How taking your confirmation class on a fun-filled spiritual retreat can teach your kids to See Through the Scriptures®!

Three neighboring Maryland churches joined Pastor Burk Hill of Messiah Lutheran Church in Germantown and Pastor David Betzner of Peace in Christ Lutheran Church in Walkersville in taking seventh and eighth grade students to Raven Rock Lutheran Camp in Sabillasville, MD for a three-day event titled See Through the Scriptures® Confirmation Retreat.

“After our arrival on Friday evening we did some get-acquainted activities,” says Pastor Hill. “We introduced See Through the Scriptures®, discussed the Foot Washing and Global Community logo depicted on the large Crossways Servant-King banner, and then delved into the first of five STS sections to be studied during the three days. The lessons included the Crossways International transparencies and the workbook discussion questions. Everyone then enjoyed follow-up activities related to what we had studied—for example, using flash cards that corresponded to each of the 40 STS transparencies to test their memory of the materials. The evening concluded with group devotions.

“Saturday was a day of delicious meals, See Through the Scriptures® study (two sections in the morning and two in the afternoon), related activities (such as writing a chat room message aimed at communicating Jesus’ message to unbelievers), a service project, and devotions. On Sunday, the students divided into smaller groups that each did a specific task for the worship service to be held that day. Students found creative ways to apply the ideas, concepts, and symbols learned during the weekend STS study. For example, they created their own banner based on the scripture reading for the day, utilizing Crossways International symbols. As a means of witnessing their faith, the students then explained their banner’s message during the worship service.

Pastor Hill says, “It was an opportunity for the kids to become more familiar with the biblical narrative.  They responded with enthusiasm and interest. As we progressed through the weekend they began to understand, absorb, and internalize the themes and concepts of Scripture. The colorful Crossways International visuals were definitely a helpful learning tool for the students.”

Pastor Steve Saxe of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Greenville, South Carolina shares the same enthusiasm about using See Through the Scriptures® for confirmation students at a retreat site. And he had an added requirement: The parents were requested to join their teenagers for that weekend event!  He says, “Parents really liked being there. The STS study got them turned on to Scripture, which gave them a bigger picture and broader context in personally understanding the biblical narrative. Most importantly, having the parents and teens together at the retreat fostered lively intergenerational discussions about the Christian faith.”

Thinking about having a See Through the Scriptures® confirmation retreat for your own congregation? Pastor Saxe says, “It certainly allows for exposure to the narrative of Scripture, its timeline, and what it all means to students as they study the Bible.”

For more on See Through the Scriptures®, click here.

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