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Team Ministry Manual
Table of Contents
Module 1 ...........................................................................8
A Vision of the Future of First Baptist Church .............8
Group Exercises ......................................................12
Module 1 Additional Notes .....................................13
Module 2 .........................................................................15
An Introduction to Team Ministries............................15
The Team Approach to Ministry .............................15
Teams have Biblical Roots .....................................16
Group Exercise 1: Teamwork ....................................18
How is teamwork an important part of the Christian
life? .........................................................................18
Teamwork is a vital part of life in the body of Christ.
................................................................................18
Teamwork in the body of Christ requires everyone's
contribution .............................................................18
Teamwork is the product of genuine love for one
another ....................................................................18
Teamwork makes our individual effort go much
farther. .....................................................................19
Additional Notes .....................................................19
Module 3 .........................................................................21
What Makes Teams Work ..........................................21
Rev. Dr. John H. Spencer
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Guiding Principles for Team Ministries ..................21
The Characteristics of an Effective Team Ministry 21
1. Luke 10:27 Love .....................................22
2. Trust ........................................................22
3. Robust Conversation ...............................22
4. Commitment ...............................................22
5. Accountable ................................................22
6. Results .........................................................22
Summary .....................................................................23
Module 3: What Makes Teams Work ............................24
Group Exercise 1: Working Together ........................24
Group Exercise 2: Unity Is Required for Victory ......25
Group Exercise 3: Teamwork: Petty Differences Can
Prevent Victory ...........................................................26
Module 4: ........................................................................28
The First Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries 28
Luke 10:27 Love .....................................................28
Module 4 .........................................................................30
The First Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries ....30
Luke 10:27 Love .............................................................30
Group Exercises 4 ...................................................30
Exercise 1: GOD’S LOVE .............................30
Exercise 2: HUMAN LOVE ..........................31
Module 5 .........................................................................35
The Second Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries
Trust ............................................................................35
Group Exercises ......................................................36
Exercise 1: TRUST ........................................36
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Module 6 .........................................................................39
The Third Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Robust Conversation ...................................................39
The Turtle (Withdrawing): ..............................40
Robust Conversation and Turtles: ...................40
The Shark (Forcing): .......................................40
Robust Conversation and Sharks ....................41
The Teddy Bear (Smoothing): ........................41
Robust Conversations and Teddy Bears..........41
The Fox (Compromising): ..............................42
Robust Conversations and Foxes ....................42
The Owl (Confronting). ..................................42
Robust Conversations and Owls .....................42
Robust Conversation and Strong/Passionate
Emotions .........................................................42
Module 6 .........................................................................44
The Third Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Robust Conversation .......................................................44
Group Exercises ......................................................44
Exercise 1: We Need Our Teammates ............44
The JOHARI Window ....................................46
Notes ...................................................................47
Exercise 2: CONVERSATION .......................49
Exercise 3: WORTHLESS CONVERSATION
........................................................................50
Exercise 4: CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM .51
Exercise 5: DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ....52
Exercise 6: ARGUMENTS ............................54
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Exercise 7: WORDS ......................................55
Module 7 .........................................................................58
The Fourth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Commitment ...............................................................58
Module 7 .........................................................................59
The Fourth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Commitment ...................................................................59
Group Exercises ..............................................................59
Exercise 1: COMMITMENTS ...............................59
COMMITMENTS What does the Bible teach us
about commitments? ...............................................59
Notes ...................................................................60
NOTES................................................................64
NOTES................................................................65
Module 8 .........................................................................67
The Fifth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Accountable ................................................................67
Module 8 .........................................................................69
The Fifth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Accountable: ...................................................................69
Group Exercises ..............................................................69
Exercise 1: ACCOUNTABILITY..................69
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Will there be any excuses when we stand before
God? ................................................................69
GROUP ACCOUNTABILITY ...........................69
How do individual choices affect a group of
people? ................................................................69
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Exercise 2 RESPONSIBILITY ...........................70
What are the qualities of a responsible person?
........................................................................70
Responsible people admit their wrongs. .........70
Responsible people are faithful with what they
have been given...............................................70
Responsible people plan for the future. ...........71
Responsible people know their abilities and
their limitations. ..............................................71
Responsible people share the work load. ........71
NOTES................................................................71
Module 9 .........................................................................73
The Sixth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Results.........................................................................73
Team Ministry Goals: .............................................73
Team Ministry Purpose and Goals should be
SMART:..................................................................73
Specific, Clear and Understandable: ...........................74
Measureable: ...............................................................74
Achievable: .................................................................74
Relevant to the First Baptist Church’s Mission and
Results oriented: .........................................................75
Time-bound.................................................................75
Team Ministry Implementation Plans: ........................76
Team Ministry Purpose Statement: .............................76
ATTACHMENT 9-1...................................................78
ATTACHMENT 9-2...................................................79
Exercise 1 RESULTS .............................................80
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How should we view results in the Christian
life? .................................................................80
Exercise 2: GOALS .......................................81
How does God help us with our goals? ...........81
God knows the best way. ................................81
Notes ...................................................................82
Notes ...................................................................89
Module 10 .......................................................................90
Covenant Relationships the Heart of Effective Team
Ministries ....................................................................90
Exercise 1 VOWS ...................................................90
What does God say about our promises? ........90
Exercise 2 COVENANTS...........................................91
What can we learn from God's covenants? .............91
God keeps his promises...................................91
Many of God's covenants include us...............91
God's covenants require a personal response ..92
Jesus established a new covenant between us
and God. ..........................................................92
God's new covenant in Christ offers us
forgiveness ......................................................92
Notes ...................................................................92
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Module 1
A Vision of the Future of
First Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. John H. Spencer
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Module 1
A Vision of the Future of First Baptist Church
One Sunday over two years ago, in the year 2007 I asked the church to remain after
worship one Sunday Morning for a meeting. During that meeting it was demonstrated to every
one present that the majority of our members are over 60 years of age. More importantly it was
made clear that we have very few members under the age of 50, fewer still under the age of 40
and hardly any adult members under the age of 30 years old. I pointed out that even with the
advances in medicine our membership would increasingly decline as our older members died in
the coming years. Unless something is done to add young adult members to our church, in the
near term future our church would basically and simply die out. I told the church that First
Baptist would likely be in serious trouble by the year 2027 if we did not do something to attract
young members. Unfortunately this remains true, today. Let me point out that I consider First
Baptist to be a good and even great church; however, the majority of the people who make First
Baptist Church great today will not be able to do what they do now in the future. Who will take
their place? Without increasing our membership with young adults the aging process will
weaken and eventually death will kill our church. However, I am inviting each of you to help us
implement new ways and methods of doing our church ministries that I believe God will bless
and use to attract new members of all ages to First Baptist. I have researched this new way of
doing ministry in the church and I am convinced that God will bless us and empower us to make
the impact on our families, our friends and neighbors, our city and the surrounding area that will
attract new members of all ages especially those under 50 years of age to become true Disciples
of Jesus Christ as a part of the First Baptist Church Family.
I want to share with you a picture of the future of First Baptist Church that God gave me.
While some of what I see for the future exists today the vision extends, multiplies and expands
our strengths while minimizing our weaknesses. Imagine that it is Sunday Morning and you are
approaching the front door of First Baptist. The door swings open for you and you hear a warm,
sincere and loving voice saying: “Welcome to First Baptist Church, we are so glad to see you
this morning, prepare you heart for a great worship experience today and a personal blessing for
the Lord is truly in this place.” If you are a member of the church you would hear, “Welcome
Bro or Sis Your-Name, it is so good to see you this Morning, prepare your heart for a great
worship experience this morning. The choir and our Pastor are on fire for the Lord get ready for
a blessing.” If you have a child by the hands or a baby in your arms, you would be directed to a
fully staffed and equipped nursery. By the time you give a response to the Greeters an Usher is
smiling in your face, saying welcome to our Worship Service, is this your first time here, if yes,
thanks so much for coming to worship with us today, please sign our guest book and give us
your contact information so that we might keep you informed of the many community services
we offer and special programs coming up for families, youth and adults. An order of worship
would be given to you and you would be escorted to the first available seat. However, if you are
five minutes late you get escorted upstairs to the balcony because the lower auditorium is already
full. Everyone tries to be early for worship at First Baptist. As you enter the pews the members
of First Baptist would greet you in their own personal loving and courteous way, preferring to
move over to let you sit on the end of the pew than have you struggle through and over them to
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an empty seat in the middle of the pew. Once you settle into your seats you are deeply moved by
the music ministry that provides a blended combination of traditional and contemporary gospel
music, attractive to all ages. “Amen” would be voiced comfortably all over the church. No one
would stare at anyone else for praising God and saying Amen, because everyone present is
seeking God with all of their hearts and praising and thanking God for all that he has done for
them. All ages would be present from 6 to 100 and there might even be a few wheels chairs in
the overflow room (social hall).
In addition to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit there would be true Christian
love in the air. No one would be able to leave without having another Brother and Sister greet
them and express Christian love to them. There would be nurturing, encouraging and welcoming
expressions shared with every one present and our newest members would be surrounded with
loving, nurturing, encouraging and welcoming older members of FBC.
The majority of our members will have become true Disciples of Jesus Christ because
they will have gone through the DiscipleMaker’s Ministry. There would be so many trained
DiscipleMakers that every new member could immediately start the Membership Essentials
training within a maximum of 30 days. The nurturing, encouraging and welcoming attitudes of
our members would be truly genuine because they have been nurtured, encouraged and
welcomed by the members of their NEW Life Small Groups where they are experiencing true
loving Christian Fellowship with their peers. Because of their NEW Life Small Groups their
expressions and interactions with others, even our newest members and visitors is simply the
overflow of the love, joy and happiness in their hearts. This would be natural because weekly or
every other week they engage 5 to 10 Brothers and Sisters in Bible study, intercessory prayer and
honest and loving discussions that leave them knowing they are loved and have true Christian
friends who will stand by them and stick with them through the ups and downs of life.
Every member of First Baptist will be honored to be a member of our church because
they know they play an important role in fulfilling our vision and mission statements in ways that
honor and glorify God, while leaving them blessed. Every Team Ministry will set its own goals
and connect them to the Mission and Vision of the church. Our vision is to be a NEW Life
Church where N=Nurturing, E=Encouraging, W=Welcoming and L=Love, I=Inspiration,
F=Friendship and E=Evangelizing is a way of life. Our Mission is to be used by God to
transform evil into good, pain into wellness and death into new life. On a weekly, monthly and
yearly basis we will be able to document and report numerous situations where individual
members and the Team Ministries of our church have encountered evil situations and
transformed them into good situations, painful situations and hurting people have been
transformed into comfortable, healthy, pain free people and situations. Every member of FBC
will receive immediate support when faced with an illness, a death, and any type of crisis. Our
Deacons Team Ministry, our Deaconess Team Ministry and our Stephen Ministry Team will
effectively give every hurting member the love and support they need to make it through the
painful ups and downs of life. For every social problem in Englewood, Teaneck and Bergen
County FBC will have a Team Ministry or the ability to form one quickly to effectively address
the problem. Human resources will not be a problem because the majority of our members will
be involved in a Team Ministry. Financial resources will not be a problem because our
congregation will be a tithing congregation with enough members from all age groups to sustain
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a God glorifying viable ministry. Every member will be satisfied that their contributions are
being utilized to realize our God given vision and fulfill our God given mission because they are
receiving quarterly financial reports. An Executive Team, the Trustee Team, the Joint Deacons
and Trustees Team and the Treasurer’s Team will work together to ensures the outstanding and
above board management of church funds and the use and the maintenance of our buildings and
property. A Worship Team Ministry and Altar Guild Team Ministry will work together to plan
our worship services in advance and decorate our sanctuary to ensure that every necessary detail
for a powerful Spirit filled worship experience is taken care of so that everyone can experience
the true presence of God in worship. Communications with our members will be outstanding
and every member will be satisfied that they know what is going on in First Baptist because they
receive clear phone calls, emails, and text messages that keep them informed by a new
Communications Team Ministry. This Team Ministry or an additional Team Ministry will build
and maintain a first class Website that will be attractive to New Members by clearly presenting
our mission, our vision, our fellowship and our ministries. Our websites will be a necessary way
of keeping our younger members informed. Many of them prefer text and email to voice calls.
We will have several of our spunky older-members taking our computer literacy classes from
SonRise Development Corporation and they will be on our website daily communicating with
other members who are their age and younger. The Pastor and Officers, the church and various
Team Ministries will take advantage of the modern day phenomena of social networking, using
Facebook pages, blogs, and perhaps even Twitter to keep young adults and youth engaged and
involved in the life of our church.
Our music will be inspirational and our choirs the picture of love and harmony because
they work together as Team Ministries. Our musicians and lay team members will prepare our
choirs well in advance of any given Sunday or event because of their participation in our
Worship Team Ministry.
On some Sundays the youth will gather together at a point in the worship service and be
prayerfully dismissed to attend Children’s church in another part of the building (the chapel or
upstairs classroom). Our youth would be all be involved in one of our NEW Life Academy
Groups where they are being nurtured spiritually by a trained NEW Life Academy Trainer and
enjoying the fellowship and peer support and accountability of other youth their age and gender.
All of our youth would be living victorious Christian lives because they have friends and
instructors supporting their efforts to live for Jesus. For those who for what ever reason cannot
participate in the NEW Life Academy programs and for those who just show up on Sunday
morning there would be instructor lead lecture style Bible Studies on Sunday Mornings.
Additional Bible Studies will be offered through out the week for those who are not involved in
NEW Life small groups.
Every member of FBC will be a true Disciple of Jesus Christ and grateful to God that
they are a member of First Baptist church. Our members will constantly invite others to accept
Jesus Christ as savior, thereby transforming death into New Life. They will faithfully attend one
of the weekly worship services and activities at FBC and be involved in the life of our church.
I realize that you may not see the future of our Church exactly the same way that I see it.
However, I am sure that if you love First Baptist we have more areas of agreement in what we
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want for our church in the future than we have disagreement. We have to come together and
work hard to build a strong foundation of love and unity upon which the future of our church can
be successfully built, and we have to do it now! I believe that now, this year is the year God is
calling us to implement Team Ministries, NEW Life Small Groups for Fellowship, and the NEW
Life Academy. I agree with Rev. Dr. George Cladis who wrote in his book, “Leading the TeamBased Church”, “Team based ministry is the most effective model for leading and organizing
Christian ministry for the twenty-first century. There has never been a more important time for
the church of Jesus Christ to be led by sincere dedicated teams of disciples who labor together in
God’s fellowship to live the Gospel in a turbulent world. ….A team based model also fits well
with new trends emerging in today’s world, the post modern world.”1
Proverbs 29:18 KJV says: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Our friend and
Revivalist Dr. James C. Perkins says: “Where there are no resources the vision perishes.” You
my Brothers and Sisters are the resources that our vision needs. Your participation, your prayers
for success, you honest support and influence on other members are the resources that this vision
requires for success. Thanks for your cooperation!
George Cladis, “Leading the Team-Based Church, How Pastor and Church Staff can grow together into a Powerful
Fellowship if Leaders” Josey-Bass, a Wiley Imprint, San Francisco, xi.
1
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Module 1
The Future of First Baptist Church
Group Exercises
1. Has the church been a place of frustration or satisfaction for you? Why?
2. Our mission statement says: God uses us to transform evil into good, pain into wellness and
death into new life. Describe one way you can play a role in achieving the mission of our
Church.
Read Acts 2:42-47: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs
were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common;
they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate
their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.
And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
3. The church's mission and message created a fellowship. How would you describe that first
fellowship of believers?
4. Our vision is to be a NEW Life Church where N=Nurturing, E=Encouraging, W=Welcoming
and L=Love, I=Inspiration, F=Friendship and E=Evangelizing describes how members relate to
one another. Compare this to the fellowship between believers in the early church described in
Acts 2:42-47.
