When Christians consider what we are to be doing here on earth, our minds should move toward the Great Commission to make disciples. And when we think of the Great Commission, we typically camp out on what Matthew recorded (28:19,20), but in this installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I'll call your attention to the versions of this same commission from Mark, Luke and John's pens. In Mark 16:15 we read, "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.'" Luke wrote the book of Acts, and in 1:8, Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Finally, consider John 20:21, "Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'"

Jesus' words from Mark emphasize proclaiming the gospel. In Acts, Luke recalls Christ's seminal words describing the Spirit empowering his followers to represent him in ever widening circles. And in John we read an astonishing challenge, that we are sent as Jesus himself was sent: to seek and save the lost, not to be served, but to serve and give our lives! We exist to honor God the Father by allowing his Spirit to empower us to lead people to follow his Son!