Team

From businesses, to professional sports to churches, the idea of team is one that “sounds” great, but is unbelievably difficult. Before I address why it’s so difficult, let’s see what God has to say about working and partnering together to bring redemption to the world.

In Genesis 1:26, we see that God made man in His image. He then goes on to say:

“let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26b

So what do we see here? Immediately after God made man, He empowers man with the responsibility to rule over God’s creation. He even lets Adam name the animals, and bugs, and flying creatures, and…well, everything. Adam was pretty thorough in some of his names…[see “Duckbill Platypus”]…but in others he was obviously tired and in need of a nap…[see “bee”]. Regardless, God let Adam have ownership. God probably had better names, but He valued participating with Adam over dictating Adam.

Fast forward to the New Testament. Jesus picks a ragamuffin group - fishermen, a tax collector, a doctor, and so forth – to partner with in changing humanity as we know it. Jesus didn’t NEED these guys, but instead…He WANTED to journey and empower them. In fact, it’s what becomes the staple of our theology in being a Christ-follower, that Jesus’ Spirit lives inside of those who die to themselves and find life in Him. So God chooses to partner with humanity to redeem humanity.

We see this in the heart of God…God let’s Moses part the Red Sea. God uses Gideon, along with 300 wannabe soldiers to conquer an uncountable enemy. Jesus sends out 70 disciples in groups of 2 (again, stressing the point of doing ministry as a team) to perform miracles. It’s foundational…God loves team. By the way, God is 3 in 1…makes for a great team.

Now that we see that doing life, ministry, and everything else as a team is biblically foundational, let’s look at some practical things to think about in working with a team.

Things To Be Aware of:

1. THEY probably don’t view life like YOU.

God’s wired us all so extravagantly different. What culture might find as frustrating in people’s differences, God sees as beauty. God loves making a mosaic of different shapes, colors, and sizes of glass to create a picture of unity. All that said, THEY may not dream like YOU, hope like YOU, communicate like YOU, or desire change/growth like YOU.

2. Team is only as good as it’s communication.

What the unspoken wounds in you, the unspoken will devastate between you and others. Team can only be team when the team is clearly communicating with the team. Shared vision. Shared struggles. Differing opinions. Frustrations. Insecurities. Doubts. Uncertainty. These things MUST be communicated…in love, in a safe environment, and regularly.

3. Team must learn the art of submitting to each other, before anything.

Where there is no submission, there is no humility. Where there is no humility, there is no Godliness. There is a tension between disagreeing, and also surrendering to each other in disagreements. The opposite of this is control. Pride. God says He “opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” – James 4:6. Lack of submission is a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty and control. It’s saying that things will be best when I enforce my will. Quite simply, that’s dumb.

4. There has to be a healthy balance in viewing other people’s strengths as well as their inadequacies.

Humanity has a hard time seeing the beauty in others at the same level as their shortcomings. You know, we can have a 1 hour conversation with someone about somebody else’s faults, but will spend 5 minutes MAXIMUM talking about the sweet aroma that they bring to the team. There must be a balance in how you view teammates. Harp on one thing too long, and you will lose sight of their role in the team.

5. They must serve together.

A team really becomes a team in serving. In the process of blistering hands and feet, sweating and bleeding, all for the betterment of others…unity is built. Not around a board room table…not through AOL Chat…not through email…not through meetings…not through phone calls…through the action of laying down one’s life for another. Team is built during the process of dying.

Team is hard. But it doesn’t mean you have to conform to be like everyone else in the team. The goal is letting God use (y)our individuality while being formed into a mosaic of team.