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5. Do you believe that the Mission and Vision of our church if realized will result in the picture
of the church described by Pastor Spencer? Why? Why not?
6. "The Lord added to their number daily" (Acts 2:47). What is our role and what is God's role in
the growth of the church?
Module 1 Additional Notes
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Module 2
An Introduction to Team
Ministries
At
The First Baptist Church
Englewood, New Jersey
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Module 2
An Introduction to Team Ministries
Author and lecturer Patrick Lencioni states: “A friend of mine, the founder of a company
that grew to a billion dollars in annual revenue, best expressed the power of teamwork when he
once told me, “If you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction,
you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time.”” This is
a profound truth when applied to business. However, there is a higher calling that we should
apply these truths to and that is the church of Jesus Christ. Image what we could accomplish for
the glory of God and the benefit of our membership if we could get all of the members of FBC
rowing in the same direction. Our Vision Statement says that we transform evil into Good, pain
into Wellness and death into New Life. If we could get all of the members of FBC rowing in the
same direction, we could clearly make a major impact on our city, county, state, nation and the
world by transforming evil into good, pain into wellness and death into new life. If we convert
our approach to performing our God given ministries to the Team approach, we will be able to
accomplish our vision and achieve our mission. However, just as important is the personal sense
of accomplishment, growth and significance that you will experience from performing your God
given ministries. In addition, consider the impact on our members and the members of our
communities who will benefit from the improvement and expansion of our ministries.
While we have some very good ministries here at FBC a shift to the Team approach will
allow us to go from good to great. Being a good church is not enough when you have the ability
to be a great church. By converting our ministries to Team Ministries, we have the ability to
make FBC an even greater church than it is today. Currently, FBC and all of its ministries
operate on what I call the “single leader” approach. Each ministry’s performance depends
almost totally on the performance of a single leader: the Chairperson or President. The single
leader makes all of the key decisions. They delegate assignments to individual members and
hold those individuals accountable for those assignments. The single leader gets too much of the
glory for success and too much of the blame when things do not go well. The members of the
ministry often feel that they have little or no input. They often resent having to do things they do
not want to do in a way they do not want to do them. Therefore they do not give their best to the
tasks they are assigned. The Team approach to ministry is significantly different.
The Team Approach to Ministry
There are many Definitions of Teams but the fundamental Definition we will base our work on at
FBC is the following definition by Katzenbach and Smith: “A Team is a small group of people
with complementary skills committed to a common purpose and a set of specific performance
goals. Its members are committed to working with each other to achieve the team’s purpose
and hold each other fully and jointly accountable for the team’s results.”
Using this definition as a guide, we can transform all of our ministries into team ministries. I
agree with Patrick Lencioni when he says: “Building an effective, cohesive team is extremely
hard but it’s also simple...teamwork does not require great intellectual insights or masterful
tactics. More than anything else, it comes down to courage and persistence.”
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As we develop and implement Team Ministries at FBC there will be challenges. There
are challenges in developing teamwork in any organization. Lecionni explains: “The fact
remains that teams, because they are made up of imperfect human beings, are inherently
dysfunctional.” This reminds me of the church. The church is composed of a group of professed
sinners who have been saved not by their own-righteousness but by the sin-cleansing blood of
Jesus Christ. We openly admit that we are saved by grace and not by works. We openly admit
that our individual righteousness is no more than filthy rags in the eyes of God. In the church we
not only recognize the imperfection and dysfunctional nature of individuals but we see that
recognition as the first step toward our salvation and spiritual growth. That is why we worship
God together, pray together and study the Bible together. We know that God is not through with
us yet. We know that we are all in the process of becoming the Disciples of Jesus Christ that
God wants us to be. Because of our awareness of our human limitations and God’ transforming
power we can make teams work in the church. Lencioni says: “In fact building a strong team is
both possible and remarkably simple. But it is painfully difficult. That’s right! Like so many
other aspects of life, teamwork comes down to mastering a set of behaviors that are at once
theoretically uncomplicated, but extremely difficult to put into practice day after day. Success
comes only for those groups that overcome the all too human behavioral tendencies that corrupt
teams and breed dysfunctional politics within them.”
If we base our approach to Teams on Biblical Principles and tie our ministry goals to our
God given mission and vision statements we can make Team Ministries a reality at FBC and reap
the benefits of a more enjoyable, efficient, and effective ministry.
Teams have Biblical Roots
In her book, “Jesus CEO”, Laurie Beth Jones says: “Once Jesus began his work in
earnest, he wasted no time in forming a team…..Even Jesus knew that he could not change the
world alone…. Jesus formed a Team. The Four Gospels in the New Testament all record Jesus
calling twelve disciples to participate in his earthly ministry. In the book of Acts, after Jesus’
death, resurrection and return to heaven, we see Jesus’ team of eleven disciples replacing Judas
with Matthias so that they could go forward with their ministry of building the church of Jesus
Christ and fulfilling the great commission. When the early church experienced growth-pains and
the ministry of providing food to the widows became a problem, a team of seven deacons was
developed. There are also numerous places in scripture where the Apostle Paul acknowledging
the other men and women that worked with him to start new churches. Fellowship with other
believers is important to our growth as disciples and teams fulfill both our need for fellowship
and achievements.
The following are Biblical examples that support the team approach to ministry:
Matthew 4:18-22 (NIV)
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and
his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come,
follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and
followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his
brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called
them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
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Matthew 9:9 (NIV)
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth.
"Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Matthew 10:1-4 (NIV)
1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to
heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who
is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and
Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Acts 1:21-26 (NRSV)
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in
and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up
from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." 23 So they proposed
two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed
and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25
to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own
place." 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the
eleven apostles.
Galatians 1:1-2 (NRSV)
1 Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through
Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the members of God's
family who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Acts 13:13 (NRSV)
13 Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John,
however, left them and returned to Jerusalem;
Philemon 1:1-2 (NRSV)
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
Philippians 4:2-3 (NRSV)
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you
also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of
the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of
life.
Rev. Dr. John H. Spencer
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Module 2
An Introduction to Team Ministries Group Exercises
Group Exercise 1: Teamwork
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
TEAMWORK
How is teamwork an important part of the Christian life?
BIBLE READING: 1st Corinthians. 3:1-9
KEY BIBLE VERSE: We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field,
God's building—not ours. (1st Corinthians 3:9)
Teamwork is a vital part of life in the body of Christ. God's work involves many
different individuals with a variety of gifts and abilities. There are no superstars in this task, only
team members performing their own special roles. We can become useful members of God's
team by setting aside our desires to receive glory for what we do. Don't seek the praise that
comes from people—it is comparatively worthless. Instead, seek approval from God.
BIBLE READING: Ephes. 4:1-16
KEY BIBLE VERSE: He is the one who gave these gifts 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. (Ephes. 4:11-12)
Teamwork in the body of Christ requires everyone's contribution. God has
given his church an enormous responsibility—to make disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:1820). This involves preaching, teaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administering, building, and
many other tasks. If we had to fulfill this command as individuals, we might as well give up
without trying—it would be impossible. But God calls us as members of his body. Some of us
can do one task; some can do another. Together we can serve God more fully than any of us
could alone. It is a human tendency to overestimate what we can do individually and to
underestimate what we can do as a group. But as the body of Christ, we can accomplish more
together than we would dream possible working alone. Working together, the church can express
the fullness of Christ.
BIBLE READING: Phil. 2:1-11
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be
humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but
be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. (Phil. 2:3-4)
Teamwork is the product of genuine love for one another. Many people—even
Christians—live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. But
selfishness brings discord. Paul therefore stressed spiritual unity, asking the Philippians to love
one another and to be one in spirit and purpose. When we work together, caring for the problems
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of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ's example of putting others first,
and we experience unity. Don't be so concerned about making a good impression or meeting
your own needs that you strain relationships in God's family.
BIBLE READING: 1st Peter 2:4-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was
rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him. And now God is building you,
as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are God's holy priests, who offer the
spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ. (1st Peter 2:4-5)
Teamwork makes our individual effort go much farther. Peter portrays the church
as a living, spiritual house, with Christ as the foundation and cornerstone and each believer as a
stone. Paul portrays the church as a body, with Christ as the head and each believer as a member
(see, for example, Ephes. 4:15-16). Both pictures emphasize community. One stone is not a
temple or even a wall; one body part is useless without the others. In our individualistic society,
it is easy to forget our interdependence with other Christians. When God calls you to a task,
remember that he is also calling others to work with you. Together your individual efforts will be
multiplied. Look for those people and join with them to build a beautiful house for God.
Additional Notes
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Module 3
What Makes Teams Work
At
The First Baptist Church
Englewood, New Jersey
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Module 3
What Makes Teams Work
In Module 2 we pointed out that the formation of effective Teams requires hard work. In
this module, we will present some of the basic principles that will enhance our ability to form
effective Team Ministries here at FBC.
Guiding Principles for Team Ministries
1.
2.
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7.
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Team Ministries must be performed by born again believers in Jesus Christ who are
members of FBC.
Team Ministries must be performed by members of FBC who are committed to the Great
Commandment as recorded in Luke 10:27 (NRSV) He answered, "You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and
with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Team Members must love God and
love one another to function effectively to the glory of God.
Teams Ministries must be performed by small groups no larger than five to twelve
members.
Team Ministries must have a specific purpose that every member of the team is
committed to achieving in pursuit of the realization of our Church’s Mission and Vision.
Team Ministries must have specific performance goals that when accomplished will
achieve its purpose. Every member of the team must be committed to every performance
goal.
Team Ministries must be performed by a team of members who together, have all of the
necessary skills/spiritual gifts, required to accomplish the team’s performance goals and
achieve its purpose.
Team Ministries must be performed by a team of members who have a mutually agreed
upon approach to doing the work.
Team Ministries must be performed by a team of members who will hold one another
mutually accountable for their performance, the achievement of their goals, and the
realization of the team’s purpose.
The Characteristics of an Effective Team Ministry
While the above principles of Team Ministry are extremely important and must guide and govern
Team Ministries at First Baptist they do not in and of themselves make a group of people an
effective Team. Teams do not just happen. Teams are forged by the Holy Spirit in the crucible
of love, faith, dedication, determination, and effective communications. It takes hard work and
time for a group of Christians to form a real team that can attack the gates of hell to accomplish
their God given goals and achieve their purpose for the glory of God and the building of the
Kingdom of Jesus Christ here on earth. When a small group of 5 to 12 people commit
themselves to becoming a team and willingly enter into the crucible of love, faith, dedication,
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determination and effective communication they will emerge as a real team with the following
characteristics.
1.
Luke 10:27 Love
Team Members will be living examples of Luke 10:27 (NRSV): “He answered, "You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and
with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."”
2.
Trust
Team Members trust each other. Being involved in a Team Ministry where the goals are great,
large, spiritual and only achievable through the power of the Holy Spirit requires that team
members be confident in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the love and concern and
commitment of their teammates.
3.
Robust Conversation
Team Members at FBC will be able to engage in Robust Conversations in pursuit of God’s will,
God’s objectives, God’s goals and God’s way to accomplish our church’s mission because they
love and trust each other.
4. Commitment
Every Team Member must commit, to the Team Ministry’s, goals, objectives, and ministry
methods.
5. Accountable
Team Members will hold one another accountable for achieving the results they commit to as
individuals and as a Team.
6. Results
Every Team Ministry must have a clear, specific, and measurable purpose that makes an
important contribution toward transforming human pain into wellness, societal evil into good or
spiritual death into new life.
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Picture 1
Summary
When we faithfully implement teams according to the principles and practices presented above
we will unleash the power of the Holy Spirit and our Team Ministries will work to the glory of
God and the benefit and blessings of our entire congregation. The cumulative impact of FBC
upon our community, state, nation and the world will be significant and attractive to those
individuals who long for and desire to live lives of purpose and significance. Team Ministries
implemented and performed on these principles will transform First Baptist Church from a good
church into a great church.
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Module 3: What Makes Teams Work
Group Exercises
Group Exercise 1: Working Together
Read Exodus 25:1-27:21 and Answer the following questions:2
1. How do people benefit when they work well in teams?
2. How did the people of Israel benefit by working together on all these projects?
3. What are ways Christians can make a difference by working together?
4. How is work a form of worship?
5. Who benefited by the construction of the tabernacle?
6. What did the tabernacle provide for the people of Israel?
7. What are the difficulties people encounter when working together?
8. Why don’t some people receive much satisfaction from their work?
9. How can your work be an act of worship to God?
10. What can you do to improve a relationship with someone you work with in ministry?
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Adult Questions for LESSONMaker, (Austin, TX: Wordsearch, 1992), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "The
Tabernacle - Exodus 25:1-27:21".
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Group Exercise 2: Unity Is Required for Victory
Read Philippians 2:1-3:21 and Answer the following questions:
1. What four qualities mark unity with Christ? (2:1)
2. How can Christians show their unity in Christ in practical ways? (2:2)
3. What did Paul say about self-centeredness? (2:3-4)
4. How do petty quarrels hold you back in your Christian walk?
5. How can Christ help you keep peace with others?
6. What hinders unity in your church?
7. How does Christ’s example of humility challenge our natural self-centeredness?
8. Why did the Philippians’ assembly need to show a united front to unbelievers? (2:14-16)
9. In what situations this week do you need to make a conscious effort not to complain or
argue?
10. What risks are you willing to take on behalf of other Christians?
The Life Application New Testament Commentary says: In every church, in every generation,
controversial issues, personality conflicts, and other divisive issues arise. The tendency toward
arguments and division intensifies during hard times, when people can turn against each other.
Although the church at Philippi was strong, it was not immune to these problems and, in fact,
had experienced some internal conflicts. Paul encouraged the Philippians to get along, agree with
one another, stop complaining, and work together. Christians should contend against their
common enemy—Satan and his work in the world—and not against each other. We need all our
resources, focus, and energy for the battle. When we are unified in love, Christ works through
us, and we can make a difference for him. We need to keep before us the ideals of teamwork,
consideration of others, and unselfishness. What tends to break your unity with other believers?
What issues threaten to divide your church? Keep your focus on Christ and his mission in the
world; don’t be sidetracked by petty jealousies, competition, hurt feelings, or minor irritations.
Work together with your brothers and sisters in Christ to make a difference in the world.3
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Barton B. Bruce et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 2001),
WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 841-842.
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Group Exercise 3: Teamwork: Petty Differences Can Prevent Victory
Read Philippians 4:1-2 and answer the following questions:
1. In the disagreement between Euodia and Snytche who was right?
2. How important is being right to you?
3. Is it more important to be right or to advance the Kingdom of God on earth/your church?
Paul knows the importance of teamwork, so he encourages two women who have been
quarreling to make peace. Euodia and Snytche, members of the Philippians church, had by this
disharmony created some division. Paul uses them as examples to launch into an entire chapter
on peace. He doesn’t ask these women to act uniformly but rather to be of the same mind. The
word he uses connotes harmony. Singing in harmony doesn’t mean singing in unison. Players
should play different positions on a team. Harmony means their efforts complement the efforts
of others, rather than conflict with them.4
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The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Second Edition Copyright © 2002, 2007 by Maxwell Motivation, Inc.
