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-- © GodSpeak International 1999 --
-- Do not republish without written permission from <copyright@godspeak.org> --

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES
Author: Cliff Murray <Cliff1943@aol.com>
Editors: Teresa Seputis, Al Vesper

Prayer-School Course #3

Team Ministry

Lesson 9

How To Build A Team

(Part 2 of 2)

REVIEW:

Last week (lesson 8), we covered the first 5 items. They were:

  1. Develop the Understanding That All Members are Important. We Need Each Other.

    Do not allow any members of the team to feel unimportant or unappreciated. Teach the team to value each other. Each member is important.

  2. Keep Biblical Vision In Perspective

    Never get so caught up in the goals of the team that you sacrifice the members for the goal.. remember that we are to bring everyone on the team to a high level of maturity in Christ.

  3. Encourage Diversity And Variety

    God has given many different gifts to the church. Allow people to function in their gifts instead of making them carbon copies of each other.

  4. Allow For Margins

    Have Grace one for another.. give each other room.

  5. Set The Pace In Personal Growth

    Keep each member of the team growing. Encourage that learning and development process in each member, and give them room to make mistakes so that they can learn/grow from their mistakes.

CONTINUING ON:

  1. Be Sensitive To Other's Needs

    Everyone has physical needs, financial problems, family demands and social desire. Phili. 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

    Be concerned about the growth and goals of each other. This requires time together. It requires things like retreats, social events, relaxing (playing together). Paul felt this way towards those working with him. Phili. 2:25, 27 2 Tim. 1:2-4 Philemon 1:10, 13, 15-16, 18

    Teams that don't bond can't build. The team needs to become a cohesive unit.

    When a team member cares about no one but himself the whole team suffers. Can you imagine a man in a boat doing nothing while the two guys at the other end of the boat are furiously bailing water. He says "Thank God that hole isn't in my end of the boat!"

    Building relationships is the key in producing caring attitudes. For team work-ministry to really work, great care must be given to interpersonal relations. You can't escape this. A pastor may spend hours in his study working on sermons, but if he never relates to people there is something missing though his sermons be packed with knowledge and wisdom.

    This excerpt is from "Chicken Soup For The Soul" book 2 page 13, "The two-hundredth hug" by Harold Bloomfield, M.D.

    My fathers skin was jaundiced as he lay hooked up to monitors and intraveinus tubes in ICU. Always a well built man he had lost 30 pounds. He had cancer of the pancreas and was given 3-6 months to live.

    I approached my dad and said, "Dad, I feel deeply for what's happened to you. It's helped me to look at the ways I've kept my distance and to feel how much I really love you."

    I leaned over to give him a hug, but his shoulders and arms became tense. "C'mon, Dad, I really want to give you a hug."

    For a moment he looked shocked. Showing affection was not our usual way of relating. I asked him to sit up some more so I could get my arms around him. Then I tried again. This time he was even more tense. I could feel the old resentment starting to build up, and I began to think, 'I don't need this. If you want to die and leave me with the same coldness as always, go right ahead.'

    For years I had used every instance of my fathers resistance and rigidness to blame him, to resent him and to say to myself "see he doesn't care." This time, however, I thought again and realized the hug was for my benefit as well as my father's. I wanted to express how much I cared for him no matter how hard it was for him to let me in. He had always been a man to shut off his emotions.

    "Come on dad, put your arms around me." I leaned up close to him with his arms around me. "Now squeeze. That's it. Now again, squeeze." In a sense I was showing my father how to hug. As he squeezed something happened. For an instant, a feeling of I love you bubbled through. For years our greeting had been a cold and formal handshake that said, 'Hello, how are you?' Now, both he and I waited for that momentary closeness to happen again. Yet, just at the moment when he would begin to enjoy the feelings of love, something would tighten in his upper torso and our hug would become awkward and strange. It took months before his rigidness gave way and he was able to let the emotions inside him pass through his arms to encircle me. It was up to me to be the source of many hugs before my father initiated a hug on his own. I was not blaming him, but supporting him. After all, he was changing the habits of an entire life time, and that takes time. I knew we were succeeding because more and more we were relating out of care and affection. Around the two-hundredth hug, he spontaneously said out loud, for the first time I could ever recall, "I love you."

    Jesus always centered on people. He focused on meeting their spiritual and eternal needs. Also on their physical needs.

    Two great fears keep people from deeper relationships with each other.

    1. Fear of being judged
    2. Fear of being advised

  2. Learn How To Listen

    It is mandatory to keep a listening ear open to other team members. Don't just listen, but allow them to feel heard. Never belittle suggestions. Our attitude should be "I don't care who makes the touchdown. We are a team!"

    Solicit opinions, ask questions, encourage suggestions.

    Jam. 1:19
    Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.....

    John 12:49-50 (This is Jesus listening to Father.)
    1. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.
    2. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."

    Listen to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the Word, and each other.

    Acts 15 is a good illustration of this. James, the senior elder at the Jerusalem church led the discussion on this important doctrinal issue. He listened to all and then made his judgment on the subject (v. 13). And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:"

    Here is an example of listening:

    When Telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication a young man applied for a job as Morse Code operator. He answered the ad in the paper. Went to large busy office filled with nose and clatter, including a telegraph in background. He was told to fill out an application and wait until they were called to the inner office. He did so and sat with 7 others who waited to be called.

    In a few minutes he stood up and went into the inner office. The others wondered what was going on. They were there before him and no one had called. They assumed he would be disqualified. Within a few minutes the employer came out and said, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled." The others were outraged. He said, "I'm sorry, but all the time you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did and the job is his."

