Unity in Christ: The Power of Teamwork
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor reflecting on a recent event where different churches came together to spread the message of Jesus. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork and unity among believers, and the significance of every individual's role in the team. He encourages the congregation to find their identity in Jesus and to align their goals with God's Kingdom. The pastor also invites those who are not followers of Jesus to seek understanding and engage in conversation.
The pastor then discusses the importance of using our gifts and strengths to help others and be part of God's work. He refers to Ephesians chapter 4, which encourages believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, with humility, gentleness, patience, and love. The pastor emphasizes the unity of the body of Christ and the diversity of gifts within the congregation. He uses the analogy of a body, where every part is essential and works together in unison.
The sermon continues with the pastor emphasizing the importance of teamwork within the church community. He gives examples of teamwork in action, such as the collaboration in the Kids Rock ministry and the hospitality team creating an environment where people can experience God. The pastor also highlights the recent example of teamwork during a send relief event, where volunteers from different churches came together to serve the community in the name of Jesus.
The pastor then discusses the concept of discipleship and the Great Commission given by Jesus. He explains that a disciple is someone who worships Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, learns to obey Jesus, and teaches others to do the same. The pastor emphasizes that this task of making disciples is bigger than themselves and requires the power of God. He also mentions that teaching is done as a team, centered on the Word of God.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of teamwork and not trying to do everything alone. He recounts the story of Moses and his father-in-law in Exodus 18, where Moses was advised to delegate tasks to capable and trustworthy individuals. The pastor connects this concept to the ministry of Jesus, who assembled a team of disciples with diverse skills and backgrounds. He concludes by referencing Jesus' prayer in John 17, where he prays for unity among his followers, reflecting the unity within the Godhead and demonstrating the power of teamwork to the world.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of teamwork in spreading the message of Jesus and making disciples. Every individual's role in the team is significant, and everyone is called to participate and find their identity in Jesus. ([12:45])
- The pastor encourages believers to use their gifts and strengths to help others and be part of God's work. He emphasizes the unity of the body of Christ and the diversity of gifts within the congregation. ([24:30])
- The pastor explains the concept of discipleship and the Great Commission given by Jesus. A disciple is someone who worships Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, learns to obey Jesus, and teaches others to do the same. ([36:15])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of teamwork and not trying to do everything alone. He recounts the story of Moses and his father-in-law in Exodus 18, where Moses was advised to delegate tasks to capable and trustworthy individuals. ([48:20])
- The pastor connects the concept of teamwork to the ministry of Jesus, who assembled a team of disciples with diverse skills and backgrounds. Jesus' prayer in John 17 for unity among his followers reflects the unity within the Godhead and demonstrates the power of teamwork to the world. ([59:10])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
2. Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
3. Ephesians 4:1-6, 15-16: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all... Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the benefits of teamwork as described in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12?
2. What are the instructions given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20?
3. How does Ephesians 4:1-6, 15-16 describe the unity and diversity within the body of Christ?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of teamwork in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 apply to the church community?
2. What does it mean to make disciples of all nations as instructed in Matthew 28:19-20?
3. How can the principles of unity and diversity in Ephesians 4:1-6, 15-16 be applied within the church?
Application Questions:
1. How can you contribute to the teamwork within your church community, using your unique gifts and strengths?
2. What is one specific way you can participate in the Great Commission of making disciples this week?
3. Can you identify a situation in your life where you tried to do everything alone? How could you have invited others to share the load?
4. Think of a person in your church community who has a different gift or strength than you. How can you collaborate with them in a ministry or service project?
5. Reflect on your role within the body of Christ. How can you better fulfill your role to promote unity and growth?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Teamwork in Christ's Mission
Every believer has a significant role in spreading the message of Jesus and making disciples. This is not a solitary task but a team effort, where each individual's unique abilities and strengths are utilized for the Kingdom of God. It is a call to find one's identity in Jesus and align personal goals with His. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUR2LuVqHs&t=750s))
1 Corinthians 12:27 - "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the team effort of spreading the message of Jesus today? Identify one specific way you can use your unique abilities for God's Kingdom.
Day 2: Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ
Believers are encouraged to use their gifts and strengths to help others and be part of God's work. The body of Christ is unified yet diverse, with each member contributing their unique gifts to the congregation. This unity in diversity is a powerful testament to the love and grace of God. ([24:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUR2LuVqHs&t=1455s))
Romans 12:4-5 - "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
Reflection: What are your unique gifts and how can you use them to serve others in your church community today?
Day 3: The Call to Discipleship
A disciple is someone who worships Jesus, is being changed by Him, learns to obey Him, and teaches others to do the same. This task of making disciples is a divine commission that requires the power of God and is bigger than any individual. ([36:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUR2LuVqHs&t=2160s))
Matthew 28:19-20 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in the Great Commission today? Identify one person in your life whom you can start teaching about Jesus.
Day 4: The Power of Delegation
The story of Moses and his father-in-law in Exodus 18 teaches us the importance of delegation. Moses was advised to delegate tasks to capable and trustworthy individuals, a principle that is also seen in the ministry of Jesus. This teaches us not to try to do everything alone but to trust and empower others. ([48:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUR2LuVqHs&t=2885s))
Exodus 18:21 - "But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens."
Reflection: What tasks or responsibilities can you delegate to others today to better serve your community and further God's Kingdom?
Day 5: Unity Reflects the Godhead
Jesus' prayer in John 17 for unity among His followers reflects the unity within the Godhead. This unity is not only a testament to the divine nature of God but also demonstrates the power of teamwork to the world. The ministry of Jesus, who assembled a team of disciples with diverse skills and backgrounds, is a perfect example of this. ([59:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUR2LuVqHs&t=3535s))
John 17:21 - "That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity of your church community today? Identify one specific action you can take to promote unity among believers.
Quotes
1. "Teams go further faster every time." (source: [13:59])
2. "This teamwork doesn't just happen within our body but we team up with people like the table Ministry Pastor Benny, we team up with other churches, we constantly are in conversation with other pastors in town, we pray with them and we keep each other in the loop and we look for opportunities to serve in our city together." #!!34:23!!#
3. "A discipleship culture just doesn't happen through one person but through a community committed to knowing and following Jesus. It doesn't happen just within these walls of the church but through lives fully dedicated in the everyday of life to Jesus, that through our teamwork together and dependence on God through prayer, we would see the name of Jesus continued forward into new places." #!!34:23!!#
4. "Everybody on a good team knows that everyone matters, from the practice squad to the starters. Some championship teams will give the Super Bowl ring or the championship ring to those water boys, to every member that helped them get there, to the trainers. In the family of God, it's so important for you to realize that everyone matters, that we're all called to partake, that it's not for some and others to sit on the sideline." #!!35:42!!#
5. "If there was ever anyone that could do it all on his own, would it be Jesus...what he does is he assembles a team...they work together for the expansion of the Kingdom." #!!23:03!!#
6. "Jesus prays for his followers to have a Oneness and a Unity that would reflect the Oneness and the unity or the team that God is...that they may be all one just as you father are in me and I in you that they also may be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent." (John 17:21-24) #!!24:20!!#
7. "Teamwork is how the kingdom works. It's evident all throughout God's word." #!!32:37!!#
8. "It was 500 plus volunteers from 46 different churches who traveled from 10 different states to serve the hurting Community around us in the name of Jesus." #!!33:14!!#
9. "Speaking the truth and love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from which the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped when each part is working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
10. "A disciple is someone who worships Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, is learning to obey Jesus, and teaches others to do the same."
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