This week our church is joyfully joining with Madison Osheim, Jocelyn O'Neal, Tony Pedersen and Osiel Pedersen as they confirm their baptismal vows. Confirmation is the rite of initiation in which young people enter into full confession and affirmation of faith.

These four young people have spent the last months studying the traditional membership questions:

1. Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?

2. Who is your Lord and Savior?

3. Will you be Christ's faithful disciple obeying his word and showing his love?

4. Will you devote yourself to the church's teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers?

Our Scripture readings are 1 Peter 2:1-10: Ephesians 4: 1-6.

Plean to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30 am or go to our FB page to link to Youtube live on Sunday mornings or anytime on our webstie redoakpresbyterianchurch.com

Questions to Ponder:

1. Were you confirmed as a young person? What do you remember of this experience?

2. How is confirmation an ongoing process in the life of a Christian?

3. Warren Wiersbe says, "The only way to enter God's spiritual family is by a spiritual birth, through faith in Jesus Christ. Just as there are two parents in physical birth, so there are two parents in spiritual birth: the Spirit of God (John 3:5-6) and the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23)." What does it mean to be spiritually reborn? What does the new nature look like when compared to the old nature? How does hope figure into the new nature?

4. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." What does it mean we are a "holy priesthood"? How should this affect the way we live our lives?

5. In what ways are we as believers "a holy nation"? (See Philippians 3:20) What was the darkness we were called out of? What does it mean, in practical terms, that together we are the people of God?

6. Warren Wiersbe says, "What does it mean to you that you were "reborn" spritually? How is this truth evident in your own life? In what ways do you still struggle with the old life?"

7. What are some ways Christians can accept one another and bear with one another in love?

8. To what extent do you live as part of God's holy nation and to what extent do you tend to live your Christian life on your own? What are your contributions to the people of God? What do you need from them?

9. On Sunday May 1st we are joyfully adding Madison, Jocelyn, Tony and Osiel as members of our church family. How can you support and care for these four young people?