The Power of Teamwork
Series: ROOTS
Brad Bailey – November 20, 2011
Main Point: The Body of Christ grows when everybody plays their position (i.e. through mutual contribution and diversity of gifts.)
Pre-text Intro
Yesterday I had my final day of the flag football season which I’ve been coaching.
One of the most important aspects is imparting that it is a team sport in which the goal is not to run with a ball…but for the team to move the ball down field and into the end zone… and that every play works based on every player’s part. As the often stated acrostic puts it:
T - TOGETHER
E - EVERYONE
A - ACHIEVES
M - MORE than we could ever do on our own
The potential of the team is only realized when everyone plays their position.
That same dynamic is true of our calling as a community to gather and grow life with God in our time and place.
As we’ve come to our final week in our series entitled ROOTS… recapturing the life of Christ in us… we come the significance of participation… of playing as a team… of playing our position.
Acts 6:1-7 (NIV)
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Here Luke tells us how the movement grew…. He begins noting how “the number of disciples was increasing”… and ends describing how “the number of disciples grew rapidly.” In fact it begins with that which reflects addition… and ends with that which reflects multiplication. What lies in between is the challenge that had to be overcome.
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
A problem had arisen in the fellowship of the Jerusalem church, which by now had grown to over 8,000 members, made up of Jews and Gentiles from Jerusalem, the surrounding Palestinian area, from Egypt, Libya, Italy, Arabia and from other countries. There was a cultural distinction… primarily between Jews who were local and spoke Hebrew (and Aramaic) and those who were from outside Palestine and spoke Greek. Those non-locals were feeling like outsiders. [1]
The Grecian Jews widows were being overlooked… and the result was that those serving the community in the Word and prayer were not going to fulfill their service well.
The problem… was ultimately two aspects of the same issue: consumerism.
What had been so beautifully described in Acts 4 regarding how they shared their resources in common… faced the oppositional pull of ‘self-serving.’ A ‘we’ and ‘them’ perspective began to develop.
Some were focused on what they could get... at the neglect of others… and the apostles who had been serving the process… were coming up short. The community was beginning to become too divided by providers and consumers. This was the danger that threatened the church. The apostles had centralized too much in themselves and would have to break that down… while the community at large would have to embrace what it means to share that responsibility.
They had persecution from outside… but persecution has never stopped the work of Christ. What really threatened the power of the church wasn’t an issue with persecution but participation from within.
This danger is still at hand.
The greatest challenge in embodying the ministry of Christ today is our focus on ourselves… the self consumption of consumerism.
Consumerism is not the same as consuming.
Consuming from what others provide is not only okay… it’s great… it’s healthy. Consuming is part of life… but consumerism is deadly.
“Consumerism” refers to our whole way of seeing ourselves in relationship to others. Consumerism is an inner focus on what we can get… and what others can provide.
Consumerism relates to others as objects that provide for our needs.
It’s deadly because it s ultimately self consuming. We lose the power of producing life in us.
In our text… we see that it can be as subtle as seeing the provision of food being shared as primarily one’s own provision… over and against others… who become competition. It can be as naïve as watching the beautiful process of provisions being shared… and not participating in the needs that arise.
Today I want us to really engage how this issue beckons us.
I want to note that some may be true “guests” here… by that I mean you have not come to this gathering identifying this as the church you attend. While I believe the principles speak to all who seek to find a local embodiment of Christ… I am speaking most directly to those who have begun to identify with this local body.
I want to challenge us out of a sense of PRIDE…Throughout the years what has captured many…is the sense of servanthood that this reflected in this community.
My challenge is one of protecting such Christ-like hearts from the disease of consumerism.
Today there is a common issue that is raised about such communities: 20% bear 80% of the responsibility.
Naturally that isn’t fair… nor as we see in our text… is it effective.
It’s not The church was never meant to become like a football game… where there are 100,000 in the stands watching 22 on the field.
The compelling calling which Christ is seeking in us is not simply that of giving and serving ‘more’…but of more people giving and serving. It is a calling to maturity reflected in mutuality.
How does the movement of these first followers survive… and even expand?
The Spirit leads them to grasp some things.
1. The team succeeds when EVERYBODY PLAYS.
- As we heard about in Acts 4, people were sharing… bringing money to the apostles…but managing the distribution was going to limit the greater good..
Verse 2 - So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God …
Can sound like they are speaking of one being ministry and one being of lesser importance.
It would be easy to read this as though the apostles were saying, “We’re too good to serve tables. After all, we’re apostles…. We have more spiritual work to do.
But that’s not really what’s at hand.
The Apostles had been providing all the care. You may recall that the way in which everybody shared was by selling things and bringing the money to the apostles… they had been managing all the distribution. [2] They did all of the mercy ministry until they could not physically keep up. So Acts 6 does not describe men who feel they are above serving tables, but men overwhelmed by other work.