  3. Esteem One Another As Equals

    Each member should feel that they are a vital member of the team. They are co-laborers and in mutual submission. 1 Peter 5:5; Eph. 5:21; Phili. 4:3

    Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Phili. 2:3

    Just how do you do this in the right spirit? You do it like Jesus did, by serving.

    And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake. 1 Thess. 5:12-13

    If team members do not serve, then the congregation will not have respect.

    Numbers 27:18-20 is an example of this:
    So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.

    Can it happen??? Luke 22:24 "And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest." see also...Mark 9:34; Luke 9:46

    3 John 9 I wrote unto the church; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. (There are too many of these around today).

    Power corrupts the best of leaders and team members and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is important to build an attitude of serving and honoring one another, of building each other up. Seek to serve the people of God with humility. (see 1 Cor. 1:26-31)

    In short, this is how we are to behave towards members of a team we lead:

    • Show appreciation
    • Encourage them privately
    • Praise them publicly
    • Demonstrate pride in them

    Researchers have been telling us for years that affirmation motivates people much more than financial incentives. People thrive on praise.

    There really is little resemblance between most people and the Energizer Bunny. That pink bunny keeps showing up and going, and going and going. Not most people. They need their emotional batteries charged often. People need more than vision, duty, commitment, rewards, to keep them trucking along.

    DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS!!

    Different people on a team will have somewhat different needs. The following is a somewhat playful (but quite insightful) portrayal of how different people need to be recognized/praised.

    We have Desperados on one side and Auto-pilots on the other.

    Desperados.
    Can't get enough praise and good strokes. They are desperate for it. "Warm Fuzzy" is their middle name. Like a junkie, they need their daily fix.

    Up and downers.
    Life is mountains and valleys for them. Emotional roller-coaster. Their needs vary depending on where they are on their ride.

    Normal people
    Are there any? I think they are dying breed.

    Auto-pilots
    These are the Energizer Bunnies. Any attempt to praise them is like a pesky gnat flying around their face, they just brush it away. They just don't need it.

    SO, HOW DO WE DO THIS?

    How do we build an effective team, taking into account different people's needs and helping them to grow together as a cohesive unit?

    Listening
    Jam. 1:19 Be quick to listen and slow to speak
    Empathizing
    Rom. 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep
    Comforting
    2 Cor. 1:3-4 We have gone through stuff that enables us to comfort others.
    Carrying burdens
    Gal. 6:2 Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

    In addition to that, try sending cards or find other ways to express your appreciation: send thank you, missed you, thinking of you, just because cards.

    Finally, give honor to whom honor is due 1 Pet. 2:17; Rom. 12:10; 13:7

  4. Give Room For Creativity

    As the team leader allow other members of the team to use their gifts fully. Don't make them feel they have to do it like it has always been done. Every program in the church needs to be periodically evaluated and updated. If it is not working it should be changed or dropped. Let people think and make decisions.

    Will people make mistakes? Yes. That's okay.

    Praise initiative. Be excited over another's discoveries. You are not the only brain in town!!

  5. Practice Loyalty To One Another

    Team ministry requires a high standard of ethics, honesty and integrity.

    Never play one member against the other like children do with their parents. "Daddy lets me play in here"

    Complaining and bickering is not allowed. It is not good for the team and it is unbiblical:

    John 6:43 says "Murmur not among yourselves."

    Phili. 1:27 says "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel."

    Phili. 2:14-15 says "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."

    The Yankees set a record for most victories in a season last year. The were noted for being a team made up of regular guys. In the playoffs against Cleveland in game five pitcher David wells was breezing along with one out and nobody on in the eighth. Joe Torre decided to remove him and bring in the middle reliever. Wells did not like it but accepted it. He had come to understand the team principle. Earlier in the season they had had a run in because Wells had openly berated a fellow player on the field for making an error. Torre informed him that teammates don't do that. From that point on, Wells was was a teammate.

    And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses... Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses?...and, behold Miriam became leprous... Numbers 12:1,2,10

    If there is a difference of opinion in an Elders meeting, when the decision is reached you should support it fully.

  6. Work For A Spirit Of Unity

    Unity in diversity must be maintained Eph. 4:3,13; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phili. 1:27; 2:2

    Disagreement is not the same as disunity. Disagreement can be good for it forces us to look at the issues and to give serious consideration to the facts. It takes more than 11 players to make a successful football team. They may all be all pro players at their position, but they must be unified in purpose or they will never score or win.

    Some guidelines to help maintain unity in times of discussion

    1. Examine all alternative to a situation. Look at positive options. Don't give ultimatums which force a person into a corner.
    2. Ask What is right? not Who is right?
    3. Switch roles and argue for the other side.
    4. Don't judge motives or question someone's integrity. Question proposals.
    5. If the major, ultimate decision seems unattainable at the present, look for possible agreement on short term goals.
    6. Compromise is not a dirty word. When principles aren't involved, compromise can get the ball rolling. Be flexible and adjust.
    7. Discern the right timing. The idea might be right, but the timing wrong. Wait. Put in on the shelf for a more appropriate day.

    There was a lot of disagreement in the New Testament, but the unity of spirit and purpose kept them going. Problems were not ignored or brushed aside, but dealt with in the spirit of love which unifies all Christians.

[Please Note:
This is intended as a discussion series. Please feel free to send your discussion (comments or questions) to prayer-school@godspeak.net. We will have online discussion each week, MC'd by Cliff Murray, the author of this series. These discussions will NOT be put on the course WWW page.]



-- © GodSpeak International 1999 --
-- Do not republish without written permission from <copyright@godspeak.org> --


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