Discipleship

Discipleship & Mission

Lutheran CORE is a coalition for renewal. And this page contains articles about discipleship and mission. Both are needed for renewal.

Please also check out our Discipleship YouTube video playlist.

DiscipleshipWhen Faith Stays at Church: Recovering Luther’s Vision for the Christian Home
September 14, 2026

When Faith Stays at Church: Recovering Luther’s Vision for the Christian Home

I have been reflecting recently on my own upbringing and, in doing so, have come to an uncomfortable realization. My parents were faithful Christians. We attended church regularly. We prayed…
Paul Flemming 1
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Discipleship“A Significant Charitable Giving Opportunity: Benefiting Your Church or Charity Now, in 2026”
September 14, 2026

“A Significant Charitable Giving Opportunity: Benefiting Your Church or Charity Now, in 2026”

No doubt you’ve heard that the median age of the U.S. population keeps going up.  It is currently estimated to be 39.  And yet the median age of those who…
Don Brandt 1
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DiscipleshipThank You and a Warm Welcome
September 14, 2026

Thank You and a Warm Welcome

One of the greatest joys that I have experienced while serving as Executive Director of Lutheran CORE has been working with a wonderful Board of Directors.  Over the years many…
Dennis Nelson 0
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DiscipleshipWhat Would It Take for You to Believe?
July 13, 2026

What Would It Take for You to Believe?

A question you don’t hear every day, but that is what popped into my thoughts after reading John 20:19-31. We must take a step back to understand Thomas’ reaction. Thomas…
Steve Humphrey
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DiscipleshipSwimming Against the Current
July 13, 2026

Swimming Against the Current

He is at it again.’ Every time I hear this phrase, I cringe. Since arriving at my parish, I have heard my congregants comment on the social media antics of…
Megan Shaffer
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DiscipleshipVideo Ministries – May 2026
May 11, 2026

Video Ministries – May 2026

“Your Devotional Journey Through Scripture: A Daily Discipleship Resource” by Pastor Don Brandt Many thanks to Doug Schoelles, NALC pastor and member of the board of Lutheran CORE, for his…
Dennis Nelson
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MissionSeminariansThe Lord’s Inheritance
May 11, 2026

The Lord’s Inheritance

If you are at all plugged into what is going on outside of Lutheran circles, you have undoubtedly seen news related to the surge of thirty-five and under young people…
Brett Jenkins
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DiscipleshipMoving Beyond the Lull
March 11, 2026

Moving Beyond the Lull

In Ten Years?  Who is going to be sitting in the pews in ten years’ time?  Ryan Burge, a Baptist pastor and professor, does statistical analysis about religion in America.1…
Douglas Schoelles
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DiscipleshipStudentsOnline Confirmation: A Faithful Way to Form Young Disciples
March 11, 2026

Online Confirmation: A Faithful Way to Form Young Disciples

One of the joyful and fruitful youth ministry efforts the NALC has developed in recent years is our Online Confirmation Program. What began as a practical response to a real…
Teresa Peters
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Discipleship and MissionNALC Continental Youth Gathering: Forming Young Disciples Across North America
January 12, 2026

NALC Continental Youth Gathering: Forming Young Disciples Across North America

Every two years, youth and their leaders from across the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) will  gather for four days of worship, teaching, and service at the Continental Youth Gathering…
Teresa Peters
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DiscipleshipSeminariansRight Then and There
January 12, 2026

Right Then and There

“I don’t want to offend anyone or lose my friends.” That was the reason one of my church council members gave as to why she holds back from talking to…
Megan Shaffer
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DiscipleshipVideo Ministries: “The Jesus Shaped Way” By Bob Rognlien
November 11, 2025

Video Ministries: “The Jesus Shaped Way” By Bob Rognlien

Many thanks to Brian Hughes for his review of “The Jesus Shaped Way” by Bob Rognlien.  Brian is a dual rostered NALC and retired ELCA pastor and vice president of…
Dennis Nelson
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DiscipleshipBelievers to Followers: Come and See!
September 15, 2025

Believers to Followers: Come and See!

Why is it that a group of unlikely people can spread the Gospel to others, while we, with all our Bible knowledge, struggle to do the same? The disciples had…
Megan Shaffer
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DiscipleshipThe Reformed Church is Always…
September 15, 2025

The Reformed Church is Always…

It is 2025—an auspicious year.  We are a quarter way into the 21st century.  The Lutheran Reformation is just beginning to essay its second half millennium, and just as the…
Brett Jenkins
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DiscipleshipSeminariansThe Quandary of Discipleship
May 8, 2025

The Quandary of Discipleship

Editor's Note: Pastor Megan Ann Shaffer is writing for Lutheran CORE for the first time. She is an NALC pastor in Pennsylvania. “Ugh, discipleship is so law-based.” Sadly, I frequently…
Megan Shaffer
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DiscipleshipLeadership: Wisdom and Innocence
January 13, 2025

Leadership: Wisdom and Innocence

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”  (Matthew 10:16) Our Lord gave these instructions to…
John Mohan
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Discipleship and MissionCity Mission: A Catalyst for Becoming a Missionary Disciple
July 11, 2024

City Mission: A Catalyst for Becoming a Missionary Disciple

“… if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the…
K. Craig Moorman
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Discipleship… and Now Many of Them Are Just Lost
March 5, 2024

