Team Spirit (2)

I don’t know about you but our school had horrible team spirit even though we were awesome in football, so in our senior year, a group of us Seniors decided to take matters into our own hands. Each week we would introduce a new cheer to the school in pep rallies. Imagine, a group of 50 to 75 seniors standing and chanting something like… “Up my leg, down my spine, West Rome West Rome you are fine” or “Cadillac Cadillac Chevrolet, West Rome West Rome all the way”. One cheer almost kept our class from graduating, but it got to where the whole school was looking to us for a new cheer and it created a great school or team spirit. This team spirit rubbed off on our teams as they did very good in football and basketball that year.

And Team Spirit is important in every area of life.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 NLT

9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

These verses tell us about the importance of teamwork and team spirit. It really doesn’t matter what it is, we always will do better with someone working with us than trying to work alone.

Have you ever worked on a project at home alone? I have never found that it went as quickly or as effectively when I worked without a partner. Something about team-work makes things go better. Jesus even sent people out two by two.

To get the most of out of life, we have to learn the importance of being a part of team, and team-work.

We were never intended to be alone. When God said it wasn’t good for people to be alone, it wasn’t just for marriage. We are created to work together and to be a part of something bigger than we are by ourselves.

School students, Sports players, Workforce employees and employers and Family members all need the support of a “team.”

It doesn’t matter how good of a quarterback we have if the rest of the team is terrible. It takes every member of the offense to drive the ball and score. It takes every member of the defense to stop the other team.

Christians need to learn the importance of being a part of a team and team-work

Romans 12:4–5 NLT

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

Every Christian is given gifts to use and we are all part of the same family… the family of God. God has work for all of us to do even if it’s different.

Some people don’t want to serve where they have to speak… some do.

If Worship Team doesn’t connect us in worship to the Lord, it doesn’t matter how good of a sermon I preach.

If River Kids isn’t staff, your kids would not be learning about Jesus.

If the Greeters are not welcoming you, you may decide not to come back.

We are all parts of the same body.

If you don’t have a team around you, like a Life Group, it is much easier to fall or to fail in your walk with the Lord than not, because you have no support or accountability. Listen to Solomon…

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Question – “What should we do to be good ‘team players’ on God’s Team?”

Being a good team player on God’s team requires joining a church family.

Acts 2:42 CEV

42 They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.

Romans 12:10 GW

10 Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.

Ephesians 2:19 LBP

19 Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.

1 Timothy 3:14–15 NCV

14 Although I hope I can come to you soon, I am writing these things to you now. 15 Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.

Those verses tell us that the Christian life is not just a matter of believing. It is matter of belonging, and you and I must chose to belong to a local church if going to experience true fellowship in our lives.

Fellowship begins with belonging, with making that choice to be a part of a Church. God wants us to identify with His family… to be a part of His family. When you were born, you automatically became a part of the human race. But you have to choose to belong to the family of God, the church. It is a choice.

I hear some people say, “Well, I’m a Christian, but I don't want to belong to any church.” That doesn't make sense. The church is where you live out what it means to be a Christian.

That's like saying, “I’m a football player, but I don't want to be a part of any team.” It doesn't work.

That’s like saying, “I’m a tuba player, but I don't want to be a part of an orchestra.” A tuba player without an orchestra sounds pretty funny.

Like saying, “I’m a bee, but I don't want to be a part of a hive” –

Like a soldier without a platoon, a Christian without a church family is an orphan.

God meant us to be a part of a team / a family / His family.

The Christian life is about belonging as well as believing

Romans 12:5 NLT

5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

Once you make the decision to know & receive Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior, you belong to every other Christian. We are members together. Just like your hand is a member of your body, that's how tightly we're tied to each other.

Christians were always meant to be part of a church family.

It’s is only in America that we have these floating believers or church- hoppers, you know, people who go from church to church to church. One week, I’m a part of this church and the next week -- oh, they are doing something hot over here. And next week I’m over here...

If you want to grow and see God work in and through your life, you need to join a TEAM and become committed to a church family.

If you are floating from church to church, you are like a limb that’s un-attached to a tree. It will die and so will believers who are un-attached to a church family.

Jesus loves the church enough to die for it and we should have the same level of commitment and love for the church. Jesus call us his body.

Question: Why is it important to be involved in a church family?

We need to be in a church family because it identifies as Genuine believers

John 13:35 NLT

35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

You can’t show love for one another if you are not part of a team… part of the church. We show the world we belong to Jesus by loving each other and that can only be done if you are in a church.

We need to be in a church family because it moves us out of self-centered isolation

1 John 3:16 NLT

16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

The Christian life is not a lone ranger life. It’s not one where we are to stay to ourselves… it’s the opposite. Jesus wants us to go...

We need to be in a church family because it develops our spiritual muscles

Ephesians 4:16 NLT

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

You will never grow strong in the Lord unless you get involved in serving the Lord in something. I helped out in Children’s church for 9 years at a church… it helped me more than it did them. I taught a Sunday School class even though I did not feel like I was up to it… worth enough…

I grew by leaps and bounds during that period…

We need to be in a church family because it keeps us from backsliding

Hebrews 3:13 NLT

13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

We all need peopel who will help keep us on the right path.

