All the tasks listed in the leadership skills section at TrainChurchLeaders.com have the potential of making us more effective leaders. I’m not sure I can identify the top, most needed, skill but team building ranks high on the list. God clearly indicates His intent for us to function as a team when He refers to the Church as a Body (1 Cor. 12). Certainly team building should be a primary role for leaders in the Church as a whole and among staff.
What Components are Essential to Team Building:
We could look at a number of Scripture passages to help us learn how to do that, but for now we’ll focus on Philippians 2. Upcoming posts will look at these lessons:
1) Teams need to align with God’s purposes. Unity is much more likely when it’s based on a high enough purpose, not just a task or project.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (Phil. 2:1-2)
2) Building a team requires learning to function interdependently. Bringing personal agendas to the table hampers teamwork. We need to be in this together which means we sometimes lay aside our own opinions for the good of the whole.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Phil. 2:3-4)
3) Teams must exercise Christ-like character toward one another. His humility and servanthood in us will enable us to serve effectively together even when we disagree with one another.
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; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Phil. 2:5-7)
When we build teams that align with God’s purposes, function interdependently, and display God’s heart through Christ-like character toward one another, then we’re ready to go on mission together.
For More on Teams:
- Christ-like Boards, Committees, Ministry Teams: Team-Oriented
- Qualities Needed in Team Members
- Responsibilities of Team Leaders
- Turning Team Leaders into Team Builders
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
these are the beautiful notes that keep me motivated while I’m part of the church committee. Awesome and very helpful for more understanding of God’s Word. i will purchased some notes.
How wonderful that this spurs you on, Josie, as you serve as part of a church committee. I pray you and other members of the team function in accordance with these biblical essentials.