When you think of a team … probably the first thing that comes to mind is a sports team who is made up of many players on the same side and who work together to win the game.
Do you see the Church as a team? Maybe not in sporting events, but in the definition of team, we are a team!
Team:
· a group on the same side
· a group organized to work together (to harness or join together)
Spring Board Scripture Passage:
Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Joined … close jointed together; organize; be fitly framed (joined) together.
Let’s talk about T.E.A.M. Life … Together Everyone Accomplishes Ministry.
Team life consists of being unified as a body to work together so fulfill the work that is before us.
1. Together … Unified Life
There are times when a sports team plays poorly (out of sync) and someone says, "They just couldn’t get it together."
It is said that an effective and successful team works together toward a common goal.
As God’s TEAM working together there is to be a desire, destination and determination to help us reach our goal.
1a. Desire
The desire of Jesus is that we as His people be one, unified together.
John 17:21-23 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
· One like "Them" … emulate the oneness of the Father & Son relationship.
· One to make known … the Father and His love
1b. Destination
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
· Destination of Mind: one accord
· Destination of Meeting: one place
Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
· Destination of Motivation: one another
1c. Determination
Team life … living and working together should be our determination (stems from desire & destination).
Ephesians 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
· Determined to Keep
Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
· Determined to Know
The more we keep the more we know and the more we know the more we keep. God desires we not only be together, but we live and work together.
2. Everyone … Body Life
In the world of sports when a player hits a home run, runs for a touchdown, or shoots a bucket to win the game …I like to hear them say, "It was a team effort." Why? Because out in the field were 8, 10 and 4 other players on the team and it took every team player to win.
We need a growing sense of "needing" everyone. I once told a person while visiting them … "You may not need us, but we need you."
Body life, the need for everyone is vitally important concept to a team.
It is said that a team develops its members skills by efficiently uses its time and talents while embracing the diversity of each member.
Body life is presupposed, prescriptive and to be preserved.
2a. Presupposed
Presuppose: to require beforehand as a condition
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
· One body … many parts (14)
· Many parts … all important (15)
· Presupposed by God (18)
· Care for the body (25-26)
1 Corinthian s 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
2b. Prescriptive
Body life has prescribed functions.
Romans 12:4-8 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
· Prescribed to functional gifts
· Prescribed to functional use of the gifts
2c. Preservative
Ephesians 4:16 NLT Under his direction, the whole body is fitted 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.
· Preserved under God
· Preserved under growing
A team teaches and learns from one another.
You may be thinking you don’t need us, but be assured, we need you! That’s body life!
3. Accomplishes … Fulfilled Life
Every team wants to accomplish what it is purposed to do. In other words a team stays on task.
Ephesians 3:8-12 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
As T.E.A.M TBC … our life accomplishment is in being seen, known, and bold for Jesus Christ.
3a. Be-Seen
· We see to help others to see. (9)
3b. Be-Known
· We know to help others to know (10)
3c. Be-Bold
· Boldness to access sight & knowledge (12)
A team uses its resources wisely (sight & knowledge) and communicates openly (boldly).
4. Ministry … Work Life
Life as a team always leads to work. Our work is to be "top-notch" and "top capacity" as we are in tune, intact and intentional.
Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
The emphasis of our being together as a body is to accomplish ministry. To do that we must be as a team in tune to the Word, intact to our testimony and intentional to salvation.
4a. In-Tune (word)
Acts 6:4 "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
· Instructions for working together
· Instructions for ministry
4b. Intact (testimony)
Acts 20:24 NLT But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.
· Remain sound to living the message
· Remain sound to telling the message
4c. Intentional (salvation)
1 Corinthians 9:20-22 NLT When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.
· No pretense … just the gospel
· No hidden agenda … just the gospel
· Fundamental principle of ministry is people
If people are the fundamental reason of ministry then we must ask:
· Who are they?
· Where are they?
· Where do they hurt?
· How do we communicate with them?
As TEAM TBC we are to intentionally engage and impact our community with the good news of Jesus Christ.
I read this week …
"When the survival of our church becomes more important than loving our neighbors, our people have lost sight of the main thing. When we try to compete socially and programmatically with the little league, club soccer, the YMCA, YWCA, the movies, and all other recreational and social programs in our communities, we have lost sight of the main thing. When we allow the main thing to become other than the main thing we are ultimately destined to wander aimlessly, individually and corporately, and to squander resources we have been granted for ministry."
This week I attended an introductory meeting to "Youth Life." The intent and emphasis of this para-church ministry is to evangelize the lost youth of our community.
I praise God for the vision and ministry of Youth Life … but I must admit I walked away from it thinking … "Evangelizing the youth of our town? Isn’t that our job as a local body? Isn’t that part of our make up of ministry?"
If another ministry has to come in to evangelize what does that say about us a team?
We must have a clear vision, personally and corporately and then the spiritual fortitude to step out in great boldness … reaching beyond the traditional and laying hold of the ministry God had placed before us.
Conclusion:
What is my purpose by laying all this in your lap? To get us to see we are a TEAM and that "Together Everyone Accomplishes Ministry!"
When a team wins its championship … the whole team celebrates its success.
We are unique in that we have a Champion who gives us success … let’s work together and celebrate together!
Amen!
This sermon was preached by Robert AuBuchon at Trinity Baptist Church in 2001. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