The apostles listen to the concerns and take action. They are not too proud to admit their inadequacies in addressing the needs and recognize the need to share the leadership involved in serving others.
In fact, what most English translations don’t capture well… is that the same word is being to describe what each does… it is the Greek word ‘doulos’ which means to serve… and ‘diakonia’ which means the ‘one who serves.’ It is the last word of verse one: “their widows are being neglected in the daily diakonia.” Then in verse 2, the verb: “we should not give up preaching the word of God to diakonia tables.” Now verse 4: “We will devote ourselves to prayer and the diakonia of the word.”
They recognize that they need to seek mature lives to help lead. This is an aspect of Christ’s life in community.. one which they have taken responsibility for… and take seriously. It isn’t an issue of something less vital…It is entirely a question of spreading responsibility. [3]
Some were servant leaders of the Word and prayer…. For helping others to grow…and some were serving leaders of care.
Later Paul would explain:
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
The pastor’s role is more like a coach – helping people discover and develop their potential to minister to others.
“MINISTRY”… is an often misunderstood word. When I say the word “minister” most people think of priest, pastor. Our culture has created a formal role associated with some strange clothes and even some strange people. But in the Bible the word “service” and “ministry” are the same word. And in the Bible “servant” and “minister” are the same word. The Bible says that every person who receives the life of Christ within them is a minister.
Now, not every believer is a pastor, but every believer is a minister.
Ministry simply means serving God by serving others.
Any time you use your talents, your abilities, your background, your experiences to help somebody else, you know what that’s called? Ministering. So all of us are called to ministry.
This is what Jesus brought to bear for every life. He came to earth Himself and said “This is how you you find life again… and he came as a servant of the Father.
Matthew 20:28 (LB)
Jesus said ‘your attitude must be like my Own, for I did not come to be served but to serve.’
Jesus is the model of the true servant… the diakonos.
He embodies that the true diakonos… servant… is one who is not at his own disposal… but serves another.
The new community is one in which everyone plays because everyone is a servant.
So when the problem came to a crossroads… what did they do?
Vs. 3 – “…choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.” – Acts 6:3
The apostles instructed the church to appoint seven leaders. And the predominantly Hebrew members selected six men who were Hellenists and one man who was both a Gentile and a proselyte! We know they were Hellenists from their Greek names. [4]
So the apostles began to share the responsibility. They began to build a team.
They sought those ‘fitting’ as overseers of such distribution… those “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom”…which could be understood most simply as God-led and God discerning.
These first servant leaders were later referred to more formally as ‘deacons’… which simply means servants. Those who serve as leaders of groups and ministries are in similar roles… and we seek similar qualities of being known as God-led and God- discerning.
But the principle of such gifting is expanded to all.
God designed lives to fit together to create the greater whole.
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Just as a body cannot be healthy and growing if parts are not working…. So with the body of Christ… we call the church.
Each one of us is a vital part that is needed.
“The church as a team does not exist for the individual, rather the individual exists for the church as a team."
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)
Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
A body is designed to gain from ears, ears, arms, and every other part.
2. The team thrives on the DIVERSITY OF GIFTS.
Every week I am so blessed by the diversity of gifts that bless so many. (Examples)
1 Peter 4:10 (LB)
“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessing."
God has given each of us special abilities. We each have aspects of ourselves that we are blessed with.
We have each been SHAPED for SIGNIFICANCE.
God made you unique and your uniqueness is not for your benefit.
God made you to make a difference. And what matters is how you use your strengths to make a difference..
You’ve been Given Significance !
“Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.” 1 Cor. 15:58 (MSG)
Notice “nothing”: that means it all matters, even the little stuff. Why? Because in God’s book, there is no little service. He said, “Even if you give a cup of cold water in my name to a child, that counts.” In God’s eyes, there is no little service.
Now if you’re going to learn to be a servant of God,
you must learn the difference between significance and prominence.
Which is more significant… my nose or my liver? My ear or my heart?
My nose and ear are more prominent… but my liver and heart are even more significant.
We tend to think that if something is given a lot of visibility, it’s the most important.
You see the fact is with our limited perspective, we can’t see how our small acts have big consequences, but they do!
Several years ago two teenage boys tried to come into a church service at night, much like this, only it was packed out and they couldn’t find any seats. So they turned around and decided to leave because they couldn’t find a seat. But one usher said, “Come on, guys. I’ll find you a seat.” And that usher personally escorted them down to the center and set them in the middle and found them two seats. That night both of those boys accepted Christ and became Christians. One of them was Billy Graham who has now led millions and tens of millions of people to Christ.
We have no idea of the significance of small acts.
Everyone can discover that they have life giving potential.
