Through the ages, great writers have captured and communicated reality with words. Their bite-sized quotes give us succinct snapshots of how people think. Sometimes what has been written about Christianity stings those of us within the church. For instance, Mark Twain wrote, "If Christ were here now, there is one thing he would not be - a Christian." When the world thinks of the church, they often focus on our inconsistency and hypocrisy. Bertrand Russell wrote, "The problem with Jesus is that he had disciples." And an old French proverb says, "He who is near the church is often far from God." These indictments make me ask if we are really following Christ in a way that leads others to follow.

In today's Message About Purpose and Strategy I want to provide a reminder that only those following Christ can lead others to follow him. When Jesus gave the Great Commission (recorded in Matt. 28:18-20), he told his disciples to make disciples. We need to recognize that it takes a disciple to make a disciple. As we think of what we do here and why we do it, it is crucial to consider if our attitudes and actions contribute to the negative feelings people have about Christians, or if our lives are consistent with our profession of faith. Let's recommit ourselves to follow Jesus passionately, accurately, and attractively.