text? What is God up to?
TAKING IT HOME (3 minutes)
- During this week, in your prayers, try using “Surprising God” as your title for God.
- Write a one sentence summary in your prayer journal. In this sentence, describe your answer to the question “What did you learn about in Confirmation class this week?” in as much detail as possible.
OUT LOUD PRAYER: (2 minutes)
Laying on of Hands: When we baptize in the ELCA Lutheran Church, we pray a prayer that is taken from Isaiah 11:2. When our youth are confirmed, we repeat the same prayer. In honor of our story today, we will gather in a circle, taking turns being in the middle. Everyone will lay one hand on the head or shoulders of the person in the middle as we pray this prayer together:
Stir up in __(name)__ the gift of your Holy Spirit:
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and might,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord,
The spirit of joy in your presence,
Both now and forever. Amen.
(Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pg. 236)
Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer.
Deep Roots Confirmation 