Throughout my pastoral experience, I have had the privilege of working as part of a series of teams. It is one of the challenges and joys of leading and serving in larger churches.
I have learned from my team members. I have been able to pour myself into the lives of others. It has been possible to multiply ministry impact. Without question, two are better than one and ten are better than two. Experience shows that 85% of a leader’s success comes through his team.
We are not called to do the work of the ministry alone. We are workers together, not only with God but with our brothers and sisters. We need to multiply our effectiveness and influence through the lives and ministries of others.
The apostle Paul knew this. He constantly surrounded himself with ministry associates, both men and women who strengthened and supported his work and stood by with him in difficult times. When Paul was in prison, he did not forget his friends and his friends did not forget him.
What can we learn about Paul’s concept of team dynamics and ministry from the people with whom he surrounded himself? He wrote about many of his friends in Colossians 4:7-15.
1. Treat fellow-workers with respect
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. (Colossians 4:7-8).
Paul called Tychicus “a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.”
I have cringed as I have watched the way some senior pastors and Christian executives have treated the people around them. They have used and abused people for their own convenience. The emotional distance between the team leader and the staff has been significant. I have discovered that narrowing this distance as much as possible is key to building team dynamics.
Tychicus was faithful and dependable. Paul could count on him. He is believed to be the person appointed to carry the offering to the poor in Jerusalem. He was entrusted to carry the letter to the Ephesians to various churches. Reliability is an essential quality for team members.
Tychicus was an encourager. “That he may encourage your hearts.” Every team needs an encourager, someone who can see the ray of light in a dark situation. The demands of the ministry can be discouraging at times. I hate having negative discouragers on a team.
2. Treat all people equally
He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. (Colossians 4:9).
Onesimus was a runaway slave who was going home. He had been restored and rehabilitated through the love and care of Paul. Paul did not refer to him as a former slave but as a “faithful and dear brother.” He is praised on a par with Tychicus. Paul had no social or class prejudice.
Perhaps it was Onesimus’ name that helped Paul see the value of Onesimus to the ministry, even though he had a limited education. Onesimus’ name means “profitable.” We don’t know if this was his real name or a nickname that described his personality.
Too often church leaders fail to see the value of someone to the ministry because he doesn’t have the right pedigree and background.
3. Value those who do more than expected
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) (Colossians 4:10).
We’re not told a lot about Aristarchus but one thing stands out. Aristarchus is the kind of man you want around you when you are in difficulty. He was with Paul when the people in Ephesus rioted in the Temple of Diana. He was so close to the action he was captured by the mob. He was with Paul when he set sail for Rome. Some believe that in order to board the ship, he actually sold himself as a slave in order to be with Paul. When Paul wrote to the Colossians, Aristarchus was in prison with Paul as a “fellow-prisoner.”
Paul built a team of people who were willing to go with him through the bad times as well as the good times.
4. Give people a second chance
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) (Colossians 4:10).
Mark had an interesting career with many twists and turns. He started with Paul and Barnabas but left them during their first missionary journey. He travelled with his relative Barnabas when Paul refused to take him.
But Paul came to the point where he was willing to give Mark a second chance. Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark and Paul referred to him as “my son.”
The style of Christian leaders should be marked by grace not legalism. We should be willing to restore as well as judge. While we must protect the integrity of the ministry, we should not be too quick to write people off for one mistake.
5. Surround yourself with all kinds of people
Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. (Colossians 4:11).
Of the people in this list of Paul’s friends, we know the least about Justus. Little is known of his background. We do know that when Paul received a cool welcome from the Jews in Rome, Justus was one of the few who did welcome him.
Paul’s team had all kinds of people. There were both Jews and Gentiles, Some were Roman citizens and some were not.
If everyone is just like us, we limit the diverse input we need. Justus was “a comfort” to Paul.
6. Build a prayer emphasis on your team
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. (Colossians 4:12-13).
Epaphras was from Colosse and may have been the leader or pastor of the church there. He was currently with Paul supporting him.
Epaphras was a man of prayer and Paul described him as “wrestling in prayer.” His praying was no simple ritual or repetition of clichés. He wrestled in prayer. He was intense in his prayers. He was passionate and focused in his praying.
Everyone on the team needs to pray. Every ministry team needs a prayer warrior, someone who knows how to pray with intensity and fervency until there are spiritual breakthroughs.
7. Allow associates to grow their ministries
Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. (Colossians 4:14).
Dr. Luke was on the team. Luke wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else. He was educated and a detailed investigator. He was a person of sound and wise judgment. He gave up his respected and possibly lucrative career to work with Paul.
Paul gathered strength around him. He was not intimidated by strength; he was enriched by it. He knew the stronger his team, the more help they would be to his ministry.
Never be afraid to have strong people join your team.
And don’t be afraid to let others shine. When Luke wrote his Gospel and then the Book of Acts, Paul did not want any credit. He was happy to have Luke get the recognition.
One of the great joys of the ministry for me is to see former staff members today in positions of great responsibility and leading their own vibrant ministry teams.
8. Try to prevent drop-outs
Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. (Colossians 4:14).
Demas is the only person in this group for whom Paul does not have any praise or commendation. Perhaps he saw what was happening. In the Book of Philemon, Paul described Demas as a fellow-laborer. Here in Colossians, he just says that Demas sends greetings. In 2 Timothy, he said, “Demas has forsaken me.”
You won’t be totally successful in building your team. Jesus lost Judas from his team. Paul was eventually forsaken by Demas.
I have lost team members. One was arrested and found guilty of shoplifting. Another we had to bail out of jail for battering his wife. Another turned out to be homosexual. And there were a few who had their own agendas and wanted to be the captain of the ship, not just a member of the crew.
Dropouts will occur. We need to work to minimize them.
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