Devotional with Your Child (for Confirmation)

This is a devotional designed for children around the age of 9-12, especially for parents to discern their children's readiness for confirmation.

The goal of confirmation is not to see whether your child knows the right answers, but whether they are personally trusting in Jesus Christ as He is offered in the gospel. As parents, our role is not to pressure our child toward confirmation, but to prayerfully discern whether the Lord has given them a credible profession of faith.

The following passages are intended to lean into the first two PCA membership vows with our children:

"1. Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope except in His sovereign mercy?"

"2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?"

Read each text with your child, then share with them the main truth which summarizes the passage. Then ask the questions to consider with your child. Listen for their answers, and see what if any follow-up questions surface after that.

Always feel free to ask follow-up questions: 

• Is there anything that’s still confusing? 

• What about this feels difficult or too hard to understand right now?

• Why is this good news for you personally? How does this comfort you in your heart?

• If a friend asked you how someone becomes a Christian, how would you guide them? 

• If a friend asked you what a Christian basically believes, how might you answer them?

Passages to Read and Reflect Together 

1. Romans 3:23–24, “²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” 

Share the main truth: Everyone has sinned and cannot reach God on their own. So, salvation is God's free gift.

Q to consider: "Do you agree that all have sinned, including yourself? Do you understand what it means when the Bible says that there is sin in our hearts, not just in our actions?"

2. Romans 5:8, “⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Main truth: God loves us, and he shows it (not merely saying it). How? Through Christ who died for sinners.

Q to consider: "How did God show you his love? Do you receive his death on the cross as something he's done out of love for you? Have you received and thanked God for his gift?"

3. Ephesians 2:8–9, “⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Main truth: We are saved by grace and grace alone. Faith is how we receive this gift, but our faith is not what saves us. What we put our faith in, that is what saves us. And we put our faith in Jesus.

Q to consider: "Can anyone earn salvation? What about our heroes/heroines, do they need grace, too? God doesn't require our works to save us -- do you believe that what Jesus did for you is totally enough to save you? Have you ever prayed for him to save you?"

4. John 3:16–18, “¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” 

Main truth: Responding by faith to the Son, Jesus Christ. "Have you responded to him in faith/trust?"

Q to consider: "Do you believe in who Jesus is (that he is the Son of God)? Do you believe that he came to save sinners from their sin and from hell (eternal separation from God)?"

5. Luke 18:9–14, “⁹ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

Main truth: God gives mercy to the humble, not to the proud.

Q to consider: "What is the main difference between these two characters? Do you feel like being a Christian means being more like the Pharisee sometimes? Can you identify with this tax collector who was truly saved?"

Signs of Readiness

How can we know if our children are ready? We can look for a few signs.

Look for humble trust in Jesus Christ, more than polished answers, more than a commitment to obedience, commitment to church, etc.

Is there an acknowledgement of sin and how it separates us from a holy God? Is there an acknowledgement that Christ saves them from their own heart, not just their actions?

Is there a desire to grow as a follower of Christ (or a desire for a desire)?

We're looking for small, incremental, yet genuine profession of faith in Christ as their Savior of sinners. It may take time, so walk with them in patience and prayerfulness.

I’m praying for you and your family. 

Heavenly Father, give your covenant children hearts that truly know and love Jesus, and faith that receives and rests upon him. Help us parents to be patient, wise, and full of grace as we walk together with our children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.