Summer 2025

Dear Friends in Christ –

Luke 8: 26-39, the Gospel Reading for June 22, the Second Sunday after Pentecost, tells of Jesus’ delivering the Gerasene demoniac.  This story is in all three of the synoptic Gospels and it occurred right after Jesus’ calming of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, which I believe is significant.  This was the first time that Jesus during His public ministry ventured into Gentile territory (the presence of pigs confirms that).  Satan tried to stop Him with a storm.  When that did not work, Satan tried to stop Him with a demoniac.  What are some of the ways in which you see Satan trying to hinder, disrupt, stop, and destroy the work of God today?  

Near the beginning of the account it says, “As He (Jesus) stepped out on land.”  Near the end it says, “So He got into the boat.”  It only mentions Jesus as stepping out of and getting back into the boat.  The disciples must have been too spooked – by the storm, by being in Gentile territory, and by the demoniac – to be willing to get out of the boat.  When have you been so spooked that you did not want to do the equivalent of following Jesus out of the boat?  With all the things that are happening in our country, in our world, and even in some parts of the church today, it would be very easy to be totally spooked and just want to stay in the boat.   

Notice the way in which Luke describes the demonized man.  “For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.”  “Many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.”  Mark adds, “He was always howling and bruising himself with stones.” 

Satan hates us.  Satan’s greatest desire is to hurt the people of God and to hinder and destroy the work of God.   How do you see Satan doing that today?  As I look around I see many ways in which Satan is active overtime trying to destroy the work of the church today.   

With all the turmoil happening in our world, it would be very easy to be totally afraid.  But here we see that the forces of evil immediately recognize the far greater power of Jesus.  When the demonized man saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 

And then when Jesus asked the demon for its name, the demon replied, “Legion.”  The reason for that name is that many demons had entered him.  Jesus was establishing His authority over the demon by commanding the demon to tell Jesus his name.  Many who have a ministry of spiritual deliverance have said that demons have resisted telling their name.  A legion was the largest military unit in the Roman army and was composed of over 5,000 men.  By comparison, Mary Magdalene had only seven demons cast out of her (Luke 8:2).   

As I understand the Scriptures, God is omni-present, able to be everywhere all at the same time. Satan is a created being and therefore can only be in one place at a time.  Therefore, Satan has his various levels of followers – whom Paul describes as “rulers, authorities, cosmic powers of this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6: 12).  These Satan assigns to specific people, places, and situations.  That is why the legion of demons begged Jesus not to order them to go back into the abyss.  They would be in deep trouble with Satan if they were to abandon their post and return to hell.

Then we come to what has been for many people the most difficult part of the story.  Why would Jesus give the demons permission to enter a large herd of swine, which would lead to the death of the swine?  Why would Jesus allow the destruction of the property of others as well as the livelihood of the swineherds?  Many Bible scholars believe that these pigs were being raised to be sacrificed to idols.  So Jesus is showing that His power is not only far greater than the Legion of demons, it is also far greater than all pagan gods.   

If that is the most difficult part of the story, we then come to the saddest part of the story.  When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told people about it.  Rather than being overjoyed that the demoniac had been delivered, the people were afraid.  And because they were afraid, they asked Jesus to leave.  They asked Jesus to leave, and He obliged them by leaving.  The tragedy is not only that Jesus left – as requested – but there is no record that He ever returned.  Sometimes it seems that some parts of the church have so elevated other values and agenda priorities that they basically have asked Jesus to leave.    

The story concludes by telling us that the man who had been delivered of demons begged Jesus that he might be with Him.  But Jesus said to him, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”  Naturally this person would want to follow Jesus because Jesus had liberated him.  But Jesus knew that he would be most effective in witnessing to people who had known him before he had been delivered.  I am very grateful for all the people who tell me that they are sharing our materials with others.  Who are the people who would be most apt to listen if they were to hear it from you?

The ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be coming up at the end of July.  We are deeply concerned about actions that will be taken, including further cementing DEIA values and Marxist critical race theory into the governing documents of the church, substituting a “gospel” of dismantling racism for the Gospel of forgiveness of sins through the cross, a fast-tracking of the approval process for amendments to constitutions, and a full embrace of the most extreme LGBTQ+ agenda.  Like with the townspeople in Luke 8, it feels like many in the ELCA are asking Jesus to leave. 

Thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement, and faithful financial support, all of which enable and strengthen us to continue to do our work of being a Voice for Biblical Truth and a Network for Confessing Lutherans.  Please find enclosed a form which you can use to give a gift towards our regular operating expenses.  Your prayers are especially important as we face all the changes that we anticipate coming from the upcoming ELCA Churchwide Assembly.  Please let us know how we can be praying for you.     

In the all-powerful Name of Jesus,

Dennis D. Nelson
Executive Director of Lutheran CORE
P.O. Box 1741
Wausau WI 54402-1741

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed” (Matthew 26:36-37).

Grief and distress lead us.  We look around in this world and imagine what it could be.  There will be a new heaven and earth, so this world is not all  we should be thinking about.  Our Lord has called us to eternity, so we should walk in hope the path He has laid before us.  The interesting thing is that when He sets our heart on eternity, we are most useful in this world, for we invest in the business of salvation one person at a time.

Lord, help me to see through the fog of wishful thinking of this world to join with You, praying to live in the Father’s will. It is not supplications of constantly asking for things, but opening up of the mind and soul to be about Your business.  It is about calling upon the Father for all things.  We know this, for we get on a phone and call someone.  It is a conversation – two ways.  We are to call upon the Lord and be open to what He would say to us.

Lord Jesus, You have called for us to be a people who are constantly in prayer.  Help me to not wait until I want something.  Help me to be open to all that You would say to me.  Let me not sleep through this age with a limited view, but engage in continuous prayer so that I may humbly live into the life You are giving me through grace.  This world is full of grief and distress.  Help me to focus upon the promised rest of Your salvation.  Amen.

“Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well” (Matthew 26:35).

I will do this and that for You Lord.  But I will be distracted, become fearful, or get busy with other things, so maybe later.  Lord, I am not honest with myself or You.  What can I say to You who knows all things?  You must lead and I must follow.  I am where I am, but You know where You are taking me.  Ignorance is my bedfellow and arrogance is my companion.  I need to be saved from myself.

Lord, You who knows all things, guide me in the way of righteousness.  Lead me up and out of the thinking I have gained in this world to begin to learn how to think the right way about life and its circumstances.  Teach me the things I need to know.  Aid me in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me on the path of salvation so that I may humbly follow where You lead.  You have the words of everlasting life.

Guide me, Lord Jesus.  Teach me to guard my mouth so that I do not speak things that are not true.  Open my mouth so that I speak of You and the great love You have for us.  Lead me in the way You know I need to be led.  Help me to understand the truth that You have spoken and place that truth in my heart.  Through all things, lead me to learn how to be faithful to You, my Lord and God.  Amen.

“But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!”  Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (Matthew 26:33-34).

“I” will never fall away.  Yes, you will.  If we run on our own steam, it will run out and we will fail.  New Year’s resolutions anyone?  Denying the Lord is what brought the whole mess of this age.  The Lord forgives us.  That forgiveness is to truly come into humility in order to realize that we really do need to be saved each day and in many circumstances.  The Lord knows us.  He knows what we will do, who we are, and what He will make of us.

Lord of all, help me to submit to You.  I pretend in my own mind that I can do things on my own, but I cannot.  I have denied You, but now I do not want to.  Change my heart O Lord so that I see that only in You can I become whom You are making me to be.  Take away the fear of this world so that I live the life for which You are creating me.  Lead me away from what is false to what is true that I may live a true life.

Lord Jesus, so great is Your love for us all that You have taken away our sin.  I can barely begin to fathom this.  Guide me away from the things of this world that I may humbly submit to You and Your righteousness.  Lead me in the way of living this life of faith that You have given me.  Teach me how to live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Humble me so that I may be lifted by You into right living.  Amen.

“Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:31-32).

We become dependent upon strong leadership and good circumstances.  This world is fickle and when things change, we fall away.  Yes, we are dependent upon our Lord, but He will also grow us to be able to stand fast in this world of the spiritually dead.  He means what He says when He tells us He will make of us children of the Heavenly Father.  Do not be tossed about by this world, but be led by Jesus.

Lord, You know how easily swayed by this world we are.  Help us to have firm legs which are able to walk, and not fall when the troubles of this world press in.  Take us to the place where You took the disciples so that Your faithful ones stand firm through the storms of life.  Guide us to see the truth which You have revealed.  Aid us to always follow Your lead, wherever You will take us.

