Celebrating Grace: A Journey of Faith and Community
Summary
Today is a day of deep celebration and gratitude as we witness the ongoing work of God’s grace in our community. We rejoice in the generosity that has allowed us to support more than six Kenya houses, and we continue to see the fruit of our shared ministry, especially as we welcome eight young people into confirmation. This is not just a milestone for them, but a reminder for all of us of the journey of faith we share—a journey marked by God’s grace, our response, and the nurturing presence of the church family.
We began by remembering the God who never grows weary, who gives strength to the tired and hope to the weary. This is the God who calls us into relationship, who sustains us through every season of life. Through the sacrament of baptism, we are reminded that God’s grace goes before us, claims us, and invites us into a lifelong covenant. Whether baptized as infants or adults, each of us is called to claim the promises of faith for ourselves, to say “yes” to Jesus, and to continue growing in grace.
Confirmation is not a graduation or an end point, but a public affirmation of faith and a commitment to a life of discipleship. It is a time to claim the faith that has been nurtured in us by family, church, and the Spirit, and to step forward into a deeper relationship with Christ and his body. This journey is shaped by three key words: relationship, covenant, and journey. Our relationship with God, like any meaningful relationship, requires time, honesty, and forgiveness. The covenant we make is not just a promise, but a sacred commitment to live faithfully in response to God’s love, supported by a community that encourages and challenges us. And the journey of faith is one we walk together, growing and being transformed by God’s sanctifying grace.
As we celebrate these confirmands, we are reminded that the Christian life is a continual process of formation and confirmation. God’s grace meets us at every stage—prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying—calling us to deeper trust, service, and love. Whether we are new to faith or have walked this path for many years, God is with us, inviting us to grow, to serve, and to be transformed. May we all remember our own baptism, renew our commitment, and walk together in the way that leads to life.
Key Takeaways
- Grace is the foundation and sustainer of our faith journey. Before we are even aware of God, prevenient grace is at work, drawing us toward Him. This grace is not earned but freely given, and it continues to sustain us through every season of life, inviting us to deeper trust and transformation. [17:27]
- Baptism and confirmation are not mere rituals, but sacred moments where we publicly affirm God’s work in our lives and our commitment to follow Christ. These moments remind us that faith is both a gift and a response, and that we are called to continually claim and live out the promises made on our behalf. [34:58]
- The Christian life is best lived in community. Our growth in faith is nurtured by the love, support, and accountability of the church family. In times of doubt, struggle, or celebration, we are called to walk together, encouraging one another and bearing witness to God’s faithfulness. [38:42]
- Covenant is more than a promise; it is a sacred commitment to God and to one another. Just as in marriage or family, our covenant with God and the church calls us to faithfulness, service, and mutual support, shaping us into a people who reflect Christ’s love to the world. [40:35]
- The journey of faith is ongoing, marked by continual growth, learning, and transformation. Confirmation is a significant marker, but not the end; we are called to keep maturing in Christ, relying on God’s sanctifying grace to shape us into His likeness and empower us for service. [01:07:55]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[17:27] - Call to Worship: Celebrating Grace
[18:20] - Affirming Faith Together
[30:09] - The Meaning of Baptism
[33:02] - Baptism of Confirmands
[34:58] - The Gift of Grace and Confirmation
[38:42] - The Role of Family and Community
[40:35] - Promises and Covenants
[41:47] - Individual Confirmations
[44:05] - Remembering Baptism and Commitment
[46:54] - Welcoming New Members
[58:07] - Prayers of Gratitude and Blessing
[01:00:46] - What Confirmation Really Means
[01:04:37] - Isaiah 40: Strength for the Journey
[01:05:36] - Wesleyan Grace: Prevenient, Justifying, Sanctifying
[01:07:55] - Growing in Faith: Relationship, Covenant, Journey
[01:17:30] - Upcoming Series: Faith Works & Benediction
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Formation, Confirmation, and the Journey of Grace
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### Bible Reading
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
> Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Isaiah 40:28-31, what does God promise to those who are tired or weary? What images does the prophet use to describe God’s help? [01:04:37]
2. In the sermon, what are the three key words used to describe the Christian journey? [01:07:55]
3. What is the difference between baptism and confirmation as described in the sermon? [34:58]
4. How does the church community participate in the process of confirmation and faith formation? [38:42]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The passage in Isaiah talks about God giving strength to the weary. Why do you think the pastor chose this passage for Confirmation Sunday? How does it connect to the journey of faith? [01:04:37]
2. The sermon says that confirmation is not a graduation, but a public affirmation and a step forward in faith. What does it mean for faith to be a “journey” rather than a one-time event? [01:00:46]
3. The pastor described grace as prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying. How do these different aspects of grace shape a person’s relationship with God over time? [01:05:36]
4. The idea of covenant was emphasized as more than just a promise. What does it look like to live out a covenant with God and with the church in everyday life? [40:35]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about remembering your own baptism and renewing your commitment. What does “remembering your baptism” mean to you personally? Is there a way you can mark or celebrate your faith journey this week? [44:05]
2. The pastor said that the Christian life is best lived in community. Who in your church family has helped nurture your faith? How can you encourage or support someone else in their journey right now? [38:42]
3. Confirmation is described as a time to “say yes” to Jesus and step into a deeper relationship. Is there an area of your life where you need to say “yes” to God’s invitation? What might that look like this month? [01:00:46]
4. The sermon mentioned that our relationship with God, like any relationship, requires time, honesty, and forgiveness. What is one practical way you can invest in your relationship with God this week (prayer, scripture, service, etc.)? [01:07:55]
5. The idea of covenant includes supporting and challenging each other. Is there someone in your life who needs encouragement or accountability in their faith? How can you reach out to them this week? [40:35]
6. The pastor talked about God’s grace meeting us at every stage—before we know Him, when we say yes, and as we grow. Looking back, can you identify a time when you experienced God’s grace in a new way? How did it change you? [01:05:36]
7. The journey of faith is ongoing. What is one area where you want to grow or be transformed in your faith this year? What step can you take to move forward? [01:07:55]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for one another, especially for those who are at a new stage in their faith journey or who are seeking renewed strength from God.
