I recently printed a three-part statement in large letters. I had never heard it before, but the preacher of a large Church I follow used it as a sermon illustration.

The statement that is now emblazoned on my wall is attributed to Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf. He was a Moravian Church leader in the late 18th century, and it served as the call to mission work. To be a missionary in a foreign land required humility and sacrifice in the name of Jesus.

The phrase is simply, “Preach the gospel. Die. Be forgotten.”

We are to preach the gospel message of Jesus above all else. There is also the recognition that we do it until we draw our last breath. After that, the goal is for people to remember Jesus and not the person who told them about him. There is no “platform” or “brand” building among the leaders of the Church; instead, the name of Jesus, not our name, will receive the glory.

This has always been my motto of sorts, but this is the first time I have ever heard it articulated this clearly. So I typed it up, set it in bold, printed it, and put it on the wall above my desk.

“Preach the gospel. Die. Be forgotten.” #lifegoals