The main section of our time in Confirmation class is spent in study of the Bible. We are interested in teaching learners not only the stories of the faith but also how to explore them independently, so that they might become life-long learners. We use the following structure:
DISCOVER THE STORY
We discover the story together as a group.
1. Watch a movie clip exploring the text for the day.
Old Testament: The Bible Miniseries (2013) https://www.target.com/p/the-bible-4-discs/-/A-14499804
New Testament (Acts): AD: The Bible Continues (2015) https://www.amazon.com/D-Bible-Continues-Season/dp/B00V4JJ0E8
The Gospel of Mark: The Gospel of Mark Movie (2017) https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Mark/dp/B06XCXZXWH
2. Read the story out loud, taking turns by verse (for those who are comfortable reading).
ENGAGE THE STORY
We engage the story one step at a time. In each step, we write in our workbooks first, and then work together as a group. We use this outline to guide our exploration: Journal Page
Contact Pastor Breen for access to the workbooks: pstrsipes@aol.com
1. Definitions: Write down the words or phrase you don’t understand. We will seek answers as a group.
— www.lexico.com is a great resource for seeking definitions. Use the American English version.
2. ? Question: Write down a question that you have about this story. We will wrestle with these questions as a group.
3. ! Aha: Write down something that you like about the story. Why do you like it? Share with the group. You might choose to add notes to your workbook as you listen to others.
4. * Story: Write down a few words to remind you of a story from your life that connects to the Bible story. What does this Bible story remind you of? Share with the group. You might choose to add notes to your workbook as you listen to others.
5. + God: What is God trying to tell you in this section? In what ways is God showing up? Share with the group. You might choose to add notes to your workbook as you listen to others.
SUMMARIZE THE STORY
We summarize the story both through the text and in our own words. This helps us to make final sense of the story before we prepare to move on.
1. Key Verse: Choose one verse from the Bible story that helps to tell the most important point, or the point you most want to remember. Copy it into your workbook, and share with the group which verse you chose and why.
2. One Sentence Summary: If you were to tell someone else what you learned in confirmation today, what would it be? Be as specific as possible. We share our sentences with the group, revising and adding detail, if desired.
Deep Roots Confirmation 