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Module 4:
The First Characteristic of
Effective Team Ministries
Luke 10:27 Love
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Module 4:
The First Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries
Luke 10:27 Love
Team Members will be living examples of Luke 10:27 (NRSV): “He answered, "You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and
with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."” The true purpose of every ministry should
be to glorify God and build his Kingdom here on earth. Luke 10:27 informs us that to glorify
God our lives must consistently demonstrate three truths. First, we must love God with all of our
heart, mind, soul and body. Secondly, we must love ourselves. Thirdly, we must love our
Brothers and Sisters, and all of humanity just as we love ourselves. Our Church and our
ministries cannot glorify God if they are performed by people who do not love God, do not love
one another and do not love other human beings. Team Ministries will produce results that are
much more than the sum of the contributions of individual team members. The Holy Spirit will
provide a synergy that will increase, multiply and intensify the combination of the individual
contributions of Team Members to provide ministry results that will have everlasting
significance in the achievement of our Mission to transform evil into good, pain into wellness
and death into new life. Team Ministries will allow us as a church and as individuals to fulfill,
practice and keep the Eleventh Commandment given by Jesus to us in John 13:34-35 (NRSV).
There Jesus says: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have
loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my
disciples, if you have love for one another." A church where effective ministries are done by
Teams of people who love one anther will provide a bright light and a powerful attraction to men
and women looking for purpose and significance for their lives in a dark, loveless and ungodly
world. When Luke 10:27 Love exist between people a NEW Life Environment is created, a New
Life Environment exist when everyone feels Nurtured, Encouraged and Welcomed. Where love
is a reality and inspiration and friendship are real parts of the church experience. In a New Life
Environment you can safely stretch beyond you preconceived limits and reach for the stars
knowing that should you fall short you will still be loved, still be nurtured, still be encouraged
and always welcomed. A NEW Life environment is an evangelistic environment because it
invites; calls; welcomes and encourages men, women, boys and girls to meet the one who is the
source of our joy and happiness, Jesus the Christ. A NEW Life environment is what we want
and need here, at First Baptist.
Team Ministries will create, demonstrate and promote a NEW Life Environment for us but it
must be and can only be built on a foundation of Luke 10:27 Love. Team Ministries require that
its participants practice Luke 10:27 Love. To practice Luke 10:27 Love you must be born again,
humble, and committed to God for the right reasons. Selfish, glory seeking people will not
participate in teams. They will seek to undermine teams and destroy them before they start.
They want teams to fail in order to justify a return to a hierarchical approach to ministry where
they can dominate, rule and be seen as large and in charge. The committed Christian who has a
real personal relationship with Jesus Christ understands that the process of discipleship or
spiritual growth is shaping them and molding them into the spiritual image of Jesus Christ. Jesus
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Christ is the human image of God and the Bible tells us that God is love. Without love we are
not real Christians. 1 John 4:7-12 says: “7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is
from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does
not know God, for God is love. 9 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his
only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved
God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved,
since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if
we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
Our old approach to Ministry has hindered our individual and collective growth in becoming
people who bear the image of God, which is Luke 10:27 Love. Teams require us to love one
another as God loves us. Teams require us to love God with all of our being. Teams promote
the development and practice of love in our hearts and in our ministries with one another. God is
love therefore our church; our ministries; and our lives must be based upon love. Team
Ministries based upon Luke 10:27 Love will demonstrate love to the glory of God and the
building up of our Church.
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Module 4
The First Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries
Luke 10:27 Love
Group Exercises 4
Exercise 1: GOD’S LOVE
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
GOD’S LOVE
How does the Bible describe God's love?
.
BIBLE READING: Romans 8:28-39
KEY BIBLE VERSE: I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death
can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about
tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above
the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the
love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
God's love is beyond measure. These words were written to a church that would soon undergo
terrible persecution. In just a few years, Paul's hypothetical situations would turn into painful
realities. This passage reaffirms God's profound love for his people. No matter what happens to
us, no matter where we are, we can never be lost to his love. Suffering should not drive us away
from God; it should help us to identify with him further and allow his love to reach us and heal
us.
God's love is eternal. These verses contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scripture.
Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment,
even death. These could cause them to fear that they have been abandoned by Christ. But Paul
exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of his
unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christ's constant presence with us. God tells us how great
his love is so that we will feel totally secure in him. If we believe these overwhelming
assurances, we will not be afraid.
BIBLE READING: John 3:1-21
KEY BIBLE VERSE: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
God's love is sacrificial. The entire gospel comes to a focus in this verse. God's love is not static
or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. Here God sets the pattern of true love, the
basis for all love relationships—when you love someone dearly, you are willing to pay dearly for
that person's responsive love. God paid dearly with the life of his Son, the highest price he could
pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life
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that he had bought for us. When we share the gospel with others, our love must be like Jesus'.
We must be willing to give up our own comfort and security so that others might join us in
receiving God's love.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 136:1-26
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures
forever. (Psalm 136:1)
God's love is inexhaustible. Repeated throughout this psalm is the phrase, "His faithful love
endures forever." This psalm may have been a responsive reading, with the congregation saying
these words in unison after each sentence. The repetition made this important lesson sink in.
God's love includes aspects of love, kindness, mercy, and faithfulness. We never have to worry
that God will run out of love, because it flows from a well that will never run dry.
Exercise 2: HUMAN LOVE
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
HUMAN LOVE
What are the biblical guidelines for human love?
BIBLE READING: 1 Cor. 13:1-13
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has
been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love
never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1
Cor. 13:4-7)
Love is more important than spiritual gifts. In chapter 12 Paul gave evidence of the Corinthians'
lack of love in the utilization of spiritual gifts; chapter 13 defines real love; and chapter 14 shows
how love works. Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body.
Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power produce very little
without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Although people have different gifts, love
is available to everyone.
Love benefits others. Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God's kind of love is
directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of
love goes against our natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us
set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in
return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.
BIBLE READING: 1 John 2:1-11
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one
you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment—to love one another—is the
same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is
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true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shining. (1
John 2:7-8)
Love is a command. The commandment to love others is both old and new. It is old because it
comes from the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18). It is new because Jesus interpreted it in a
radically new way (John 13:34-35). In the Christian church, love is not only expressed by
showing respect; it is also expressed through self-sacrifice and servanthood (John 15:13). In fact,
it can be defined as "selfless giving," reaching beyond friends to enemies and persecutors
(Matthew 5:43-48). Love should be the unifying force and the identifying mark of the Christian
community. Love is the key to walking in the light, because we cannot grow spiritually while we
hate others. Our growing relationship with God will result in growing relationships with others.
Love is a choice. Does this mean that if you dislike someone you aren't a Christian? These verses
are not talking about disliking a disagreeable Christian Brother or sister. There will always be
people we will not like as well as others. John's words focus on the attitude that causes us to
ignore or despise others, to treat them as irritants, competitors, or enemies. Christian love is not a
feeling, but a choice. We can choose to be concerned with people's well-being and treat them
with respect, whether or not we feel affection toward them. If we choose to love others, God will
help us express our love.
BIBLE READING: Mark 12:28-34
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Hear, O
Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with
all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally
important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."
(Mark 12:29-31)
Loving God is the greatest human act. God's laws are not burdensome. They can be reduced to
two simple principles: love God and love others. These commands are from the Old Testament
(Deut. 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). When you love God completely and care for others as you care for
yourself, then you have fulfilled the intent of the Ten Commandments and the other Old
Testament laws. According to Jesus, these two commandments summarize all of God's laws. Let
them rule your thoughts, decisions, and actions. When you are uncertain about what to do, ask
yourself which course of action best demonstrates love for God and love for others.
BIBLE READING: John 21:15-25
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Once more he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter
was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything.
You know I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep." (John 21:17)
Loving God means serving him. Peter had disowned Jesus three times. Three times Jesus asked
Peter if he loved him. When Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to feed his sheep. It is one thing
to say you love Jesus, but the real test is willingness to serve him. Peter had repented, and here
Jesus was asking him to commit his life. Peter's life changed when he finally realized who Jesus
was. His occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist; his identity changed from impetuous
to "rock"; and his relationship to Jesus changed—he was forgiven, and he finally understood the
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significance of Jesus' words about his death and resurrection.
Loving God requires everything we have and are. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him.
The first time Jesus said, "Do you love [Greek agape: volitional, self-sacrificial love] me more
than these?" The second time, Jesus still used the word translated from the Greek word agape.
The third time, Jesus used the word translated from the Greek word phileo (signifying affection,
affinity, or brotherly love) and asked, in effect, "Are you even my friend?" Each time Peter
responded with the word translated into Greek as phileo. Jesus doesn't settle for quick,
superficial answers. Peter had to face his true feelings and motives when Jesus confronted him.
How would you respond if Jesus asked you, "Do you love me?" Are you even his friend?5
Neil S. Wilson, Handbook of Bible Application, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), s.v. “,”
WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
5
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Module 5
The Second Characteristic of
Effective Team Ministries
Trust
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Module 5
The Second Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries Trust
Team Members trust each other. When any group of people attempt God given and God sized
tasks Trust is essential to their success. God specializes in things thought impossible. Being
involved in a Team Ministry where the goals are great, large, spiritual and only achievable
through the power of the Holy Spirit requires that team members be confident in the power of the
Holy Spirit and in the love and concern and commitment of their teammates. Every Team
should consider the Holy Spirit to be a powerful member of their Team and the ultimate leader
and unifier of their team. When Brothers and Sisters in Christ practice Luke 10:27 Love, it
becomes easy for them to trust the Holy Spirit as a Teammate and their Brothers and Sisters in
Christ as Teammates. Proverbs 3:5 says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely
on your own insight. It will be our trust in the Holy Spirit and in each other that will allow us to
set and achieve God sized goals and objectives that exceed our limited human insight. The lyrics
of the song “I Need You to Survive” is an extremely accurate description of the life, existence
and effectiveness of Team Ministries. Team members need one another to survive. The lack of
trust will kill and destroy every Team. Team members must trust in the power of the Holy Spirit
and Team members must trust in one another. Trust is difficult to achieve! Teams in corporate
America struggle to establish trust and many fail because they never develop trust. However, in
the church, where men and women are committed to Luke 10:27 Love, developing trust should
not be an impossible or even difficult task. If you truly love God with all of your being you have
to be committed to loving others as you love yourself. John 4:20-21 helps us see that our love of
God cannot be separated from our love for our Brothers and Sisters. John 4:20-21 says: “Those
who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a
brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The
commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters
also.” If you love someone as you love yourself you will never intentionally do anything to hurt
them. If you know that you are loved by a Brother or a Sister you know that they will never do
anything intentionally to hurt you. In others words when true Christian love, Luke 10:27 Love
exists between individuals, trust will also exist. When people love and trust one another they
feel safe with one another. This safety is crucially important to creating a working environment
where Team Members feel free to examine issues from all different perspectives in pursuit of
God’s Will, God’s objective and God’s way.
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Module 5
The Second Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries
Trust
Group Exercises
Exercise 1: TRUST
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
TRUST
What are the characteristics of trust?
BIBLE READING: Genesis 30:1-24
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Then God remembered Rachel's plight and answered her prayers by
giving her a child. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. "God has removed my shame,"
she said. (Genesis 30:22-23)
Trust almost always involves patience. Eventually God answered Rachel's prayers and gave her a
child of her own. In the meantime, however, she had given her maidservant to Jacob. Trusting
God is difficult when nothing seems to happen. But it is harder still to live with the
consequences of taking matters into our own hands. Resist the temptation to think God has
forgotten you. Have patience and courage to wait for God to act.
BIBLE READING: Exodus 14:1-31
KEY BIBLE VERSE: As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see
them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the
Lord for help. Then they turned against Moses and complained, "Why did you bring us out here
to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us
leave?" (Exodus 14:10-11)
Trust often requires courage. Trapped against the sea, the Israelites faced the Egyptian army
sweeping in for the kill. The Israelites thought they were doomed. After watching God's
powerful hand deliver them from Egypt, their only response was fear, whining, and despair.
Where was their trust in God? Israel had to learn from repeated experience that God was able to
provide for them. God has preserved these examples in the Bible so that we can learn to trust him
the first time. By focusing on God's faithfulness in the past, we can face crises with confidence
rather than with fear and complaining.
BIBLE READING: Proverbs 3:1-8
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own
understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trust involves heartfelt confidence in God. Leaning has the sense of putting your whole weight
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on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important
decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can't trust anyone—not even God. But God knows
what is best for us. And he knows even better than we do what we really want. We must trust
him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our
God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others.
We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected
by God's Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer, use the Bible as your
guide, and follow God's leading. He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting
you.
Trust includes giving God our future plans. To receive God's guidance, said Solomon, we must
acknowledge God in all our ways. This means turning every area of life over to him. About a
thousand years later, Jesus emphasized this same truth (Matthew 6:33). Look at your values and
priorities. What is important to you? In what areas have you not acknowledged him? What is his
advice? In many areas of your life you may already acknowledge God, but it is the areas where
you attempt to restrict or ignore his influence that will cause you grief. Make him a vital part of
everything you do; then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his
purposes.
BIBLE READING: Romans 3:21-28
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight—not
by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. We are made right in
God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this
same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. (Romans 3:21-22)
Trust is wholeheartedly, believing in God's promises. After all this bad news about our
sinfulness and God's condemnation, Paul gives the wonderful news. There is a way to be
declared not guilty—by trusting Jesus Christ to take away our sins. Trusting means putting our
confidence in Christ to forgive our sins, to make us right with God, and to empower us to live the
way he taught us. God's solution is available to all of us regardless of our background or past
behavior.6
BIBLE READING: Ephes. 2:11-22
KEY BIBLE VERSE: We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple
for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also joined together as part of this dwelling where
God lives by his Spirit. (Ephes. 2:21-22)
Our relationships with others are made possible through Jesus. There are many barriers that can
divide us from other Christians: age, appearance, intelligence, political persuasion, economic
status, race, theological perspective. One of the best ways to stifle Christ's love is to be friendly
with only those people that we like. Fortunately, Christ has knocked down the barriers and has
unified all believers in one family. His cross should be the focus of our unity. The Holy Spirit
helps us look beyond the barriers to the unity we are called to enjoy.
6
Ibid
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Module 6
The Third Characteristic of
Effective Team Ministries:
Robust Conversation
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Module 6
The Third Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries: Robust
Conversation
Robust Conversation is the term used by Jim Collins in his book from “Good to Great” to
describe the type of discussions that led to the discovery of great ideas, innovative products,
pioneering inventions, revolutionary systems and effective planning within some of the greatest
and most successful businesses in the world. These discussions produced great results because
the participants were involved in passionate disagreements and made major compromises from
their individual preferences because they trusted and respected one another and were confident
that everyone was in pursuit of the same thing, the very best possible results for their company.
It is out of the crucible of passionate discussions that great ideas are created. Team Members at
FBC will be able to engage in Robust Conversations in pursuit of God’s will, God’s objectives,
God’s goals and God’s way to accomplish our church’s mission because they love and trust each
other. When Team Members practice Luke 10:27 Love and trust one another they will put into
practice the following words from the song “I Need You to Survive”, “I won’t harm you with
words from my mouth.” Robust Conversation allows loving and caring people to explore all
sides of a topic confident that different view points and disagreements are solely and totally
about the topic and never, ever about the person. Patrick Lencioni helps us understand Robust
Conversation when he says: “…I am talking about productive, ideological conflict: passionate,
unfiltered debate around issues of importance to the team. Any team that wants to maximize its
effectiveness needs to learn to do this, and doing so can only happen if vulnerability-based trust
exists.”7 FBC Ministry Teams will be able to have productive Robust Conversations because
Team Members love each other with Luke 10:27 Love and trust each other not to harm one
another with words from their mouths. Patrick Lencioni describes what can happen when
people who do not love and trust one another try to discuss important issues. “That is not to
say that some teams that lack trust don’t argue. It’s just that their arguments are often
destructive because they are laced with politics, pride, and competition, rather than humble
pursuit of truth. When people who do not trust one another engage in passionate debate, they
are trying to win the argument. They aren’t usually listening to the other person’s ideas and
then reconsidering their point of view; they’re figuring out how to manipulate the
conversation to get what they want. Or worse yet they’re not even arguing with the other
person face-to-face but venting about them in the hallways after a meeting is over. In
contrast, when vulnerability based trust exists, team members say everything that needs to be
said and there is nothing left to talk about behind closed doors.”8 When true Luke 10:27 Love
and trust are a reality between Team Members we can have Robust Conversations with one
another. Team Members who love and trust one another can prayerfully and passionately
explore every aspect of their ministry, set Holy Spirit inspired goals and objectives and identify
God’s will and God’s way to perform their ministry. Multiple disagreements and different view
points are absolutely necessary to be sure that at the end of the day the Team takes the very best
Patrick Lencioni, “Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and
Facilitators”, Jossey Bass A Wiley Imprint, San Francisco www.joseybass.com, San Francisco, 37
8
Ibid, 37
7
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course of action in the very best way, all according to God’s will. When Team members start out
with several different view points, coming to an agreement on goals and objectives and ministry
methods will not be easy. Nevertheless, coming to an agreement with the full commitment and
cooperation of every team member is an absolute necessity. At the end of the day every member
of the Team must agree and commit to the same set of ministry goals, objectives and methods. A
divided team and a divided church will not stand.
