Ephesians 1:15f
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I  have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Those who will be confirmed this morning are at a crossroads in their lives. History has shown that several dramatic changes will take place for those who have been confirmed. First of all, there is what most no longer do. Unfortunately and contrary to God's will, many who are confirmed no longer involve themselves in regular Bible study as they had been perhaps forced to do while in Sunday school and Confirmation class. Many also become quite scarce in worship and in participating in worship such as singing for special services. Even though the Bible clearly says "Let us not give up meeting together, that is exactly what many parents allow their newly confirmed children to do in direct violation of God's Third Commandment.

Secondly, those who are confirmed are now given the opportunity (which some do) to involve themselves more in the life of the congregation. Not only do they continue to worship God and study the Bible, they serve as ushers, teacher's assistants in Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, service projects through the Young Peoples Society, singing in choir, etc. Most importantly, they receive the Lord's Supper through which Jesus gives his own body and blood to strengthen their faith.

Not only is this a crossroad in their lives at church, it is a crossroads in school and in their personal lives. A transition is made from elementary school to high school. Soon (if not already) they will be dating, working outside the home, making new friends, driving cars, making more decisions on their own. It was said yesterday how much their appearance changes from confirmation through high school. Well, its not only the outside that is undergoing change, major changes are taking place on the inside as well.

As a congregation, we should be concerned about the future of these wonderful young people whom the Lord has brought to this point through the study of his Word. We are to pool the resources God has given us to be partners in involving them more in the means of grace by which God strengthens faith and gives guidance to a young person's lives. In addition, we can individually and collectively do what St. Paul did for the Ephesians.

Pray for our Confirmands
1. Give Thanks to God for them.
2. Ask God to Give them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

Context: This letter is addressed to the Christians in Ephesus. Most likely it was also read to other congregations in the area. St. Paul had heard about these people. And the report was good! Maybe you have heard about this class which is being confirmed today. Maybe you heard about the way they treat each other, their approach toward study, the way in which they worked together as a class. What kind of a report did you hear? 

I could tell you a little about each student who is sitting here before us today. Oh, I could use the law which shows us our sin and relate an incident or two from each one as to how they are indeed sinners. Our sinful nature likes to listen to such bad reports. I won't do that. I would like to tell you about the fruits of faith that I have seen in their hearts. 

Faith in Jesus. Each member of this class has openly confessed that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of us all and they are confident that they are forgiven because of what he has done for them. Their faith in Jesus is evident.

Love for all the saints. They also love each other with a Christian love that considers the needs of each other above their own. They would defend each other, pray for each other when someone broke a bone or was sick or who had a friend who was injured. They would enjoy one another's company in class and on breaks. They would show that love to our shut ins by singing to them at Christmas time. In many other ways they show love as God has loved them.

Our response? St. Paul responded to the report of the Ephesians by praying: 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. We too can give thanks to God for what he has worked in their lives-knowledge, faith, and love.

Transition: But Paul realized that the early Christians were also at a crossroads in their lives. They had reached a certain point of Christian maturity but the end was not yet. They would face difficult spiritual times ahead as he had told the elders in his last known meeting with them: 
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

As I said earlier, class. You are at a crossroads. There will be those who will question the truth which you have learned in confirmation class and the lessons that you have come to know in Sunday school. "You don't really need to go to church now, you've graduated!" "What pastor said about the proper use of drugs and alcohol, what does he know?" "What makes you think your church has the truth and other denominations mix it with error?" Savage wolves, perhaps from our own congregation, will try to get us to question what we have learned and not to keep our confirmation vows. Look around on a Sunday morning and see how many high school students, those in their twenties and thirties really to commit themselves to the church if you have any doubt about this warning!

2. Ask God to Give them a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation.
But don't be afraid. God gives us the strength to stay in the faith and to grow in our faith. It's not a magical formula but a continuation of what you have become used to. As a congregation we can pray that God will use this means to keep our youth strong and to actually grow in faith and love. Pray to God to give them a Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they can know Jesus even better. This is in keeping with Paul's example and with Jesus' own promise: 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

We ask for this blessing in our prayers. Jesus answers by giving the Spirit to you through the Gospel in the Word and Sacraments. As a confirmed member, you will be invited to receive the Lord's supper often. For in this sacrament in which Jesus gives his own body and blood, he also gives you the Spirit to give you guidance and strength.

Conclusion: During the past two years, I have been privileged to help you get to know Jesus better. I have a fairly good idea of how well you know of him. But as one who has also been confirmed and who subsequently has spent the last 28 years getting to know Jesus better, I can tell you this. There is a lot more to learn about Jesus and God's power for you. I also know from firsthand experience how much you who are now at a crossroads are going to need to know Jesus better. You will need his help in high school, at your job, when on a date, or just when you have seemingly nothing to do. I also know how much knowing Jesus has helped me in my life and that I still have much more to learn about him. And so do you. I pray that you will share St. Paul's attitude when it comes to knowing Jesus better when he says in Philippians: 
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I also pray (and ask all of you here today) that through the continued use of the means of grace that God will keep his promise that he will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better and the power that he has for you. The power to keep you strong in the faith and to give your greater faith in Jesus and love for all the saints. Amen