Claim The Life

Frequently Asked Questions  (FAQs)                 


 Archived 'Idea Exchange' Q&A 

 
What does Claim the Name teach youth about Jesus Christ?
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"With the Death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ makes it possible to be at one with God. This is what the word atonement means: 'at-one'. The relationship broken by sin can be restored. Through this self-giving love, Jesus breaks the bonds of death and cancels the power of sin. Jesus Christ is the Way for us to be in right relationship with God; Jesus is our Savior."
39 Week Teaching Plans
Free Resource! Pages 221-225

"The power of sin is so strong that human beings cannot break it by themselves. Only God is greater. God, in giving us Jesus Christ, created a way for us to break away from the power and have new life. Through our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are saved from the power of sin and saved for a life of righteousness in harmony with God, who loves us."
6-15 Week Teaching Plans
Free Resource! Pages 59-64

Unfortunately, we're better at sinning than not. Still God loves us. So God came to be among us. To show us how to live, God sent Jesus, God's Son to live among us. That's called the Incarnation (God 'made flesh'). But God loves us still more. The way of sin is easy, oh so easy....It draws us like a magnet and holds us. But God is more powerful! God through God's Son, Jesus, paid upon the cross the ultimate price of sin: death. But three days later Jesus showed who had the ultimate power--God! The Resurrection is God's way of saying, 'I love you so much that I will pay the debt of your sin.' Paying that debt is called the Atonement. Jesus made it possible to be at one with God again. That's God's grace! We don't deserve it. We can't earn it. We can only accept it and live it every day!"
The Name Above All 
Free resource! Pages 1–25


At what age should persons be confirmed?
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Because the middle school years (6th–8th grades) are when young people begin to move from concrete thinking to abstract thinking, that is when most people begin to make lifelong faith decisions. However, not everyone is ready for such a decision at this time in life and a few are ready even before 6th grade. Also, during these middle school years youth are seeking a sense of belonging. Belonging to the community of faith is an appropriate response to hat developmental task.


What about confirmation for older youth, especially ones who missed confirmation in middle school?
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The teenage years are important for making a commitment to live as a disciple of Christ. So, consider the possibilities for confirmation with older youth. Some may have been confirmed earlier, but are ready to make a deeper commitment. Some will have missed an earlier opportunity for confirmation. All older youth can benefit from confirmation study and an opportunity to confirm or reaffirm their faith. Two resources are specifically geared toward older youth, who have moved in their development from a need to belong to a need to question. Claim the Name Retreats for Continuing the Journey has 8 retreats geared for 9–12 grade learners. Faith Exploration for Older Youth and Young Adults can be used in a special study or in Sunday school. It gives youth an opportunity to revisit the major beliefs of the faith, grapple with their questions, and claim a deeper faith.

At the conclusion of the Faith Exploration study or retreat (or retreat series), celebrate the rite of confirmation. Participants in the study or retreat who have already been baptized may also choose to celebrate the reaffirmation of their baptism. Confirmation is a repeatable rite in The United Methodist Church. These older-youth options provide both an age appropriate means for confirming those who missed the earlier opportunity.

 
How do I get parents to be more supportive?
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Check out Questions Parents Ask About Confirmation, by MaryJane Pierce Norton. This book addresses four big questions: Will our children have faith? What is confirmation? What can we do at home? and What if the answer is no? Give the handbook to parents as you set up your confirmation classes, or use it as part of your parent meetings.
Click here to read more

How do we involve the congregation and the parents in confirmation?
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In addition to  Questions Parents Ask About Confirmation, three other resources will be helpful:

TalkPoints for Mentors and Youth and TalkPoints for Parents and Youth provide an easy-to-use structure that fosters one-on-one conversations related to faith. 

Claiming the Name: A Theological and Practical Overview of Confirmation gives planners outlines for parents' meetings and for training mentors as well as other great ideas for congregational involvement.

Other than length, what are the differences among the 6-15 week, the 39 week, and the 8 week teaching plans?
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All three have the same goals: to help youth claim the name Christian and claim the name United Methodist. All three deal with many of the same basics that relate to those goals. However, with 39 weeks, more will be available. The other key difference is in the teaching approach. Both the 6–15 week and the 39-week plans engage learners, but each has a distinct style. The 8 week plans draw from both of the other teaching plans, but organize the activities in a step-by-step format. The 8 week plans also coordinate with the Student Book most closely.

8 week plan
6-15 week plan
39 week plan


What if our church wants to do 13 weeks but we don't really like the 6-15 week teaching plans?

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Check out the 39-week plans. Choose those sessions that you want, and create your own program. Claim the Name gives you plenty of great material from which to draw. You are in charge. (For one example of an alternative plan, see the Nifty Ideas.

Or choose the 8-week plans and add to them, especially from the Claim the Name Multimedia Teaching Tools.

 
What if our church has a two-year confirmation program?
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Start with the 39-weeks and add material from the 6-15 plans. The variety is stimulating; the overlap is good educational reinforcement. Hearts on Fire and Fired Up! give you additional material focused on youth living as United Methodist Christians today. Supplement also with the Claim the Name Multimedia Teaching Tools.  

What are the differences between the Student Book and the Keepsake Books for the students? Do I need to buy both?
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The two types of student materials serve different purposes. The Student Book is a workbook-style resource with various write-in activities, such as fill in the blank, crosswords, tools and matching. These are good educational reinforcement for what has been presented and talked about in class.

The Keepsake Books are booklets for reading. They take fairly "heavy" theological and historical content and simplify it (for example, sin and salvation). Having the books in hand and to take home gives youth access to that content so that they can re-read it and refer to it again. The back page of each book has a place for a pastor, mentor, parent, or other interested adult or older youth to write a personal note, which the confirmand will want to have as keepsake.

If you are using the 8-week teaching plans, you will definitely need the Student Book since it is the primary organizing principle. For the other two plans, the Student Book is supplementary. How you use depends on your teaching-style preference and your understanding of your group.

The Keepsakes are integrated into all three teaching plans. 

 
How do I keep students coming after confirmation?
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After confirmation where did they go? If that is a question your church is asking, here are three key areas to consider and some practical suggestions:

1. Ask, What’s different about confirmation? For one thing, young persons get a sense that it’s important. Are they getting that same message about youth Sunday school? about participation in worship as part of the congregation?

• Show and tell your youth that continuing to learn as Christians is crucial to a faithful journey. Speak out on the subject from the pulpit. Make Sunday school a big deal as well as an expectation.

• Help Sunday school teachers do their best. Provide training, great resources, and a teammate for teaching and relating to the youth.

• In sermons use illustrations and examples that speak to teens as well as those that are “adult.” As the pastor, meet with some of the youth about the sermon ahead of time and ask them for connections and ideas to use when you preach.

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