Robust Conversation requires every Team Member listen to every other Team Member. Robust
Conversation requires Team Members give each other feed back to confirm that they have
accurately heard and understood each other’s points of view, thoughts and positions. Robust
Conversation requires Team Members love and respect each other even when they disagree with
each other. The success of the Team depends upon the full participation of every member in
Robust Conversation because the very essence of Robust Conversation is the full, thorough and
complete search for God’s goals, God’s will and God way’s or methods’ for the Team and not
any single individual. When people who love one another with Luke 10:27 Love and trust one
another, understand Robust Conversation as they search for God’s will instead of a personal
battle or fight they will be able to overcome their natural tendencies and approaches to handling
different points of view or disagreements.
In her book, “Community that is Christian, A Handbook on Small Groups” Julie Gorman helps
us understand that most people use one of the following five strategies for dealing with conflict.
As a member of a Team ministry you may be tempted to use one or more of these ways of
dealing with disagreements/conflicts because you have used them in the past. However, it is
very important that you understand that these strategies are not the way individuals on Ministry
Teams deal with different points of view or conflict. Following each of these human strategies
or ways of dealing with disagreement I present the way Robust Conversation is different.
The Turtle (Withdrawing): Turtles withdraw into their shells to avid conflicts. They give up
their personal goals and relationships. They stay away from the issues over which the conflict is
taking place and from the persons they are in conflict with. Turtles believe it is hopeless to try to
resolve conflicts. They feel helpless. They believe it is easier to withdraw (physically and
psychologically) from a conflict than to face it.9
Robust Conversation and Turtles:
God does not want Turtles on his Ministry Teams. When Luke 10:27 Love and trust exists
between team members withdrawing is not acceptable behavior. Robust Conversation as the
search for God’s will requires each Team member’s full participation. Your Team needs to
hear and understand what the Holy Spirit is saying to you as it works to identify its God given
goals and methods.
The Shark (Forcing): Sharks try to overpower opponents by forcing them to accept their
solution to the conflict. Their goals are highly important to them, and relationships are of minor
9
Julie Gorman, Community That is Christian, A Handbook on Small Groups, Victor Books/SP Publications,
Wheaton, Illinois, 1993, 201
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importance. They seek to achieve their goals at all costs. They are not concerned with the needs
of others. They do not care if others like or accept them. Sharks assume that conflicts are settled
by one person winning and one person losing. They want to be the winner. Winning gives
sharks a sense of pride and achievement. Losing gives them a sense of weakness, inadequacy,
and failure. They try to win by attacking, overpowering, overwhelming and intimidating others.
10
Robust Conversation and Sharks
God does not want Sharks on his Ministry Teams. Most Sharks are not saved and they certainly
do not have Luke 10:27 Love for their Teammates and they should not be trusted. Sharks may
have great sounding ideas of doing great things for the Lord but that does not justify their
ungodly behavior and selfish ways of relating with others.
The Teddy Bear (Smoothing): To teddy bears the relationship is of great importance while
their own goals are of little importance. Teddy bears want to be accepted and liked by others.
They think that conflict should be avoided in favor of harmony and that people cannot discuss
conflict without damaging relationships. They are afraid that if the conflict continues, someone
will get hurt, and that would ruin the relationship. They give up their goals to preserve the
relationship. Teddy bears say, “I’ll give up my goals and let you have what you want in order
for you to like me.” Teddy bears try to smooth over conflict out of fear of harming the
relationship.11
Robust Conversations and Teddy Bears
God wants the Teddy Bear to have more faith in the power of the Holy Spirit and in their
Teammates. Teddy Bears do not trust their Teammates nor do they trust the Holy Spirit. Team
members should believe that they can and must share what God has given them, even when it
appears to be in opposition to what their teammates are thinking, without hurting their
relationships. Julie Gorman says: “On the surface most would see conflict as destructive to
group morale. In actuality, a lack of conflict can be more destructive because of what its absence
represents. Working through difficulties together binds members to one another. Just knowing
that they like each other and the group enough to reveal and work through issues of deep
emotional ownership, develops a feeling of commitment to others who shared in that revelation
process. “Not running away, says “while I am committed to this issue, opinion, perspective, I
am also committed to you and our relationship.”12 When you and your teammates have
expressed and even demonstrated Luke 10:27 Love for one another and God; and when your
teammates have demonstrated trustworthiness in their previous actions; there is no reason to
doubt their love and withhold the ideas that the Lord gives you for fear of losing your
relationship with them by participating in the pursuit of God’s will and God’s ways in Robust
Conversation.
10
Ibid. 201
Ibid. 201
12
Ibid. 194
11
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The Fox (Compromising): Foxes are moderately concerned with their own goals and their
relationships with others. Foxes seek a compromise; they give up part of their goals and
persuade the other person in a conflict to give up part of his goals. They seek a conflict solution
in which both sides gain something –the middle ground between two extreme positions. They
are willing to sacrifice part of their goals and relationships in order to find agreement for the
common good.13
Robust Conversations and Foxes
While the Fox with his compromises sounds good on the surface this strategy does not take into
consideration that Team members are trying to discern God’s will and not their own will. You
can make compromises with your personal will and relationships but you cannot compromise on
God’s will and ways. Through Robust Conversation and prayer Teammates, with different ideas
and beliefs about what God’s will and ways are for the team, can find the common ground that is
God’s will and God’s way for the Team. When you participate in Robust Conversation you
never personally give up anything and you never risk losing the love, trust and respect of your
teammates. When you participate in Robust Conversation you prayerfully come to an
understanding of what God wants the Team to do.
The Owl (Confronting). Owls highly value their own goals and relationships. They view
conflicts as problems to be solved and seek a solution that achieves both their own goals and the
goals of the other person. Owls see conflict as a means of improving relationships by reducing
tension between two persons. They try to begin a discussion that identifies the conflict as a
problem. By seeking solutions that satisfy both themselves and the other person owls maintain
the relationship. Owls are not satisfied until a solution is found that achieves their own goals and
the other person’s goals. And they are not satisfied until the tension and negative feeling have
been fully resolved.14
Robust Conversations and Owls
When Owls understand that the goal is to discern God’s will and ways, instead of their personal
will, they are ready for effective participation in Robust Conversation. God’s will and God’s
ways can be discerned through Robust Conversation without anyone being hurt or any
relationship damaged. Strong emotions can be expressed without hurting anyone simply because
the emotions are about the issues involved and not the persons. We can be passionate about
God’s will for our teams and loving and kind to our teammates at the same time.
Robust Conversation and Strong/Passionate Emotions
In her book, “Know and be Known, Small Groups that Nourish and Connect”, Brooke Collison
gives us some useful guidelines for dealing with strong emotions effectively as a Team:
 Listen to the emotion being expressed.
13
14
Ibid. 202
Ibid. 202
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


Don’t change the subject to avoid strong emotions.
Name the emotion as you hear it.
Don’t tell a person, “You shouldn’t feel that way.”
Accept the speaker’s emotion without saying you feel worse, better or the same. Use your own
emotions to try to understand the speaker and to communicate your understanding to them
without taking anything away from what he or she is saying. Examining what you do in the
presence of strong feelings is important in understanding how to respond to other people who are
expressing emotions. If you know that you usually shy away from emotion, being quiet and
listening to another may require extra effort. If you know that your tendency is to leap in and
make other people feel better when they are in emotional pain, then it is important to figure out
why you must do that and intentionally work to let other people express their feelings without
you taking over and changing their direction.15 Often strong emotions are aroused in a person
because of their past experiences that no one knows about, the issues or subject is the source of
the strong emotions not the Teammate. Believe that your Teammates love you and would never
do anything intentionally to hurt you. Believe in your Teammates relationship with God and in
their ability to reason and deal with their own emotions. Give them room and space to work with
the Holy Spirit to resolve their emotions when necessary to discern God’s will for the Team just
as you have.
Even after the Team’s final determination on God’s will and God’s ways for the ministry has
been made some Team members may still feel that his or her point of view is better than the final
point of view and course of action committed to by the Team. However, because they have
engaged in prayer, bible study and Robust Conversations with their Teammates and were fully
and completely heard and listened to and because they were given valid reasons and justification
for the final decisions, and have no valid reason to believe that the final course of action is not
God’s will, those Team members will be able to put their preferences on the back-burner and
fully commit themselves to giving their all and all in pursuit of the Team’s goals and objectives.
Effective Robust Conversation is absolutely necessary for the next level of Teamwork,
commitment.
Leadership in Team Ministry occurs when Team members are committed to the full participation
of each and every other Team member in Robust Conversation. True Christ-like servant
leadership is demonstrated by lovingly drawing out the ideas and thoughts of shy and reluctant
Team members without becoming bossy or controlling. True Christ-like servant leadership on
Teams is provided by lovingly reassuring every Team member that you value and respected their
ideas, their thoughts and their contributions because you love them and you want to keep their
trust and you know and understand that the Team needs them to survive.
15
Brook B. Collison, Know and Be Known Small Groups that Nourish and Connect, The Alban Institute, Herndon,
Virginia, 2007, 38.
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Module 6
The Third Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries: Robust
Conversation
Group Exercises
Exercise 1: We Need Our Teammates
The following conversation took place among a group of good friends who had just
finished eating dinner. Robert had just announced to the group that he was going
away. Everyone was surprised and wondered where Robert was going when Peter
got up from his seat and said, "Robert, wherever you going, I am going to go with
you?" Robert answered, "Peter, you cannot go with me now; but you will come to
me later." “I am willing to die for you, Robert. "Why can’t I go with you now?"
said Peter. "Will you really die for me, Peter? Believe me or not, before the sun
comes up in the morning, you will deny you even know me three times.”
You just happened to be a bystander who overheard the above conversation. Using
the following diagram, please indicate which cell most appropriately contains the
following statements:
a. Everyone knows that Robert is leaving. Which cell is this information in
Cell # ___
b. Robert revealed something about himself and his future that Peter and the other
disciples did not know. Which Cell did this information come from?
Cell # ___
c. Peter wants Robert and everyone else to believe that he is willing to die for
Robert? What cell is this information in? Cell # ___
d. Peter was just trying to make a positive impression he never really intended to
indicate that he would really give up his life for Robert. What cell is this
information in? Cell # ___
e. Even after Robert told Peter that he would deny him three times before sunrise,
Peter did not believe that he would actually deny Robert. What cell was this
information in? Cell # ___
f. Neither Peter nor Robert really knew what Peter was going to do. What cell is
this information in? Cell # ___
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The JOHARI Window
Joe Luft and Harry Ingham observed that there are aspects of our personality that we're open
about, and other elements that we keep to ourselves. At the same time, there are things that
others see in us that we're not aware of. As a result, you can draw up a four-cell grid, which
includes a fourth group of traits that are unknown to anyone:
Cell #1: The Open Cell: Contains things that are openly known and talked about,
that may be seen as personal strengths or weaknesses. This is the self
that we choose to share with others.
Cell # 2: The Hidden Cell: Contains things that nobody knows about us including ourselves. This may be because we have hidden those areas of
our personality from ourselves, or because they're buried deep in the
subconscious mind.
Cell # 3: The Blind Cell: Contains things that others observe that we don't know
about. They could be positive or negative behaviors that affect the way
others act towards us.
Cell # 4: The Secret Cell: Contains aspects of our self that we know about and
intentionally keep secret from others.
The Johari Window helps us understand that there are some things about ourselves
that we are not aware of. Cell 3: The Blind cell; exists in each and every one of
us. Many of us are unaware of this truth and it hinders our receptivity to
information and ideas that we did not think of. In addition not knowing that we
have a blind cell also limits are ability to learn new ideas, receive correction,
accept instruction, and grow more like Jesus Christ. In Teams built on Luke 10:27
Love and Trust we can relax and accept that our Teammates may have something
valuable to contribute to the Team that we are not aware of, just as we have
something to contribute to the team that they are not aware of. Awareness of the
Blind Cell should help us openly participate in the process of Robust Conversation
as the Team pursues its overall goal of discerning and doing the will of God.
The knowledge gained from the Johari window can encourage individuals who are
involved in Team Ministries and small groups to enlarge cell # 1, the Open Cell
and reduce the other cells: cell #2 the Unknown Cell, cell # 3 the Blind Cell and
Cell # 4 the Secret Cell. Jesus Christ lived a life that was authentic, open and
transparent and every true Disciple of Jesus Christ (Team Member) should strive to
live their lives the same way. Cell # 4 the Secret Cell should be minimal in the life
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of a true disciple (Team Member) because even our past sins have been
transformed into a testimony of God’s saving grace and transforming power. Cell
# 3, should be constantly shrinking because true disciples (Team Members) are
accountable to other disciples (Team Members). Cell # 2 should be constantly
shrinking because of the devotional life of the Disciple (Team Member) as God
reveals more and more of himself to the Disciple (Team Member) the Disciple
(Team Member) learns more and more about who he or she is in Christ.
With your awareness of the Johari Window you should be able to participate fully
not just in Robust Conversation but in all aspects of your Team’s Ministry.
Notes
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The JoHari Window
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Module 6
The Third Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Robust Conversation
Group Exercises
Exercise 2: CONVERSATION
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
WORTHWHILE CONVERSATIONS
What makes a conversation worthwhile?
BIBLE READING: Col. 4:2-6
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the
right answer for everyone. (Col. 4:6)
Conversations about our faith are worthwhile when we are gracious. When we tell others
about Christ, it is important to always be gracious in what we say. No matter how much sense the
message makes, we lose our effectiveness if we are not courteous. Just as we like to be respected,
we must respect others if we want them to listen to what we have to say. "Gracious and
effective" means that what we say should encourage further dialogue.
BIBLE READING: James 1:19-27
KEY BIBLE VERSE: My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow
to get angry. (James 1:19)
Active listening makes a worthwhile conversation. When we talk too much and listen too
little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are much more important than theirs.
James wisely advises us to reverse this process. Put a mental stopwatch on your conversations
and keep track of how much you talk and how much you listen. When people talk with you, do
they feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value?
Worthwhile conversations come when we are slow to be offended. These verses speak of
anger that erupts when our egos are bruised—I am hurt; my opinions are not being heard. When
injustice and sin occur, we should become angry because others are being hurt. But we should
not become angry when we fail to win an argument or when we feel offended or neglected.
Selfish anger never helps anybody.
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Exercise 3: WORTHLESS CONVERSATION
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
WORTHLESS CONVERSATIONS
What makes a conversation worthless?
