Building Faith’s Best Choices for Catechesis and Confirmation Program

How to use this list

For each “top pick” program, we list the name, publisher, publication date, age range, program content, and a brief summary. We have done our best to include useful information such as:

• how the program works
• number of lessons included
• digital media options
• additional support resources
• material available in Spanish

We have organized the options alphabetically by name under the general categories of Catechesis & Preparation for Baptism and Confirmation. The Catechesis section includes resources on the Christian faith, discipleship, and the meaning of baptism. The Confirmation section provides material on the reaffirmation of baptismal vows and the meaning of confirmation in various church denominations. Since these categories overlap and are interrelated, you may find material in both lists useful for catechetical and confirmation programs.

Additionally, while some options may work well in various training contexts and with different age groups, the list does not focus on a seasonal or annual program. For age-specific curricula, check out our other top articles for for children, youth, adultAnd intergenerational training. For seasonal resources, a good starting point is our Articles by subject page.

THE name of program or resource provides a link to the program website. THE publisher name links to their “About” page where you can learn more about their theological approach. If you follow the link for each church denominationyou can consult their statement of belief.

As always, when choosing a program for your context, consider theology, biblical interpretation, context, material, and representation of human identities and experiences to determine which program might be best suited for your context.

Best choices for catechesis and preparation for baptism (updated April 2026)

1. Animate

This program aims to facilitate formative learning, conversation, critical and creative thinking, and practices on central dimensions of Christian faith and life. It is designed for adults of all ages. The program addresses three main themes: Faith, BibleAnd Practices (see links for each staff and sequence). Each topic contains 7 lessons featuring videos with church leaders and scholars as well as journals to spark group discussion. You can view sample documents on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Sparkhouse2012 – 2014 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
• Age group(s): adults; we think this could also be beneficial for high school youth (grades 9-12)
• Content: This program is available for purchase by subject in print or digital format; this involves a facilitator guide, participant journal and DVD; courses can also be purchased individually

2. Pilgrim: a course for the Christian journey

This program provides an introduction to the Christian faith and training to deepen Christian discipleship. It contains two stages, “Follow” and “Grow”, and both stages cover 4 topics with 6-7 lessons for each topic, totaling over 48 lessons. Topics include the baptismal covenant in “The Book of Common Prayer,” the Lord’s Prayer, creeds, the Bible, and much more. Lessons involve prayer, reading scriptures with divine lessonthoughts to read and discuss, and ways to continue participating in the lesson throughout the week. You can view a sample lesson on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Church Publication2016 (The Episcopal Church)
• Age group(s): adults
• Content: This program is available for purchase by subject in print format; This is a participant’s book for each topic and a leader’s guide

3. StoryMakers NYC Teen Zines

This collection of resources aims to help young people think about faith in relation to their lives. The program uses a zine format (“short for magazine”, as the publisher’s website says) with illustrations, scriptures, conversation or journaling prompts, and theological teachings for young people to engage, and it offers complementary teaching guides for leaders. Since many zines address key topics and themes in catechism or confirmation classes, we believe this program may be particularly suited to preparing young people for baptism or confirmation. Six zine volumes are currently available: “faith”, which focuses on the Apostles’ Creed; “Identify», which explores the prayer of the Our Father; “All the sensations“, which calls upon the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist; and “Relationships“, which delves into the Ten Commandments; “The future me“, which focuses on understanding oneself in relation to God; and “The Gospels“, which explores the four gospels in Scripture. Spanish versions of “The Faith” and “Identity” zines are also available, which you can view at this link: Teen Zines in Spanish. Each zine volume includes 10-12 chapters to cover 10-12 lessons. Details of the chapter topics are included in the links to the zine volumes. Sample pages can be viewed on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: StoryMakers NYC, 2023 – 2025 (not affiliated with any specific church denomination; read their statement of belief here)
• Age group(s): young people from middle and high schools (13 – 18 years old)
• Content: The program is available for purchase in printed format; it consists of a zine for each young person and an educational guide intended for leaders; additional resources such as postcards and sticker sheets can be purchased separately

4. Transformative questions

This program is designed to help adults answer key questions about faith and life. It seeks to create a space to ask questions and to train and transform through this question. The program includes 10 lessons on different issues with an additional lesson on the Episcopal tradition, and topics covered include questioning faith, who Jesus was, how to read the Bible, what happens after death, and much more. Lessons include presentations from leaders and small group discussions with the option to extend a 60-minute session with a 30-minute meal together. You can access a sample with scope and sequence as well as the full program in digital format for free on the program website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Forward movement2015 (The Episcopal Church)
• Age group(s): adults
• Content: This course is available free of charge in digital format; it is a facilitator’s guide and a participant’s guide; the participant’s guide and an accompanying book entitled Faithful questions are also available for purchase in print format

5. Do you want it? : A Lenten study on the promises of baptism

This program offers an in-depth exploration of the question “Do you want…?” » questions from the Baptismal Alliance. It is designed to be a five-week study during Lent, addressing one question each week, and it approaches these questions through the theme of evangelism. The book for participants and leaders includes short daily readings with stories, scriptures, prayers, and reflection questions. The accompanying group leader’s guide provides lesson plans for each week of study. You can view an excerpt from the book as well as the complete leader’s guide on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Forward movement2023 (The Episcopal Church)
• Age group(s): adults
• Content: The book is available for purchase in print or digital format; the leader’s guide can be downloaded for free

