Teamwork, Soccer, and the Church

Last Sunday, I had a great afternoon playing soccer on a team with our boys.  I was so impressed by how well they worked together as a team.  How they passed the balls and recognized the skill of other kids who had a greater ability to score.  But other times they passed to those who needed help learning to play and sharing the ball even knowing the kid receiving the pass would not have the ability to keep it. Sometimes they even passed it to me and soccer it not one of my strengths.

                Teamwork in ministry is so important because we have many people with many different gifts and at different parts of their walk.  Sometimes we are tempted to do everything by ourselves because we do not know we can trust others or if others are ready to be given a chance.  It is Just like when I saw the older boys pass the ball off to younger, newer, and less skilled players.  Inwardly my competitive side did not want to see the younger kids given the ball.  But, I know for the game to continue to be fun and competitive these boys need to get their time to practice and develop.  In the end we had a great game everybody had lots of fun and my team still won (probably not because of my contribution)!  I bet the next game will better and I will be better because I was given a chance.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

                This scripture and this ideas is one of my favorite subjects from the New Testament; the Church Body and us working together to accomplish God's plans.  I like how the model that God gave us for the Church is one of interdependence.  As a mission ministry we can benefit from these same part of the body that Paul talks about.  It is exciting for me to get to know all the people I work with and see how they fit to make our ministry stronger and better.  I am better too when I recognize where my gifting and skills end and other need to fill in my weaknesses.  And I also need to give others a chance to put there gift to work and watch their skills develop. 

I pray… God help me recognize my strengths and gifts and help me to serve, but also help me recognize my weakness and the strengths in others so we can serve better together.  Lord give me the desire to pass off ministry when I lack the skill to continue forward and to those who need to fully develop in to the body part you have for them.  Help us to work the best together to accomplish the ministry you have laid out for us to accomplish.  AMEN

Celebrating Adam 8th birthday in our new home in Honduras!