Devotional
Day 1: Grace as the Unseen Foundation of Our Faith
Grace is the invisible current that draws us toward God even before we recognize His presence. This prevenient grace is a gift freely given, not earned by our actions or worthiness. It sustains us through every season of life, offering strength when we are weak and hope when we feel weary. Recognizing this grace invites us into a posture of trust and openness, allowing God’s transforming power to work deeply within us.
As you journey in faith, remember that grace is not a one-time event but a continuous reality. It precedes our decisions, accompanies our struggles, and empowers our growth. This sustaining grace calls you to lean into God’s love daily, trusting that He is at work in your life even when you cannot see it. [17:27]
Isaiah 42:3-4 (ESV)
A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth, and the coastlands wait for his law.
Reflection: Where in your life do you most feel weak or discouraged today? How can you invite God’s prevenient grace to strengthen you in that specific area right now?
Day 2: Baptism and Confirmation as Living Commitments
Baptism and confirmation are sacred moments that mark more than tradition; they are public affirmations of God’s active work in your life and your ongoing commitment to follow Christ. These rites remind us that faith is both a gift received and a response freely given. Whether you were baptized as an infant or as an adult, you are continually called to claim the promises made on your behalf and to live them out authentically.
These moments are not endpoints but invitations to deeper discipleship. They call you to remember your baptism daily and to renew your commitment to walk in the way of Jesus. This sacred exchange between God’s grace and your faithful response shapes your identity and mission within the church and the world. [34:58]
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (ESV)
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Reflection: What promises made in your baptism or confirmation do you find hardest to claim or live out? What is one practical step you can take today to renew your commitment to those promises?
Day 3: The Church as a Nurturing Community of Faith
Faith flourishes best when lived in the context of community. The church family provides love, support, and accountability that nurture spiritual growth. In moments of doubt, struggle, or celebration, walking together with others strengthens your faith and bears witness to God’s faithfulness. You are not meant to journey alone but to be part of a body that encourages, challenges, and uplifts.
This communal life reflects the relational nature of God and invites you to both receive and extend grace within the church. Your presence, prayers, and participation contribute to the health of the whole. Embracing this shared journey deepens your connection to Christ and to those He calls you to love. [38:42]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Reflection: Who in your church community needs your encouragement or forgiveness today? How can you actively contribute to nurturing faith in someone else this week?
Day 4: Covenant as a Sacred Commitment Beyond Promise
A covenant is more than a simple promise; it is a sacred, binding commitment to God and to one another. Like the bonds in marriage or family, this covenant calls for faithfulness, service, and mutual support. It shapes you into a people who reflect Christ’s love and invites you to live in accountability and grace within the church.
This covenantal relationship is a source of strength and challenge, calling you to embody God’s love tangibly. It reminds you that your faith is not private but shared, and that your commitment impacts the community and the world. Living into this covenant means embracing responsibility and joy in equal measure. [40:35]
Ruth 1:16-17 (ESV)
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
Reflection: What covenant commitments have you made with God and your faith community that you need to renew or embrace more fully? How can you demonstrate faithfulness in one specific relationship today?
Day 5: The Ongoing Journey of Growth and Transformation
Faith is not a destination but an ongoing journey marked by continual growth, learning, and transformation. Confirmation is a significant milestone, but it is not the end of the road. You are called to keep maturing in Christ, relying on God’s sanctifying grace to shape your character and empower your service.
This journey requires patience and perseverance, trusting that God is at work in every stage of your life. It invites you to embrace change, seek deeper understanding, and serve others with humility. Walking this path together with the church community strengthens your resolve and enriches your experience of God’s presence. [01:07:55]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Reflection: In what area of your spiritual life do you sense God inviting you to grow or change? What is one concrete action you can take this week to cooperate with God’s sanctifying work in you?
Quotes
And they may grow in their trust of God and be found faithful in their service to others. Amen. We will pray for them for the day of the true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life. Amen. Amen. [00:41:30] (17 seconds)
Confirmation is a time when a baptized person, usually a youth, claims the Christian faith as their own. It's a public affirmation of their baptism and a commitment to follow Jesus and become a member of the church. In some denominations, they kind of talk about age of accountability. It's a little like that when we talk about youth. You know, people, they've been sort of formed through our children's program and nurtured in their families. And this is claiming and saying yes to Jesus for themselves. That's what we believe that's happening in confirmation. But it doesn't end there. It doesn't end there. It continues as a life of discipleship. [01:02:17] (42 seconds)
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. [01:03:59] (17 seconds)
A lot of people stop there and saved. Not going to hell. I'm good. But that is not where we stop. There is sanctifying grace or sustaining grace, or John Wesley sometimes called it perfecting grace. And that is the grace that picks you up when you're exhausted and keeps you going. It's the grace that transforms us into the likeness of Christ over a lifetime. [01:07:48] (27 seconds)
Go now in God's peace. Remember the promises that God has made us to never leave us, to never forsake us. And remember the promise that we've made to God to share in our love with this world, to reach out to the stranger, to those who do not have hope, and to meet them in grace and peace. So now go in that peace and share it with others. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen. [01:17:45] (26 seconds)
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