BIBLE READING: James 3:1-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also
control themselves in every other way. (James 3:2)
Worthless conversations are destructive. What you say and what you don't say are both
important. Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time, but also controlling
your desire to say what you shouldn't. Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting
others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and
lying. Before you speak, ask yourself, Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
Worthless conversations demonstrate lack of self-control. James compares the damage the
tongue can do to a raging fire—the tongue's wickedness has its source in hell itself. The
uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them
against one another. Idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction
quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. We dare not be careless with what
we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. A few words
spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak, remember
that words are like fire—you can neither control nor reverse the damage they do.
Worthless conversations remind us of our disobedient tendencies. If no human being can
control the tongue, why bother trying? Even if we may not achieve perfect control of our tongue,
we can still learn enough control to reduce the damage it can do. It is better to fight a fire than to
go around setting new ones! Remember that we are not fighting the tongue's fire in our own
strength. The Holy Spirit will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say so
that when we are offended, we will be reminded of God's love and won't react. When we are
criticized, the Spirit will heal the hurt, and we won't lash out.
Worthless conversations remind us of our need for God's help. Our contradictory speech
often puzzles us. At times our words are right and pleasing to God, but at other times they are
violent and destructive. Which of these speech patterns reflects our true nature? The tongue gives
us a picture of our basic human nature. We were made in God's image; but we have also fallen
into sin. God works to change us from the inside out. When the Holy Spirit purifies a heart, he
gives self-control so that a person can speak words that please God.16
Neil S. Wilson, Handbook of Bible Application, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), s.v. “,”
WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
16
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Exercise 4: CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
What guidelines does the Bible give about constructive criticism?
BIBLE READING: Job 19:1-28
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Ten times now you have meant to insult me. You should be ashamed of
dealing with me so harshly. (Job 19:3)
Constructive criticism is motivated by love. It is easy to point out someone else's faults or sins.
Job's friends accused him of sin to make him feel guilty, not to encourage or correct him. If we
feel we must admonish someone, we should be sure we are confronting that person because we
love him, not because we are annoyed, inconvenienced, or seeking to blame him.
BIBLE READING: Deut. 13:1-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Suppose you hear in one of the towns the Lord your God is giving you
that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them
to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true
and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and
completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. (Deut. 13:12-15)
Constructive criticism has the facts straight. A city that completely rejected God was to be
destroyed so as not to lead the rest of the nation astray. But Israel was not to take action against a
city until the rumor about its rejecting God was proven true. This guideline saved many lives
when the leaders of Israel wrongly accused three tribes of falling away from their faith (Joshua
22). If we hear of friends who have wandered from the Lord or of entire congregations that have
fallen away, we should check the facts and find the truth before doing or saying anything that
could prove harmful. There are times, of course, when God wants us to take action—to rebuke a
wayward friend, to discipline a child, to reject false teaching—but first we must be sure we have
all the facts straight.
BIBLE READING: Luke 17:1-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE: I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he
repents, forgive him. (Luke 17:3)
Constructive criticism is tied to forgiveness. To rebuke does not mean to point out every sin
we see; it means to bring sin to a person's attention with the purpose of restoring him or her to
God and to others. When you feel you must rebuke another Christian for a sin, check your
attitude before you speak. Do you love the person? Are you willing to forgive? Unless rebuke is
tied to forgiveness, it will not help the sinning person.
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Exercise 5: DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
What are the characteristics of destructive criticism?
BIBLE READING: Numbers 12:1-16
KEY BIBLE VERSE: They said, "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn't he spoken
through us, too?" But the Lord heard them. (Numbers 12:2)
Destructive criticism misses the real issue. Moses didn't have a Jewish wife because he lived
with the Egyptians the first forty years of his life, and he was in the desert the next forty years.
The woman is probably not Zipporah, his first wife, who was a Midianite (see Exodus 2:21). A
Cushite was an Ethiopian. There is no explanation given for why Miriam objected to this
woman.
People often argue over minor disagreements, leaving the real issue untouched. Such was the
case when Miriam and Aaron came to Moses with a complaint. They represented the priests and
the prophets, the two most powerful groups next to Moses. The real issue was their growing
jealousy of Moses' position and influence. Since they could not find fault with the way Moses
was leading the people, they chose to criticize his wife. Rather than face the problem squarely by
dealing with their envy and pride, they chose to create a diversion from the real issue. When you
are in a disagreement, stop and ask yourself if you are arguing over the real issue or if you have
introduced a smoke screen by attacking someone's character. If you are unjustly criticized,
remember that your critics may be afraid to face the real problem. Don't take this type of
criticism personally. Ask God to help you identify the real issue and deal with it.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 7:1-6
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in
judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. (Matthew 7:2)
Destructive criticism often covers the need for self-criticism. Jesus' statement, "Do not
judge," is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to
build oneself up. It is not a blanket statement against all critical thinking, but a call to be
discerning rather than negative. Jesus said to expose false teachers (Matthew 7:15-23), and Paul
taught that we should exercise church discipline (1 Cor. 5:1-2) and trust God to be the final
Judge (1 Cor. 4:3-5).
Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that
bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves. Our untamed bad habits and
behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others. Do you find it easy to
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magnify others' faults while excusing your own? If you are ready to criticize someone, check to
see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help
your neighbor.
BIBLE READING: Galatians 5:13-26
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and
devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. (Galatians 5:15)
Destructive criticism indicates a lack of love. When we are not motivated by love, we become
critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Soon the unity of
believers is broken. Have you talked behind someone's back? Have you focused on others'
shortcomings instead of their strengths? Remind yourself of Jesus' command to love others as
you love yourself (Matthew 22:39). When you begin to feel critical of someone, make a list of
that person's positive qualities. If there are problems that need to be addressed, it is better to
confront in love than to gossip.17
Neil S. Wilson, Handbook of Bible Application, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), s.v. “,”
WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
17
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Exercise 6: ARGUMENTS
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
ARGUMENTS
How can arguments be prevented between Christians?
BIBLE READING: Phil. 2:12-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing. (Phil.
2:14)
Unity around the person of Jesus Christ should be maintained. Why are complaining and
arguing so harmful? If all that people know about a church is that its members constantly argue,
complain, and gossip, they get a false impression of Christ's gospel. Belief in Christ should unite
those who trust him. If the people in our church are always complaining and arguing, they lack
the unifying power of Jesus Christ. Stop arguing with other Christians or complaining about
people and conditions within the church and let the world see Christ.
BIBLE READING: Proverbs 15:1-9
KEY BIBLE VERSE: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.
(Proverbs 15:1)
Arguments are prevented when people exercise self-control. Have you ever tried to argue in a
whisper? It is equally hard to argue with someone who insists on answering softly. On the other
hand, a rising voice and harsh words almost always trigger an angry response. To turn away
wrath and seek peace, quiet words are your best choice.
BIBLE READING: Titus 3:1-11
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in
quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These kinds of things are useless and a
waste of time. (Titus 3:9)
Clear understanding avoids arguments. Paul warned Titus, as he warned Timothy, not to get
involved in arguments over unanswerable questions (2 Tim. 2:14). This does not mean we should
refuse to study, discuss, and examine different interpretations of difficult Bible passages. Paul is
warning against petty quarrels, not honest discussions that lead to wisdom. When foolish
arguments develop, it is best to turn the discussion back to a track that is going somewhere or
politely excuse yourself.18
Neil S. Wilson, Handbook of Bible Application, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), s.v. “,”
WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
18
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Exercise 7: WORDS
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
WORDS
Why should we be careful with the words we use?
BIBLE READING: Psalm 19:1-14
KEY BIBLE VERSE: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to
you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
Our words ought to please God. Would you change the way you live if you knew that every
word and thought would be examined by God? David asked God to approve his words and
thoughts as though they were offerings brought to the altar. He began this psalm noting that the
whole creation manages to express God's glory. He ended his thoughts with a prayer that God
might be pleased with his words. As you begin each day, determine to let God's love guide what
you say and how you think.
BIBLE READING: Proverbs 13:1-6
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Those who control their tongue will have a long life; a quick retort can
ruin everything. (Proverbs 13:3)
Words are so powerful that silence is sometimes the wisest action. You have not mastered
self-control if you do not control what you say. Words can cut and destroy. James recognized
this truth when he stated, "The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do"
(James 3:5). If you want to be self-controlled, begin with your tongue. Stop and think before you
react or speak. If you can control this small but powerful member, you can control the rest of
your body.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 12:33-37
KEY BIBLE VERSE: You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good
and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. (Matthew 12:34)
Our words reveal what is in our heart. What kinds of words come from your mouth? That is
an indication of what your heart is really like. You can't solve your heart problem, however, just
by cleaning up your speech. You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and
motives; then your speech will be cleansed at its source.
BIBLE READING: Col. 4:2-6
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the
right answer for everyone. (Col. 4:6)
Our words are important because we are representatives of Christ. When we tell others about
Christ, we should always be gracious in what we say. No matter how much sense the message
makes, we lose our effectiveness if we are not courteous. Just as we like to be respected, we must
respect others if we want them to listen to what we have to say.
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Module 7
The Fourth Characteristic of
Effective Team Ministries:
Commitment
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Module 7
The Fourth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries: Commitment
It is an absolute necessity that every Team Member commit, to the Team Ministry, its goals,
objectives, and ministry methods. Some people make verbal commitments without following
through with tangible actions. A verbal commitment without action is no more than a lie. This
will not and cannot happen if FBC Team Ministries are to be successful and God glorifying.
Because our Teams will be based upon Luke 10:27 Love, Trust, and Robust Conversations
individual Team members will not feel pressured or compelled to make verbal commitment that
they have no intentions of keeping. Because of Robust Conversation they will be able to speak
freely about their disagreements and present different points of views and alternative approaches.
Because of Robust Conversation they will be able to fully participate in a process that will result
in the Team’s decisions, the Team’s determination of its goals and objectives, and the Team’s
methods of achieving its goals. Commitment stands on the shoulders of Robust Conversation.
Listen to what Patrick Lencioni says: “When a group of people know their colleagues have no
reservations about disagreeing with one another, and that every available opinion and perspective
has been unapologetically aired, they will have the confidence to embrace a decision and
abandon whatever their initial opinion might have been. ……Most human beings are drastically
more reasonable than we think they are. In my work with Teams I have come to understand that
most people don’t really need to have their ideas adopted (a.k.a. “get their way”) in order to buyinto a decision. They just want to have their ideas heard, understood, considered, and explained
within the context of the ultimate decision.” 19 How much more should Christian men and
women be able to go beyond the need to have their own way, even Jesus prayed not my will but
thy will be done? When prayer and Robust Conversation are the means used to make decisions
every Team Member will be fully and totally committed to achieving the final Team goals and
objectives and using the Team’s agreed upon methods. Christian men and women should be able
to master the ability to disagree and commit. Patrick Lencioni says: “Teams that commit to
decisions and standards do so because they know how to embrace two separate but related
concepts Buy-in and Clarity. Buy-in is the achievement of honest emotional support. Clarity is
the removal of assumptions and ambiguity from a situation.”20 Every Team member has the
responsibility to engage in Robust Conversation with the other Team members until they can
make the emotional and intellectual commitments that can be described as buy-in. Likewise,
every Team Member who is not completely clear on every aspect of the Team’s decision has the
responsibility to engage the Team in Robust Conversation until the necessary and appropriate
clarity has been realized by themselves and every other Team member. When every Team
Member buys-in and has clarity on the Team’s goals and objectives you can be sure that they
will give their all to the realization of those goals and objectives using the agreed upon ministry
methods. After all only what you do for Christ will last and there is nothing on earth that will
satisfy the human soul more that achieving God given and God glorifying goals and objectives.
Patrick Lencioni in “Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and
Facilitators”, points out that this is phase “Mastering the ability to disagree and commit” was developed by
employees of Intel Corporation many years ago.
20
Ibid. 51
19
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Module 7
The Fourth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries:
Commitment
Group Exercises
Exercise 1: COMMITMENTS
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
COMMITMENTS What does the Bible teach us about commitments?
BIBLE READING: Matthew 8:18-27
KEY BIBLE VERSE: But Jesus told him, "Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead
care for their own dead." (Matthew 8:22)
Our commitment to Christ must be complete. It is possible that this disciple was not asking
permission to go to his father's funeral, but rather to put off following Jesus until his elderly
father died. Perhaps he was the firstborn son and wanted to be sure to claim his inheritance.
Perhaps he didn't want to face his father's wrath if he left the family business to follow an
itinerant preacher. Whether his concern was financial security, family approval, or something
else, he did not want to commit himself to Jesus just yet. Jesus, however, would not accept his
excuse.
Jesus was always direct with those who wanted to follow him. He made sure they counted the
cost and set aside any conditions they might have for following him. As God's Son, Jesus did not
hesitate to demand complete loyalty. Even family loyalty was not to take priority over the
demands of obedience. His direct challenge forces us to ask ourselves about our own priorities in
following him. The decision to follow Jesus should not be put off, even though other loyalties
compete for our attention. Nothing should be placed above a total commitment to living for him.
BIBLE READING: Joshua 24:14-27
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will
serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the
gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the
Lord. (Joshua 24:15)
Our commitment to God must be consistent. The people had to decide whether they would
obey the Lord, who had proven his trustworthiness, or obey the local gods, which were only
man-made idols. It's easy to slip into a quiet rebellion—going about life in your own way. But
the time comes when you have to choose who or what will control you. In taking a definite stand
for the Lord, Joshua again displayed his spiritual leadership. Regardless of what others decided,
Joshua had made a commitment to God, and he was willing to set the example of living by that
decision. The way we live shows others the strength of our commitment to serving God.
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BIBLE READING: Romans 5:1-11
KEY BIBLE VERSE: God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while
we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)
Christ committed himself to us first. While we were still sinners—these are amazing words.
God sent Jesus Christ to die for us, not because we were good enough, but because he loved us.
Whenever you feel uncertain about God's love for you, remember that he loved you even before
you turned to him. If God loved you when you were a rebel, he can surely strengthen you now
that you love him in return.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 37:1-39
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
(Psalm 37:5)
Commitment is the beginning of trusting God. David calls us to take delight in the Lord and to
commit everything we have and do to him. But how do we do this? To be delighted in someone
means to experience great pleasure and joy in his or her presence. This happens only when we
know that person well. Thus, to delight in the Lord, we must know him better. Knowledge of
God's great love for us will indeed give us delight.
To commit everything to the Lord means entrusting our life, family, job, and possessions to his
control and guidance. To commit ourselves to the Lord means to trust in him (Psalm 37:5),
believing that he can care for us better than we can ourselves. We should be willing to wait
patiently (Psalm 37:7) for him to work out what is best for us.21
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Neil S. Wilson, Handbook of Bible Application, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), s.v. “,”
WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
21
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Exercise 2: GOD’S PROMISES
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
GOD'S PROMISES
What can we learn from God's promises?
BIBLE READING: Genesis 50:22-26
KEY BIBLE VERSE: "Soon I will die," Joseph told his brothers, "but God will surely come for
you, to lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he vowed to give to
the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (Genesis 50:24)
We can have confidence about the future. Joseph was ready to die. He had no doubts that God
would keep his promise and one day bring the Israelites back to their homeland. What a
tremendous example! The secret of that kind of faith is a lifetime of trusting God. Your faith is
like a muscle—it grows with exercise, gaining strength over time. After a lifetime of exercising
trust, your faith can be as strong as Joseph's. Then at your death, you can be confident that God
will fulfill all his promises to you and to all those faithful to him who may live after you.
BIBLE READING: Exodus 2:11-25
KEY BIBLE VERSE: God heard their cries and remembered his covenant promise to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the Israelites and felt deep concern for their
welfare. (Exodus 2:24-25)
We can know that God is faithful. God's rescue doesn't always come the moment we want it.