We need to be in a church family because it helps us find and fulfill our life purpose

Romans 12:4–5 M:BCL

4 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. 5 The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body,

There are lots of good reasons to belong to and be committed to a church.

Being a good team player on God’s Team requires sharing our lives with other Christians

Acts 2:44 LBP

44 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other,

They met together and shared. Those two things have to take place if you are going to build deep friendships in life. You can’t develop friends without meeting together and you can’t develop friends without sharing.

Do you ever see a deep friendship and think, “That’s so cool!” and you’re a little envious? Sometimes we go, “Aren’t they lucky?” The truth is they’re not lucky at all. They made a choice. The only way you make good friends is by making time to make good friends. The reason so many people are lonely is because they’re not willing to put out the time it takes to build relationships.

You can begin today. Find someone you don’t normally go eat with and go eat with them. Unless you are a Kids volunteer… we are meeting right after church.

Secondly, you have to learn to share. We all have to learn to share. One of the things you try to teach your children is how to share.

One big brownie left – Oldest son had hand on brownie – Mother trying to teach him a lesson – “What would Jesus do?” “Jesus would multiply this brownie into 5000 more so everyone could have all of the brownies they wanted.”

Every child has to learn how to share. And when you grow up spiritually, God says you are mature when you have learned to share. You share with others in the family of the Lord.

God wants you and me to learn to be on a team. You may ask,

What am I supposed to share?

All Christians need to share their experience with other Christians.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “A wise man leans from experiences, but a wiser man learns from other people’s experience.” It’s a lot less painful too. Learning by trial and error is a very difficult way to live and if you have to learn everything in life by personally experiencing it, by the time you learn everything you’ll be dead.

The fast track to maturity is learning from other people’s experiences. That’s why the Bible says get together with other believers and share your experiences. Your faith will help me and my faith will help you. And if we get together we’ll learn from each other.

While it’s wise to learn from our own experiences, it’s even wiser to learn from other people’s experience.

Christians need to share their homes with other Christians

1 Peter 4:9 NCV

9 Open your homes to each other, without complaining.

Not just if you have a nice one.

Joke - Older man on operating table awaiting emergency surgery – Only going to let my son-in-law, who is a physician operate on me. “Must have a lot of confidence in . . . “ – Son-in-law – “Not so skilled at this procedure, why do you want me to . . .” – “Don’t be nervous, do your best, and just remember – if it doesn’t go well / if something happens to me, your mother-in-law is going to come live with you and our daughter.”

I’m not talking about having someone move in, just having them over for visit. It’s easier to build relationships with a small group rather than a big group. One way we do that is every Wednesday while we sit around tables and eat together.

Christians need to share their talents with other Christians

1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

The Lord wants to all to be involved in encouraging and helping others with our gifts, talents and abilities

Have you ever tried to do a project by yourself? It’s always easier if you have someone with you.

In this service. Greeters greeted you and opened the door and if you needed them, gave you directions. Someone made the coffee you were offered and someone got the donuts you ate. The tech crew is making it so you can see the slides and hear my voice and watch online. Ushers help you find a seat. Kids Workers are telling your children about Jesus.

Teamwork makes the dreamwork.

Romans 12:4–5 NLT

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

It takes us all.

Christians need to share their problems with other Christians

Galatians 6:2 NLT

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Some of you are thinking that’s why I don’t want to go to a group. Listen, we are not meant to face life’s problems alone. God never intended us to do that. he made us for community… for fellowship.

When you share a joy, it’s doubled. When you share a problem, it’s cut in half.

You don’t have to fix everyone’s problem. God just says to share or listen. He will do the fixing. We are to lend a listening ear… to pray and encourage.

Hebrews 10:25 GNB

25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

We need to be in the habit of meeting together.

James 1:5 M:BCL

5 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.

True fellowship occurs when people experience authenticity, mutuality, sympathy, honesty, humility, courtesy and confidentiality with one other (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life).

We want everyone to share their lives with someone.

Hebrews 10:25 GNB

25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

Romans 12:10 NLT

10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

What keeps me from sharing life together with other believers like the Bible teaches that I should do?

I have never stood by someone who is dying and heard them ask for their portfolio / phone / calendar / awards… They always want someone they love and who loves them to be there – that’s what’s important. They want their family…

One day you will discover that what really matters most in life isn’t accomplishments, but relationships. You will figure out that what really matters is lovign God and loving people. I hope that you will figure that out today.

We all need to be actively involved on “God’s Team” because team relationships and accomplishments are more important and satisfying than individual accomplishments.

Let me ask you several questions.

Do you have a church family that you are committed to, and one that is committed to you?

Are you ready to quit floating around from church to church being an attender and not a member?

You need to say, “ I’m going to put down some roots, join a church, get baptized, get involved. I’m going to be a Belonger as well as a Believer.

2. Are you a member of the family of God?

You say, Isn’t everybody a part? No. Everybody is created by God but not everybody’s a child of God. You have to choose to be a part of God’s family. It’s not automatic. You have to choose to be a part. And God has given us one condition.

Before we can join God’s “team,” we have to become a member of God’s “family.”

Look at this last verse…

Galatians 3:26 NLT

26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Pray -

Salvation

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