5 "Abilities" for a Successful Team

Many of us have been glued to the Olympics over the past couple of weeks as the 2016 Olympics were in Rio and many are looking forward to the Paralympics starting on September 7.   Undoubtedly this has many people think about teams and team work. Not only in the sports world but in the religious world and the business world. When we examine the characteristics of great teams we see that most are made up of persons who have outstanding ability. They possess the qualities, characteristics, personality, and the skill to succeed in achieving the goals set before them. Many times ability seems to be enough, but in true teamwork we see that it takes several other “abilities” to make for a great team.

Besides ability here are 5 other “abilities” needed to be a successful team.

1) Stability – every team member needs to possess the ability not to be rattled. To be able to stand strong and endure when adversity comes. No matter what team you are on whether it is a sports team or a church ministry team, there will be times of strife, times of adversity, times that you need to stand strong in the midst of circumstances.

2) Accountability – each team member must be accountable for their own actions and reactions as well as being a productive member of the team. As a team member you must not point your fingers at others when things don’t go accordingly. If you are at fault you need not make excuses, blame others, or deny your actions. You must step up and be accountable for the team and to the team.

3) Teach-ability – No matter who you are or how much education you have or how old you are; everyone has something to learn.  A team breaks down or loses it way when persons believe that they know it all. The day that you have no more to learn is the day that you breathe your last breath on planet earth. Even Hall of Famers have something to learn from others.

4) Function-ability – Every person on the team has a role to fulfill. Not every team member can be the superstar or take the winning shot. But in order for the winning shot to be taken others have function effectively. One of the most iconic basketball highlights is Michael Jordon taking the game (and series) winning shot over Craig Ehlo. We remember that Jordon was doubled teamed, but does anyone remember Brad Sellers? He is the one who made the inbound pass to Jordon. Without Sellers doing his job there is no shot to be taken. With every player doing their job history was made.

5) Humility – Every team member must never think of themselves more highly than anyone else on the team. Great teams have superstars who view themselves no better than the last person on the roster. Great teams don’t seek fame and fortune instead they seek to be the best that they can be and strive to always be improving.

Mere ability can at times propel a team to its goal, but many times mere ability is not enough. It takes a combination of the all the above mentioned abilities to allow a team to operate at its highest level. 

Discover Your Story Part 4

The fourth in a series focusing on how God is the Master Storyteller and is creating an epic story with your life. The first lesson is based on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

Discover Your Story Part 3

The third in a series focusing on how God is the Master Storyteller and is creating an epic story with your life. The first lesson is based on Jeremiah 29:11.

Discover Your Story Part 2

The second in a series focusing on how God is the Master Storyteller and is creating an epic story with your life. The first lesson is based on I Corinthians 6:9-11. 

Discover Your Story Part 1

The first in a series focusing on how God is the Master Storyteller and is creating an epic story with your life. The first lesson is based on Psalm 139.

5 Spiritual Termites

One of my guilty pleasures is watching home fixer shows such as Flip or Flop, Fixer Upper, Flipping Vegas, Flipping Boston, etc. On these show the experts purchase homes which are not in the best of shape and “flip” them, they make repairs and renovations to the house. In watching these shows I have learned that the most destructive things are the things that you cannot see. The worst of which is termites. Those little bitty seemingly harmless looking little creatures who can and will do great damage if left untreated. One colony of termites can eat away at the wood in a house to the point that the house can literally collapse.

When we examine the church there are spiritual termites which many times effect, or better yet infect, our spiritual houses. These “termites” are unseen and tend to manifest behind the scenes and when left untreated they destroy a spiritual foundation. Here are 5 major spiritual termites that I have encountered in ministry:

1.           Lack of Prayer – James 5:16 “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and   produces wonderful results.” When we forget or neglect to communicate on a regular basis with God through prayer we begin to think more highly of ourselves than we should. We begin to believe that we are a superior person, we replace Christ with me.
2.             Gossip – Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Far too often church members are more inclined to talk about someone else instead of talking too that person.
3.        Half-truths – Genesis 3:5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Satan tricked Eve into believing something that was half true. Telling just enough truth that she believed him. Far too often we tell just enough of the truth to get what we want in church, but a half truth is a full lie.
4.             False Trust – Proverbs 3:5-6 “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 show you which path to take.” The person many people trust the most is themselves. They falsely believe that they know what is best for their lives and the church. Instead of trusting God in all, including that those He placed in leadership are seeking Him, they rely on their limited human wisdom.
5.            Pride – Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” Pride is the belief that I am superior to you in EVERY way. It is pride that fuels the lust for power and belief that what I want and/or what I desire is what is owed me. I should get my way every time I want it.

The treatment for spiritual termites is found in Philippians 2:5-11” You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

AMEN and AMEN