Unit 5 - Confession and Absolution / Lord's Supper

Discussion questions for AFTER confirmation class:

In class, we learned about confession and Absolution.

Ask your child to share with you what confession means. What about Absolution?

Discuss what is different/the same between private and corporate confession and Absolution. Why might one elect to go to private confession and Absolution with their pastor?

Recite together from the catechism:

What is Confession?

Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.

What is the Office of the Keys?

The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.

Where is this written?

This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” John 20:22-23.

What do you believe according to these words?

I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.

What sins should we confess?

Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.

Which are these?

Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?

Discussion questions for AFTER confirmation class:

In class, we began studying the Sacrament of the Altar.

Ask/discuss with your child what the two parts (The Word and a visible element) and the three characteristics (instituted by God, forgives sins, and has a visible element) of a Sacrament are.

Ask your child to share with you the four things that are present during the Lord’s Supper.

We talked about how some churches teach that bread and wine are merely symbols of Christ’s Body and Blood. Ask/discuss with your child how we can be certain that this isn’t just a symbolic or figurative use of language. Does your child have any friends who believe that the bread and wine are just symbols? How can your child have a loving discussion with his friend about the true nature of the bread and wine in Holy Communion?

Recite together from the catechism:

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

Where is this written?

The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Discussion questions for AFTER confirmation class:

In class, the main lesson was the benefit of partaking in the Lord’s Supper.

Ask your child to share what words tell us this benefit of eating and drinking.

“Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words.

Talk about what the words “given and shed” mean and why they are important. Discuss with your child what words would complete the following statement: “For where there is __________ (forgiveness) of sins, there is also ________ (life) and________ (salvation).”

Recite together from the catechism:

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?

These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”

Discussion questions for AFTER confirmation class:

In class we talked about preparing for and receiving the Sacrament of the Altar (Communion).

Discuss with your child why we need the Sacrament. Ask your child to explain what he learned about examining oneself and preparing to commune.

This would be a great opportunity for you to discuss how you prepare yourself before approaching for communion.

Lastly, we learned about the LCMS practice of closed Communion.

Ask your child to explain to you what this means and what you do/would do when attending another congregation.

Recite together from the catechism:

Who receives this Sacrament worthily?

Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is

truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you

for the forgiveness of sins.” But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts

them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to

believe.

May 21, 2023

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY!