Team Work [Proverbs 27:17, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Luke 10:1-9]

Steve Paynter, Sunday 24 June 2007

When I say the word ‘Church’ what comes to mind for you?

A building?  Services of worship? Excitement? Boredom? What about friendship?

The church is the body of Christ - the gathered people of God - church is about God’s people living together in relationships of loving service - friendship is a word which should come to mind when we think ‘church’. Not God’s frozen people - but people fully alive ………

Our series of sermons at the moment are about Friendship - drawing our insights and guidance from the Wisdom Literature of the OT, in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

Today the particularly aspect of friendship we are thinking about is Team Work.

And the key point for us to consider this morning is this:

God made us to work in relationship with others and not in isolation.

The point is eloquently made in Ecc 4-12

⁹Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. ¹¹Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? ¹²And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

And almost without exception scripture points to team work and working in relationship with others as the way of working in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus himself exemplifies team work in his calling of the 12 disciples.

When he sent them out for ministry, they were sent two by two, as were the 72 later on.

Jesus built them into a strong team, who together, after Pentecost, established and set on its way the fledgling church.

When Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost we are told he ‘stood up with the eleven’ Acts2:14

When Peter talks of his witness he says, ‘We are witnesses of these things.’

He was not a lone voice, but part of a ministering team that was backing him up as he preached.

Peter and John worked together in the early days of the churches witness and when Peter visited Cornelius’ house he took six fellow believers along with him. Acts 10 and 11.

When the Holy Spirit commissioned the first missionaries in church history, he said ‘set apart for me Barnabus and Saul….’ Acts 13:2

When they separated some time later both Barnabus and Saul took others along with them.

Paul tells Titus to appoint elders in all the towns in Crete that had churches established in them - not one elder to lead in isolation but elders.  This was Paul’s normal practise. Acts 14:23.

And so we could go on.

Teams are the natural and right context for Christian ministry and mission.

Whether a team of two or 20 we were made to work in relationships with others and not in isolation.

It is worth reflecting why this is the case.

There are two reasons at least:

First, it reflects the very Trinitarian nature of God who is within himself a dynamic unity with three centres.

He is not a static, monochrome unity but a dynamic unity of interpersonal and interdependent relationship of perfect harmony between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is not surprising that God’s creation reflects his inner nature and being - we too where made to live and work in relationships with other persons.

Working in teams is a fundamental given of creation.

Secondly, we were created to work in teams with others because it works best and yields the best results. Proverbs 27:17 makes this point graphically.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.”

Two heads are better than one - many tasks in life benefit from the insight and wisdom and skills of more than one person.

It is well recognised today that the different personality types we all have need to be blended together to make strong balanced teams.

To get the job done a team needs visionaries, people who see the big picture and think laterally and creatively but they also need people who look at the details, the implications of a given action and the problems and difficulties that will arise with it.

Teams need problem solvers, encouragers, enablers, peacemakers, organisers, administrators, leaders, prophets, etc etc ………………

Teams are also essential when things are difficult - to encourage and sustain each other.

“A three cord strand is not easily broken” 

The classic Biblical example of isolation in leaders ended up with Elijah having a breakdown.

This powerful OT prophet who stood up to the bullying and physical intimidation of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel for years on his own, eventually ends up running for his life and asking God to take his life.

He says “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”

We all need the support, encouragement, wisdom and sustaining help of colleagues, friends and other members of our team to keep us balanced, refreshed and moving forward positively in God’s purposes for us.

This is certainly the policy of the London Diocese for all clergy.

We are all encouraged to set up leadership teams of lay and ordained people - and the diocese works hard to prevent any clergyperson working in isolation.

We are encouraged to have a spiritual director, and/or a work consultant.

We work with Church Wardens and PCC’s and other teams within the life of the church.

I am glad to say St. Mary’s is made up of many teams - here is a list of them:

The PCC, The COSMOS team working with our young people, the Band and Muscians, Sidespersons Teams, Welcome Team, Tea and Coffee Team, Creation Care Team, Maintenance Team, Mission Support Team, Worship Leading and Preaching Team, Socials and Catering Teams, Alpha Team, Flower Team, Home Groups, Football Team, Prayer Support Team and Grace Leadership Team, Wed Fellowship, Parent and Toddler Team, Finance Team,  etc etc

The church, I am glad to say is made up of teams of people working in relationship.

It is better for us and our growth as individuals and as Christians to work in relationship with others.

It is better for getting a high quality job done in all these areas.

It can also be great fun - more enjoyable - more satisfying and sometimes more challenging to work with others.

We learn more, our wits are sharpened, we get encouragement and learn new ways of working.

Its healthier for us as friendships grow through doing and working together.

A week ago I had a fantastic weeks holiday sailing with 4 other guys south of Oban and around Jura and Islay.  It was huge fun sailing the boat - working together as a team - but also enjoying growing friendships with much laughter and comradrie in the process.

It was a wonderful picture of what the church can be and frequently is.

So what is the challenge for each of us from this theme in scripture of team work?

First, which teams or groups in the life of the church are you a member of?

What are your gifts and calling from God - where does he want you involved and active for his service?

If you are not a member of a group or team please pray and ask God to guide you to one that seems right for you, and join it.

Home groups too are excellent and vital places for us to grow in relationship with others.

Second, all teams in the church find there unity and common purpose in God’s calling.

Whatever the specific task of the team the overall goal is the worship and service of God.

The glory of God is our uniting passion which binds us together in the group or team.

If God is not glorified by the work of the team and the relationships in the team then that team has ceased to serve God effectively, whatever their task is.

Thirdly, Christian team work calls for servant hearted attitudes.

Jesus said “whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to become first among must be slave of all.”

There is no place for the parading of status or ego’s in Christian team work.

They are places to serve as best we can with the gifts and abilities God has given us.

This is not always easy as we all know - but it is in the painful times as much as the good times that we learn and grow in our faith in Christ.

So let us rejoice in the friendships that grow in our church life together.

When we put the glory of God as our ultimate goal, and come to the tasks with a servant heart, trusting in God, then wonderful friendships will flourish and great work will get done.

There will be much laughter, joy and tears perhaps, in the doing and the gospel will advance and bear fruit for the glory of God and the advancement of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.