Thoughts on Teamwork

If you have ever been on a team, you understand the value of teamwork. It is not only about sports. It can be on the job, at church, in the family, neighborhood, or anywhere. When a group of people work together, they accomplish much more than an individual can on his own.

My daughter played on a softball team that was, in the beginning, focused on teamwork and the team concept. They met with great success. A raw group of girls, were coming in second consistently, and they even won a few tournaments. After a reshuffle, the team aspect was lost, and the team descended in everyone for herself. Needless to say, they quit winning.

When it is all about the individual, the team fails.

Think of Jesus. Here you have the omnipotent Son of the Most High God. What did he do when he started his earthly ministry? He formed a team. Luke 6:13-16 (NIV) tells us, "When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor." They certainly were a motley crew: some fishermen, a tax collector, a political activist, among others. They were not without their problems. James and John's mommy came to ask Jesus for a preferred spot for her sons, which caused quite an uproar amongst the disciples.

The church is no place for competition within the group. We are on the same side. The church that does not function as a team is doomed for collapse. I have seen it. Competing ideas and philosophies combined with competing egos is a sure way to kill a church. Everyone should be on the same page.