Everybody Needs A Team (Spiritual Olympics)

Spiritual Olympics; Part Two

Everybody Should Be Part Of The Team; Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the

church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and

purpose 1 Cor. 1:10

Intro:

· Of all the Olympic events of the past week , the team event that

encouraged me the most was Equestrian. Not that I am the biggest horse fan

(that would be my daughter Promise), but the team itself. Id

never hear of dressage; before. [The sport of guiding a

horse, almost imperceptivity through a series of complex maneuvers and

jumps].

· But it was the O'Connors that caught my attention on Tuesday

evening. A husband and wife who are part of the USA Equestrian team. David

O'Connor made history with the best ever score for the event on

Wednesday.

· Both David and his wife Karen are at the top of their

sport and it would be easy to think they made it their alone but

listen to what they have to say about Team

O'Connor, Karen and David O'Connor, two of the most successful riders

currently sporting the stars and stripes in any equestrian discipline,

are more than just two talented individuals. Combined with a wide array of

owners, sponsors and staff, their collective total is greater than the sum

of its parts; it is in fact, the O'Connor Event {Though] Karen and David share the limelight that comes with

top-notch riding; their wins are the result of a number of factors, each

of equal importance. Without the support of a large group of people that

help and care, the O'Connor Event Team would not be in a position to claim

the success that has been so hard earned. {oconnoreventteam.com}

That's team work

· That's what the Apostle Paul is telling the church at Corinth as

he opens his first letter to them.

· Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in

the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and

purpose 1 Cor. 1:10

· Let there be real harmony, united in thought and

purpose;

or I wonder if he was also thinking: SO THE WHOLE TEAM CAN WIN!

Trans: I want to talk to you think morning about THE TEAM

and with that the TEAMWORK involved in having and being a part of

the TEAM.

· Everybody needs a team

· And from my perspective most teams need EVERYBODY!

· Good teams are united and everyone (whether on the field or in practice)

is needed!

In the New Testament , and today our team is called the

CHURCH.

· Jesus Christ never expected any individual Christian to go it

alone.

o Though the Christian life may be a marathon and not a

sprint [last week's message)

o All of us should be part of the whole THE TEAM

o In the church[;adjusted quote]

Our collective total is greater than the sum of {our} parts; it is

in fact, the First Family Team. {our} wins are the result of a

number of factors, each of equal importance. Without the support of a

large group of people that help and care, {we would never} be in a

position to claim the success that has been so hard earned.

So what does it take to be a part of the TEAM

Well first, maybe I need to share with you the

IMPORTANCE OF THE TEAM

Why The TEAM Is Necessary At All.

Side: Some people feel being a part of the church is an option.

- Ill just attend

- ll just when I'm comfortable going when

it's convenient

- I don't need to commit or join the TEAM

- Just hanging out with the TEAM surely is enough

There are several reasons why just attending isn't enough

- just hanging out or pitching in from the sidelines just

won't accomplish what God intended for His Church His TEAM

(And amazingly – the four reasons spell out TEAM)

T Testimony There is theTestimony Reason

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so

you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my

disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35 (NIV)

· Jesus knew what we should know PEOPLE ARE WATCHING US

o When the world seeing us loving and working as a team they take

notice

o We live in a very look out for number one society

o The church THE TEAM goes contrary to that

o What we do we do for OTHERS

o And when we do it right it is a powerful testimony to those

outside the church

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.

They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere