TEAM SPIRIT: PRINCIPLES OF TEAM MINISTRY
By Mark Simpson
TEAM SPIRIT: PRINCIPLES OF TEAM MINISTRY
By Mark Simpson
PART I INTRODUCTION
THE FIVE-FOLD GIFT MINISTRY TEAM
TEAM SPIRIT IN BOTH TESTAMENTS
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
TEAM FOUNDING PRINCIPLES
PART II FINDING YOUR PERSONAL "YOKE" OF MINISTRY
PART III ATTRIBUTES OF EFFECTIVE TEAM MINISTRY LEADERS
Part One: Introduction
FOR THE PAST CENTURY, ONE OF INCREDIBLE GROWTH IN THE CHURCH FROM ITS VERY ONSET, WHERE HAVE WE BEEN UP UNTIL NOW, THE END OF THAT CENTURY? HOW DO WE ANALYZE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S NEXT DIRECTION TO US AS LEADERSHIP?
A great religious revival, in the United States, Wales, China and other places, at the beginning of the twentieth century brought in the beginning of the greatest harvest time in the history of the Church. This has been an incredible century. Yet, even though the Church in this century has grown 47%, in the same time period Islam has grown approximately 500%. Right now, around the world more children grow up hearing the name of Allah than the name of Jesus Christ. With more souls on the earth than ever before, and thousands of yet-unreached ethnic groups, how will church and translocal leadership accomplish the fulfillment of His purpose and a glorious church?
Christ, the mighty Arm of the Lord, went back to heaven two thousand years ago and left a "hand" behind, in imparting to the Church five-fold ministry gifts. In the book of Acts, we frequently see these different "fingers" functioning together to plant churches, edify the ones already planted, and win half the Roman Empire in one century.
THE EVANGELIST
This gift was noticeably restored during the 1940's, 50's, and 60's as many major evangelists started their meetings in their tents, tabernacles and conference halls. Ministries like Billy Graham, Oral Roberts and others paved the way in the United States while the Jefferies brothers and others raised up great works in the United Kingdom. It was customary to hear reports of 100,000 in a single meeting and unfortunately, there were extremes in lifestyle and publicity and doctrinal emphasis.
In spite of the many glaring extremes and weaknesses manifested, men like Billy Graham and R. W. Schambach and Reinhard Bonnke brought much attention to the Church regarding the translocal ministry of the evangelist. To this day Billy Graham's organization brings cooperation and unity to evangelical congregations in just about any area where he chooses to minister, and so many have been inspired in a lesser sphere to take on this office.
THE BIBLE TEACHER
As many national renewals and the Jesus Movement came to the fore into the late 60's and 70's, another Ephesians 4 ministry gained prominence: the Bible teacher. Although the Greek construction of Ephesians 4 seems to indicate that the pastor and teacher are one, during this time teachers were being raised up to travel in conferences and in many other translocal capacities, often separate in function from the local pastoral office. Bookstores and tape ministries abounded during this time and to this day.
Teaching by radio, television, newsletter, cassette, conference and now even internet proliferated in the Church, again causing confusion from time to time as many believers began to prefer highly-publicized teachers and "new revelations" to their own pastors. Strong independence, lack of commitment to a local church, pride and imbalance have been the occasional results up to now.
LOCAL SHEPHERDS
Many big evangelistic and teaching names began to experience scandal, and it soon became apparent that many of these fallen ones would not have brought such reproach on Jesus and His Church had they walked in certain accountability structures and relationships.
In many parts of the world like the United States and Africa, the cult of human personality is easily fallen into, and there have been many so-called "spiritual leaders" that built kingdoms and influence around themselves instead of around Jesus. Many of the prominent preachers have emphasized doctrines and lifestyles that would perhaps bring short-term success but did not train people very well to relate to one another over the long term. Also, in my own church experience, I have seen the inability or unwillingness of many pastors to train "Joshuas" to follow them, in epidemic proportions.
Thousands of disoriented and disillusioned believers began to look back to the local church, and a stronger emphasis on the local church shepherd/elder has been returned to the Church. Even the large ministry "Promise Keepers" has come to this realization.
At the same time, those translocal ministries in evangelism and teaching who had a strong base in the local church continue to experience God's blessing. Now more than ever, words are coming forth from all quarters about the prominence of the local church in discipleship and outreach both local and worldwide. Local church-based training programs, short term outreach efforts, and other evangelistic/discipling strategies are coming forth rapidly within a church setting.
The pastoral "team" that can see and adjust to and organize this is the local leadership pattern for the future. A return to the local church as a base for team, not individual ministry, has become more and more common.
BUT SOMETHING YET IS TO BE ADDED
Until now we have mentioned the evangelist, the pastor and the teacher; we have seen how God has been bringing these three offices into balance, preparing us throughout the 90's and into the next century should Jesus tarry in His Second Coming.
Leaders worldwide have stressed the great time of ingathering that is to happen in this time, and so the proper place of these three offices needed to be defined. The Lord is speaking clearly about this. But He is also doing something else; He is speaking all over the world, to a wide variety of evangelicals, about the full restoration, in balance with the other three offices, of the apostle and the prophet. Even prominent evangelical study resources on the spiritual gifts, like "Network", mention the apostolic and prophetic gifting that God has given to some. Churches that are prominently un-Pentecostal even stress their importance.
It is almost as if Jesus Himself is still looking for more "materials" in His church with which He can build, in order to finish the work He spoke of in Matthew 16:18. Often in my personal weariness I remind the Lord, "YOU are the one who said You would build your Church."
He is revealing and raising up the five gifts in teams, and calling them to function as building crews. TEAM MINISTRY IS BEING REVEALED IN THE BODY OF CHRIST WORLDWIDE. Materials are being measured, and some passed over because they do not measure up. The goal is the building of houses where the Lord could dwell, with new churches being planted in every people group on earth. The long, effective revival in South America, in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and other countries, is resulting in a massive apostolic thrust, with the hallmark of that revival being the planting of churches and conserving of the new believers in them.
POINT TO CONSIDER: THE FIVE MINISTRY GIFTS OF EPHESIANS 4 CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF A TEAM. ONLY AS THEY FIT TOGETHER WILL THEY BECOME APPARENT. ALSO, THE FRUIT OF ALL FIVE GIFTS WILL BE OTHERS RAISED UP JUST LIKE THEM.
To look at the picture of the harvesting of lumber, there are large numbers of felled trees being herded down the river, and men with spikes are moving them along. If there should be a logjam, where the trees were clogging up the river's flow and no progress could be made, either the water level must rise to accommodate the logs and move them along, or the process must be slowed. This "water level increase" is speaking to many of a fresh outpouring of the Spirit. If you look near the end of the river, you will see a sawmill where the logs were being cut to size and sent all over the world to build new houses.
It has become clear that much activity in the Church today is logjammed; many places have ceased to flow because they received God's blessing merely for the enhancement of self. This refers to individuals, churches and entire fellowships/denominations of churches! Half the protestant churches in the United States did not gain one new soul through conversion in 1999. The goal is, or should be, to take the log or other raw resource, and transform it into building material, and it will take groups or teams of skilled servants and builders to accomplish the task.
So this is where I believe the Spirit is leading the Church; beyond the mere satisfaction of our physical, emotional and spiritual needs and our need to belong to a community of faith, unto the fulfillment of what God spoke to Abraham. God said to him, "I will bless you, but I would also have you know that all the families on the face of the earth shall be blessed because of you." We as the Church are still the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.
Next, let's see how the five ministry gifts, and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit are called to flow together in TEAM MINISTRY, by TEAM SPIRIT.
"In order that . . . you are standing firm in one spirit, holding your ground, with one soul contending as a team of athletes would in perfect cooperation with one another for the faith of the Gospel." (Philippians 1:27, Wuest Translation) This is a beautiful picture of the Church according to Paul's writings, not only here but in II Timothy and in other places; he saw the church as a team of athletes and as a company of soldiers, not only in their corporate expression but in the way their leaders ministered.
Both Old and New Testaments record numerous examples of this "team spirit." Here are some examples from Scripture of the "TEAM" concept of ministry:
"You will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place . . . then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them." I Sam. 10:5 "They saw the company of the prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them." I Sam. 19:20
HERE IN THESE VERSES, AS WELL AS IN I CORINTHIANS 14:29, WE SEE THAT OFTEN THE PROPHETS MINISTERED IN GROUPS.
"The prophets, Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews . . . then Zerubbabel arose and began to rebuild the house of God . . . and the prophets of God were with them supporting them." (Ezra 5:1-3)
IF YOU LOOK AT THE 16 MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS, YOU WILL SEE THAT USUALLY THEY HAD CONTEMPORARIES THAT WERE EITHER NEAR THEM OR MINISTERING WITH THEM.
"In abundance of counselors there is safety." Prov. 11:14, 15:22, and 24:6.
In I Chronicles 12, we see the list of several "teams" within David’s army. We have sons of Issachar who have knowledge of the times and know the direction to go (vs. 32), we have sons of Gad who are trained for war and full of courage (vs. 8), and we even have a group that cooks and prepares food (vs. 39) and provides them with supplies (vs. 40). In Deut. 21:3, 19:15-19, and 17:8-12, we see that the leadership over a city was entrusted to a plurality of elders, priests and judges that were to flow together in making decisions and rendering justice. What happened to Saul when he tried to be a Samuel? God was intentional about these gifts and wanted His children to abide in theirs.
Numbers 11:10-17 THE MOSAIC TEAM: To those who want to be a "Moses", let me remind you that it was Moses and the seventy that interceded, prophesied, rendered justice and ruled Israel. We have seen many lone wolf "I am Moses alone" ministries fall by the wayside; don't be yet another one.
Recognize also that according to Deut.1:15, there were leaders over ten, over one hundred, over one thousand, and so on. Different people have different leadership capabilities, God appointed them accordingly, and YOU NEED THEM.
In the current move of God's Spirit at Brownsville Assembly of God, there is a teacher/evangelist team working very effectively. Steve Hill the evangelist speaks so that an 8-year-old can understand him. John Kilpatrick, the pastor/teacher, is a "deep preacher" that feeds the flock on Sundays. Neither is threatened by the gifts of the other; one feeds the outside, the other the inside. This is God's wonderful plan. We will look at this security and other virtues of effective leadership teams later in this study.
A "plurality of elders" is God's description of church leadership in Acts 11:30, 15:2, 20:17, I Tim. 5:17, Phil. 1:1, Jam. 5:14, and I Pet. 5:1. The number, both locally and translocally, is determined by the need of the church or churches in a given area. "There were several elders in every congregation, the group of elders in each congregation termed the presbytery." (Alex Hay)
Some years ago God gave Jack Hayford, a pastor in Los Angeles, a vision of His church in that great city. He saw one flock, with shepherds scattered among them, some watching over 50 and some watching over 500. He could see from this that each pastor has his own sphere of influence but that in a city, there is one Congregation.
This is how God arranged leadership for His people in both testaments, so don't stew over the few if you are leading just a small group; remember the words of Jonathan, who was part of a small team facing great opposition. He said in I Sam. 14:6, "The Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few." We can see throughout Scripture how God's hand in teams of all sizes helped them to get jobs done that appeared impossible just by looking at the number.
I Chron. 22:15-17 says, "There are many workmen with you . . . all men who are skillful in every kind of work. . . . arise and work, and may the Lord be with you. David commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon."
ADDITIONAL NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:
Rom. 16:3, 7 "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles." George Murray of the Bible Christian Union, an excellent " "church planting by team" missions organization, has written that Paul had 17 different team configurations laboring with him, and that in his own writings we see revealed a list of 34 different workers that were with him at different times.
Says George, "As members of a team, we enjoy the advantages of companionship, fellowship, incentive, accountability, multiple gifts, wise counsel, mutual encouragement, corporate witness, combined faith and group prayer, to name just a few."
I Cor. 3:8-9 "Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers." When a team flows together, each has his/her own skill and limitation; rewards will be given according to our faithfulness in ministering only those gifts and graces that God imparted to us. Paul knew what he was and abided there; he encouraged churches, leaders and layworkers to do the same.
I Cor. 14:29 "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment." Again we see the same concept that we previously saw in I Samuel; prophets ministering together and all receiving correction when necessary to provide safety to themselves and those they ministered to. The attitude we hear often is: "God spoke to me and that's that. How dare you speak against God's anointed??!!" It is always better to declare "This is what I believe the Lord is saying," leaving open always the possibility that we could "miss it" in sharing faithful ministry.
This would have helped us much during the year 2000, after so many so-called prophetic ministries gave false words about the Y2K crisis, then refused to apologize or admit openly that they had indeed "missed it." One nationally-known minister in Texas has chronicled the prophecies of one noted "charismatic" magazine. He has noted large numbers of unfulfilled words, unaccompanied by later retractions and apologies. All this negligence makes it difficult to receive and act on TRUE words.
TEAM MINISTRY POINT TO PONDER: NO ONE ALWAYS GETS THEIR OWN WAY.
VERSES:
II Cor. 1:19, 24 "The Son of God, Christ Jesus, was preached among you by us . . . by me and Silvanus and Timothy. . . not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy."
II Cor. 12:17-18 "Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?"
One blessing of being in a team is that we can send representatives back and forth to get information, enhance communication, and be bound closer together. (Also read Eph. 6:21-22 for another example).
Therefore it was important that these teams have the same basic ministerial ethics and convictions. This has been one of my most rewarding experience on teams; to watch God so bring a team together that we literally moved as one person. Paul experienced this frequently and so he often trained teams to walk as he did. He multiplied his ministry faithfully even in the worst of circumstances by holding faithfully to this practice.
Gal. 1:1-2 "Paul, an apostle . . . and all the brethren who are with me. . . "
Phil. 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints who are at Philippi, including the overseers and deacons." This shows that a team of preachers is writing to a church with a team of elders and team of deacons. Again, the "team spirit" prevails in the New Testament.
Colossians 1:1 and 4:7-14 shows that a total of seven team members are mentioned by Paul. In I Thessalonians 1:1, a team of three is mentioned. And so the record goes, from epistle to epistle.
FIVE-FOLD GIFT MINISTRY TEAMS (EPH. 4:10-12) In the book of Acts alone, we have abundant references to teams of apostles, teams of prophets, teams of evangelists, teams of pastors and teachers, teams of administrators, and teams of multiple gifts.
APOSTOLIC TEAMS
"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching." Acts 2:42
"When they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent (Gr. apostello) them away." Acts 13:3
(continued)
"The brethren determined that Paul and Barnabus (both apostles) and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this situation." Acts 15:2
In Acts 15:25-27, two apostles and two prophets were sent as a team to the Gentile congregations with the message from the Jerusalem council." And he (Paul) was accompanied by Sopater and Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus."
Acts 20:4 shows us a multi-ministry team travelling together, from at least six different churches.
PROPHETIC TEAMS
"Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch." Acts 11:27
"Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers. . . . they sent (the apostles) away." Acts 13:1-3
"And Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message." Acts 15:32
"Now this man (Philip an evangelist) had four virgin daughters who were also prophetesses. And as we were staying there for some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea." Acts 21:9-10
EVANGELISTIC TEAMS
"They (Peter, John and Philip) were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans." Acts 8:25
"In Iconium they (Paul and Barnabus) spoke in such a manner that a great multitude believed." Acts 14:1
"There were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking, preaching (Gr. euaggelizo, evangelize) the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord." Acts 11:20-21
(It is interesting to note that the Antioch church, which became almost a "mother" church to the Gentile missionary outreach, was the recipient of apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic and teaching teams, and became the base for such teams afterwards. The thing we are birthed in is the thing that we will tend to multiply, barring a mighty work of God’s Spirit changing our tradition. If we are authoritarian, "one man show" individuals, doing everything ourselves and being the end of the law for every issue and individual, we will find ourselves unable to multiply anything else. The Antioch church is a wonderful example of the opposite spirit and philosophy at work.)
PASTOR/SHEPHERD/ELDER TEAMS
‘Then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.” (Micah 5:5) “The lion growls over his prey, against which a band of shepherds is called out.” (Isaiah 31:4)
This is the most common leadership picture in the New Testament; I Timothy and Titus continually speak of shepherds/elders as being in a plurality of ministry in the local assembly. The terms Elder, Bishop, Overseer, Pastor/Shepherd, Presbytery (and sometimes teacher) are often used interchangeably in the New Testament. Some of these terms speak of gifting, while others speak of character. There are two types of elders, for example, in the Greek language. One is more of a "visitor" while the other is more of a "pilot" or administrator. Gifts can differ but the team of mature men of character, accompanied by godly wives that provide solid female leadership as well, is always to be present.
"And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord." Acts 14:23 "They were received by the Church and the apostles and the elders. .and the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter." Acts 15:4-6 "He sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church . . .Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God." Acts 20:17, 28
One reason for this need of a shepherding/eldering team is that there are two different Greek words for "elder.” One word literally means “visitor” and speaks of the pastoral care elder. The other means “ship pilot” and speaks of those elders who are more top-heavy in administrative giftings.
Both are needed, side by side. God said so.
BIBLE TEACHING TEAMS
"And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching." Acts 5:42
"Paul and Barnabus stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also, the Word of the Lord." Acts 15:35
"For an entire year they (Paul and Barnabus) met with the Church and taught considerable numbers." Acts 11:26
"There were at Antioch, in the Church that was there, prophets and teachers." Acts 13:1
ADMINISTRATIVE/FINANCE/DEACONING/GOVERNING TEAMS
"Joseph, . . . who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet." Acts 4:37 (Also read in this connection I Chron. 26:22) "Each of them determined to send a contribution for relief . . . and this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabus and Saul to the elders." Acts 11:29-30
Acts 15:6-22 shows how at the Council in Jerusalem, 5 different men gave their opinions and testimony, and it was through these different voices that a final conclusion was reached and summarized. Even then, the decision was sent by a group of four to administer and communicate, and the Word says that this team brought rejoicing and encouragement to the Gentile churches. (Acts 15:31)
So here we see it, through both Testaments; a clear and abundant series of references to team spirit in all areas of Church planting, growth and development, and Body life and ministry.
WHAT MAJOR JOB OF MINISTRY DID GOD LEAVE TO AN INDIVIDUAL? SCRIPTURE IS PRETTY SILENT ABOUT THIS.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT TEAMS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL? Or,
HOW TO CARRY THE FLAME WITHOUT BURNING EACH OTHER
These principles are the "motor". You can have a new transmission but without a motor there is nothing to drive it, at any speed. Good teams don't become great, except by intentional planning and appropriate spiritual preparation. "Preparation equals effectiveness." (Costa Deir)
"No one likes the thought of being led by a dictator, and that is not what the Bible teaches. But neither do the Scriptures support the democratic model for church government. The pattern we see is one of "consultative leadership", where maximum room is given for discussion, dialogue, prayer and input, but the final decision rests with the leadership." (Pastor Barney Coombs) (Read Acts 15:6-31)
First, effective team spirit is characterized by clear purpose. Even the most effective servants will languish if they wonder why their team actually exists. Write down your vision and mission and purpose, frame it, summarize it in a sentence if possible, talk about it, remind all of it in hard times, and make sure that new team members understand it before they sign on.
All teams will have a "set person", a leader. Church leadership structures that teach team leadership without a leader are going to produce foundering organizations. This "set person" is vocalizing a passion that rings clear in the ears of all around him/her. This is someone who usually can't wait to get up in the morning to take the next step towards their God-given purpose. This attitude is confident, faith-filled, and infectious, producing a chain reaction. If you don't have that, back off! Let someone else be the spokesperson, hopefully this person we just described. Others are simply "unlicensed drivers" of your endeavor.
"The officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, `Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house so that he might not make his brothers' hearts melt like his heart.'" (Deut. 20:8)
Don't join a team unless you are willing to bring your conversation and confession into order; anxiety, worry, defeatism and negativism can affect others like a spreading cancer. We all face these things; this doesn't mean they can't be brought under control. Both the hero and coward face fear; the difference is in how they deal with it when, not if, it comes.
"For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike." (I Sam.30:24) A team must learn that all have a part to play, and all will share in the reward regardless of their different tasks during the team's ministry. Members of missionary teams should stress this to their financial and prayer supporters. So thank your team members---often! Paul often commended his own.
Team leaders must be sensitive to building this philosophy into the attitude and atmosphere of the team. What
is the cry of the immature? "Throw ME the ball!" all the time.
"He said, `If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.'" (I Chron. 19:12) If during a team you find that you are too limited or weak to fulfill what is required, don't hesitate to report this to those responsible and humbly request help.
Example: It's always better to get another watchman than to have a tired watchman fall asleep and let the enemy in, or one who does not have the talent. If you can't use a hammer without busting every finger, SAY SO! Our limitations simply result in further delegation being carried out; they are not a sign of defeat or failure.
"When they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond our measure." (II Cor. 10:12-13)
This is simple enough; avoid comparisons regarding spirituality or gifts with fellow team members. Also don't boast of gifts, or exaggerate regarding gifts you don't have; be content with what Jesus has graced you with and realize that you are His choice for this assignment. His smile should be enough.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one
another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but
also for the interests of others." Phil. 2:3-4 Enough said there; no further commentary required.
Team Ministry is usually incompatible with the autocratic leader. Granted, God does give an individual the responsibility of moderating or "quarterbacking" a team. He appoints, throughout history, an individual as the responsible "set man" or "elder among elders" for each institution. James, Barnabus, Timothy, Archippus and others are all mentioned in the church in this context.
However, if you look through church and missions history, you will encounter many who, due to their own autocratic style, chose to travel and work alone. The sad part about this decision-making process is that these people, so gifted and wealthy in the Word, usually failed to raise up successors. After death or resignation, most of their works collapsed or became hopelessly divided. God calls us to become fathers (I Cor. 4:15) and as fathers, we must ask, "Where are the children?" In Texas they use the term "Big Hat--No Cattle."
Paul called Timothy and Titus his true "sons" in the Lord. Where are ours? Also read II Cor. 1:18-24 and see how often you see the words "our", "we" and "us." The epistles are filled with such references to teams ministering together, and the writer of 12 or 13 of them had a tremendous attitude toward his team members. He called them:
Fellow laborers Phil. 4:3
Fellow servants Col. 1:7, 4:7
Fellow helpers II Cor. 8:23 POINT TO CONSIDER: THE CHURCH EMERGED OUT
Fellow soldiers Phil. 2:25 OF THE OLD TESTAMENT FAMILY. THE MANAGER
Yoke fellows Phil. 4:3 AT HOME WILL MOBILIZE ALL TO SERVE. SO MUST WE.
Fellow workers Col. 4:11
If you were called to work with Paul, you were most likely honored and enthusiastic, given his charitable, great-hearted attitude towards his team.
Also remember that the spirit of rulership prevalent in the world is not to characterize the Church. (Matt. 20:25-26) The word "rule" (Gr. Proistemi or proestotes, used also for "who ARE OVER you in the Lord", I Thess. 5:12) means to stand before, lead into and show how. It speaks of serving and being an example rather than driving and coercing. Another similar term, "hegoumenown", is used in Hebrews 13:7 and refers to those martyrs in Hebrews 11 who went before and led us by their example, and death.
The spirit of New Testament ruling is the laying down of our life for our friends, the sheep that Jesus died to redeem. This conflicts with the autocratic and much more that is taught today by humanistic, corporate-type leadership and team trainers. Don't ever believe the lie that principles of leadership are the same in the corporation as they are in the church. As one writer puts it, Jesus was the Good Shepherd, not the Good Cowboy. Leadership is very different in the Kingdom: distinction is rooted in different spheres of service. We then morally and spiritually persuade through the resources of Word, Holy Spirit, prayer and a godly example, not humanistic/charismatic personality types.
THE AUTOCRATIC VERSUS CHRISTOCRATIC MODEL FOR TEAM LEADERSHIP:
THE AUTOCRATIC PERSONALITY THE CHRISTOCRATIC PERSONALITY
Gives orders without asking questions, asks questions, seeks to truly hear, suggests
Without permitting them either alternatives
Makes demands, dishes out directives, lays respects freedom and dignity of others, can
Down the law, defensive if challenged affirm the truth clearly and concretely but nondefensive
Requires compliance regardless of consensus, values willing cooperation, works for open agreement
Consent or agreement and understanding
Pushes and manipulates, one-man rule, in over- leads, attracts, persuades personal relationships in side-
Under position by-side identification
Says "you do, you must do, you ought to have says, "come, let's do, we might have done, we can try"
Done, you'd better do"
Depends on his own external authority and title depends on his internal integrity to motivate others
To motivate others
Generates friction, resistance, and resentment generates acceptance, consensus, cooperation and initiates
Reconciliation when necessary
Separates and isolates people, his organization is unites and helps persons relate to one another.
Often a "revolving door" of the alienated (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)
One more point could be added here, made by Dick Iverson: "In examining the concept of team ministry, you may discover that your gift and ability in the ministry is not best fulfilled as the senior elder. In this change you may be taunted by the idea that you are "stepping down" or being "demoted." This is not the case. The ministry is not a pyramid system, or a sales ladder, or an executive scramble to be number one. Being on a team is not God's "second best" but it is God's greatest design. POSITION DOES NOT EQUAL VALUE. The role that God has laid out for you is the best thing that could ever happen to you and is going to bring you the greatest joy in this life." (Rev. Dick Iverson, "Team Ministry") Imagine the impact on churches and ministries worldwide if there was such a shifting, prompted by brokenness, that re-aligned us all to this way of thinking. It would be refreshing!
"AS THE GLORY OF MAN IS THE WOMAN, AND THE GLORY OF CHRIST IS HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH, SO THE GLORY OF THE SENIOR ELDER IS HIS TEAM." (anon.)
As regards our oral communication and teaching, team spirit also involves moving from "lecture" to "interactive" in our communication as team leaders.
It goes like this; Tell me - - - I'll forget.
Show me - - - I might remember.
Involve me - - - I'll eventually understand. (some quicker than others!)
This is especially true within the masculine context of learning. If you just endure the younger and the newer, tuning them out while waiting for your chance to speak and keep everybody on YOUR track, forget about team ministry. Those around will see that your heart is not in it. Good team leaders should hone their listening and sensitivity skills, even when it appears that some more immature team members might be talking irresponsibly. Then, the team must communicate as a team. It does little good to have a team that doesn't communicate like one. "And when they (the whole ministry team) were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done through them." (Acts 14:27)
"The concept of the body functioning in concert requires the CONSIDERATION OF ALL MEMBERS, each working with common agreement for the good of all." (Stanley Ellisen)
Team members are selected, not democratically elected. Show me a church structure full of "elected" people and I'll show you a bunch of folks in the wrong place for the wrong reasons with the wrong spirit. Throughout Scripture the pattern is so clear. Moses selected Joshua. Samuel was directed to choose David. Elijah told Elisha to follow him, passing over all those in the three current Schools of the Prophets of that day. Barnabus chose Paul and Paul chose Timothy. Even of Jesus it was said, "He summoned those whom He Himself wanted . . . and He appointed twelve." (Mark 3:13-15)
In the same vein, those chosen must know that they are being joined in the Spirit to both the leader and the other team members. The New Testament shows us that the workers are linked by functioning "joints", or covenantal working relationships. Today's "church-hopping" and "preacher swapping" are practices so foreign to the Bible way. Do you want to select someone who has a history of broken relationships? Someone who has left churches and relationships without so much as a phone call to the pastor or leader? Be very careful here! "I like the other workers but I'm not sure about the pastor." "The leader is a good man but I don't know about this team I'm with; I think I'll just stay close to the leader." Both of these attitudes will produce harmful results. "Whoever is not with me, is against me." (Matt. 12:30)
Of kindred spirit, having the same "family genes." This is also very important. Paul spoke of team member Timothy in this way (I Cor 4:17, Phil. 2:20). We all have many relationships in the Body that we love and maintain, yet perhaps only a few that we flow together with as a team. It doesn't mean that one team or ministry is better than another, but simply that we share so many joint convictions and have the same "family sense" to be together. This one is hard to explain because there is no superiority in one ministry team. However, there is a sense of agreement in the Spirit. Can you see how foolish we are to send people right out of Bible School and seminary into a church or ministry to lead without having this sense of kindred spirit established first? It's no wonder so much "swapping" goes on.
Look for young people to join the team! David, Samuel, Josiah, Joash, Jeremiah, David Brainerd, Evan Roberts and Robert Murray McCheyne are all examples of youth with tremendous dedication and accuracy in their judgments. Never overlook what they can be used to do!
No shadows or question marks: freely divulge weaknesses and previous struggles with team members. Leave no question, by telling them even more than they wanted to hear. This disarms the accuser's ability to work discord within the ranks, and builds the trust which can be ABSOLUTELY needed in times of crisis.
Each member of the ministry team should be delivered from self-interest and self-seeking. If someone's main reason for serving with us is to find a place for their own ministry, eventually we will all come to see how unwise it was to have them aboard. It doesn't matter how talented they are; giving in here because of a person's talent has been a prominent mistake in team efforts for a long time. A spirit of competition rather than sacrifice begins to invade the team; this is only one of the problems experienced. "Timothy served with me like a child serving his father." (Phil. 2:21-22) Look for people like that. "You discern (the team member's) compassion for the sheep by their self-sacrifice." (Dick Iverson)
Make room for the zealous, aggressive risk-takers! There is so much passivity and mediocrity in the Lord's work today; folks like this will shake all that stuff right out of the team. The one who buried his talent in order to "play it safe" was rebuked by the Lord. Team members have to show initiative, the ability to act on their own without having to ask three people for their advice before doing anything. They have to be willing to go forth without having to have all the details of the journey ahead of time. At the same time they must be disciplined people, who don't have to be constantly reminded about tardiness, cleaning up their living quarters, time in the Word, etc. These determined ones actually seem to play and work harder as the "game" progresses.
Proverbs 12:1 tells us that anyone who cannot take correction is stupid. Don't open the team to stupid people like this. Nothing is more wearying for a leader than to repeatedly have to adjust the words, attitudes and behaviors of a team member while all you get in return is self-defense, super-spiritual justification, blame-shifting, turning the whole conversation back on you, or "having to have the last word." About that time, all you want to do is back out and pray for the team effort to end soon so that such a one can depart. I go farther with my short-term missionary team leaders; I give them the authority to put such a one, after a second warning, on the next plane or bus home.
Along with this order comes the promise that I will automatically take the leader's side until we can all sit down first-hand and sort things out.
"Whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge." "Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you." (Prov. 12:1A, 9:8) These are the kind of people I want with me.
Team members must endure, even be ready and prepared to endure, hardship. There will be late airplanes, hours of waiting, days without a shower, long periods on a trip without food or drink, followed by cold or bad food with no ten-page menu, extreme heat and humidity and cold and wind, bed-bugs and creepy-crawlies that give itchy red spots, and a whole host of other discomforts. Take those along who are already prepared to "deal with it!" I have preached many times while ill, in pain, without clean clothes, and exhausted. I have said many times on teams, jokingly, "Now, this was not in the brochure." Get the team ready by reading II Cor. 11:23-30 to them, then saying, "Chances are the ministry effort may go a little bit easier than this." Short-term team members will be home soon; we are surrounded, on the other hand, by people who endure the above, and more, all the time!
"A LITTLE SUFFERING FOR JESUS NEVER DID ANYONE ANY HARM." (Barney Coombs)
THIS IS THE THEME OF ALL SUCCESSFUL TEAM EFFORTS. WE CAN SEE HOW THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH EXPANDED SO RAPIDLY AND SUCCESSFULLY, WITH A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF TEAM SPIRIT BEING SO IMPORTANT IN CHURCH GROWTH AND MULTIPLICATION. This is because the ministry team is really a model for all the rest as to how their church or ministry should look. We can't lead where we haven't gone.
IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN TO STUDY THE "one another" commands of the New Testament to get further clues as to what this model should show, as well as examining THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH AS THE EMERGING CHURCH IN ITS OWN DAY, OUT OF THE LIMITED VISION AND GOALS OF THE JERUSALEM ASSEMBLY. ANTIOCH IS WHERE THEY WERE FIRST CALLED "CHRISTIANS." I BELIEVE WE ARE HEADED BACK THIS WAY: obviously WITH THE LEADERS FIRST WALKING IN "TEAM SPIRIT."
Mark has served in ministry as a missionary and pastor, and now directs a ministry that trains and equips church leaders all over the world, primarily into the Hispanic world. He has a wife, Lois, and four grown children, and makes his home in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.
“River of Life/Río de Vida”
320 Hadleigh Rd.
Bolingbrook IL 60440
630-739-2835 |
