The art of teamwork
Selected Scriptures
Prayer-
Introduction-
This morning, we celebrate with all our team jerseys and team colors. It is our way of showing support for the teams that we like. We wear hats, team jerseys, we buy their memorabilia, and occasionally, we can afford to go to a game.
Some of you ladies like the teams because of their colors, sometimes more than the team.
We also remember today 9-11 and as a Nation, we stand in unity against those that would want to come against us and cause us harm.
Everyone needs to belong to something. Boys join gangs because they want to belong and they want to feel accepted. We just have to make sure that our loyalty is for the right things and the right team.
Here is a fact that I know.
No matter what team jersey you are wearing this morning, you probably don’t belong to that team.
You do not get a paycheck from them.
They do not ask your advice when decisions need to be made.
If you stop supporting them, they probably would not even notice that you were gone.
But as a believer and part of the body of Christ that is a totally different story.
We catch ourselves saying things like we…when we talk about our teams. They make reference of the fans being the 12th man on the field of a football game. Truth is, we are fans, not players. Truth is, they play and we are at best cheer leaders. They need us to support their pastime that they get paid a lot of money with our money. We don’t get a check but we give checks to keep that team going.
But in the kingdom of God it is different. God set up a winning team with a star player, and His name is Jesus and no matter how poorly we play, we still can be winners and be on the winning side.
His plan was flawless and His play was perfect. It is the only team that you will ever be on and know the outcome of the game before it is over.
He offers each one of us the opportunity to be part of the team. Not the 12th man, watching from the sidelines and cheering from the cheap seats, but as an active participate.
Each one of us here this morning wants purpose.
We want to know why we are here and accomplish what we are supposed to. We want to be part of something that is bigger than we are.
That is where it gets sticky and complicated.
We want purpose but often fall short of finding it because we are looking for purpose in the wrong places. We look to sports, we look to a person,we look to our jobs, even our youth as a tool to find the ever evading fulfillment of purpose.
We will only find true purpose in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and when we actively become a part of the body of Christ.
Teamwork is all around us in life.
We see it in marriages
Businesses
Neighborhoods, Churches, etc.
God loves to see Christians working together submitting to His will.
Think of Christianity as your local large department store. There is one store, but there are many different departments within that store. One department can do things another cannot, but they still have the same goal.
In Christianity there is one body, but there are many different functions.
Each church is the body of Christ, yet there is one body.
Each person belongs to the body of Christ where they worship, but also belong to the body of Christ universal.
Each one of us has talents and we use them to further the body of Christ where God has placed us.
Text- Romans Chapter 12:3-8
Humble service in the body of Christ where Christ has placed us yet universally a part of something that is much bigger than all of us or the one church that we attend.
God has blessed us all differently.
Some people are preachers, givers, singers, advice givers, prayer warriors, etc.
Some people are bolder, wiser, more confident, and have stronger faith than others.
We all have different abilities, but our main goal is God and the advancement of His Kingdom.
Love drives unity.
Quotes
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
That is an amazing quote. But when you realize that these quotes were made by a blind women, they carry more weight.
What does the Bible say about Teamwork? Unity ? Working together? Getting along?
What responsibility do we have to each other? Is it all on the backs of pastors? Leaders ? Paid staff?
How much do we do for ourselves and how much for others?
Did you know that there are people that truly believe that if the church is to grow it is the responsibility alone of the pastor? If it does not grow it is the pastor’s fault.
Usually, the same people are the ones that say “That is what we pay them for.”
“Why should I do anything, nobody else is doing anything? I am busy.
Question-
What did you do this past week to serve the Lord? Serve someone else? Did you just live and survive for yourself or did you do something kind or something good for someone else?
Illustration-
You don’t know this person and they do not attend our church so don’t try to figure out who it is.
I see this person often and they are not in regular attendance in their church and yet this person will say to me that they were not in church because they went to some outside event. This past week the conversation began as it usually does with I was not in church Sunday because I was at Hershey Park. I was on this ride called the scrambler and as I was getting off the ride I slipped and jerked my arm and was kinda hanging off the side of the ramp. I did not want to tell you this because I know that you will tell me I should have been in church. I looked at them and said with a smile…nobody got hurt during the morning service. No one had their arm jerked from their shoulder.
