aim
To understand that a team is not the same as a group. To identify ways of developing the community so that it is not a group of individuals but a team of individuals who have common goals and support one another in seeing these realized.
welcome
Divide the group into two teams, each standing in a line. Give both front people an orange, which has to be passed down the line using only chin and neck. See which team wins.
worship
We know that God exists as the Trinity – 3 persons in 1. This is a team, a community. Thank God for His breadth, depth, all-sufficiency. Even though we don’t fully understand how the Trinity works, we can still be amazed by the person that God is. Thank God for the way in which he works with us and how He has allowed us to be part of his team.
word
read
The story of the defeat of the Amalekites in Exodus 17
think individually about this illustration of Moses, Aaron and Hur working together.
brainstorm
Why have a team? Make a list of why teamwork is so important for our small group . Get the group to feedback, going around the room, saying one benefit of teamwork until you have said them all aloud.
application
God has wired different people differently. Some people look at situations from a very different standpoint to others. We need to learn that this apparent paradox or conflict is not a bad thing but is an integral part of being in a body – many parts working together with different functions. They are all vital and necessary.
read
1 Corinthians 12:7-31, Ephesians 4:11-13, Romans 12:4-8
Give everybody a piece of paper. Without writing their names on the paper, ask everybody to write on their paper three of their strengths [on the left side] and three of their weaknesses [on the right side] and then to put the paper in the middle. Making sure that it is kept totally anonymous read out what strengths and weaknesses people have written.
Ask people to guess who each sheet is describing. It will be apparent that, as a group, we complement each other, with different weaknesses being counterbalanced by other’s strengths. As the leader, keep the section moving forward and highlight the fact that the diversity of the group is a real strength.
Over a period of time, the small group develops into a team, with common goals and an understanding of who we are, how we tick and what we can contribute.
consider
There are 5 friends of teamwork. COMMITMENT, HARMONY, TRUST, FRIENDSHIP and HONOUR.
There are enemies of teamwork. These are DIVISION, COMPETITION AND INDEPENDENCE.
Ask the group to think about how they can develop the 5 friends of teamwork and avoid the enemies. When people have had time to think, ask people to shout out ways of doing this. Don’t forget to include people who don’t usually say anything by asking if they would like to say anything. If you feel that people are not being honest or that there is a sense of conflicting views, ask others into the discussion to get the group to own the process.
pray
Decide now that you will work together as a team. Give each other permission to say when this is not happening and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help you.
witness
Last week we talked about extending our networks and getting to know one another’s friends. Did you do what you planned to do? How did it go? Pray for the different people who you met, that God would strengthen your friendship and work in their lives.