Dear Jesus, You told the disciples to go ahead to Galilee.  After Your death, it took them awhile to obey.  I too lag in my obedience.  Help me to hear Your word and obey Your instructions.  Grant me a mind that discerns and a heart that willingly follows wherever You lead me.  You are my Savior and apart from You, I would be nothing.  Hold us, all who are your church, Your body, close together to follow You now and forever.  Amen.

“And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30).

The Mount of Olives is now covered with graves.  Jesus went to the place of the dead.  Jesus came to us while we were as good as dead to pave the way for our salvation to real life.  Jesus is about the Father’s business of raising the dead.  We are offered a new life in Christ, a life that knows that though we die in this age, yet we shall always live because our gracious Lord and God has made the way possible.

Lord, You know how my soul becomes troubled, and I do not believe.  Guide me in the upward way You have laid before me as I walk through this world of the living dead.  Help me to be Your light to the blind that they may see and live, not because of me, but because of You in me.  Lead me on this path of righteousness so that I no longer fear death nor dying, but fear being separated from You.

Lord Jesus, You came to me while I was spiritually dead and raised me to live with You by faith.  Guide me this day to forever hold fast to You in the mystery of the faith.  Let me not slumber nor sleep, but live by the power of Your Holy Spirit and walk in Your ways.  Shine the life You have placed in me so that others see and come to believe that You are the Savior of our souls.  Lead me now and always, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29).

The Lord will make all things new.  We do not fully know all that our Lord is doing, but we do know that He is making new the lives of those who believe.  This world was sent on a downward path from the Garden and He came to redeem those who believe.  It will be glorious then, but there is struggle now.  Look for paradise, which is being with Jesus, and live into the new life He gives you by faith.

Lord, I want things to be good and perfect here.  I want to live a life that is comfortable and good now, but every day I am reminded of sin in the world.  Take my eyes off of the world and focus them upon You.  Lead me into the new life for which You died so that I may be prepared by You for the age to come.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go so that I may walk the path of righteousness.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for doing all that is needed for our salvation.  When I am brought low by this world, lift me up in the hope of the world to come.  When a pleasure I have had here is forever removed, remind me that it was but a foretaste of what is to come.  Lead me into a life that looks to You no matter what happens in this world.  Guide me, dear Savior, in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28).

Jesus is the bread of life.  The blood of Jesus must course through our veins.  He is here doing what He came to accomplish.  The covenant God has made with those who believe is revealed in the salvation which saves through the body and blood of Jesus.  As many as believe, He will make of them His children.  We are saved by, through and because of Jesus.  We need the forgiveness only He provides and we need to be set upon the right course to live into the life He sets before us.

Jesus, You laid all things out so that we, being healed of blindness, might see that You have caused all things to be as they are to fulfill the Father’s perfect will.  Take away the rebellious heart in us and replace it with yours.  Give us Your flesh and blood so that it is You  that is living in us.  Do not let Your faithful ones stray from Your presence, but cause Your life to grow us into children of the Heavenly Father.

Lord Jesus, You know what I need.  In the wisdom You grant through the Holy Spirit, guide me ever deeper into the mystery of the faith You have revealed.  You have shared Your body and blood so that I may be forgiven and have true life.  As one forgiven much, teach me to love much.  Throughout the mysteries of this age, prepare me to be with You forever in the place You are preparing for all who believe.  Amen.

“The Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”  And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself” (Matthew 26:24-25).

The curse of the second death is eternal separation from all goodness.  God alone is good and He is the source of all that is good.  Being apart from God is evil and the farther away we are from Him, the more there is evil is in those who are separated.  In this age, good and evil are being revealed.  Judas wanted to usher in His idea of how things should be.  He betrayed Truth Himself and then denied it in front of Him.

How wicked wickedness can be.  We do what we think is good and we do not know.  The only good Lord is You, leading us.  We cannot know apart from You, for we were born into a life that leads to wickedness.  Save us, Lord, and lift us out of the mire so that we do not betray You.  You have come to save us in this confused age of wickedness.  Lift us ever upward toward You.

Come, Lord Jesus, and be the Master of my heart.  Teach me what it means to humbly submit to Your authority.  Guard the words of my mouth and the ideas in my head so that I do not harbor any thoughts of insurrection.  You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  You know the plans You have for me.  Help me to live out the Father’s plans which were formulated from the beginning so that I may be counted amongst the faithful.  Amen.