They know they should be in church yet wanting the approval of the minister that they weren’t. I am sorry but I think that we should be actively doing kingdom work everyday of our lives and that God doesn’t get what is left, but the first fruits of everything, including our talents and our time.
Illustration-
Daniel Webster who put together the Webster Dictionary, share a story when he was a kid. His father as he left the home gave Daniel and his brother Ezekiel instructions of what had to be done before his father’s return. But on his return he found the tasks undone and questioned his sons about their idleness. What have you been doing Ezekiel? He asked, nothing sir. Well, Daniel, what have you been doing? Helping Zeke sir.”
Doing nothing really is an impossible task. It takes effect to do nothing. It is a choice that you must make to do nothing. It sounds like some churches today? They have mastered the art of doing nothing. It is possible in the church and it is possible in our lives that we do nothing outside of what is important and necessary for our lives or our immediate families.
Apostle Paul tells us that we all have gifts. ALL OF US! And whatever our gifts, they are to be used for not only our own benefit but the benefit of the kingdom of God.
Let’s break this down for a minute and see what gifts we are to be sharing in the body of Christ
Look at verse 5-
”So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
We were created to serve one another.
We were designed to be a part of the body of Christ.
We were designed like the body, many members and each has different function, but for the health of the body and each other… We need each other.
Teamwork, unity, Family bonds.
We can each love our own sports teams this morning, that is choice, but on the main issues of our faith and our relationships, we belong to each other.
Different backgrounds, different colors, diversity with unity working together.
Whatever your gift is, use them to help others.
Your gift is faith- help someone when they faith is weak and their walk with God is struggling. Person of faith help them get back to where they can stand on their own two feet.
Your gift is serving, then serve, serve with all your heart and all your strength and resources.
Godly service is doing something needed by the body of Christ that you are capable of and willing to do. There are so many ways that you would be able to serve in the body of Christ. They think service costs money, not necessarily. Think service is being able to speak well, not necessarily. Serving is showing someone kindness and sometimes kindness is free and the most appreciated.
Listening ear
Hand up not only out.
Humble enough to do the jobs and gigs that nobody else sees except God.
If your gift is teaching, then teach.
There are those that preach- your gift from God is to preach His word. There are those who teach God’s Word as instruction and encouragement. There are those that teach by sharing life experiences and help others from making the same mistakes. Teaching in the body of Christ is giving a piece of yourself to others that they might be edified and strengthened.
Teaching is preparing God’s people for works of service.
Ephesians 4:16-
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
If it is encouraging, let him encourage.
Lifting each other up. This world tears us down, the body of believers should be lifting each other up.
Making calls to one another to make sure each is okay. You notice someone has been missing, taking a moment in your busy day to find out if they are okay.
You know a genuine hug and smile can change a person for the whole day. I had someone send me a card this week and it came at the right time. It was a word of encouragement.
The last ones for the sake of time let me try to put together because I think they are some of the hardest.
Contributing to the needs of others.
Leadership
Mercy
The last three affect our money, our time and our feelings, three things that we usually put a barrier in front of.
The art of teamwork is taking all these gifts that God has given the body of Christ and put them into the family setting of the church and make it work.
Most of the time you don’t give up on family because we are flawed.
Dysfunction is in every family.
You don’t make family do it alone, you offer support and resources where they can get what is needed to pick themselves out of the mud.
We need each other, I am closing.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“Two are better off than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Proverbs 27:17
“As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp.”
3 John 1:8
“We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.”
There are many people in a team, but there is one group. There are many believers, but there is only one body of Christ.
Team members help each other
Team members make themselves available.
Working together nothing is impossible
15. Proverbs 11:14
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Simply put, a team is a group organized to work together for a common goal or project.
Team effort is the cooperative effort by the members of a group or team to achieve a common goal.
Team player is one who does his best to do his part in cooperation with the other members of the team.
A team player does not seek to be a one-man show, but works together with his teammates and relies on their skills and abilities as he seeks to use his own abilities and gifts in a cooperative way.
From a biblical standpoint, teamwork means sharing in the biblical responsibilities based on biblical goals, values, priorities, giftedness, training, and God’s leading.
Amen.