God had promised to bring the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt (Genesis 15:16; Genesis 46:3-4). The
people had waited a long time for that promise to be kept, but God rescued them when he knew
the right time had come. God knows the best time to act. When you feel that God has forgotten
you in your troubles, remember that God has a time schedule we can't see.
BIBLE READING: Mark 1:1-8
KEY BIBLE VERSE: In the book of the prophet Isaiah, God said, "Look, I am sending my
messenger before you, and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness:
'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming! Make a straight road for him!' “(Mark 1:2-3)
We can know that God has a plan. Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Isaiah had predicted
that John the Baptist and Jesus would come. How did he know? God promised Isaiah that a
Redeemer would come to Israel, and that a messenger calling in the desert would prepare the
way for him. Isaiah's words comforted many people as they looked forward to the Messiah, and
knowing that God keeps his promises can comfort you too.
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Exercise 3: OUR PROMISES
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
OUR PROMISES
What should be characteristic of our promises?
BIBLE READING: Genesis 47:28-31
KEY BIBLE VERSE: As the time of his death drew near, he called for his son Joseph and said
to him, "If you are pleased with me, swear most solemnly that you will honor this, my last
request: Do not bury me in Egypt. When I am dead, take me out of Egypt and bury me beside my
ancestors." So Joseph promised that he would. (Genesis 47:29-30)
Our promises ought to be dependable. Putting a hand under the thigh was a sign of making a
promise, much like shaking hands today. Jacob had Joseph promise to bury him in his homeland.
Few things were written in this culture, so a person's word then carried as much force as a
written contract today. People today seem to find it easy to say, "I didn't mean that." God's
people, however, are to speak the truth and live the truth. Let your words be as binding as a
written contract.
BIBLE READING: 1ST Samuel 1:21-28
KEY BIBLE VERSE: "I asked the Lord to give me this child, and he has given me my request.
Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life." And they
worshiped the Lord there. (1ST Samuel 1:27-28)
Our promises should be kept even when they are costly. To do what she promised (1ST
Samuel 1:11), Hannah gave up what she wanted most—her son—and presented him to Eli to
serve in the house of the Lord. In dedicating her only son to God, Hannah was dedicating her
entire life and future to God. Because Samuel's life was from God, Hannah was not really giving
him up. Rather, she was returning him to God who had given Samuel to Hannah in the first
place. These verses illustrate the kind of gifts we should give to God. Do your gifts cost you little
(Sunday mornings, a comfortable tithe), or are they gifts of sacrifice? Are you presenting God
with tokens, or are you presenting him with your entire life?
BIBLE READING: John 13:31-38
KEY BIBLE VERSE: "But why can't I come now, Lord?" he asked. "I am ready to die for you."
Jesus answered, "Die for me? No, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny
three times that you even know me." (John 13:37-38)
Our promises should be made with firm commitment. Peter proudly told Jesus that he was
ready to die for him. But Jesus corrected him. He knew Peter would deny that he knew Jesus that
very night to protect himself (John 18:25-27). In our enthusiasm, it is easy to make promises, but
God knows the extent of our commitment. Paul tells us, "be honest in your estimate of
yourselves" (Romans 12:3). Instead of bragging, demonstrate your commitment step by step as
you grow in your knowledge of God's Word and in your faith.22
Neil S. Wilson, Handbook of Bible Application, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), s.v. “,”
WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
22
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NOTES
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_____
Module 8
The Fifth Characteristic of
Effective Team Ministries:
Accountable
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Module 8
The Fifth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries: Accountable
To be accountable means to be answerable and responsible to someone else. As Christians we
believe that every human being is accountable to God for how we live our lives. Romans 14:1012 (NRSV) says: “Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you
despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is
written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise
to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God.” This passage of scripture helps us
understand three (3) very important aspects of accountable-team-membership. The first is that
our ultimate accountability is to God for what we do with our lives. Our participation in the
church and in Team Ministries should be motivated by our desire to live lives that please God
and build His kingdom here on earth. It is true that only what we do for Christ will last.
The second aspect of accountability in Team Ministries is our willingness to be accountable to
our Teammates. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they can give an acceptable
account of what they do to God without being accountable to other human beings. When Teams
practice Luke 10:27 Love, trust each other, practice Robust Conversation, and make
commitments to God and each other, accountability should be a natural part of Team life and the
Team experience. Accountability to your Teammates should be understood to be consistent
with, and in obedience to Hebrews 10:24. Hebrews 10:24 (NRSV) says: “And let us consider
how to provoke one another to love and good deeds”. This is what accountability will be for
individuals involved in Team Ministries at FBC. Team Members will encourage one another to
express their love of God and other human being by putting the substance of action to their
verbal commitments. James 2:17 (NRSV) says: “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
The third aspect of accountability in Team Ministries is accountability without condemnation.
When Team Members practice Luke 10:27 love they not only want to see the Team succeed but
they want to see each other succeed. Holding another Team Member accountable may include
giving them a helping hand to meet their commitments to the team or baby sitting their children
to give them the time they need to do the work required to keep their commitment to the Team
and God. Accountability is focused on achieving the Team’s goals and objectives and never on
fault finding or condemnation. Romans 14:10-12 reminds us that God will not only hold us
accountable for what we do with our lives in terms of service but God will also hold us
accountable for how we treat our Brothers and Sisters and that must include your Teammates.
When true accountability is based upon real Luke 10:27 Love, real Trust, honest and thorough
Robust Conversation and sincere heartfelt commitments, accountability will always be about
learning, growing and achieving Team goals and never about condemning individual failures.
While Team Members will hold one another accountable for achieving the results they commit
to, Team Members must also hold each other accountable for their methods and behaviors. God
holds us all accountable not just for what we do but for how we do it. The Fourth Reality of
Experiencing God says: God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible; prayer, circumstances
and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways. Team Ministries must be
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performed according to God’s methods and God’s ways. Team Members must always hold one
another accountable for fulfilling their commitments according to Bible-based, Godly methods.
Achieving God sized goals and objectives as a Team Ministry will require thorough reviews and
evaluations of the work performed by the Team, as a whole, as subgroups and as individuals, all
according to how the Team has decided to divide up its work. Accountability is extremely
important for each individual team member. I agree with Elizabeth O’Connor who said: “How
does another person know that we have taken what he has said with any seriousness if we do not
ask what he has done with his gift…..The person who is seriously interested in investing his life
does not perceive the time of accounting as something to be anticipated with dread but as a
caring which supports and encourages him in what he wants to do.”23 When our NEW Life
Teams have accountability reviews they will not be secular workplace job performance reviews
where a person is measured against objective standards with accompanying compensation or
penalty. I agree with Rev. Dr. Stanley Ott, who said in his book “Transform Your Church with
Ministry Teams” “Accountability review should be “a positive time of reflection, support,
encouragement and the consideration of our next steps in relation to vision and goals.”24
At FBC our Teams will be NEW Life Teams. For us accountability must have a NEW Life
focus:
Nurture as training or equipping, including constructive criticism always given with love. In
some cases Teams should pair inexperienced members with more seasoned and experienced
Teammates, in an apprentice type relationship to help him or her grow and develop in their
ability to accomplish Team goals and objectives as well as in their spiritual maturity.
Encouragement should be in the form of praise and affirmations, not just for success, but for
hard work and sacrificial efforts that may fall short of the desired goals and objectives.
Welcoming will be in the form of giving a Brother or Sister, in Christ unconditional love and
acceptance. In our Team Ministries people will always be more important than results. Team
Members must always love and respect one another. It is the duty and responsibility of every
Team Member to respect and nurture the dignity and worth of every other member of the Team.
Team Members must always hold one another to the standards of Luke 10:27 love and behavior.
When Accountability has the above NEW Life focus and is based upon Luke 10:27 Love, Trust,
Robust Conversation and sincere Commitments, people will eagerly join God and their
Teammates in attempting God sized goals and objectives. They will joyfully become
accountable for stretching beyond their preconceived limits because they want to grow and
accomplish great things for the glory of God. Accountability will be viewed as a learning
experience and an opportunity to grow. No one will be afraid of being Accountable to their
Team because they know that should they or their Team fall short of meeting all of their goals
and objectives they will accomplish far more than the “do as little as possible, avoid failure at all
cost and save face by only doing what is easy” approach that dominates most church ministries
today.
Elizabeth O’Connor, The Eight Day of Creation, (Waco, Tex: Word Books, 1971), 32-33.
Stanley Ott, Transform Your Church with Ministry Teams, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing House, 2004), 163-164.
23
24
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Module 8
The Fifth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries: Accountable:
Group Exercises
Exercise 1: ACCOUNTABILITY
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Will there be any excuses when we stand before God?
BIBLE READING: Romans 14:1-22
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God. (Romans
14:12) We will appear alone before God. Each person is accountable to Christ, not to others.
While the church must be uncompromising in its stand against activities expressly forbidden by
Scripture (adultery, homosexuality, murder, theft), it should not create additional rules and
regulations and give them equal standing with God's law. Many times Christians base their moral
judgments on opinion, personal dislikes, or cultural bias rather than on the Word of God. When
they do this, they show that their own faith is weak. They do not think God is powerful enough
to guide his children. When we stand before God's court of justice (see 2 Cor. 5:10), we won't be
worried about what our Christian neighbor has done.
GROUP ACCOUNTABILITY
How do individual choices affect a group of people?
BIBLE READING: Joshua 7:1-15
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen the things
that I commanded to be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them; they have also lied
about it and hidden the things among their belongings. (Joshua 7:11)
Our actions often affect others. Why did Achan's sin bring judgment on the entire nation?
Although it was one man's failure, God saw it as national disobedience to a national law. God
needed the entire nation to be committed to the job they had agreed to do—conquer the land.
Thus, when one person failed, everyone failed. Achan's sin was not merely the act of keeping
some of the booty (which was allowed in some cases), but disobedience to God's explicit
command to destroy everything connected with this city. His sin was indifference to the evil and
idolatry of the city, not just a desire for money and clothes. God would not protect Israel's army
again until the sin was removed and the army returned to obeying him without reservation. If
Achan's sin went unpunished, unlimited looting could break out. The nation as a whole had to
take responsibility for preventing this. God is not content with our doing what is right some of
the time. He wants us to do what is right all the time. We are under his orders to rid our lives of
anything that hinders our devotion to him.
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BIBLE READING: Judges 6:1-16
KEY BIBLE VERSE: "Sir," Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened
to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn't they say, 'The Lord
brought us up out of Egypt'? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the
Midianites." (Judges 6:13)
Accountability means taking personal responsibility for national sin. Gideon questioned God
about the problems he and his nation faced and about God's apparent lack of help. What he didn't
acknowledge was the fact that the people had brought calamity upon themselves when they
decided to disobey and neglect God. How easy it is to overlook personal accountability and
blame our problems on God and others. Unfortunately this does not solve our problems. It brings
us no closer to God, and it brings us to the very edge of rebellion and backsliding.
When problems come, the first place to look is within. Our first action should be confession to
God for sins that may have created our problems.
Exercise 2 RESPONSIBILITY
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
What are the qualities of a responsible person?
BIBLE READING: 1 Chron. 21:1
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly and shouldn't have taken
the census. Please forgive me for doing this foolish thing." (1 Chron. 21:8)
Responsible people admit their wrongs.
When David realized his sin, he took full responsibility, admitted he was wrong, and asked God
to forgive him. Many people want to add God and the benefits of Christianity to their life without
acknowledging their personal sin and guilt. But confession and repentance must come before
receiving forgiveness. Like David, we must take full responsibility for our actions and confess
them to God before we can expect him to forgive us and continue his work in us.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 25:14-46
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man
going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he
was gone. (Matthew 25:14)
Responsible people are faithful with what they have been given.
The master divided the money among his servants according to their abilities. No one received
more or less than he could handle. If he failed in his assignment, his excuse could not be that he
was overwhelmed. Failure could come only from laziness or hatred toward the master. The
talents represent any kind of resource we are given. God gives us time, gifts, and other resources
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according to our abilities, and he expects us to invest them wisely until he returns. We are
responsible to use well what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well
we use what we have.
Responsible people plan for the future.
This parable describes the consequences of two attitudes to Christ's return. The person who
diligently prepares for it by investing his or her time and talent to serve God will be rewarded.
The person who has no heart for the work of the kingdom will be punished. God rewards
faithfulness. Those who bear no fruit for God's kingdom cannot expect to be treated the same as
those who are faithful.
BIBLE READING: Acts 6:1-7
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who
are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this
business. Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word. (Acts 6:34)
Responsible people know their abilities and their limitations.
As the early church increased in size, so did its needs. One great need was to organize the
distribution of food to the poor. The apostles needed to focus on preaching, so they chose others
to administer the food program. Each person has a vital part to play in the life of the church (see
1 Corinthians 12). If you are in a position of leadership and find yourself overwhelmed by
responsibilities, determine your God-given abilities and priorities and then find others to help. If
you are not in leadership, you have gifts that can be used by God in various areas of the church's
ministry. Offer these gifts in service to him.
Responsible people share the work load.
The apostles' priorities were correct. The ministry of the Word should never be neglected
because of administrative burdens. Pastors should not try—or be expected to try—to do
everything. Instead, the work of the church should be spread out among its members.
NOTES
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Module 9
The Sixth Characteristics of
Effective Team Ministries
Results
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Module 9
The Sixth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries: Results
Team Ministry Purpose:
Joyce Mitchell in her book “Teams Work” says: “It may sound confining or narrow to equate
the legitimacy of a team with its purpose. A group of individuals can certainly function and
model the principles of teamwork without being a team. That is a group can meet and be good
listeners. They can be constructive in evaluating each other’s viewpoints. They can have a
warm fellowship and be supportive of each other. They can share information and learn from
each other. They can resolve differences of opinion smoothly and maintain esprit de corps. But
if they do not have a purpose which the members of the group can articulate and toward which
the team is striving in fact the group is probably just a group.”25 Joyce Mitchell is right, without
a purpose a Team will degenerate into a social group and then deteriorate into nothing. Without
a purpose there is no ministry. I agree with Joyce Mitchell when she says: “The single most
significant factor for a team is its purpose.”26 It will be extremely important that everyone on our
FBC teams be fully committed to the Team’s Purpose. When every team member is fully
committed to the Team’s Purpose, God will give the team the synergy required to accomplish far
more than the sum of the contributions made by individual team members. When one member is
half-hearted and half-stepping the overall results for the Team will be far less than if that person
were not on the team. It is my heartfelt belief that the following statement is true and will be true
of our FBC Team Ministries: “Having a Great Purpose and Great Goals will motivate Great
Effort and produce Great Results by Great People.”
Team Ministry Goals:
Once the Team’s Purpose and its ultimate results are agreed upon the Team should identify the
specific stepping stones required to achieve its purpose and results. These stepping stones
should be identified as goals that must be achieved to realize the Team Ministry purpose and its
ultimate results. Like stepping stones, Team Goals when reached move you closer to your
ultimate destination, the achievement of your purpose. Any activity, event or accomplishment
that does not move your team closer to the realization of your Team Ministry Purpose is not a
good goal.
Team Ministry Purpose and Goals should be SMART:
When our Team Ministries have clear, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound, purposes and goals that contribute to our church’s mission of transforming human pain
into wellness, societal evil into good or spiritual death into new life, every Team Member will
experience the sense of fulfillment, purpose and satisfaction that characterizes a life of spiritual
Joyce Mitchell, Teams Works! A No-Nonsense Approach to Team Building, Woman’s Missionary Union,
Birmingham, 2003, 61.
26
Mitchell, pg 117.
25
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significance and God pleasing accomplishments. Every Team Ministry purpose and goals
should have the following four characteristics.
Specific, Clear and Understandable:
The Team Ministry Purpose must be clear and clearly understandable. The Team
Ministry Purpose cannot be clear if it is not specific. All ambiguity must be eliminated.
