Using the 4Ls, Part 5 – The Steps

Over the previous posts, I have been relating how the 4L’s relate to (my) Vision, Mission, and Strategy. Now, we move down one more layer – to ground level. The 4L’s represent each Step that must be taken to affect the Strategy, Mission, and Vision.

Although I preceded this series with relating the steps to a couple of verses. Thus, the 4L Model of Discipleship is not just a few key words to guide me (and others who adopt the model). Rather, they are principles from Scripture that represent what God wants from me (each of us), and therefore helps me (us) to become more like Him (ultimately my vision). This week, I will quickly review the sequence, and then next week, I will break out each of the four steps and how they guide me towards fulfilling my vision.

Learn – more about God and how He wants me to serve Him. (Ephesians 5.1-2)

Live – with a mindset on His Kingdom, not mine. (Matthew 6.33)

Love – my wife, my children, then others that each might find their own place in serving God. (2 Timothy 2.2)

Lead – my family, then others to serve God and make disciples by equipping them with biblically-based principles. (1 Corinthians 11.1)

And, as I have mentioned before, the 4L’s are the principle part, but we all eventually leave. Leaving may be related to a choice, or moving to a different location, or, at some point, death. Thus, the fifth “L” – is leave.

(Leave) – Satisfied that my work is done when I am called, knowing others are equipped to carry on the ministry after I am gone. (2 Timothy 4.7)

You might notice a couple of similarities to prior posts. First, the first Step is Learn. In the initial Step, you might also recognize that my first step (Learn) is the same as the acrostic of my Strategy. This link is intentional in that it provides a direct link between the Steps and Strategy. Also, you might have noticed that my verses corresponding to Learn (Ephesians 5.1-2) are the same verses related to my Vision. Certainly, this has to do with education being important to me, but those verses are a command to “imitate” which can only be done by first learning. Thus, to me, using the same verses is only natural.

Overall, this is a simple post to serve as a reminder of the 4L’s (+1 this week). Like my Vision, Mission, and Strategy, each Step is based upon Scripture so the principles guiding me have a foundation in God’s purpose for me, not my own. Don’t get me wrong – I fail at each of these often! But, if my goals were all about my purposes, I could lower the threshold because it would be all about me. And if I did lower the threshold, I wouldn’t fail as much (I could hope) which means I could accomplish my goals under my own power. Therefore I would not need a Savior – because I would be able to save myself.

However, by basing my Steps, Strategy, Mission, and Vision on biblical principles, I can compare the thoughts and purposes that enter my mind (life) against a greater standard. Again, I have and will fail in choosing to pursue the right purposes and paths, and I will fail in executing the ones for which I do choose correctly. But, in failing, I am reminded that I cannot do this on my own – I need a Savior. Thus, as I Learn and Live and Love and Lead, (and eventually Leave), I do so with His guidance, under His grace, as I do seek to become the man He wants me to be.