… and Now Many of Them Are Just Lost

Just over a year ago Christine and I found ourselves in Florence, South Carolina.  Nice place just off I-95, we found a fixer-upper on the little lake in town.  Pro…
Brian Hughes
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MissionReflections on Mission
March 5, 2024

Reflections on Mission

Editor’s Note: Jacob Moorman is a member of River’s Edge Ministries, which regularly hosts and leads mission work locally in Maryland, through City Mission, and annually in other states through…
Jacob Moorman
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DiscipleshipELCAYou Can’t Have God’s Kin-dom Without God’s Kingdom
November 15, 2023

You Can’t Have God’s Kin-dom Without God’s Kingdom

With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? –Mark 4:30 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall…
Kevin Haug
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Discipleship and MissionTraining Disciple-Makers
November 15, 2023

Training Disciple-Makers

“...take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan…” Joshua 4:3 We wish God’s blessings upon Dean Rostad, president, and the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute.  This is the third…
Dean Rostad
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ELCAMissionMission Under Accompaniment
November 15, 2023

Mission Under Accompaniment

Director's Note: Spencer Wentland is uniquely qualified to write this article analyzing the ELCA’s concept of global mission as accompaniment rather than evangelism – as responding to requests for help…
Spencer Wentland
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Discipleship and MissionSeminariansPrevailing Against the Gates
September 14, 2023

Prevailing Against the Gates

“Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to get home. It's late. I'm in for it as it is.” Name that movie.  Name that scene.  Anyone with even a…
Brian Hughes
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MissionYoung TimothyPockets of Hope
July 18, 2023

Pockets of Hope

When I think of Baltimore, I often think of my early childhood home with a large magnolia tree in the front yard and a tall, hemlock pine in the back,…
Teresa Dubyoski
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Discipleship and Mission(Per)Mission to Lead
March 13, 2023

(Per)Mission to Lead

Editor’s Note: River’s Edge Ministry (REM), of Mt. Airy, MD, traveled to Pine Island, FL in January as part of Cross Country Mission (CCM) 2023. Pine Island was devastated by…
Kim Smith
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DiscipleshipSeminariansYoung TimothyThe Awaken Project Offers a Gap Year Program
March 13, 2023

The Awaken Project Offers a Gap Year Program

Introduction by Dennis D. Nelson: In this issue we will be featuring The Awaken Project (TAP), a nonprofit organization housed on the campus of Mount Carmel Ministries in Alexandria, Minnesota.…
Steven Wagner
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Discipleship and MissionSeminariansYou Do-I Watch: A Hard Lesson in Fully Releasing the Next Generation into Mission
March 13, 2023

You Do-I Watch: A Hard Lesson in Fully Releasing the Next Generation into Mission

Editor's note: River’s Edge Ministry (REM), located in Mt. Airy, MD, traveled to Pine Island, FL in January as part of Cross Country Mission (CCM) 2023. Pine Island was devastated…
K. Craig Moorman
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MissionSeminariansThe Potency of Missional Engagement
January 12, 2023

The Potency of Missional Engagement

Dear Friends— A most happy and blessed New Year to you and yours. No doubt, many of us reading this article can readily receive such a greeting; but, for some,…
K. Craig Moorman
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Discipleship and MissionYoung TimothyIgniting Renewal Through Mission
September 12, 2022

Igniting Renewal Through Mission

(How ‘City Mission’ was Born, Part 2) Editor’s Note: K. Craig Moorman is an NALC pastor of River’s Edge Ministries in Maryland and is a member of the board of…
K. Craig Moorman
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Discipleship and MissionYoung TimothyHow ‘City Mission’ Was Born, Part 1: Katrina, The Unwelcomed Reformer
July 12, 2022

How ‘City Mission’ Was Born, Part 1: Katrina, The Unwelcomed Reformer

Over the course of the past three decades, I have had the immense privilege of leading disaster relief efforts around the country, typically following a natural catastrophic event. Since my…
K. Craig Moorman
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MissionSeminariansYoung TimothyA Note from a College Missionary in Italy
July 12, 2022

A Note from a College Missionary in Italy

“Ciao! I’m Jackson. I’m from the United States. What’s your name?” This is the gist of how I started conversations during my time in Italy this past May and June.…
Jackson Watts
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DiscipleshipThe NALC Pastors’ Conference: One of the Best
March 13, 2022

The NALC Pastors’ Conference: One of the Best

It is always a joy when you go to a Pastors’ conference and leave with a sense of energy and enthusiasm for ministry.  Over my twenty-eight years of ministry, I…
David Charlton
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DiscipleshipYoung TimothyNEXUS: One Theology Institute, Two Mentors’ Perspectives, and a Triune God
September 14, 2021

NEXUS: One Theology Institute, Two Mentors’ Perspectives, and a Triune God

by Ethan Zimmerman and Luke Ratke Executive Director's Note: Many thanks to Ethan Zimmerman and Luke Ratke for telling us about their experiences at NEXUS this past summer.  Ethan and…
Ethan Zimmerman
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MissionGlobal Missions 2021: How Did We Get Here … What Now?
July 15, 2021

Global Missions 2021: How Did We Get Here … What Now?

Rev. Bill Moberly is the Founder & Director of Awakening Lives to World Missions, which exists to call, equip and network congregations for more effective global outreach. ALWM draws on his 30+ years…
Bill Moberly
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