In Ecclesiastes 4, Solomon highlights the value of working with a team.
“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.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Consider these four benefits of having a team.
1. A team helps you move further faster
You’re passionate about your church plant so it can be difficult to allow others to “touch” the vision. You might be surrounded by a good group yet not function as a team. If you’re the one making all the decisions, and casting all the vision then you don’t have a true team. An unwillingness to empower others with authority could be the very thing that slows you down.
You must discipline yourself to empower others to lead aspects of the vision.
One planter I’ve had the privilege of working with had a small team he began to gather and share a vision for planting a new church. He spent several weeks teaching them to live on mission. He helped them identify their sphere of influence then led them to pray for their friends, engage in deeper relationships and initiate spiritual conversations. Over the next year, this small team grew to over 100 people. Because he empowered his team, he was able to reach more people faster than he could’ve done on his own.
You must discipline yourself to empower others to lead aspects of the vision.
2. A team creates an environment of learning and continual improvement
No leader wants to fail in the process of planting a church. But mistakes are inevitable. You and your team will make mistakes along the way. But having a team around you helps you process the mistakes, and get better because of them.
In my church plant, I would gather my key leaders every two weeks for a team meeting. The primary focus of these meetings were to ensure we were staying on mission and determine next steps. We would discuss questions such as:
• Are we accomplishing our mission?
• What’s going well?
• What could be improved?
• What are our obstacles?
• What are our next steps?
You and your team will make mistakes along the way. But having a team around you helps you process the mistakes, and get better because of them.
3. A team keeps you encouraged
Leading without a team of people you love and trust can be very lonely. I’ve watched many church planters move forward fast with an inspiring vision but no team. As a result, they find themselves burned out. But when we position people in areas of their strengths they will find themselves more fruitful and fulfilled.
Being surrounded by a team frees you up to use your primary gifts and gives you the energy to cast a passionate vision for the church.
I received a call one day from an energetic church planter who was discouraged. His two-year-old church plant was small and not growing as he anticipated. I discovered he was preaching every Sunday, leading worship, leading the set up, and leading the greeting prior to the service. He had a group of people, but not a team. The lack of team was eating away at his emotional, physical and spiritual energy. We identified key leaders he could empower to lead some of these areas.
Being surrounded by a team frees you up to use your primary gifts and gives you the energy to cast a passionate vision for the church.
4. A team strengthens you in times of spiritual warfare
At the core, church planting is first and foremost a spiritual process. Church planting and spiritual warfare go hand in hand; expect it. Will your team be unified and ready when spiritual warfare comes?
Surround yourself with a team of faith-filled people that can fight the good fight with you and you will stand strong against the opposition.
Solomon explained in Ecclesiastes 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Surround yourself with a team of faith-filled people that can fight the good fight with you and you will stand strong against the opposition.
Published September 21, 2015
