We call it DiscipleLife– the experience of being disciples in our day just as the disciples who gathered around Jesus discovered that their very being was changing because of what they learned and saw and loved in him.DiscipleLifeis an invitation to learn, study and reflect as students of the Teacher, but also to grow, change and re-order the way we live our lives. DiscipleLife is not just something we might do, it is something we are. It is not just something we practice, but something we become. It is not just learning about the living Christ, but allowing the Christ to live in us.
The NT-NL Synod has been exploring its call to DiscipleLifein recent years by focusing on congregational mission, personal discipleship and missional leadership.
CONGREGATIONAL MISSION
(Finding our mission in our community at the intersection of these three things:)
Our identity and purpose
Our context for ministry
Our gifts and resources
PERSONAL DISCIPLESHIP
(Described in Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church by Michael W. Foss.)
Daily Prayer
Weekly Worship
Regular Reading of Scripture
Engaged in Service for Others
Active in a Small Group
Tithing
MISSIONAL LEADERSHIP
(Inviting our lay leaders, pastors and members to give their best energies to the pursuit of)
Mission rather than Maintenance
Relationships rather than Tasks
Modeling rather than Managing
Positives rather than Problems
Our Unity rather than our Differences
The Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod has declared that its purpose is to be Sowing and Growing Disciples of Jesus. We envision ourselves to be a mission-oriented, dynamic, innovative and fast-growing synod that builds its life around several key values:
Mission: responding to the Great Commission (Matt. 28) Discipleship: practicing the Six Marks of Discipleship Heritage: sharing the teachings and traditions of our Lutheran faith Outreach: providing safe, life-giving, transformational experience Ministry: trusting in the gifts that lay and clergy both can give Excellence: exercising integrity, innovation, flexibility and justice Focus: building on strengths and empowering ministries.
