One of the things I am passionate about in the body of Christ is team. The bible is full of so many examples of team, albeit that the word, ‘teamwork’ is not mentioned. But scripture shows us in so many ways that team is powerful. We are not meant to be an island unto ourselves, but a team.
Below are but a few examples of God’s heart for us to be a team:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NKJV): Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.
Psalm 133:1 (TPT): How truly wonderful and delightful it is to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity!
1 Corinthians 12:20-25 (NKJV) But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
In Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… ” God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are a team.
Jesus established his 12 disciples as a team (Mark 3:13-18). Later, He sent them out two by two (team). Mark 6:7-13.
We, as born-again Christians, are on Jesus’ team. But He places us with other believers (team).
So why is ‘team’ so powerful? Each of us has such a different set of skills, Each of us sees things from our perspective… We are so limited on our own. But together, we bring our strengths to the table for the sake of this glorious Kingdom. Together, we cover each other’s weaknesses and point to each other’s strengths. When we were leading the church and would plan events, it did not take the ladies long to know that catering was not my specialty 🙂 They would ask me to please bring the rolls. If it were all up to me the food side might be lacking greatly. The more we serve together and really get to know one another, the easier it is to point people to others who are more gifted than you in an area. No matter how gifted one person is, they can’t do it all. Together, there is diversity and we have so much more to offer. Together, iron sharpens iron. Together we grow into so much more that God has for us. Together we reach more people. Together when one is struggling, the team helps them up.
Many years ago, I offered to help out with Sunday School. I had never attended a Sunday School except once with a friend as a child. I was willing to learn. But the person who was leading the 4-year-olds to Grade 3 had left the church and all the teachers in that group had left with her. I think there were quite a number of children. When I offered to help, I did not know this. The pastor asked me if I would lead that section of the Sunday School. This I knew, I needed a team. I went on a course for a weekend, where they also gave us a curriculum. I spoke to our youth and a few friends and established a team. No one was experienced, no one who really knew what to do, but together we did it. That Sunday School was such fun. The kids loved the youth and it just worked well. I have a deep knowing within, that it worked because of the kindness of God and because of a passionate team. We, as a team with Ken and a number of other youth, then started a Bible Vacation School each year. In addition, as a team, we started going into an extremely underprivileged community nearby every other week. We did this for three years and at the end of each year, we had an outreach to all the children in the community. Each year we were there we provided the children with a wonderful Christmas party. Each child got plenty of snacks, ice cream, sodas, cake, a good amount of school supplies, and an age-appropriate gift. In the last year, there were 700 children. I have never lost my love for ‘team’ from that time.