Top Confirmation Picks (Updated April 2026)

1. Confirm

This program offers 39 sessions, organized into 6 units that cover Church History, Methodism, Church Life and Practices, Fundamental Beliefs and Theology, and Calling. Lessons provide instructions and scripts for leaders, community building and creative activities, discussion questions, and ways for young people to continue to engage with the session topic over the coming week. You can view samples and videos about the program on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Cokebury2016 (United Methodist Church)
• Age group(s): youth
• Content: Resources are available for purchase, and all teaching materials, with the exception of the student guide (available in print format only), are accessible in print or digital format; Resources include a principal’s guide, a teaching plan book, a student guide, a mentor’s guide, a parent’s guide and a companion DVD with videos for each session.

2. I will, with God’s help

This program includes 6 lessons that explore the Apostles’ Creed and the Baptismal Covenant. It includes options to dedicate 6 or 12 weeks to the confirmation program. Lessons incorporate tactile materials, activities and worship as well as group discussions. The leader’s guide provides detailed instructions and scripts. You can access a sample on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Church Publication2000 (The Episcopal Church)
• Age group(s): young people, adults
• Content: The program is available for purchase in print or digital format; It consists of a leader’s guide, a mentor’s guide and participant journals suitable for youth and adults.

3. Making disciples

This program uses a mentoring model for confirmation preparation. It consists of 13 sessions and engages youth and mentor in a collaborative experience of learning and formation through reflection, reading the Gospel of Luke, writing, discussing, worshiping, and other activities together. Session topics include theology, worship, scripture, church life and ministry, and baptism. You can view examples of the program at Cokesbury website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Abingdon2018 (United Methodist Church)
• Age group(s): youth
• Content: This course is available for purchase in print and digital format (except for the confirmand journal which is print only); resources include a coordinator guide, mentor guide, confirmant journal

4. My faith, my life

This resource is a book written for young people. It contains 9 chapters that cover baptism, confirmation, and episcopal traditions and practices, as well as fundamental dimensions of the Christian faith and life, including Scripture, church history, and mission. Each chapter ends with prompts for conversation and personal reflection. A separate Leader’s Guide provides options for developing a 6- or 10-session confirmation program using the book. Lessons provide suggested activities for each session and incorporate tactile materials, community-building games, and worship. You can view extracts on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Church Publicationrevised 2014 (The Episcopal Church)
• Age group(s): youth
• Content: This program is available for purchase in print and digital formats; it consists of a book for young people and a leader’s guide

5. Practicing our faith / Let’s practice our faith

This program provides insight into faith and life in the context of the Episcopal Church. It includes 26 lessons that dive deep into “The Book of Common Prayer.” Lessons cover topics such as the sacraments, liturgical seasons, theology, scripture, church organization, and spiritual practices. It is available in English and Spanish. The program is designed to work with a companion book, “Walking in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices” (English) / “Another Cupid” (Spanish), which can be used only by leaders or by all members of the group. The lesson plans provide options for teaching lectures and group discussions, as well as group activities and prayer. You can access examples on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Forward movement2018 (The Episcopal Church)
• Age group(s): young people, adults; A related 7-lesson program called “Exercising Faith: Teaching Children Episcopal Beliefs and Practices” is also available for elementary-age children.
• Content: This course is available free of charge in digital format; the companion book is available for purchase in print and digital formats

6. Profess our faith

This program is designed with options for a short 8 session program or a weekly program for the school year with 35 lessons. It focuses on the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer with particular attention to theology, sacraments, Presbyterian beliefs and polity, mission and justice. Lessons include games and group activities for different learning styles, scriptures, discussion questions, prayers, and activities youth can do at home during the week. You can access a downloadable digital sample via this link.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Presbyterian Publishing Company2005 (Presbyterian Church (United States))
• Age group(s): youth
• Content: The program is available for purchase in printed format; it is composed of a teacher’s book and a student notebook

7. Your faith, your life / Your faith, your life

This book is similar to “My Faith, My Life,” but it is written for adult readers. It covers similar topics in 10 chapters, such as baptism, reading the scriptures, Church history, episcopal traditions and practices, and mission. The adult edition incorporates narrative interludes between chapters as well as questions at the end of each chapter that invite holistic, multi-layered reflection on readers’ personal experiences. You can view excerpts from the book in English and Spanish on the publisher’s website.

Additional Information

• Publisher and date: Church PublicationEnglish version revised in 2017; Spanish version published in 2022 (The Episcopal Church)
• Age group(s): adults
• Content: This book is available for purchase in print and digital formats

Table of catechesis and confirmation programs (April 2026)

Below is an interactive program table that you can use to find specific features and compare program options. You can search by age group, religious denomination and any other characteristic named in the table. If you type “youth” in the search bar, for example, the table will list all programs designed for young people. Similarly, you can type “Spanish” to specify resources in the Spanish language. You can also follow the links on the program names to the publishers’ websites to learn more about each option.

If you prefer to have a broader view of the chart, it is also available on our Curriculum Center page.

Editor’s note: This article was last published on February 5, 2024. It was updated published and republished on April 21, 2026.

The image shown is of Dawn McDonald on Unsplash