Do you want people to follow God’s design for the Church to function interdependently, like a team? As leaders, our own attitudes and actions make a difference in that happening. We can steer the Church toward that kind of Body Life by being an example of a team player.
How Church Leaders Provide an Example of Being a Team Player
To be clear, being a leader doesn’t qualify us as an example to others. Rather, we can only say, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). When it comes to being a team player, look at Jesus’ example. As we model His attitudes and actions, we will be a team player.
1) Exhibit the attitudes of a team player.
Jesus could have stood aloof from others. He was God Almighty come in the flesh.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage … (Phil. 2:5-6)
Rather than distance Himself, He engaged with people and served them. He invited them to participate in His work because He didn’t take on a lone ranger or superior mentality.
- Do others see this kind of attitude flowing through you? To exhibit the attitudes of a team player, you must “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Phil. 2:3-4).
If you want to exhibit the attitudes of a team player, then “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Prov. 4:23)
2) Demonstrate through actions what it looks like to function as a team.
Because Jesus had the attitude of a servant, He lived the life of a servant for “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve …” (Mk. 10:45). He made it clear to the disciples that throwing around their authority and trying to control situations, wasn’t His way (Mk. 10:42-44). Jesus simply lived it but He also purposefully showed the disciples how to put others above themselves by washing their feet. He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (Jn. 13:5-17)
- Do others see you as more of a controller or a fellow servant? To demonstrate through actions what it means to be a team player, you must not merely look “to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Phil. 2:4).
If you want to demonstrate teamwork, then you must purposefully be a part of the team, knowing that the Body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16).
For More on These Topics:
All Posts about Team Building:
- Essential Team Building Components
- Team Building by Aligning with God’s Purposes
- Team Building by Functioning Interdependently
- Team Building by Exercising Christ-like Character
- Team Building Leads to being on Mission Together
- Team Building Pulling on God’s Power
- Power to Function as a Team Because of the Gospel
- The Difference God’s Power Makes in Functioning as a Team
- Power to Function as a Team Because of Grace
- Power to Function as a Team Because of the Holy Spirit
- Power to Function as a Team When Praying Together
- Power to Function as a Team Because of Spiritual Gifts
- Perspective to Function as a Team
- A Reliable Means of Equipping Us for Teamwork
- Biblical Principles for Functioning as a Team
- Be an Example of a Team Player
- Rise Above Dysfunctional Team Issues
- Power in His Name to Function as a Team