There can be no possible way that anyone can confuse the Team’s specific purpose with
something different than what is intended by the Team. It is an absolute necessity that
each member of the Team understands and agrees on why the Team exists and what the
Team is trying to achieve. Real Commitment and Accountability require specific, clear
and fully understood purpose, goals and work assignments.
Measureable:
It is extremely important that the Team’s Purpose be measurable. The ability to measure
achievements toward the Team Ministry Purpose is an important motivational factor for
Team Members. Having a measurable purpose, goals and work assignments are required
for positive, edifying, constructive and instructional progress reviews that cultivate and
reward honest commitment and true accountability. At FBC each Team Ministry will
establish their own measurements. Patrick Lencioni is right when he says: “Resultsoriented teams establish their own measurements of success. They don’t allow
themselves the wiggle room of subjectivity. But that is not easy because subjectivity is
attractive. I know how easy it is to fall into this trap, because I do it myself. I don’t like
to be limited in how I measure my success to a few numbers that might not tell the whole
story. But I know that this is just an excuse, or better yet, a manifestation of my desire to
change my mind and reinterpret my success based on what’s going on at a given point in
time. Ultimately, ambiguity and loose interpretation catch up to you, usually in the form
of the bottom line. So how does a team avoid this pitfall? By committing early and
publicly to what it will achieve and constantly reviewing its progress against those
expected achievements.”27
Achievable:
When the Team’s Purpose is specific and clearly understood and realistically achievable
Team Members will be eager to commit and be accountable. Once the Team’s Purpose is
agreed upon the Team should identify the specific stepping stones required to achieve its
purpose and list them as their goals. Like stepping stones, when reached, Team Goals
move you closer to your ultimate destination, the achievement of your purpose. Any
activity, event or accomplishment that does not move your team closer to the realization
of your Team Ministry Purpose is not a good Team goal. For each goal leading to the
Team Purpose the Team may decide to develop a detailed breakdown plan of actions
where activities, target objectives and other work items are identified and assigned to
27
Lencioni, pg 72.
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individual or groups of team members. When you are traveling to a destination you have
never traveled to before it helps to have a detailed map that identifies the places you need
to reach along the way. Having a good map reassures you that you are indeed moving in
the right direction. A good map also lets you know when you need to make changes
because you are moving in the wrong direction.
Relevant to the First Baptist Church’s Mission and Results oriented:
God has given us a great mission at FBC! We are called to transform evil into good, pain
into wellness and death into new life. This is what we are called to do as a church and as
individuals. Therefore, to fulfill our Church’s mission every Team Ministry must
have a purpose that makes an important contribution toward transforming human
pain into wellness, societal evil into good or spiritual death into new life. The Team
Ministry’s Purpose must make a contribution toward at least one of the following three
dimensions of our church’s mission; transforming human pain, into wellness;
transforming societal evil into good or transforming spiritual death into new life. Beyond
a clear contribution to the mission of our church and the safety and dignity of human life,
Teams should consider themselves free to be creative and innovative when identifying
and committing to their purposes.
Time-bound
The Team Ministry purpose and goals must have realistic dates for their full and
complete achievement. God tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NLT): “1 As God’s partners,
we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For
God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” Time is important to
God and time should be important to us at FBC. The days of our lives are numbered and
the sand in our personal hour glass is flowing out. Death awaits all of us and whatever
we are going to accomplish for the glory of God and the building of His kingdom here on
earth must be done before we die or Jesus comes back. Team Ministry purposes and
goals must have a realistic date and time for their realization and achievement to be taken
seriously. Time is so important that the word deadline was developed to communicate
that when certain time limits are not met death will be the only result. Goals must be
realistically time bound. When time limits are too short, the quality of the work may
suffer. When time limits are too far out in the future there may not be a real need to do
the work. Prayer and honest soul searching is required to accurately set time limits for
our Team Goals. When we set significant, great and important God sized goals to
implement our God given mission we will be motivated to accomplish them as soon as
possible so that we can see and experience the results, to God’s glory!
Most of us have heard and are familiar with the poem “God's Minute” written by the late
great Dr. Benjamin Mays!
God’s Minute
I've only just a minute,
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Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can't refuse it,
Didn't seek it, didn't choose it,
But it's up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it,
Give an account if I abuse it,
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.
I found the following explanation of this poem on the WikiAnswers.com website and
would like for you to consider it as you prepare to participate in Team Ministries
designed to equip and enable you to serve the Lord!
Explanation: The poem for me is all about Salvation. Salvation is free. Not by our own
good works, God gave it by His grace through our Faith that no one can boast. From the
beginning we are created by God in his own image. But the disobedience of Adam and
Eve made sin to be planted in man's heart. And God is a merciful and loving Father. He
loves us so much that He gave His one and only son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes
in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life. So, now that we are saved by the blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ, a minute in walking with God is the first step to start, don't lose it,
don't abuse it. It is our duty to be worthy of God's calling that we have received. We
have sixty seconds per minute to fulfill our destiny as a Christian - Be a disciple and
make disciples. Make every second count. You have now the power to claim what is
yours as an heir to the Kingdom of God. Make one good thing that you can do every
second, in a minute it will be sixty good deeds that will make your Faith Alive! Pray for
one friend you want to receive Salvation per second, in one minute you can bring 60
people whom you love to Jesus Christ! Our God is an awesome God! "For we are God's
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do Good Works, which God prepared in advance
for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
Team Ministry Implementation Plans:
Once the Team’s Purpose is agreed upon the Team should develop an implementation plan that
identifies the goals that need to be achieved in the particular order required to realize the Team’s
purpose. Each individual Team Goal should have its own implementation plan that identifies the
specific tasks and the particular order required to achieve it. The implementation plan should
have a specific start date, corresponding to the start of the first task for the first goal and a
specific end date, corresponding to the end of the last task for the last goal required for the full
completion of the Team’s Purpose. As the Team chooses it can use Gantt Charts and other
project management tools to organize, track and help ensure the timely completion of its purpose
and goals. Attachment 9-1 is a sample of a work break down form that might be helpful,
Team Ministry Purpose Statement:
The only restriction placed on our Team Ministries is that their purpose be supportive of the
realization of our church’s mission of transforming evil into good, pain into wellness and death
into new life. For this reason every Team Ministry must prepare a Team Ministry Purpose
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Statement to be submitted to the Pastor for approval. Attachment 9-2, presents a list of the basic
information that would be required for Pastoral approval of the purpose and ultimate results for
each Team Ministry.
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ATTACHMENT 9-1
Work Breakdown Plan
(For Individual Goals)
Goal:
Major Task/Milestone
Scheduled Start
Major Task/Milestone
Scheduled Finish
Scheduled Start

Scheduled Finish

Major Task/Milestone
Scheduled Start
Major Task/Milestone
Scheduled Finish
Scheduled Start

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
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ATTACHMENT 9-2
SAMPLE GUIDELINES
FOR PREPARING
THE TEAM MINISTRY PURPOSE STATEMENT
The following should all appear in every Team Ministry Purpose Statement
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
States the purpose of the team and the ultimate results it intends to produce.
GOALS
Team goals are stated here. Use SMART goal setting guidelines. SMART stands for
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-oriented, and Time bound.
TIMELINES FOR ACHIEVEMENTS
State the target time for the completion and realization of team goals and purposes.
EXPECTED ACTIVITIES
List the major milestones that the team must reach to achieve high performance and the team
goals.
AVAILABLE and NEEDED RESOURCES
Those things needed and in place to support the team in its purpose and goals.
EVALUATIONS AND MEASUREMENTS
Explains how the team will measure progress in achieving its goals and purpose. This section
should include “hard” measures such as quantity and time as well as “soft” measures such as
quality and team effectiveness.
SKILLS and ABILITIES NEEDED
List skills and abilities needed to achieve the Team Purposes and Goals. Identify the individuals
who have these skills and abilities and/or how they will be developed.
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Module 9
The Sixth Characteristic of Effective Team Ministries: Results
Group Exercises
Exercise 1 RESULTS
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
RESULTS
How should we view results in the Christian life?
BIBLE READING: Exodus 6:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Moses told the people what the Lord had said, but they wouldn't listen
anymore. They had become too discouraged by the increasing burden of their slavery. (Exodus
6:9)
Faithful obedience does not always yield instant results. When Moses gave God's message to
the people, they were too discouraged to listen. The Hebrews didn't want to hear any more about
God and his promises because the last time they listened to Moses, all they got was more work
and greater suffering. Sometimes a clear message from God is followed by a period when no
change in the situation is apparent. During that time, apparent setbacks may turn people away
from wanting to hear more about God. If you are a leader, don't give up. Keep bringing people
God's message as Moses did. By focusing on God, who must be obeyed, rather than on the
results to be achieved, good leaders see beyond temporary setbacks and reversals.
BIBLE READING: Judges 13:1-25
KEY BIBLE VERSE: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must
never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will rescue Israel from
the Philistines. (Judges 13:5)
We cannot measure results by our timetable. Manoah's wife was told that her son would
rescue Israel from Philistine oppression. It wasn't until David's day that the Philistine opposition
was completely crushed (2 Samuel 8:1). Samson's part in subduing the Philistines was just the
beginning, but it was important nonetheless. It was the task God had given Samson to do. Be
faithful in following God, even if you don't see instant results, because you might be beginning
an important job that others will finish.
BIBLE READING: Luke 10:17-24
KEY BIBLE VERSE: "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of
lightning! And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk
among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don't rejoice just
because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven."
(Luke 10:18-20)
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Relationship with God is more important than the results of our work. The disciples had seen
tremendous results as they ministered in Jesus' name and with his authority. They were elated by
the victories they had witnessed, and Jesus shared their enthusiasm. He helped them get their
priorities right, however, by reminding them of their most important victory—that their names
were written in heaven. This honor was more important than any of their accomplishments. As
we see God's wonders at work in and through us, we should not lose sight of the greatest wonder
of all—our heavenly citizenship.
BIBLE READING: Luke 17:1-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE: "Even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed," the Lord answered,
"you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May God uproot you and throw you into the sea,' and it
would obey you!" (Luke 17:6)
True faith will bring real results. A mustard seed is small, but it is alive and growing. Like a
tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow. Almost invisible at
first, it will begin to spread, first under the ground and then visibly. Although each change will
be gradual and imperceptible, soon this faith will have produced major results that will uproot
and destroy competing loyalties. We don't need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough, if it is
alive and growing.28
Exercise 2: GOALS
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
GOALS
How does God help us with our goals?
BIBLE READING: Exodus 13:17-22
KEY BIBLE VERSE: When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them on the
road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest way from Egypt to
the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their
minds and return to Egypt." (Exodus 13:17)
God knows the best way. God doesn't always work in the way that seems best to us. Instead of
guiding the Israelites along the direct route from Egypt to the Promised Land, he took them by a
longer route to avoid fighting with the Philistines. If God does not lead you along the shortest
path to your goal, don't complain or resist. Follow him willingly, and trust him to lead you safely
around unseen obstacles. He can see the end of your journey from the beginning, and he knows
the safest and best route.
BIBLE READING: Numbers 14:1-9
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Do not rebel against the Lord, and don't be afraid of the people of the
Neil S. Wilson, Handbook of Bible Application, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), s.v. “,”
WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
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land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don't
be afraid of them! (Numbers 14:9)
God helps us reach and exceed our goals. With great miracles, God had led the Israelites out of
slavery, through the desolate desert, and up to the very edge of the Promised Land. He had
protected them, fed them, and fulfilled every promise. Yet when encouraged to take that last step
of faith and enter the land, the people refused. After witnessing so many miracles, why did they
stop trusting God? Why did they refuse to enter the Promised Land when that had been their goal
since leaving Egypt? They were afraid. Often we do the same thing. We trust God to handle the
smaller issues but doubt his ability to take care of the big problems, the tough decisions, the
frightening situations. Don't stop trusting God just as you are ready to reach your goal. He
brought you this far and won't let you down now. We can continue trusting God by remembering
all he has done for us.
BIBLE READING: Romans 8:18-39
KEY BIBLE VERSE: God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his
Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29)
God's goals should be our goals. God's ultimate goal for us is to make us like Christ (1 John
3:2). As we become more and more like him, we discover our true selves, the persons we were
created to be. How can we be conformed to his likeness? By reading and heeding his Word, by
studying his life on earth through the Gospels, by being filled with his Spirit, and by doing his
work in the world.
BIBLE READING: Phil. 3:1-21
KEY BIBLE VERSE: I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I
have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all
that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. (Phil. 3:12)
Our most important goal should be getting to know Christ better. Paul says that his goal is to
know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbs all of
Paul's energy. This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our
goal—Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything
harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is
holding you back?29
Notes
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__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Neil S. Wilson, Handbook of Bible Application, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), s.v. “,”
WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
29
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__________________________________________________________________
Module 10
Covenant Relationships the
Heart of Effective
Team Ministries at
The First Baptist Church in
Englewood, NJ
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Module 10
Covenanting Team Ministries
Written Team Ministry Covenants
Every written Team Ministry Purpose Statement should be incorporated into a written Team
Ministry Covenant that addresses how the Team understands God’s will for the ways and means
to be used to achieve their goals and produce the desired results. A Team Covenant should also
address how Team members will relate to each other and how they initially see their respective
responsibilities. A Team Covenant should include mutually agreed upon but flexible agreements
on commitments and accountability for their ministry. In the following section I want to share
with you why you should make the effort and do the hard work of developing a Team Ministry
Covenant that incorporates your Team Ministry Purpose Statement.
Covenants Are Biblical:
A covenant is an agreement between two or more parties. From the beginning of time, God’s
relationship with human beings has been based on covenants. The Bible tells us in Genesis 2:1517 (NRSV): “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep
it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat
of it you shall die."” It was the covenant relationship between God and humanity that Satan in
the form of the Serpent attacked and successfully deceived Adam and Eve to break. When the
first covenant was broken sin entered into the world and became a part of our human nature. The
Ten Commandments is a covenant between God and human beings designed to control sin. The
Ten Commandments is also a covenant that calls human beings to relate to one another in a way
that pleases God. Through covenants God teaches human beings how to relate to one another
and with Him in ways that please and glorify Him. The New Covenant of salvation by faith in
Jesus Christ works the same way. To love Jesus Christ is to love God the Father and to live by
the Holy Spirit. It is our love of God that makes loving our neighbors a necessary part of our
covenant relationship with God. As we know Satan and sin are always in opposition to God and
their goal is to incite and deceive human beings into breaking their covenants with God and with
one another.
The Church: A Covenanted Community
We live in a day and time when the Biblical basis of the church as community is under attack by
sweet sounding but demonic philosophies of individualism and relativity. How often have you
heard some one say: “I can be a Christian without being a member of a church or even attending
worship services at a church?” These individuals are biblically incorrect and mistaken.
Community is at the heart of the human relationship with God. This was true in the Old
Testament in the relationship between God and the people of Israel. It is also true in the New
Testament in the relationship between God and the Church, both the Universal Church of all
believers and the local church. Community, the coming together of individuals who share a
common faith in unity with one another, is the basis of the church. As Baptists we believe the
local church should be defined as a community of baptized believers in Jesus Christ who
covenant together to carry out the principles of God’s Word in the world. By having covenants
our Team Ministries become training grounds for the development of individuals as true
disciples of Jesus Christ who understand and readily commit themselves to living in community
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with their entire church family.
