The 4G Life – Part 5

Story Time

The student stories represent the vision of our faith project: the power of great programming and the power of being .

Our motivation should not only be driven by pragmatism, but also by biblical .

Hezekiah vs. Jesus

Isaiah 36-38: Hezekiah has a national and personal crisis

• Isaiah 38:1–6   

Hezekiah, the Lame Duck King

• Isaiah 39:1–8

Lame Duck Kings Create Lame Duck Offspring

• 2 Kings 21:1–3
• 2 Kings 21:6
• 2 Kings 21:10–12

Jesus: Different King, Different Offspring

• Isaiah 53:10
• Hezekiah sought protection from sickness to prosper his own generation. Jesus took on sickness to prosper the generations to come.
• The principle Jesus models is not to embrace sickness, but to be willing to yourself for the generations to come.

The Priority of Ministry is Spiritual Offspring

Jesus

• John 17:12 

Paul

• Romans 9:3
• Galatians 4:19

Abraham

• Genesis 18:17–19 

Abraham was chosen not only to teach his natural children, but also his children.

• Galatians 3:7
• Galatians 3:14 

People who develop the of Christ are sons and daughters of God.

God wants more sons and daughters, but childbirth doesn’t produce them.

They have to born again and then nurtured by spiritual parents.

The Scripture calls this discipleship.

• Matthew 28:19–20 

Faith Project Strategy

Pruning Prime Time Believers to Bear Fruit

• Psalm 92:12–15
• What does God consider to be fruit?
• = the character of Christ in us and the character of Christ in others.
• Psalm 127:3
• 5 Focus Areas for Prime Timers:

5 Key Focus Areas for Prime Timers

• Money 
• Model 
• Mindset 
• Maturity 
• Mentorship 

Financial Blitz

• $500,000
• 50,000 disciples
• 5,000 kingdom leaders
• 500-year vision
• 2-Year Focus, $250,000/year
• Half Million Dollar Starter Log
• Objective: By year three, having secured enough momentum to be self-sustainable
• Young adults inspiring people younger than them and energize people older than them.

Investing in People and Programming

People

• Young Adult Pastor
• Young Adult Ministry Support Staff
• Interns

Programming

• Christ: Personal relationship with Jesus
• Community: Peer Group (natural and spiritual)
• Care: Pastoral nurture
• Culture: Pertinent to their lived experience
• Continuity: Persistence of quality

© Joshua D. Smith, Ph.D., 2021