Building a Life Worth Living: Introduction

I will assume that most readers of the Lutheran Sentinel have been or will be confirmed into the Christian faith. The age of confirmation, albeit an arbitrary one, marks an important time in the life of each young Christian. Those of you looking forward to confirmation probably think that catechism classes and memory work will never end. Those of you looking back at confirmation may not remember much of what you studied.
I attended the confirmation classes taught by my father at Western Koshkonong Lutheran School in rural Wisconsin. The students who went to Christian Day School had two one-hour classes per week. The members of our class that attended public school met on Saturday mornings. I remember feeling sorry for those kids who had to spend two solid hours every Saturday morning studying their Catechism lessons.
Regardless of when classes were held, we all studied the same material, primarily Luther’s Small Catechism—the Six Chief Parts including questions and answers, proof passages from the Bible, prayers, hymns, and other material. I recall practicing memory work at home on Monday and Wednesday nights in order to avoid getting in trouble with my teacher/father the following mornings. Nothing was worse than being kept inside at morning recess to recite memory work.
I am going to focus on a short section of scripture to form the basis of a series of articles for this year’s column: The heading before 2 Peter 1: 3-8 in the NIV is Confirming One’s Calling and Election. The verses read as follows:
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In essence, the following articles will help confirm your confirmation:
Building Trust
Building Virtue
Building Knowledge
Building Self-control
Building Perseverance
Building Godliness
Building Love
St. Peter goes on to say, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:10). That is what we will try to do!
Daniel Madson is a former schoolteacher and now a member of Abiding Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.