What exactly is a team? A team is a group of individuals who share joint
responsibility for achieving a shared goal. A team is interdependent--everyone
matters. If any one member fails to adequately perform his or her role, then the
whole team suffers and may fail to achievement its
objectives. Moreover, it is important for a team to work synergistically, or it
may not reach its fullest potential.
God believes in teams--thatŐs why He created the first team--the covenant of marriage. Man and woman coming together to work in unison for the betterment of their team, the family. God knows that it takes teams to accomplish His will in the earth--thatŐs why He created the notion of the gathering of the saints, more commonly referred to as churches. Brothers and sisters, each uniquely gifted, working together cooperatively to achieve the purposes of God.
You may be wondering, ŇWhat does the Bible say about building teams for healthy marriages, families, ministries and churches?Ó It says a lot! Some may think that corporate America invented the principles of building successful teams with total quality management, power networking, strategic alignments and other management concepts. Yet, the Bible is a fail-safe, roadmap for team building and contains strategies that stand the test of time. Our Heavenly Father doesnŐt hire consultants to implement a new wave of team building methods. He doesnŐt need the latest strategy since His system has worked well since the beginning of time and cannot be improved upon. Although many business leaders have mimicked GodŐs principles, they often fail to understand the key element imperative for successful teams i.e. power belongs to God.
This article explores three elements of team building GodŐs way: selecting team members, clarifying the vision and goals, and effective leadership. We are challenged to implement GodŐs principles for success whether our team is our marriage, our family, our job, our business, or a sports team. By doing so, we are assured that despite the obstacles and despite the setbacks, in the end, our team will win while each member achieves his or her highest potential.
In the world, corporate leaders employ a number of tools to identify and secure the right team members. They administer a battery of psychological and personality tests, check references, review credit reports and establish a probationary period all designed to ensure that the job goes to the right person with an impeccable background and a proven track record.
God, however, says that we are all qualified to join His team despite our shortcomings. He doesnŐt care about our IQ, our connections, our degrees, our awards and trophies nor our bank account or the lack thereof. Regardless of our shortcomings or problems, God recognizes each team member as valuable. He knows we are gifted uniquely and have a distinct role to play. After all, HeŐs the one who gives us the gifts. But most importantly, He knows how each individual gift will complement the other members of the team. In 1 Corinthians 12 (verses 12, 14, 18, 22, 26, and 27), Paul explains it like this:
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of ChristÉYes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,Ó that does not make it any less a part of the bodyÉBut God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants itÉIn fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessaryÉ.If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. Now all of you together are ChristŐs body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
God looks beyond our faults and sees the giftings that He deposited deep inside of us. Often we canŐt see them because they are so tarnished by the many disappointments of failures in our past. Yet, God forgets our past mistakes as far as the east is from the west. He is so busy trying to reveal to us our bright future. He is not impressed when He reads our resumes; He is impressed when He reads our hearts. At the end of the interview, Jesus says ŇCome all of you who are heavily burdenedÓ and join my team. I will bless you and make you a blessing. To join my team, simply believe in your heart you are a sinner in need of a savior Ňfor all have sinned; all fall short of GodŐs glorious standardÓ (Romans 3:23). Believe that I love you and that I died and rose on the third day to pay the penalty for your sins. Repent of your sins and invite me to be your Lord and Savior. Come, join my team.
Principle 2:Clarifying Team Vision and Goals
The world highlights the importance of shared goals. As a member of teams in the marketplace, I have attended strategic planning sessions and participated in vision-building exercises and retreats to identify the team mission statement, vision, goals and objectives. These activities served to keep me busy, overworked and exhausted while keeping up with work demands. God, however, has a different approach.
We donŐt have to waste so much time at retreats if we spend more time in commune with God. God says that He knows the plans He has for you and for me (Jeremiah 29:11). Since He knows the right plan, letŐs go directly to Him. He promises that His Holy Spirit will guide us, providing the tactics and strategies we need. When we face barriers and closed doors, His word says ask and He is happy to provide wisdom (James 1:5). And believe it or not, He even will provide the resources and divine connections working through both the saved and the unsaved.
Since the vision is GodŐs, we allow Him to do the work through us. We donŐt get the vision and try to part the Red Sea without GodŐs direction, strength, strategy and timing. We are totally dependent upon Him. To the contrary, we also donŐt get the vision and then sit back when God says move. No, we do our part as directed by God, and leave the rest to Him. How do we know our part? We stay in constant contact with Him, asking questions, reading His word, applying His instruction and sitting quietly in His presence waiting for a response. Remember, the vision is His and He will work through His people to bring it to pass.
Surprisingly, a perfect God does not look for perfection in selecting team leaders. In fact, He has done some of His most awesome work through team members who are flawed to a great degree. Who in corporate America would hire a known murderer to head a major real estate acquisition? Who at the Pentagon would select a coward to lead a major battle? Who would select a bigot to teach about the very institute he had purposed to destroy? No, these are not the types of team leaders we would select, but God did. Moses, who had killed an Egyptian, led the people of God to the promised land. Gideon, a shivering coward who hid from the enemy, was chosen by God to be a mighty man of valor. And Paul, a man who persecuted the followers of Christ with pure determination, went on to be the principal teacher and writer of GodŐs word.
So what does this mean for you? It means God may call you to lead at any time--while you are in the midst of your mess or the mess is in the midst of you. It doesnŐt matter because, ultimately, God is in charge. To be a leader GodŐs way, you must first be a servant. Even Jesus washed the disciplesŐ feet before entering into glory (John 13). You must be willing and have a heart for the thing that God is calling you to. In the body of Christ, we are all team leads at various times as determined by the supreme authority in the universe. God will guide us into leadership; we donŐt have to come fully equipped.
Team building GodŐs way is different from what the world might suggest. To be a member of God's distinguished team, you must simply believe in His son, Jesus the Christ. To carry out your role effectively and efficiently, you only need to let God set the vision and supply the power to succeed. To be elevated to a team lead, simply be willing, God has been waiting for you to step up to the plate.
Prayer focus: Father God, we ask in the name of Jesus that you would continue to transform us into committed, successful members of your team. Give us your vision of the role we are to play as a team member along with the ability and passion to play our role. Help us always to remember, respect and honor the important roles of other team members. Where we are called to serve as leaders, let us do it with excellence and humility. And above all let us always remember, that we are on your winning team because all power belongs to you.
Angela Heath
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