You know a lot of people spend so much of their time searching for self-esteem, for self-worth, and significance. They want to feel good about themselves. But they’re looking in all the wrong places! You don’t get your self-worth from the success of work and wealth, because it always fades away. You don’t get your self-esteem from status. You don’t get your self-esteem from sex. The Bible says you get your self-esteem from service. Jesus said to give your life away in order to find it.
3. The team experiences how together they ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS for God.
Together they accomplished even greater growth
Verse 7 – “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”
Why did the word of God spread?
Because people did what they were wired up to do. Gods plan was executed because spectators became players – because people got out of stands, onto the field, found their position.
We hang a “do not disturb sign” on the door of our heart.“ We do it all the time. We say, “do not disturb”. “Don’t disturb my heart. I’ve got my goals. I’ve got my safe little life going here, so don’t disturb me for the needs of other people.”
They took the “do not disturb” sign off themse,ves. They took the abilities God gave them, and used them for eternal purposes. ‘the number of disciples increased rapidly.’
And the potential became exponential.
Did you know that farmers have known for many years of the multiplied power of teamwork? Studies have shown that one horse can pull 2500 pounds. But two horses working together can pull 12,500 pounds! Not twice as much, but five times as much.
There is power when we join together.
VIDEO
“The Tree” - can also be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TuEFA7359Y&feature=related
Alternative clip: Lord of Rings when the “Fellowship” is formed at a secret council meeting… and declared “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Here each offers their allegiance and gifts to the common cause which matters most. (Aragorn—reluctant king, offers sword. Legolas-bow. Gimli—his axe )
CLOSING:
Jesus is inviting us to join him in serving others.
In a moment I want to conclude our time … conclude this entire series… with an opportunity to embrace the call to serve God by serving others. I’m going to invite any who feel a fresh call to serve… to come up… and have pastors / elders pray over them.
(Note: This is not a matter of being set apart to the particular level of responsibility noted in our text… nor do we presume the same recognition of that the community had…but rather it is an initial blessing of responding to the call of serving… ministering.)
Prayer -
Father I realize that I was shaped to serve You by serving others. Forgive me for the times I’ve put a “do not disturb” sign on my heart. Help me to see the interruptions as opportunities to serve. Help me to make time for what matters most. You’ve been so good to me. I want to give something back. I want to serve You freely and gratefully and faithfully, and I want to practice before I get to heaven so one day I can hear You say “Well done, good and faithful servant”. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Resources: Chip Kelly, Glenn Durham, Kevin Higgins, John Hamby, John Piper, Rick Warren
Notes
1. Bible Background Commentary notes: “Some scholars think that the “Hellenists” (NRSV) here are simply Greek-speaking Palestinian Jews, but most Jews in Palestine were bilingual, and Greek was probably the first language for most Jerusalemites. The more likely proposal is that this text refers to Diaspora Jews who have settled in Jerusalem, as opposed to natives of Jewish Palestine.
The Bible mandated caring for widows, who had no other means of support if they had no family nearby. Judaism took this responsibility seriously, in contrast to Gentile cultures. But because it was considered virtuous to be buried in the land of Israel, many foreign Jews would come to spend their last days there, then die and leave widows. (Palestinian rabbis eventually provided further theological incentive to immigrants; according to one common tradition, the dead would be resurrected only in Israel, so the righteous dead of other lands would have to roll the whole way back to Israel underground, and this was thought to be a very unpleasant experience.)
Thus a disproportionate number of foreign Jewish widows lived in Jerusalem, which did not have enough foreign Jewish synagogues (Acts 6:9) for their distributors of charity to supply all the widows adequately. This urban social problem of Jerusalem spilled over into the church.”
2. Acts 4.34-35: “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
3. College Press NIV Commentary, The - Acts 6:1-7, notes:
Modern preachers who use this verse “as a biblical warrant for refusal to do the mundane administrative tasks in the church” are overlooking one important distinctive about the Jerusalem situation. The apostles occupied a unique role. “They alone in all of Christian history were the witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus,” he argues. “Their witness was unique, unrepeatable, and absolutely foundational for the Christian movement,” and thus should not be limited by preoccupation with tasks which could be performed by others.
Bible Background Commentary notes: “The laying on of hands communicated blessing in the Old Testament (still occasionally attested in the apostolic period), but the idea here seems to be that of ordination, as in Numbers 27:18, 23 (cf. Acts 11:25), similar to the later practice for ordaining rabbis, called semikah (cf. 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). (Rabbis applied this rite of laying on hands only to sacrifices and to ordaining scholars.) If so, the apostles considered their friends’ office of social ministry quite important.”
4. John Piper’s wise insight on this situation:
“Luke celebrates this solution. The widows were cared for, and the ministry of the Word of God was not forsaken. Both were utterly crucial. Either could have undermined the church and ended its amazing growth. The solution was the diversity of gifts and calling. The solution was a new kind of teamwork in the body of Christ.” (John Piper, Serving Widows, Preaching the Word, and Winning Priests).
