T.e.a.m. Life

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.