Covenants Have their Basis in the Triune Nature of God:
Covenants have their basis in the very nature of God. Our God is a triune God, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. We believe in One God in three persons. I agree with George Cladis who says:
Within the nature of God there is community. God the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit are in relationship with one another and yet are one
God. There is implicit in the love between Father, Son, and Spirit
a sense of covenant: a living definition of community whose
essence is love. Although they are not separate entities as human
beings are, requiring contracts to define vows and obligations, they
are nonetheless in relationship with one another. That relationship
itself constitutes a form of living covenant, a character of
relationship, the nature of which has been revealed to us in
Scripture (at least in part). The unity of love and purpose with the
Godhead resembles a covenant “written upon the heart” that is
lived out perfectly in love.30
We also know that love is the essence of God’s triune nature. This is why Jesus told his disciples
in John 13:34-35 (NRSV) 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as
I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one another." Even this verse reveals a covenantal relationship
between Jesus and his disciples. Yes, that includes you and me. As we love or fail to love one
another, we reveal our relationship with Jesus Christ. The highest expression of love for a man
and a woman is marriage. However, marriage is a triune covenantal relationship between God
and the husband, between God and the wife as well as between husband and wife. When we
look at God and his nature and his relationship with humanity we can constantly see three
phenomena: community, love and covenants. George Cladis says:
In Scripture we also discover that God desires to expand the loving
fellowship of the Trinity to include human beings. God did this
historically by establishing covenants with us. In these covenants,
God sought to establish a relationship to abolish the ancient enmity
between God and humanity and create a new sense of community.
These covenants historically defined the relationship between God
and a human community (for example Israel), established
acceptable ways of acting and behaving in covenantal love, created
a bond and affinity, and represented a sacred vow. Covenants
between God and us forged the basis for the relationships upon
which everything else was built.31
George Cladis, “Leading The Team-Based Church, How Pastors and Church Staffs Can Grow Together into a
Powerful Fellowship of Leaders”, Josey-Bass, a Wiley Imprint , San Francisco, 10.
31
Ibid., 10.
30
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The Purpose of Covenants:
The fourth reality of Experiencing God says: God Speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible,
Prayer, circumstances, and the Church to reveal Himself, His Purposes and His Ways. If we are
to be successful in life and in ministry we must not only do what God calls us to do but we must
do our work in the way God wants it done. God gives us covenants to help us live our lives in
community with others in ways that please and glorify Him, while giving us the joy, happiness
and fulfillment we need to have in order to enjoy life on this earth and have peace in our hearts.
Covenants bring order and clarity to our work, they set mutually agreed upon boundaries and
promote unity with one another and with God. Covenants help us focus on doing our work
God’s way and to God’s glory instead of any one person’s way or glory. Holy Spirit given and
honored covenants provide the extra that makes the sum of the parts greater than the total of the
individual parts. Our covenants should always be viewed as both vertical and horizontal
commitments. We commit ourselves to God and at the same time we commitment ourselves to
each other to do our very best for the glory of God, to love our co-workers and help them be the
very best they can be for the glory of God and the building of his Kingdom. I agree with Steven
W. Manskar when he says in his book, “Accountable Discipleship”
A covenant is a relationship initiated by God, signed and sealed by
God with the blood of God’s Son, to deliver humankind from the
power of sin and death. Discipleship is the human response to this
covenant of love, the unconditional love of God, incarnate in Jesus
Christ for humankind; and the love of human beings for God and
one another.…….Covenant is God’s way of being and acting in
relation to humankind. It is a relationship initiated by God for and
with human beings and human communities. An important
element of covenant is the making and keeping of promises. For
example, in the covenant with Abraham and Sara (Genesis 15),
God promised land (a place to call home), heirs (home with a
future), and a new identity (blessed to
be a
blessing)……..Abraham and Sarah’s part in the covenant was to
trust God and go, to follow. Anyone who has read their story
knows that Abraham and Sarah were not perfectly obedient
participants of the covenant. They made mistakes and missteps
along the way; but because of the covenant, God forgave them and
did not give up on them. And, because, God never gave up on
them, they did not give up on themselves. Because God was
faithful, they could become faithful. By their obedience to God
and the covenant, Abraham and Sarah became the father and
mother of many nations.32
By participating in covenant based Team Ministries individual members of FBC will have the
opportunity to learn and grown as Disciples of Jesus Christ through their interactions with one
another in structured ministries. Our Team Ministries will allow and encourage every member to
Steven W. Manskar, Accountable Discipleship, Living in God’s Household, Discipleship Resources, Nashville,
19.
32
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be all they can be for the glory of the Lord.
The Definition of a Covenanting Ministry Teams:
George Cladis gives us a new definition of Ministry Teams that we must embrace at First
Baptist. For we are covenant people and all our work within our ministries is already governed
by our Church Covenant that we renew every first Sunday. I fully agree with Dr. Cladis when he
says:
Ministry teams are communities that covenant in fellowship
together to live out the love of God. The members of these teams
covenant with one another to be in a relationship of God’ love and
to agree on their purpose and plans and the ways to move toward
their fulfillment. The covenant either written or verbal describes
and defines team member’s relationship as a ministry team. The
covenant describes how their love will be lived out both in their
own team community and in the communities of the congregation
and society. Ways and methods of doing ministry are defined and
agreed upon. The covenant forms the basis for their community.33
I further agree with Cladis about the benefits of Ministry Teams that operate under a mutually
developed and committed to covenants:
Ministry teams that covenant to be in community with one another
and have a central purpose are a powerful unit of ministry. Their
power comes not from themselves but from the Spirit, who acts to
create their community, give them a sharp vision for ministry, and
binds them to one another. Although team covenants may specify
what constitute good working relationships, the goal of the
covenant is not to create tight boxes for conformity. Rather the
covenant gives order to passion and sets forth loving and honorable
ways to be in relationship with one another. Paradoxically, the
covenant gives freedom to explore and discover while at the same
time it binds people in love to a common agreement that defines
loving relationships.
The Team Covenant has several benefits for the ministry team. It
first of all illustrates the relationships of team members, one to
another, in positive loving, and nurturing terms. The goal to create
a small community founded upon the love and grace of God in
Jesus Christ. The covenant also can identify behaviors that work
against the image of perichoretic love, Gossip, hierarchical
thinking, (triangulation), withholding pertinent information and
other dysfunctional activities are brought up and recognized as a
threat to good community. A picture is painted in the covenant of
persons committed both to serving God in mission and to working
33
Ibid. 11.
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at their own sense of community, which can either enhance that
mission or sabotage it. The covenant is a powerful tool for
creating a setting of love that the team members hold each
accountable for upholding. To go against the covenant is not to go
against the principal leader (for example the pastor) but to sabotage
the effort of the whole team.34
I would like to point out that a long standing tradition in the Methodist church has been to have
what they call Covenant Discipleship Groups. In their tradition these are groups of Christians
who meet together and form a covenant simply to hold one another accountable for living the
Christian life as faithful Disciples of Jesus Christ. The old saying power corrupts and absolute
power corrupts absolutely is absolutely true. By being accountable to others you negate the
corruption of power and absolute power. Every one needs to be accountable to someone for how
they meet and handle their responsibilities. Out of accountability comes the balance, perspective
and introspection required to deal with the enticement and deceptions of the enemy who seeks to
destroy. In his book “Covenant Discipleship, Christian Formation through Mutual
Accountability: David L. Watson answers the question, “What can I expect to happen in a
covenant discipleship group?” I list the following three experiences:
1.
You will become more aware of God’s grace in your life.
2.
You will find new ways of serving God and your neighbor
in the world.
3.
You will find your understanding of God’s will in your life
greatly enhanced. 35
Watson goes further to say:
As you give an account of how you have tried to walk with Christ,
you will help everyone in the group with their discipleship, and
they will help you with yours. Together you will arrive at a level
of responsiveness to grace which none of you would have acquired
on your own. Indeed, there is no better summary of the nature and
purpose of a covenant disciples group than this. It opens us up to
grace.
Writing the Team Ministry Covenant
As you work together to prepare your written Team Covenant remember the most important
thing is to be faithful to God and one another for the implementation of your Purpose and goals.
You can be as creative and innovative as possible. Your covenant should include your written
Team Ministry Purpose statement and your implementation plan. Your Team Ministry Purpose
Statement informs everyone about your purpose and goals, your implementation plan identifies
the work that has to be done and the responsible persons. By including your Purpose Statement
in your covenant you make sure that everyone on the Team is informed and in agreement to the
George Cladis, “Leading The Team-Based Church, How Pastors and Church Staffs Can Grow Together into a
Powerful Fellowship of Leaders”, Josey-Bass, a Wiley Imprint , San Francisco, 11.
34
David Louis Watson, “Covenant Discipleship, Christian Formation through Mutual Accountability”, Wipf and
Stock Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 109-112.
35
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assignments, responsibilities and timelines required to achieve the Team’s goals and realize its
purpose. Your Team Covenant should state the agreed upon time requirements for participation
on the team. The expected activities of each member should be included. Listing the available
resources and identifying needed resources in the covenant can be very useful in ensuring
everyone knows and understands what has to be done for the team to achieve its purpose and
goals. In preparing your covenant you should define how team members will communicate with
each other, with the Pastor, congregation and world. This would include a common
understanding of the finer points of Robust Conversation. Specify how you will measure and
communicate your progress as a team toward the realization of the team’s purpose and goals.
Define the frequency and type of measurements and communications you want to use. When
you include your statement of purpose and implementation plans you will have included your
measurements and deadlines. If necessary your covenant might include specific statements that
identify what the team has authority to do. Your covenant should list each team member and be
signed by each team member.
Summary
It is my prayer that you embrace covenants for the gift they are from God to guide our work
together for the glory of God. When we covenant to love one another, trust one another, have
robust conversations, make commitments to God and each other, hold each other accountable,
and achieve great results for the glory of God, great things will happen! It is my heartfelt belief
that the following statement is true and will be true of our FBC Team Ministries: “Having a
Great Purpose and Great Goals will motivate Great Effort and produce Great Results by Great
People.”
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Module 10
Covenant Relationships the Heart of Effective Team Ministries
Group Exercises
Exercise 1 VOWS
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
What does God say about our promises?
BIBLE READING: Leviticus 5:4-6
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If they make a rash vow of any kind, whether its purpose is for good or
bad, they will be considered guilty even if they were not fully aware of what they were doing at
the time. (Leviticus 5:4)
God expects us to take our promises very seriously. Have you ever sworn to do or not do
something and then realized how foolish your promise was? God's people are called to keep their
word, even if they make promises that are tough to keep. Jesus was warning against swearing (in
the sense of making vows or oaths) when he said, "Just say a simple 'Yes, I will' or 'No, I won't' "
(Matthew 5:37). Our word should be enough. If we feel we have to strengthen it with an oath,
something is wrong. The only promises we ought not to keep are promises that lead to sin. A
wise and self-controlled person avoids making rash promises.
BIBLE READING: Proverbs 20:25
KEY BIBLE VERSE: It is dangerous to make a rash promise to God before counting the cost.
(Proverbs 20:25)
God takes our promises seriously and will hold us to them. This proverb points out the evil of
making a vow rashly and then reconsidering it. God takes vows seriously and requires that they
be carried out (Deut. 23:21-23). We often have good intentions when making a vow—we want to
show God that we are determined to please him. Jesus, however, says it is better not to make
promises to God because he knows how difficult they are to keep (Matthew 5:33-37). If you still
feel it is important to make a vow, make sure that you weigh the consequences of breaking that
vow. (In Judges 11, Jephthah made a rash promise to sacrifice the first thing he saw on his return
home. As it happened, he saw his daughter first.) It is better not to make promises than to make
them and then later want to change them. It is better still to count the cost beforehand and then to
fulfill them.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 5:33-37
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Just say a simple, "Yes, I will," or "No, I won't." Your word is enough.
To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong. (Matthew 5:37)
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Jesus emphasized the importance of keeping our word. People were breaking promises and using
sacred language casually and carelessly. Keeping oaths and promises is important; it builds trust
and makes committed human relationships possible. The Bible condemns making vows or taking
oaths casually, giving your word while knowing that you won't keep it, or swearing falsely in
God's name (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:1-2; Deut. 19:16-20). Oaths are needed
in certain situations only because we live in a sinful society that breeds distrust.
God expects us to be known as people who keep our word. Oaths, or vows, were common, but
Jesus told his followers not to use them—their word alone should be enough (see James 5:12).
Are you known as a person of your word? Truthfulness seems so rare that we feel we must end
our statements with "I promise." If we tell the truth all the time, we will have less pressure to
back up our words with an oath or promise.
Exercise 2 COVENANTS
From The Handbook of Biblical Application
What can we learn from God's covenants?
BIBLE READING: Genesis 9:1-17
KEY BIBLE VERSE: God said to Noah, "Yes, this is the sign of my covenant with all the
creatures of the earth." (Genesis 9:17)
God keeps his promises. Noah stepped out of the ark onto an earth devoid of human life. But
God gave him a reassuring promise. This covenant had three parts: (1) never again will a flood
do such destruction; (2) as long as the earth remains, the seasons will always come as expected;
(3) a rainbow will be visible when it rains as a sign to all that God will keep his promises. The
earth's order and seasons are still preserved, and rainbows still remind us of God's faithfulness to
his Word.
BIBLE READING: Genesis 12:1-9
KEY BIBLE VERSE: the Lord told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your
father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a
great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others."
(Genesis 12:1-2)
Many of God's covenants include us. When God called Abram, he moved out in faith from
Ur to Haran and finally to Canaan. God then established a covenant with Abram, telling him that
he would found a great nation. Not only would this nation be blessed, God said, but the other
nations of the earth would be blessed through Abram's descendants. Israel, the nation that would
come from Abram, was to follow God and influence those with whom it came in contact.
Through Abram's family tree, Jesus Christ was born to save humanity. Through Christ, people
can have a personal relationship with God and be blessed beyond measure.
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God's covenants require a personal response. God promised to bless Abram and make him
great, but there was one condition. Abram had to do what God wanted him to do. This meant
leaving his home and friends and traveling to a new land where God promised to build a great
nation from Abram's family. Abram obeyed, walking away from his home for God's promise of
even greater blessings in the future. God may be trying to lead you to a place of greater service
and usefulness for him. Don't let the comfort and security of your present position make you
miss out on God's plan for you.
BIBLE READING: Luke 22:7-23
KEY BIBLE VERSE: After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the
token of God's new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for
you." (Luke 22:20)
Jesus established a new covenant between us and God. In Old Testament times, God
agreed to forgive people's sins if they brought animals for the priests to sacrifice. When this
sacrificial system was inaugurated, the agreement between God and man was sealed with the
blood of animals (Exodus 24:8). But animal blood did not in itself remove sin (only God can
forgive sin), and animal sacrifices had to be repeated day by day and year after year. Jesus
instituted a "new covenant" or agreement between humans and God. Under this new covenant,
Jesus would die in the place of sinners. Unlike the blood of animals, his blood (because he is
God) would truly remove the sins of all who put their faith in him. And Jesus' sacrifice would
never have to be repeated; it would be good for all eternity (Hebrews 9:23-28). The prophets
looked forward to this new covenant that would fulfill the old sacrificial agreement (Jeremiah
31:31-34), and John the Baptist called Jesus "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the
world" (John 1:29).
BIBLE READING: Hebrews 8:1-13
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Our High Priest has been given a ministry that is far superior to the
ministry of those who serve under the old laws, for he is the one who guarantees for us a better
covenant with God, based on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)
God's new covenant in Christ offers us forgiveness. This passage contains a quotation from
Jeremiah 31:31-34 and compares the new covenant with the old. The old covenant was the
covenant of law between God and Israel. The new and better way is the covenant of grace—
Christ's offer to forgive our sins and bring us to God through his sacrificial death. This covenant
is new in extent—it goes beyond Israel and Judah to all the Gentile nations. It is new in
application because it is written in our hearts and minds. It offers a new way to forgiveness, not
through animal sacrifice, but through faith. Have you entered into this new covenant and begun
walking in the better way?
Notes
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