Working Together on the King’s Team

“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32).

Teamwork means many people become one. They come together to work toward a common goal.

When David wanted to face the giant, he proclaimed, “Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:29). A team working together will accomplish more than if each person was working on his own (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). When a group of people come together to form a team, each person brings his strengths and weaknesses.  As we work together our strengths complement someone else’s weaknesses.  We use our skills to compliment the overall effort of the team.

Kwame Gyekye in African Cultural Values gives several proverbs that reinforce the necessity of teamwork. Although these proverbs are West African they will also apply in other parts of the world.

·        A person is not a palm-tree that he should be self-complete.

·        One finger alone cannot lift a thing.

·        The left arm washes the right arm and the right arm washes the left arm.

·        Life is mutual aid.

·        The fingers of the hand are not equal in length.

Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Then make me truly happy by loving each other and agreeingwholeheartedly with each other, working together with one heart and mind and purpose”  (Philippians 2:2, The Living Bible).

In unity our hearts beat with the heartbeat of Jesus.  Our minds become set on one purpose.  That is to become labourers together in building the Church. Each person brings his energy into a common purpose.

Jesus stated His purpose was to build the Church(Matthew 16:18). This is the same purpose and mission we have.

Paul said, “Apollos and I are working as a team, with the same aim, though each of us will be rewarded for his own hard work, we are only God’s co-labourers” (1 Corinthians 3:8-9, The Living Bible).

We are united into one team by:

1.      A common expectation: (Each one expects an outpouring of God’s Spirit; people coming into the Church; and Christ coming for His Church.)

2.      A common experience: (Each one has received forgiveness, remission of sins, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.)

3.      A common faith:  “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).

4.      A common fellowship:  (It is the common expectation, experience, and faith that brings us together in true unity and fellowship. Without this there is no genuine basis of fellowship.  There is only one Lord.  It is a belief in this one Lord that unites us.)

Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 1:13,“Is Christ divided?….Were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

The important question here is:

In whose name have you been baptized?

It is only baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that truly brings us together as part of the one team and serves as a qualification for church membership.  If anyone is baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit then he is welcome as our brother and fellow team member.

We see teams working together in the following examples:

·        Moses-Aaron

·        Caleb-Joshua

·        Elijah-Elisha

·        Paul-Barnabas

·        Paul-Silas

·        Moses-Aaron-Hur (Exodus 17:12)

·        “The people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:17-19).

·        Tower Of Babel “The people is one!” (Genesis 11: 1-9).

To train a good team Carl George and Robert Logan in Leading and Managing Your Church outline four steps:

1.  I do, you watch.

2.  I do, you help.

3.  You do, I help.

4.  You do, I watch.

Team members are vital to the overall success of the organization and must be appreciated by leadership.

“The Wind Beneath My Wings”

It must have been cold there in my shadow,

To never have the sunlight on your face.

You’ve been content to see me shine

You always walked a step behind.

I was the one with all the glory,

While you were the one with all the strain,

Only a face without a name,

I never once heard you complain.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero?

And everything I’d like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle,

But you are the wind beneath my wings.

Roger Whittaker

Let us work together on the King’s team, building His kingdom, and giving Him all the glory.

by James G. Poitras

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